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Ten Things

May 4, 2007 By 18 Comments
  1. Kerfloppy fixed my template so that my photos are no longer freaking out. Yay! I still have the issue of all of my photos going back to August NOT SHOWING UP.  It will take a lot of time to fix and I the thought of it is sucking the will to live from my soul.  This move to my own URL has been really crazy. I still have to add so much to it, like my adsense and flickr accounts in the sidebars, etc. etc.
  2. One of my children is doing awesome in school. As much as he is succeeding, his brother is just NOT. I suppose it wouldn’t be my life if it were not filled with extreme contradictions and polarities, right?
  3. Due to the above I have been imagining scenarios of my 36-year-old unemployed children living in my basement, spending their days playing video games and D&D and consuming cartons of Ho Ho’s and Chocolate YooHoo.
  4. I still cannot find my camera and am trying to just keep calm until all my office is resettled and put away (After the renovation). The thought of it being stolen or left somewhere or lost forever makes it difficult to breathe since my camera is practically another appendage of my body.
  5. Jonathan and I went for a really long walk in the moonlight a couple of days ago. I don’t think we have done anything like that it years and years. It was beyond nice.
  6. I’m going down to see my brother, Rhett (Also known here as “The Brother) on Saturday. Jonathan I are going to help him put in a closet in his spare room. I think that my sister, Linny and Sis-in-law Nooncy should come down and have blackberry cobbler. I think everyone should encourage them in this direction. :)
  7. It has been discovered that I dance with my mop and sing the “Nightingale” song from “Cinderella” when I’m moping the floors at work. That was just a little embarrassing, even for me.
  8. Diet Coke Plus is my friend.
  9. Can anyone tell me how it is that David Hasselhoff can manage to be so wretched looking in that newly-released video of him completely wasted and yet he still has this freakishly perfect body? It’s such a weird juxtaposition. It makes me a bit sad to see what the Knight Rider Has come to. I prefer to remember him like this, perhaps the funniest/weirdest thing I have ever seen. Go on, click it. You know you want to.
  10. Beef. It’s what’s for dinner.
Filed Under: Bits of Information, lists 18 Comments

The never ending list..

April 27, 2007 By 17 Comments
  1. FIGURE OUT WHY MY GOOGLE ACCOUNT WON’T LET ME COMMENT ON BLOGGER BLOGS!!!!!
  2. Reframe and hang daisy photograph by Bridgy in kitchen.
  3. Sort all socks.
  4. Sort through kids clothes and purge all clothing with frayed ends, holes, stains, and that are too small.
  5. Write email to Cricket about the specifics of blogging and why the world would be a much better place if she had one. Hold her if she is scared
  6. Tweeze eyebrows so I don’t get confused with Burt from Sesame Street.
  7. Buy milk.
  8. Go console Christopher that despite ordering “Eragon” on PPV on accident,having his chocolate milk stolen, getting pushed down the slide and knocking over my bathroom tower and cracking it in half, these are not truly “The most miserable days of his life”. It just feels that way.
  9. Find miserable bully who shoved my son down the slide and kick his ASS. (Ok, I won’t actually do that. I just want to.)
  10. Mop floors.
  11. Remove the PLASTIC CAULK that I filled three billion cracks, nail holes and dings in the bathroom with instead of spackle so that this damn remodel project can be finished.
  12. Hang mirror in bathroom so that I stop looking like a cross between a sheep dog and someone who has just removed their “Protective Helmet”.
  13. Take cable box back to Comcast.
  14. Call Chelle, Bridgy, Karen, Thingy, Mom, Mary Ellen, Brian and Linny.
  15. Ask Teresa if she received my “Monday” ecard last week.
  16. Send Kerfloppy thank you box.
  17. Before sending Kerfloppy aforementioned “Thank you box” actually think up some creative and/or cool things to put in box that avoid the following things: Sugar, Windows products and the font ‘Comic Sans’.
  18. Pay payment on speeding ticket to avoid incarceration in the Cache County Jail for 10 days. Somehow I suspect that I just wouldn’t do well on “The inside“.
  19. Look for towels for the bathroom project that will never end.
  20. Put about a billion pounds of roundup on the weeds threatening a coup d’État in the back yard.
  21. Play night with the girls.
  22. Figure out what is wrong with my online banking account.
  23. Get my increasingly hefty bottom to the freaking gym on a regular basis!!!!
  24. Sign boys up for summer lessons.
  25. Start looking for a new piano since there was a mixup in communication and my MIL gave ours away. :(
  26. Start making video for parent’s 50th wedding anniversary. Threaten to burn and destroy it and their house and dog if they insist on making me sing “Wind Beneath My Wings”.
  27. PEDICURE.
  28. Do not subject innocent people to needless horror by wearing sandals/flip flops until the above occurs.
  29. Haul riding lawnmower to the shop to get fixed.Bitchslap neighbor who came over to tell me my lawn needed mowing.
  30. MOW THE JUNGLE IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE.
  31. Buy a billion more bags of red cedar chips.
  32. Finish weeding flower beds.
  33. See “Hot Fuzz”.
  34. Find someone to bitch to that my mother is forcing me to go to the family reunion this year by holding me hostage emotionally. See if telling her I am a lesbian will get her to stop. (I don’t know, it seems to work for my sister. Grin.)
  35. Call mom and tell her that she was quoted in the paper about the road going through my property and that it sounded great.
  36. Beg someone, anyone to give me a massage.
  37. Clean out car.
  38. Pick up license plates from dealership.
  39. Start planning Jonathan’s birthday.
  40. Refrain from going near, around or INTO “Sweetly Divine” bakery.
  41. Get antique mirror back from father and tell him that I noticed and that NO, he cannot have it “Back”.
  42. Paint bathroom.
  43. Try to get James a haircut that doesn’t make him resemble Howdy Doody.
  44. Find the lens to my eyeglasses so I don’t have to keep one eye closed while trying to watch “Dr. Phil”.
  45. Stop watching Dr. Phil. And Dog the Bounty Hunter. And Days of our Lives. (I KNOW. THE SHAME).
  46. See if phone is dried out and FUBAR’d after dropping it down the stairs and talking to Chelle while in the shower.
  47. Plan really “Great Evening” for Jon if the above does not have favorable results.
  48. Try to fall asleep before 1 am.
  49. Don’t dream have nightmares about Dr. Phil. Or Medusa from “The Rescuers”. Or Hippies.
  50. Attempt to become less long-winded. (Great start, doncha think?)
Filed Under: Every Day, lists 17 Comments

