It is brought home to me, it is no bad thing to celebrate a simple life. ~ Gandalf.........
We all get an ordinary life. And it's good enough; it's good enough. ~ Garrison Keillor
Carey and I love watching classic movies; the older the better. Oddly enough, when I was growing up I wouldn't touch a black & white film with a 39 1/2 foot pole. In the almost 10 years of our co-existence I have come to see the error of my ways. Since it is October, last night I was wanting to watch something that was classic, suspenseful, didn't have a lot of blood and gore, that actually had a plot and had at least one distinctive voice in it. So that automatically precluded everything from about 1970 onward (at least for last night). I was wanting the suspense so I could curl up with Carey on the couch and pretend to be frightened. Of course, I hadn't included Carey falling asleep on me! LOL It took me a while weeding through Hulu's horror & suspense section to find a few likely candidates but as soon as I saw Vincent Price's name on this one I snagged it.
The House on Haunted Hill is classic Vincent Price. Eccentric millionaire Fredrick Loren (Price) and his 4th wife, Annabelle, have invited five people to the house on Haunted Hill for a haunted house party. Loren rented a real "haunted house" (a house that had seen seven murders at various times) from the owner, also one of the guests. The guests arrived in funeral cars and were given party favors in little coffins. Any of the guests willing to stay in the house for one night will earn ten thousand dollars each. As the night progresses, all the guests are trapped inside the house with ghosts, murderers, and other terrors. There are falling chandeliers, vats of acid, ghosts literally coming out of the woodwork, etc.
There are very good suspense and horror flicks on the market right now, but many of them still can't hold a candle to old films that require you to use your imagination to round out the details. The House on Haunted Hill is certainly one of those. It's all a bit campy but the suspense and twists are still there; it's full of ghosts, murder, mayhem, betrayal and greed. The guests include Loren & his wife, a young employee of Loren's (that girl certainly had a pair of lungs on her!), a psychiatrist, a pilot, a columnist and of course the owner of the house. There is tension between Loren and his wife (whom seems very reluctant to be there), the typist is very nervous and wants to leave almost immediately (but is kept from doing so by the caretakers leaving early), the owner that keeps relating the gory history of the house and moaning the ghosts are coming for everyone, and then there is the psychiatrist who very emphatically doesn't believe in ghosts. There is supposedly no connection between any of the guests besides them all needing the money rather badly (except the psychiatrist whom is there to investigate the supernatural although he doesn't believe in it so it makes one wonder what else he's up to) and none of them know the others at all although, a few twists at the end reveal otherwise.
They did a great job with the atmosphere of the house but I was little frustrated that they used an art deco mansion for a haunted house supposedly over a hundred years old. Once you were in inside it didn't matter though. Price has one of those distinctive voices (voices that are immediately recognizable and you listen just for the sake of listening) that work admirably for horror and suspense. He brought the creepiness to the party and it added just the touch needed as the guests suffer through their frightful night. Price as usual delivers his lines with a hint of his dark almost comedic timing. There are a couple of quotes of his that I loved. One, when he confronts his wife about serving him "arsenic on the rocks". Or "Don't sit up all night thinking of ways to get rid of me, it makes wrinkles." There is clearly no love lost between those two.
When Carey and I watch a movie, we often drop in on IMDB to check out ratings of the movie, learn odd bits of trivia, etc. One of the questions posted was "Was the house really haunted?". That was certainly a valid supposition; it really could go either way. Some say the nervous typist was having hallucinations other than just the few tricks that are being played on her to twist her to the needs of two of the guests. Others believe there really is a malevolent core about the house and the machinations of the other guests were twisted into it's reality. The feeling I got was that it was actually a bit of both. There was the foundation of a house with a very macabre past. Houses really can take on a personality although it's often just a feeling that can send shivers. Add to it a very nervous personality, a psychiatrist to push & pull at just the right moments and an atmosphere of tension and terror and you have a house full of the supernatural.
Some more fun, campy, good suspenseful movies you could watch:
This of course is just a small smattering of suspenseful out there. In the early to mid part of the twentieth century, the masters were quite prolific. We will not see their kind again.
We skipped Church this morning. I was feeling the need to clean, and Carey didn't get home until 2 anyway. No way was I getting him up in time to get there anyway. Although, in the end he was actually up at 9 and he was nice enough to let me sleep in. So Kitty and I stayed curled up in bed for another couple of hours. James has had more diarrhea. :( This time he made a huge mess all over the carpet and our Bissel Little Green handheld carpet cleaner just wasn't up to the job. It tried, but there was still a nasty mess and quite a stench. So, Carey made up his mind to go and get a Hoover SteamVac that he'd seen recently at Bed, Bath & Beyond. He'd also checked at Sears, and it was on sale there for $20 off. However, I'd recently gotten in a coupon for 20% off at B, B & B so we went there instead since it was a savings of $60 vs. $20. In fact, Carey picked up a few other items and after the coupon savings, we still payed less than we would have if we'd just bought the carpet cleaner by itself without the coupon so he's pretty pleased.
On the way out of the mall, Carey was pushing us to hurry because he had something planned (wouldn't tell me what) but I did insist on stopping for a few moments while he went on out with the cart and Deedee. There was a band playing and I really enjoyed listening to them. There were trombones, a trumpet, and a couple of tuba's. It sounded great and I liked their spirit. They all were wearing Santa hats save for a couple of elf hats and the conductor was wearing a hat that made me think of Dr. Seuss and the Grinch. It looked like something a Who would wear. I loved it. The boys also had fun saying a quick hi to Santa. Charles especially was really excited. :D I reluctantly made our way outside, helped get the kids loaded (had a hell of a time getting the new cleaner loaded) and then we made our way to the theater. Yep, Carey took us to watch The Golden Compass. It's based on books that I read years ago, but don't remember much about.
The story has a large controversy surrounding it. There is a heated debate raging that says the movie is a direct attack on organized religion. The books were written by Philip Pullman, an atheist and in a recent interview by The Times, he put down any notions that his books and the film, are anti-religious. In an ironic twist, the story has been praised by countless clergy and religious scholars, including the Archbishop of Canterbury, for deep spirituality and the exploration of important theological issues. While I did see a fight against the overbearing system that was in command wishing to bring their people to heel so to speak I saw nothing speaking out against religion itself. Bah. I myself really enjoyed the film and am looking forward to adding it to our collection next year. There was some violence, the most noted being a fight between two polar bears. The lower jaw of one is completely knocked off, but it took me a few seconds to even realized that's what had happened. There was no blood and the scene was quickly gone. The special affects were wonderful and the acting was well done.