On Soundtracks

April 4, 2007 By 26 Comments
Between watching and writing about my “Forrest Gump” viewing and reading Alex’s fun list in my comments, I thought that I would weigh in on my favorites as far as sound tracks are concerned.

I know I am going to leave some off, but here it goes:

My favorite soundtrack: “Robin Hood Prince of Thieves”.

It was not easy to pick a favorite soundtrack. It is sort of like asking me to pick out my favorite leaf on a tree, but I had to go with the one I listen to the most. The summer of 1991 was life changing. At all of 15 years of age, my adoration of the orchestral film score was secured. I saw this movie about a dozen times in the theater because the first time I heard the opening to this movie I almost started shaking. Intense love at first listen.

It did help that Christian Slater was a hottie and Alan Rickman was a genius as the Sheriff of Nottingham, which helped diffuse how much Kevin Costner sucked in this film. The music was GLORIOUS. I love most of the tracks on this one.

I had loved the music of other movies (Namely, “The Man from Snowy River” and “Chariots of Fire” *Hey, synthesisers were new, OK?*) but since I was so young, I didn’t really understand how much of my enjoyment of a movie was based on the film score. They move me like no other music can.

Best comedy soundtrack: “The Princess Bride” This music is both quirky and makes you feel so melancholy and at home at the same time.

AND “South Park: The Movie” along with “Team America, World Police”. Say what you will about them, but they are absolute composition comedy GENIUSES. GENIUSES, I tell you. Though I admit, it can be quite…ehem.

Best action soundtrack: “Star Wars” There are no words for John William’s genius. My very favorite scene is the last one at the awards ceremony. SO cool when they all turn at the same time. I think I ran unrestrained around the theater at three years old it hyped me up so much.

Best dramatic soundtrack: “Forrest Gump” OK, I know that technically this is a comedy as well, but ‘Jenny’s Theme’ and ‘Run Forrest’ are both heartbreaking and inspiring. LOVE IT.

Best historical soundtrack: TIE. “Last of the Mohican’s” This was another MUST have. That fiddle they play on the main theme? TO DIE FOR. and “Emma” by Rachel Portman. Portman is amazing and one of the most talented composers of this generation. I love all of her work and she is a heavy part of my library. I got married to this music, I love it so much. She does some very fun things with her arrangements.

Best animal theme: “Fawkes the Phoenix” from Harry Potter. I’m sorry, but it is just so inspiring and reassuring, like the bird itself.

Sweetest theme: “A Simple Twist of Fate”. It is a very quiet little film by Steve Martin. The theme used here is so sweet and simple that it almost feels like taking a warm bath.

Most “Themed theme”: “Rudy”. I love the heavy “Fighting Irish” thread he has going on here.

Most powerful theme: “Glory” by James Horner. Specifically, “Charging Ft. Wagner”. It is akin to Orff’s “Carmina Burana“. Loud, confusing, clashing and also building with subtle intensity in segments.

Most majestic soundtrack: “Lord of the Rings” Damn. That’s all I have to say about that.

Best use of political satire in a soundtrack: “Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy” The “Zephed Beezlebrock” (OR WHATEVER, BRIAN AND KAREN. I never get the name right. Sigh) is HILARIOUS! “He’s not stupid! (OH, NO!) He’s much smarter than you, and he’s better looking too!” Take a listen. The “Achoo” hymn done in traditional Anglican hymnal structure KILLS ME.