As we stood waiting for Carey to purchase the tickets, the James was busying putting his change in some contraption for charity. When the coin goes in, it follows paths and stuff around before it hits the bottom, like a marble run. The kids had a lot of fun with it, and their excited squeals garnered several smiles from people watching them. We had arrived just in time to site through thirty minutes of previews. Bleh... There were a few interesting ones that I took note of though and that I look forward to watching. The Spiderwick Chronicles, The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian, and Inkheart. The kids enjoyed it, and they even stayed relatively quiet during the whole thing. Kitty was the loudest and even then she only got really noisy when she was demanding pop. She for the most part just wandered around quietly. We sat in the back row, on one end so we wouldn't disturb anyone with our frequent bathroom breaks. There was one cute moment. One scene had asked a question, or was expecting something to happen (I don't remember what) and in the silence waiting for the person to comply Kitty said a very distinct "no". There were several chuckles scattered throughout the other viewers. The biggest thing of note happened to poor Deedee during a potty break. She was coming out of the restroom and she collided with one of the ushers who had her hands full of a broom and other cleaning implements. She landed on her butt when she backed up in surprise. So she got up and took off to go back to the viewing room only she kept running to the wrong doors! LOL
When it was over, James informed us that he wanted to go and buy it and he was really disappointed when we explained to him that it wasn't available to buy yet. When we emerged into the real world again, we discovered that it had started snowing. It was really cold and the powder wasn't compacting. The kids were super excited, expecting to go home and go sledding and they weren't happy when we informed them that there wasn't near enough snow for sledding.
Carey took off to write the last of his final paper after putting the kids down for siesta and I spent the next 20 minutes putting the new SteamVac together. It was actually super simple but I kept getting delayed (including looking up the review at Epinions), so it wasn't until two hours later that I was able to finally try it out. It was awesome. I chose the biggest ugliest stain in the living room that happened a few weeks ago when Kitty snagged Carey's chocolate milk and Bailey's concoction off of the table and took off. She didn't drink any of it, but she ran squealing into the living room with it and had just dropped it when we finally caught her. Sigh... Carey didn't clean it up properly like he was supposed to so it left a huge stain right inside the front door. I attacked half of it, and there was a marked difference. Even the color of the carpet changed drastically. I was embarrassed to note just how dirty our carpet was. The new cleaner is very simple to use and although it's bulky and looks heavy, it's easy to move. I'm well pleased with this purchase.
James volunteered to help me with the dishes tonight. He pulled out the step stool all by himself and then insisted that he wanted an apron too. I could only find a small half apron vs. the full one that I usually wear so I tied it on right under his armpits. He says he really liked the bright colored stripes on it.
Garrrr.... Where does the time go? Wednesday was nice. It was one of those perfect days with just the right amount of sun, clouds and breeze. I took the kids to see The Last Mimzy. It was the last summer matinee of the season and we had free tickets from the reading program. It's one that none of us have seen yet. Two siblings begin to develop special talents after they find a mysterious box of toys. Soon the kids, their parents, and even their teacher are drawn into a strange new world and find a task ahead of them that is far more important than any of them could imagine! The idea of resorting to the past to save the future is nothing new. There are plenty of books and movies on the market that cater to that thought. However the idea of resorting to children because of their pure souls and ability to understand the impossible is what grabbed me in this movie. It is very true that children are better be able to comprehend the unusual, and that we should pay them more heed. I loved the premise behind the story although there were several plot lines that didn't seem to go anywhere, the acting was stiff and hokey at times, and there bits of the plot that just didn't sense because they weren't fully described or given a chance to play out. However, I quite agree with Susan Granger's review: With its spiritual and metaphysical message, this fun-filled family entertainment goes far beyond whimsy.
This movie was based on Lewis Padgett’s “All Mimsy Were the Borogroves” which you can read (part or complete, I'm not sure) here. Granted, there is only superficial resemblance between the written work and the movie (isn't that how it always is?) but I could still see the flavor behind it. The analogy of children thinking in algebra while adults think in geometry is quite true. There is so much that we miss simply because we've been trained to ignore it and no longer have the capacity to see even if we wanted to. You can see the official site here.
After escaping from the theater, I took the children to Friendship Square, a small meeting area only a block away from the theater with a nice play structure. The kids were hungry and I wanted to just sit and not worry if they're screaming and running around. Of course, as soon as we get there, I turn around to find Charles watering a tree and James is jumping up and down holding his butt. So I left Charles & Deedee with my friend Patty, whom I had run into at the theater and had come with us to the park. I hauled James to the winery to use the facilities in relative private. He also enjoyed visiting with his grandfather for a bit. Of course, as soon as I got back I was regaled with stories about Deedee falling and bleeding all over the place (split lip, she's fine) and Charles going on walkabout. Apparently, he had taken off after me but couldn't find me. A man found him, figured out where he was supposed to be and hauled him back. Charles had been wandering up and down the walkway yelling for me. Poor little guy but he had been told to stay there at the park. I'm just relieved that he didn't get hurt.
It was high time for the kids to have a nap by the time we got home. It was already late enough that as soon as they woke up we were off to a large potluck that the UU put on. It was the first annual pastors hot dog roast. The turn out wasn't very big, and of course we were a bit late so the pickings were getting slim. However our smoked salmon that we took was quite a hit and it disappeared quickly. My friend Marisa was even later than we were and there definitely wasn't much left by then. However, she had brought an excellent watermelon and we were quite lucky that there happened to be a nice big knife in our picnic basket or we would have been SOL with no way to cut it. The kids had a blast running around and Deedee especially attached herself to one girl. She adores Audrey and I have to admit that Audrey is awesome with the kids. She seems to genuinely enjoy being with them and isn't just doing it for money or because her parents are making her. I have not problems at all entrusting Deedee to her care if I need a babysitter. Her father is also one of Carey's instructors this fall. Carey is looking forward to the class although he was complaining about his reading load last night. LOL His list for all classes combined is 25 books. Ah, well. He's still happily looking forward to it although he isn't happy that summer's almost over. Gah, I can't believe it's August already. Where's the time gone?
When we got home from the picnic, we were surprised by two small visitors. It was the two feral kittens that live under our building. A neighbor boy had come looking for Charles and left the door open. I had left some salmon juice on the counter (with the intention of giving it to them later) and I guess they must have smelled it. The kids were all upstairs and Carey and I were in the living room when I spied one of them coming down the stairs. In the attempt to chase it outside, we discovered the second one. We finally got the first one out, but the second one got under the desk and tangled itself in the computer wires. Carey wound up getting scratched getting that one out, so he's not very happy.