Soundtrack I used to love but can no longer admit to liking because even I can only take so much mocking: “Titanic”. Sigh.

Best scary soundtrack: “The Sixth Sense” OMG. I freaked out in the first two measures and asked my friend Brian to “Hold me”. “The Changeling” was also fairly freaky.

Best military influenced soundtrack: You know how much I love music with a military influence. I don’t really know why. Maybe it is the precision, maybe it is the heavy use of brass or the fact that I think the piccolo just isn’t used enough, I dunno. I just like it a lot. I have a tie. I cannot pick between “Glory” and “The Patriot” they both kick ass.

If we are going with one specific theme, though, the winner is the main theme to the HBO series by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks “Band of Brothers”. Gorgeous.

Best soundtrack to inspire you to pretty much be willing to commit mass suicide in a muddy field in Agincourt, France: “Henry V” by Patrick Doyle. I love this Soundtrack. There are two moments that are pure genius-the track for the “St. Crispian’s Day Speech” and “Non Nobis Domine” kick some serious, serious composition TAIL. ( I HAD to find a way to put this in here)

Best romantic theme: “Kiss you” from Romeo & Juliet. OMG. It makes you want to grab the nearest object and start sucking face with it. I WILL sing this one day.

Best soundtrack from a children’s film: “Mary Poppins” What’s all this, step in time? It seriously makes you want to go be a chimney sweep and dance on the roof tops of London. And WHO doesn’t get misty eyed on “Feed the Birds”. It’s one of my favorite songs to sing.

Best vocals on a soundtrack: It has to go to the queen “Enya“. Between ‘Now you are free’ from “Gladiator” and “May it be ” from Lord of the Rings, and her work on Steve Maritn’s “LA Story”, she has it nailed. Second favorite is “Weep you no more sad fountains” from “Sense and Sensibility” by Patrick Doyle

Best soundtrack from the 30′s: “Gone With the Wind”
Best soundtrack from the 40′s: “White Christmas” Hello, could you get more amazing than Bing Crosby on “I’ll be home for Christmas”? Need I say more?
Best soundtrack from the 50′s: “The King and I”
Best soundtrack from the 60′s: “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”. ‘Moon River’ is enough to make you lay down and weep.
Best soundtrack from the 70′s: “Jaws”. Who knew a minor 2nd could be so damn scary? John freaking Williams, that’s who!
Best soundtrack from the 80′s: “The Man From Snowy River” and “Say Anything”
Best Soundtrack from the 90′s: “City of Angels” (So, so, so awesome)and “Forrest Gump” the song compilation.

Best song remakes: Tie between the covers on “50 First Dates” and “Moulin Rouge” both are brilliant in different ways.

Best soundtrack for a completely stupid movie: “Cold Mountain”. There are no words for how much I did not really care for this film. What I LOVE is the music. You cannot get better than Allison Krauss singing “The Scarlett Tide”. Also, they recorded this amazing church choir located deep in the smokey mountains. “The Sacred Harp Singers” I have never heard anything like it: There is no attention to blend, no accompaniment, no strict time keeping, and the end result is loud, ruckus, and gloriously bizarre. I was very tempted to put the winner here as “The Legend of Bagger Vance” by Rachel Portman, but I think “Cold Mountain” takes it.

Best cry your eyes out moment:“Little Women” the simple piano theme when Beth dies. I love this soundtrack so freaking much I can forget the Winona Ryder stars in it.

Best quirky movie Soundtrack: “Harold & Maude” by Cat Stevens.

Best individual instrument performance: “Uncorked” by Jeff Dana. Specifically, “Ross’s Concert”. This is a little movie that stars Minnie Driver. I like the film well enough, but the music is the real star. The first time I heard this I literally had a tear run down my cheek and my jaw was on the floor. I think I repeated it 15 times in a row that night. It was this AMAZING musical moment that was so unexpected and lovely. This guy can play one hell of an acoustic guitar. I went through hell to get the soundtrack but it was worth it.

Soundtrack I never want to hear again: “The Omen”. I would say that THREE HOURS of being “Caroled” in a haunted corn maze by Brian Joy singing “Ave Satani” would be quite enough for anyone, thank you.

Honorable mentions:
“Jurassic Park”
“Waking Ned Divine”
“Cider House Rules”
“Pearl Harbor”
“Gettysburg”
“Spiderman“
“Practical Magic”
“Raiders of the Lost Ark”
“Black Beauty”
“Oh, Brother! Where Art Thou?”
“Braveheart“
“Shrek 2″
“Rob Roy”
“Garden State”
“Last Kiss”
“The Goonies“
“Meet Joe Black”
“Pirates of the Caribbean“
“Amalie”

I know there are so many more, but my brain is fried. Discuss and comment away. Or not. I didn’t want to hear from you all anyway, so THERE! PPPFFTTH!!!!!

:)

Filed Under: lists, Music, Obsessions 26 Comments