Thursday........... hrmm, well I don't remember what happened on Thursday. I can't believe my memory is that bad. :( Oh, no, I remember. I won the monthly raffle at Eco Child's Play. Every month, a hemp shopping bag with the logo screened on it is mailed out to one lucky winner. Just leave a comment on one of her posts to be entered for your chance to win. I can't wait until it comes in. I'm so excited!
Friday, I got to come up and see my nephew Julius. He's adorable and I can't wait to get pictures. I also took Kitty to the doc. He's worried about her. In the last four visits (so six months?) she hasn't gained any weight at all. She's been hovering right around 16 1/2 lbs. For her first several months, there was a nice perfect line making it's way up the chart. She was right on time with everything. Now, it's flat lined. :( At least she's growing. She has grown almost three inches in the last 5 months. So the doc is performing some tests. It took three people (not including me) to hold her while they took some blood. I held her, one man held her arm steady, a woman stuck the iv in and held it while a third man filled the vials. Poor little doll. I took her out for a tiny ice cream cone after it was done. I also have to get a urine and stool sample from. Sigh.... Yuck.
We got the stool sample no problem. But it's really annoying trying to get a urine sample. I was given some special baggies to stick to her that collects the urine when she pees. They are a pain in the butt to put on little girls. Even my grandmother (an RN) said that it was quite often to go through several baggies before they get enough from the little ones. It's too easy for them to leak and to come off. The first time I put it on her, she barely piddled and it wound up leaking. Grrr...... so I was letting her air out for a bit before I put the second one on her. I don't want her to develop a reaction to the adhesive. The little stinker proceeded to flood my lap and the floor around the chair I was on. The little snot was holding it! Which means that she has enough bladder control to start potty training. LOL She's done messed up.
A fire had started only a few miles outside of St. Maries and it was already bad enough that homes were being evacuated. It was actually on the news that night. I guess they're calling it the Echo Springs Fire. Last I heard there were over 100 firefighters trying to get it controlled and several families had been evacuated. We saw the smoke and it was all hazy but it wasn't until that evening that we found out exactly where it was although we figured it was around Shay Hill and Cherry Creek and we were right. They have no idea why or how it started. I did find it interesting that the Red Cross set up shelters at the High school for the displaced families, but not one chose to stay instead heading to the fairgrounds. I must admit I don't really know why Red Cross chose the High School over the fairgrounds in the first place. St. Maries is one of those redneck towns that care just as much for their animals as themselves. The High School was not adequately set up to care for animals while it was perfect at at the fair grounds. From what I heard, there were goats, chickens, a steer, lots of cats and dogs, and even pigs. That just goes to show that the Red Cross really doesn't know hot to do anything very well and it's just one more reason to avoid them. It's not really as charitable of an institution as they would like people to believe. Hearing of their mismanagement of not only funds but people and supplies did not help with my estimation of them.
On Saturday, we had a family party to welcome the little guy. We had an awesome dinner of corned beef, cabbage, my mom's famous scalloped potatoes, and one of my favorites, pistachio salad. The corned beef was excellent. We stuck it in a crock pot in apple cider for several hours and it came out just falling apart and with the perfect sweet flavor that I love so much.
Today we just spent vegging out around the TV although I did manage to get several loads of laundry out and hung on the line. I'm hoping to be able to go home tomorrow (Monday) but it depends on what the doc says after getting Kitty's test results. I've had to run back and forth to town more than we planned on while I was up here for Julius so now I'm not sure if I'll be able to go home before Friday. I might have to wait until pay day. Which really sucks since Wednesday is Carey's bday.
He's here!!!! Ernest Julius Louis Christian III arrived early this morning weighing in at 7 lbs 9 oz and 20 inches long. This is my oldest brother Charlie's first little one and according to family, they still haven't been able to scrape him off the ceiling. I can't say as I blame him. And, of course, according to our mother, he looks just like his daddy. Isn't that what the fond gramma's always say? As for me, we'll wait and see I guess. I don't get to see the little squirt until Friday. :( I can't wait though.
Today was hectic. The weather was gorgeous. That perfect mix of heat with a few clouds and a light breeze. I only wish I could have spent more time outside. But, I managed to do several loads of laundry, clean the living room, AND still gossip with a neighbor while chasing kids. And, of course, I also had my nose glued to Never Winter Nights 2. Carey got it as an early birthday present so I'm just as glued to it as I was to the first one. Heh, heh.
Some kids did something very stupid today. Apparently, a bunch of them were climbing around in an empty building, two of which climbed onto the roof. One of them jumped and got hurt pretty bad. Last I heard, they weren't sure if he'd broken an ankle, the leg, tore something or sprained it really bad. But the cops, ambulance and fire engine all arrived to make sure the kid was ok. The only reason I know about this is because the son of the said neighbor I was gossiping with was the one that didn't jump. He does admit that he planned to, but then decided he shouldn't when he saw his friend crying. Bleh. Stupid kids. They all deserve a smack up side the head although I think the one that got hurt has learned his lesson. Sigh....... one girl especially deserves at least a good talking to. When I first met her, I was charmed by her good manners. Of course, that was before I found out she was really good at being in on the trouble but as soon as she realizes that hey, she's going to get into trouble to, she's off and tattling to the nearest adult. She came and told us about it, that my neighbors son was one of the kids on the roof, etc. but never one word that she had been goading the boys into jumping by calling them wimps and sissies among other choice names. While the boys were acting stupid and shouldn't have been up there in the first place, she still bears some responsibility as to what happened. James is no longer aloud to hang around her and I have started actively encouraging her to not hang around. I think she's going to be a great one for getting people into trouble once she hits high school.
There are some feral cats that live under our building. I have quite taken a liking to them. Especially one rather sweet gray one. I wish they weren't so feral. I would like to pet them once in a while. But it's probably better that I am unable to touch them. There's less chance for an attachment issue and there's no telling how long they'll be here before they're caught and hauled off to the local shelter. The grey one is the boldest. Several times I have surprised it in our dining room. I felt horrible today. It went streaking out so fast that it beaned itself on our grill outside.
Charles was pleased with himself. He has made a friend. Although I must admit that I'm not sure if he likes Micheal for his own sake or if he just really likes Micheal's toys, videos and game console. LOL I hardly saw my little monkey at all today. This is a new experience for me; a child spending time at a friends house. He must have really enjoyed it though. He came home in a good mood and asked to go back tomorrow.
Kitty herself was also very busy today. She helped hang laundry (pulled it off the rack faster than I could put it on), raided the fridge (huge mess, candied pineapple everywhere), fought her sister over an empty soda can and won, helped in the garden, ate the first pepper of the year, paraded up and down the stairs several times and just generally sat around looking cute.
Deedee was miss mamma today and was very sweet with her babies. I got her a tiny moses basket some time ago and recently she dug out an old rabbit skin that I gave them to play with a long time ago. She lined the basket with it and then announced that it was "soft". She was also adorable at dinner. She was quite happy singing "happy birthday to me" and I think she would still be singing it if her father hadn't put the kibosh on it because it was time for her to go to sleep.
James was he usual normal gregarious self. He played outside most of the day. When he wasn't outside getting into mischief, he was begging me to let him ride his bike. Today was the last day of no bikes after he got into trouble. Not only was he caught riding his bike with no helmet (he loses it for a day just for that), but he kept getting onto other trikes that belong to neighbor kids after repeated warnings against it. So he lost it for three days. His favorite activity is to go to the top of the incline outside of our building, sit on whatever wheeled conveyance he could get his hands on and proceed down the hill as fast as possible. At least he's learned how to hold his feet out of the way after tearing a chunk off the end of one toe. I have tried repeatedly to get him to stop. Unfortunately, several of the other neighbor kids are allowed to do it so it's rather difficult. So, barring keeping him locked inside all day, I just don't know what else to do. I thought a few crashes would get it through is head but it never has. :( He almost got ran over today. He had walked down to the mail boxes, turned around to come back and one of the maintenance vans came roaring through. The damn thing didn't even slow down to make sure there weren't any kids around, which was extremely stupid. While that area does allow vehicular traffic, it's still mainly a public walk way. So there are tons of kids on it all the time. I called Carey and he called the boss. He took it up as far as he could go in the appropriate channels. Apparently, they'll get some speed limit signs put up. While I understand that particular maintenance worked has a lot to do before tomorrow, he still had no excuse speeding through an area where he knew children could be at play.
This evening, after the kids were put to bed, and James was done with his lessons (today, we worked more on memorizing our phone number, he learned about C and also worked more on memorizing this weeks rhyme, Two Cats.), Carey and I watched Greenfingers. A young man is in jail for killing his brother when he is sent to a revolutionary program. There, he learns the joy of gardening and what happens when the director of the program assigns him and a small group of men as gardeners. It was a nice movie, and I would recommend it. It's along the same line as Calendar Girls (in fact, Helen Mirren is in both of these), and Kinky Boots. I highly enjoyed all three of these films, and I hope to acquire all of them.
Kinky Boots
Wow, I hadn't realized just how long it's been since I posted. I meant to several times. I even composed posts in my head to write later after the kidlets were in bed and somehow that just never happened. Of course, it doesn't help that we had no Internet our first week in the new home. Things have just been super crazy. I still have boxes everywhere of course and I'm just starting to really feel like this is now a home.
Our room especially has a sumptuous feel to it. I took the doors off of the closet since they didn't leave enough clearance for the dresser to open or even to open a large trunk that our extra blankets live in. So I wouldn't have to look at the ugly shelves I hung up curtains instead. I found some beautiful green brocade curtains at Ross with an attached valance and tassels that looks awesome with our comforter set. But since I've been a good girl and have actually been making my bed everyday, the bed is always piled high with pillows and looks so inviting at the end of a days work. I am finally displaying the beautiful Wendy Froud sculpture the Night Faery that Carey bought me several years ago. Her name is Vivian and you can see her here along with some of Wendy's other sculptures. Someday, I hope also to acquire the Healing Faery. Displayed beside her is the beautiful lead crystal vase displaying the gorgeous silver roses Carey surprised me with several years ago, as well as my altar. This is my private altar and I have come to realize that I have an affinity for the Earth. I was quite surprised to note that 90% of the items resting on it were all some sort of polished stones or crystals. Interesting. Even my athame, when I choose to use it, has an obsidian blade. My newest acquisition is also resting upon my altar; a fairy stone (otherwise known as a holy stone, hags eye, witch stones, etc.). I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw it in a large box of craft stuff that I just received off of freecycle. And the power in it when I picked it up was phenomenal. I have wanted one for so long but I never expected to find one this way. I was also excited that I was finally able to put out the beautiful lithograph nightlight that Carey surprised me with last year. He bought it because it had a faery on it. He could have no idea that the illustration was Fairy Moon by one of my favorite artists, David Delamare. So yes, considering everything seems to be coming together so easily and quickly in our new home, this is where we belong.
The kids, too, are finally settling in although James seems to be upset about something. His nasty tantrums are back. His new favorite thing, besides throwing himself around is to sit on the stairs and tell me that he hates me and that I'm stupid. Sigh...... I know it will pass but it still hurts. I need to find time to spend with just him but I'm at a loss on how to do so. The other three have been taking so much time lately. I also need to just slow down and watch my own temper. It's always so easy to say things that one shouldn't when you're angry. I have noticed a trend of Carey taking the upper hand in discipline. I don't know how he's doing it, but it's working. 90% of the time the kidlets are listening to him. Somehow he's figured out how to get that commanding tone is his voice. The cool thing also is that he's hardly spanking at all, which of course is what we wanted. However, it's just not working for me and I don't understand what I'm doing wrong. I need to pull back from it and get a new perspective.
Today was really rough. Carey put a brand new roll of toilet paper (one of the supersize Charmin rolls) just last night and it's already gone. How? James decided that it would be interesting to stuff the whole roll (not all at once, just big wads) down the toilet. So of course, that flooded everything. I even had water out into the hall. GRRRR......... Our plunger is still missing, so I called Carey to come and deal with it. It's nice that he could just submit a work order for it and not get into trouble. Not only did he unclog the toilet, but he also proceeded to discipline James. James did get spanked but no super hard. Carey talked to him, explained to him what he did wrong and why he was in trouble. But I think what really brought it home to James was when Carey told him that not only would he not be going to see the matinee today (he was to stay in his room all day coming out only for the bathroom or to eat) but that the rest of us weren't going to get to go either. Carey actually got him to apologize to all of us and there wasn't a huge tantrum when he was ensconced in his room. Of course, today was the mystery matinee that I had been looking forward too. I was disappointed when I discovered that it was Shrek 3. Sigh.... ah, well.
My self inflicted ankle wound is healing quite nicely although it still hurts really bad. Who knew that scraping off several layers of skin would do that to you? I was in a hurry over a week ago, was shaving my legs and managed a cut about an inch long and around a quarter of an inch wide. Of course, I just thought that I managed to nick myself and other than a grunt of annoyance at the pain and the blood I didn't really pay that much attention to it. It wasn't until I reached the park and my rendezvous with my friend Marisa that she got a look at my leg and got this horrified expression on her face before asking me what the hell I'd been up to. I, of course, had no idea what she was talking about. I took a quick peek and discovered this raw oozing wound. It was deep enough that each vessel was clearly marked in little red dots and it was the uppermost layer of fat. Ick huh? What was really gross was when I discovered the skin still in the razor this week all dried and shriveled.
Kathrynn is really coming along. While she still isn't walking and she's barely even pulling herself up standing, she's just taken off with crawling. Also, since we've moved in, she has managed to not only learn how to climb to the top of the stairs but to come back down. Yay. She has also starting talking! We've caught a few general words out of her such as mamma, dadda, her attempts at her siblings names, and other odds and ends. Last night was great fun though. She said bye bye and was flapping her hand at everyone so of course her siblings got into it too. So perhaps she's just working on her mental faculties before her gross motor skills.
After everyone was done saying bye bye, we all sang The Ants Go Marching. Odd time to be singing? Well, yes, perhaps. But, everyone was together, everyone was in a cheery mood, and it needed to be sung. It was on the list of things James needed to do this week for his lessons. I had planned it for Monday but it never happened and it just seemed like the perfect opportunity last night that I couldn't resist. James is loving his lessons. While they aren't quite as free and unstructured as Waldorf is meant to be, it's still not that far off. James continually asks to draw in his lesson books and he loves to show his work to his father. I have also discovered James wonderful capacity for his memory. Not only has he memorized Rain Rain Go Away (only the first few lines) but also the first verse of The Ants Go Marching which I find quite appropriate since we're working on the number one this week. We're also working on the letter A which is why stuff to do with ants is quite appropriate. Not only is James learning numbers and letters, but he's doing it with a subject that is quite interesting to him. At least, at this time. He loves ants and has even tried to bring them inside as pets. LOL And of course gotten himself bitten in the process. I'm so glad that I thought to incorporate ants this week. At first it was going to be apples but that just wasn't working. While I don't schedule much to do everyday with James (usually maybe an hours work, depending on how long he chooses to spend on something) I still had several slots open. But a newsletter I received mentioned making an ant farm and it just clicked. After that, it was quite easy to find the type of activities needed to fill the slots such as making an ant sock puppet out of an old wool army sock, making an ant farm, observing ants in the wild, singing The Ants Go Marching, reading about ants in the National Geographic, watching The Magic School Bus ~ Ants In The Pants and etc. All but the movie I already had on hand so he's had lots of fun this week.
I wanted to post pics from James & Kitty's party but not only is something up with our camera (the computer refuses to recognize it) but the photo site I usually use is down. :( Perhaps I'll be able to get to that soon. However, I have lots of boxes to put away and a huge mound (yes, already) of laundry to wash and put away. If anything, that's inspiring me to get rid of even more. If I can't keep up even with the little (it seems) that the kids have then we still have way too much. The sad thing is that a lot of stuff is still in storage and I'm not looking forward to going through it.
Bleh. It's time for bed but I'm really enjoying the thunder and lightning playing outside and listening to the rain pour down. Of course, this puts all to hell the laundry I left outside or the stroller that I left open. Ah, well, the stroller needed to be washed anyway. LOL But I got soaked trying to put a tarp over it to keep it from getting even worse. I'm supposed to use that tomorrow to take the boys to Rendezvous for Kids so either they're going to get very wet or perhaps I'll drive for once. I'll see how it is in the morning, I guess. Also, I'm having a song from our newest movie running through my head and it's driving me crazy. I know, I know. Watch the movie and it will go away, right? Ergh. I am NOT going to watch that movie again. While I love it, I have seen it so many times already that I don't even want to think of it. However, I must admit that Voyage of the Unicornis a wonderful movie and I'm quite pleased with this bargain bin find at Ross. It's a bit hokey at times. The acting isn't always the greatest, especially at first and the costumes are sometimes a bit silly. And the dialogue wasn't always the greatest. But they did an freaking awesome job with makeup and the dragon is beautiful. The music was also wonderful (perhaps that's why it's running through my head?). My only bones to pick are one, their portrayal of a character that is supposed to be a dwarf and makes me think more of an elf and two, the way it ended. It was like a crucial piece was left out. However, I did discover that it was based on a novel called The Voyage of the Basset so perhaps I shall read it. The movie was actually a mini-series that premiered several years ago. It develops is fast but easy to understand. Basically, you have a mythology professor (Beau Bridges) and his 2 daughters that get whisked away into a fantasy land where they discover they must save the fairyland from the dreaded and terribly evil trolls. You meet unicorns, elves, trolls, ogres, the Minotaur, Medusa, Oberon, Titania, the Sphinx, dwarfs, etc.They have a great adventure and meet loads of interesting characters on the way to saving the fairyland. The film is a great story for all ages. If you liked 10th Kingdom, you'll like this story too
This isn't the greatest, but it was all that I could find. I'm disappointed that it condensed and skipped over most of Miranda's dance scene which is one of my favorite parts of the movie. Still, this gives you a good idea of some of the costumes and the general feel of the movie.
The children were absolutely exhausted this evening and I had no trouble at all putting them to bed after they heard two stories. They were woken up early by the darn roofers. I'll be so glad when we move or when they're done. I"m not sure which will come first. Meradydd got only half a nap today because I promised James we would go to the kids matinee down town since the tickets only cost $2. He was so excited that he got to pay for his own ticket and then got to buy a bag of popcorn. I'm very thankful that the Kenworthy is there. The movies might be considered "old" by other theaters but they aren't so old that they've been released to video although it's not always the case. Today, we got to watch Charlotte's Web. It was fairly interesting and had humor that wasn't over done and caught most adults in the audience. James really enjoyed it and couldn't wait to tell his father about watching. They also did a great job on the animation and graphics. Charlotte looked absolutely real. I had a problem once in a while with the expressions on the animals faces; they didn't always look quite natural and sometimes they were too stiff. Other than that, everything was well done. They were minor deviations from the original story but it didn't take away from it at all. Only someone who had read (and loved) the story would even notice. Deedee on the other was a little pill. We were up and down, back and forth from the bathroom. She's been doing that all day, and she really hasn't drunk anymore than she usually does so perhaps she might have a UTI which I'm really hoping that she doesn't.
Afterwards, I ran into an acquaintance whom also always goes to the summer kids' matinees at the Kenworthy. She has a boy that's 4 1/2 who really reminds me a lot of Charles (and no, it's not the red hair). Maybe it's his languid personality that is so like my little monkey. I invited him to James' party and although they aren't sure they'll be able to make it, I have my fingers crossed that they will.
After a quick stop to visit Papa Stu, I ran to the library to drop off movies that were due, as well as drop off movies that had been rented. Bleh, busy. I was thankful that James asked to stay with Stu while I ran to the library; one less child to keep track of. He was well behaved and he was busy in the back of the winery when I got back. After that, it was off for home, and although we were late, I was hoping that my friend Bernadette would stop by again or call to see if I needed more help today. She never called but hopefully she didn't stop by while I was gone, in which case it would be really bad. I told her we would be home by three, but the movie ran longer than I expected and I had to drop those movies off today since I really didn't feel like paying any fines. The visit to the winery was unplanned but when you have a small daughter screeching potty, you stop and find a bathroom only to hear a very small trickle emerge.
We also went to the Shriner's Circus this evening. I almost forgot about it but was reminded in time, thank goodness. I'd been looking forward to it ever since Stu gave us the tickets. I've missed the last two and darn it, I was going to this one. It wasn't the greatest ever seen. Some of the performers kept flubbing but the kids never noticed. They had a blast and that's what counts. And there were no clowns! Bleh The only other disappointment was that we were unable to ride any of the animals. :( I was really hoping to ride the elephant, but as always it was too much. If the kids had really insisted, we might have tried to pool our change but they were both a couple of wet blankets and refused to have anything to do with any of the animals. Only later, when it was to late, did James ask to ride the elephant. Ah, well. He also wanted a light up pirate sword, and he had birthday money to spend, but everything he wanted was still too expensive. Technically, Carey and I probably could have made up the difference since it was only a few dollars but Carey asked James if he wanted the sword, or if he wanted to go the movies again next week and James chose movies, so I didn't press it. He's old enough to learn about managing his money responsibly and learning the consequences of his actions. Also, once instance really upset me. Towards the end, the mucis was getting really loud and it scared a little bloy sitting nears us. He was maybe two at the most. His mother was forcibly holding him down, and telling him to shut up, that there wasn't anything wrong, so he screamed louder. And she stood him up, and then stood over him to shield people from seeing that she smacked his mouth! She also told him to stop being a baby, that there was nothing for him to be scared about. I don't understand what that woman was thinking. She was in the top row, at the end! She was right by an exit and she could have easily left. She could have also still looked in through the windows along the top; she wouldn't have missed anything. Instead, she put herself before her child, and punished him for something that he had no contol over.
James and Deedee didn't make it to bed until 10 but they were so tired that they didn't even fuss (which was nice) although I'm wondering just how much of a bear they will be tomorrow after not enough sleep. Especially my slug abed; James is notorious for sleeping in, even when he goes to bed on time.
In Alagaesia, a farm boy discovers a dragon's egg that leads him on a predestined journey where he finds out he's one of the few people who can defend his home against an evil king.
I received the book for Christmas, right about the same time it had been released to the theater. Carey wanted us to go see it, but I asked that we read the book first. Of course, by the time we had both finished reading it, it wasn't showing in any local theaters. Bleh. So we waited until it had been released to DVD, which was yesterday. Yay. So Carey snagged a copy for us to watch with the kids and we all settled down, looking forward to an enjoyable movie. I absolutely loved the books, so I was expecting something a lot different. Carey and I were both really dissapointed.
It was horrible. For those of you who haven't read the book, you'll probably find a reasonably enjoyable movie. Now, Carey and I both kept in mind that a movie has a lot of time constraints, so we expected there to be changes. There were changes in our beloved LOTR, but they're still wonderful movies that we both love watching and have done so countless times. We've even had a few marathon weekends (and with the extended versions, it's an awesome vision). Right off, we noticed a few changes, but we ignored them, willing to give the movie it's chance. However, the further into the movie it got, we were just more and more confounded and I'm sure we were sitting there with our mouths hanging open. Containing such names as John Malkovich, Rachel Weisz and Jeremy Irons, we were expecting something much different. Sigh....once again a wonderful story was reduced to shreds. Several people that helped Eragon become who he is at the end of the first book were moved around, changed, and in several cases completely dropped. Other people that helped set up the whole first book, to move into the second book, were never even mentioned. Several key plot points (at least in my mind) were completely dropped. Scott Weinberg sumes it up quite well: "It's not that Eragon feels like huge chunks were pulled from its now-skimpy frame -- but that the "in-between" scenes that may have given the film some color, urgency or freshness ... were simply never written in the first place." This was one of the worst 90 minutes that I've spent in a long time. Read more of the mind boggingly 95 rotten tomatoes that it received.
The elves were absolutely horrible (they weren't elvish in any sense of the word), I didn't see one dwarf (or at least one that was recognizable) and what did they do to the urghals? And what did they do to Sephira? Feathers on her wings? Bleh. And the rhazak, while being suitable foul, still weren't brought to life very well in the original vision. The funny thing is though, that the original story boards were perfect. Carey got the two disc version, with all the extra goodies so we took a look at that as well. So we're a bit confused as to what happened between the beginning and the end result. Makeup and costumes are non existant, and the storey just doesn't flow in only ninety minutes. It seems that everyone forgot how to act in this travesty. Even Rachel Weisz's beautiful voice seemed disjointed.
There are a few nice special effects, and while I don't agree with the representation of Sephira, they did do a beautiful job with her. So because of that, 4 stars out of 10. This is not one that will be joining our collection, which is sad. It was a story that I would have enjoyed watching over and over.
IMDB The official Eragon movie site Purchase the books
Carey brought this home to watch and I was a bit leery of it. I'm not a huge fan of Will Ferrell but I have to admit I was pleasantly surprised. I only consented to watch it because of Emma Thompson, whom I am a huge of. I'm so glad that I did; it's now one of my favorite movies.
Will Ferrell is harold Crick, a lonely IRS whole whole mundane existence is transformed when he starts hearing a mysterious voice narrating his life. With the help of Professor Hilber (Dustin Hoffman), he discovers he's the main character in novel new novel being written and that the voice belongs to author Karen Eiffel (Emma Thompson), an ecentric author famous for killing her main characters in creative ways. Harold must track her down before she emerges from her writers block and conjures up a way to finish him off.
I loved the narration. It quickly hooked me, and in fact, if this was an actual book, I probably would have finished it in one sitting.I was surprised to see Ferrell in a much more serious role that's he's usually prone to doing. It was a refreshing change. It was very interesting watching him transform form a very lonely and shy mand living a mundane existence to someone who's willing to actually get out there and live. And while the ending went a little further than I had expected, it was still a good one. Just the fact that Harold accepted his existance to the point where he could calmly walk out in front of a bus, knowing that he was going to die, was very poignant. So yes, I would have no problem adding this to our collection.
This is one of the posts written about it at IMDB and we found it interesting.
Four young men who belong to a supernatural legacy are forced to battle a fifth power long thought to have died out. Another great force they must contend with is the jealousy and suspicion that threatens to tear them apart.
Sigh...... what to say about this? I asked Carey to bring home a fantasy, and this is what he chose. He called me to let me know what he got, so I looked it up on IMDB real quick, and it actually looked pretty interesting. I was a little disappointed he didn't get the type of movie I was wanting, but consoled myself with the hope that this would still turn out pretty good.
It looks awesome, huh? Unfortunately, it didn't turn out that way. Once again Renny Harlin got his hands on a good basis for a movie and totally screwed it up. This whole thing was disjointed and there were several areas that were left totally unexplained. It was as if someone let a little kid loose in the editing room and all parts pulling it all together as a cohesive whole were slashed out of existence. In fact, the review at Rotten Tomatoes gave it a whopping 60 rotten tomatoes out of 62 reviews. One review summed it up quite well: it's really nothing more than really bad dialogue spoken by some of the most beautiful kids in Hollywood who can't act their way out of a paper bag.
This was given a PG 13 and I totally disagree with that. There is no way I would let any of my kids watch this, even if they were over 13. The language, nudity, innuendos, etc. are not that great. I have nothing against nudity, and what was seen wasn't that bad. But I was surprised to learn that these kids were high school kids! None of these children's behavior (specifically body language) was appropriate for high school kids! This would have been much better if the characters had been written as older, and in college. I am so tired of the film industry lowering their standards more and more every year. How long will it be until it's standard to see sex in a children's video? I'm already disappointed that I can't even trust Disney to keep their movies clean any more. Bad language is all well in good in it's place. If it will add to the plot line, go for it. But, as is so often the case anymore, it does not add anything to the plot and in many cases has actually ruined the movie. The first that comes to mind is Dogma. A cute movie that was totally ruined by Jason Mewe's filthy mouth. Ok, I can feel myself getting on the soap box here, so back on topic.
Basically, if you want a trashy low budget horror film that has crappy dialogue but good special affects, and is a total waste of your time and money, this is it.
Over the last month, Carey and I have actually been able to get out and go to the theater! Wow.... The last time we had been able to go was last year on his birthday to Pirates of the Caribbean ~ Dead Man's Chest (awesome movie) and we had the whole family with us. The kids were actually well behaved for their ages. I know Carey was a bit disappointed but it was a spur of the moment thing and I just don't think he was mentally prepared for a 2 year old that had to pee a lot or a 1 year old that kept up a running commentary for almost half of the movie. :D
While Deedee and Washee were visiting my parents, we took James to see Arthur and the Invisibles. It included Mia Farrow, Freddie Highmore (Finding Neverland), David Bowie, Emelio Estevez, Robert De Nero, Snoop Dog and too many other's to list. This is a really cute movie that I highly enjoyed. They did an excellent job on the animation and the detail was superb. The minimoys are adorable. The plot was a bit easy for my taste, but hey, it's a kids movie. And I didn't particularly care for the disco scene either but James enjoyed it. The whole movie seemed disjointed and I have since found out that there are actually two versions. The badly cut American version and a cool foreign version where Selenia & Arthur actually kiss. Sigh..... I can feel myself getting on my soapbox for censorship here, so I guess I better quit. :D Oh, and I also got excited when I found out that this was a book first and I'm very interested in reading it. All in all, this is a cute movie that will add itself to our collection although I'm hoping to find the foreign version vs. the American on. Oh, and the only thing that really bugged me were the Masai in Arthur's garden. Where the heck did they come from?
The second one we went to see was Bridge to Terabithia. It's about two children and the power of friendship and imagination. The cast included AnnaSophia Robb (Johnny Depp's Charlie and the Chocolate factory), Josh Hutcherson (The Polar Express, Zathura), Zooey Deschanel and others that I didn't recognize. This one was just Carey and I; yay. I remembered reading this as a child and loving it although I admit it had been so long since I had read it I only had vague memories and feelings left. I remembered almost nothing about the plot, only that it was about two children and their friendship. Carey had never read the book at all, and only based from the preview that he had watched, he thought it was about two children that stumbled into a magic kingdom and their adventures there. It's been long enough since I read the book that I can't compare the two. I can't say that compared to the book, the movie sucked or vice versa. However, I can say that this is a beautiful story. The relationship between Jess and his father was so sad and Carey surprised me by commenting about it and being afraid of that happening between him and James. I thought that they did an awesome job bringing the kingdom to life. This is a powerful movie about the use of our imagination. With an imagination, you can go anywhere, and be anything. That premise is also proved by Harry Potter, a lonely and neglected boy that imagines a magical world where he's the hero. You can see the same thing in James and the Giant Peach and probably a slew of others that I can't thing of at this point in time. This is one of the few movies that Disney hasn't screwed up. I have been so disappointed in Disney movies. They aren't always safe for our little ones anymore. Gone is the time that I could just grab a Disney movie and not have to worry about what they would be seeing.
Oh, and last, but not least is a little movie that I happened to catch on Stars while I was at my parents. Dazzle was a love story between a fairy and a human. The cast included such notables as Mia Sara, Jeff Fahey, and Maxwell Caulfield. A fairy falls in love with a young widower (whom happens to also be an accomplished author about fairies) and his young daughter. She actually goes through quite a bit to stay with him. I loved it (and no, it's because I love fairies although I admit that's a good part of it :D). I thought that it was quite appropriate to be watching a love story on Valentines Day. This was a great family movie and although it did seem to drag at times, and was a bit cheesy here and there, all in all I enjoyed. I actually missed the first few moments because it had already started when my Dad found it, but it was still pretty easy to figure out. The only thing that wasn't really explained well enough for my taste was the role of The Collector. I understood that he came to collect fairies when they stayed in the mortal realm too long, killing them in the process. What I didn't understand was his interest in Crystal, the fairy. I couldn't figure out if it was just the main she's a fairy and she has to go home thing, or if there was an extra element there. The dialogue pointed to an extra element that just wasn't fulfilled. This is a nice movie, that's a mite predictable at times and it really didn't explore all avenues that it could have. All in all an excellent kids movie that I actually enjoyed watching myself and wouldn't mind adding to our collection. I have enjoyed Mia Sara in several movies, including Legend and Jack and the Beanstalk, both of which I own and watch often. Oh, and I can't forget Ferris Bueller's Day Off, one of Carey's favorites.
Wow, going through these movies showed me that I actually have several interconnected movies that I didn't even realize had a lot of the same actors I was praising in these three selections. For instance, Mia Farrow and Freddie Highmore are both in Jack and the Beanstalk, even if it is only a cameo for Freddie. That's actually the first time I ever saw him although I didn't realize it. The first time I do remember seeing him is in Finding Neverland. I guess this kind of shows where my personal interests lay and some of my favorite actors and genres. I think I feel a movie marathon coming on. Of course, when will I ever find time for it? :(
A supernatural mystery combining romance, politics and magic starring Edward Norton as Eisenheim the mysterious stage magician and Paul Giamatti as Vienna's shrewd Chief Inspector Uhl. In a world where nothing is as it appears, an illusionist and a police inspector face off in a challenge of wills that attempts to determine where reality ends and magic begins... all the while blurring the line between power and corruption, love and devotion, vigilance and mania and ultimately, life and death. Jessica Biel played the beautiful love interest Sophie Von Teschen and Rufus Sewell does a superb job of showing Prince Leopold as the twisted beast he was.
The love story, the twist, and, of course, the ILLUSIONS!, made for an infectious mix of romance, mystery, and magic. Sumptuous, mysterious, and deeply felt, with superb acting for the most part by all of its leads. A magician using his abilities to secure the love of a woman far above his social standing made for a beautiful story. Their love transcended the many years and their social classes; I loved the locket he made for her as a sign of his devotion when they were children. This twist at the end was, for me at least, unexpected although once you know what it is, you can recall the signs throughout the movie but I thought it was well done.
One thing I wanted to touch on was the love scene between Norton and Biel. I loved it. It was so suggestive and evocative without crossing any barriers or ruining the illusion of their love & passion. It's about time the movie makers realized that what doesn't show is much more erotic than the kind of trashy low grade porn that passes for sex in most movies. That long slow shot that turns out to be their arms and hands took my breath away. Anyone ever noticed how beautiful Norton's hands are?
Norton, Giamatti and Sewell were all perfectly cast. Edward Norton has done a wonderful job in most of his movies. I first recall seeing him in Death to Smoochie and falling in love with his eyes. :D As for Giamatti, I know I have seen him in other movies but I don't recall any before Lady in the Water. In both he did an excellent job and I'm looking forward to seeing him in other movies. I have added a name to the small list of actors whose names I can actually remember. Carey is the the movie buff and the one to go to when you want actors names, dates, or obscure facts. And I have to give a hand to Sewell and his superb job on Prince Leopold. All three of these gentelmen deserve a standing ovation.
Once in a great while Carey does something really sweet that makes up for all the silly stuff he gets up to. Tonight, he came home with a couple of movies, one being Lady in the Water, which he knew I had been wanting to see. That's not the big thing though. He wanted it to be as close to a real theater experience as possible and brought home pop, chocolate covered peanuts, a dove chocolate bar, swedish fish, and my absolute favorite, red vines. The only thing missing was popcorn, but we can't take advantage of microwavable popcorn without a microwave and Carey didn't want to wait around for me to dig out the popcorn maker and then try to remember where we stashed the popcorn. Besides, that fakey butter invariably found on most microwavable popcorns always makes me sick.
So, we chased the kids to bed and had a wonderful evening to ourselves. Carey had already seen it in the theater, the bum. One of his friends took him while I was out of town with the kids. So yeah, I'd really been looking forward to seeing this one and it's been at the top of my list for some time now. One, because I'm a fan of M. Night Shyamalan, and two, because it just looked like an awesome movie.
An absolutely beautiful, sacred dream. A very poignant theme about finding one's real purpose. It didn't flow as well as it could have and some of the characters weren't as developed as I would have like. Some areas just didn't seem to have had much thought, such as the dialogue and some things just weren't as explained as well as they could have been. This is a beautiful story nonetheless, and when the time comes I will happily add this to our collection.
Carey and I like to go out to eat a lot with his 93 year old grandmother Doris. Carey asked me to start keeping track of the restaurants that we go to, kind of a little review, so we can actually remember why we did or didn't like a particular spot.
DINNER Fireside Grill Pullman, WA **** of a possible 10
What didn't go wrong? We went there with Doris expecting a nice relaxing meal without the kiddies. Carey ran in real quick to make sure there wouldn't be a wait. He was told there wouldn't be, we get in there, and we have a 15 minute wait although there were several empty tables. We finally sit down, ordered a couple of drinks that actually came fairly quickly and then started deciding on our meals. It took over 20 minutes for our server to rematerialize to take our order and in fact, we were just getting ready to leave. We ordered the stuffed mushrooms as an appetizer and they were good; I highly reccomend those. But it just went downhill from there. I ordered a strawberry lemonade spritzer at the same time as the appetizer but didn't recieve it for a full thirty minutes after the appetizer was already a pleasant memory. (We had to sic the hostess on our server about this one.) So by this time we've been there over an hour. Two chowders were ordered (very good) and a ceasar salad (also very good). So we were rather looking forward to dinner. This was a complete bust; tasteless, dried out and cold. The smothered chicken and the flat iron flap steak were both excellent with Heinz 57 sauce (very sad for the amount of money being paid). The jumbo shrimp were cold and mushy. For dessert: fudge brownie w/ ice cream for two, and a New York style cheesecake. The cheesecake was good. But pass on the brownie. It was described as fresh baked that day; try rock hard and stale. The ambience was quite nice though and the seating was comfortable. But all in all, the slow service and the lousy food makes it mediocre at best and just doesn't cut it for those kinds of prices.
MOVIE
After taking Gramma home for the evening, we caught a late night showing of Ben Stiller's new movie, Night at the Museum.
A bumbling security guard at the Museum of Natural History is caught up in an ancient curse that causes the animals and insects on display to come to life and wreak havoc every night after midnight. With such notables as Robin Williams, Dick Van Dyke, Andy Rooney, Ricky Gervais, Owen Wilson, Steve Coogan and others, we were looking forward to this one.
It was really cute, definitely a great kids movie. (The peeing monkey was a bit much but Carey loved it.) I had a smile through most of the movie (even with Kitty's very noisy commentary through the last half). Some of the roles weren't as developed as I would have liked but this is a great feel good movie that the whole family will enjoy. 9 stars
