Category: Flicks

Thanksgiving, Christmas prep & Happy Feet!!

Well, quite a bit has happened in the last few days. It’s been a nice time off and tomorrow, I have to wrap it up for the last few weeks of school before the Christmas Holidays Winter Break.

First, Thanksgiving. I spent most of Wednesday cleaning like crazy. I did a pretty good job on the common areas. Didn’t really get to my room or office but that was okay. Thursday, we all gathered at my house and had a wonderful time. Lots of food, lots of drink, lots of people. At one point, I had a glass of wine and a glass of champagne in front of me and bottles still being passed around the table. Ah yes, a family that can drink together, stays together (~as said by Naomi). Click on the picture on the left to see all the others. Oh, my mom did cook and bring the turkey. That’s why it’s in the laundry basket. (In case you were wondering.)

So, on Friday, I decided to decorate the house for Christmas. I didn’t have a tree and I had seen one at Target the other day so I went and got it and a few other things. The lines weren’t really that bad(!!) and the tree (pre-lit) was under $100(!!). I got some other lights but they’re not working. I hope it’s just a fuse because they’re very cute and already hanging. I forgot to check the lights before I hung them…bad me. They were also the last set on the shelf. Maybe another Target will have another set of them. If you click on the picture on the right, you’ll see more pics of the tree. I’ve got quite a bit more to put up and I’ll post those pics as I decorate more.

Today, I went to see Happy Feet at the IMAX theater. I have been waiting to see this since Kelly mentioned it in his blog last Spring! In case you haven’t been to Austin in a while, the next time you come to Austin, you’ll find a Texas History Museum next to UT and an IMAX theater inside the museum. It was a sold out show and I didn’t have tickets BUT, I had called yesterday to make reservations. The girl I talked to totally screwed up and didn’t bother to sell me any…but made me think I was on a “list” or something. So, we drove down there and found the show sold out but I explained my predicament to the girl at the Members counter (I’m a member of the museum, you see; hence the reservation thing – we get a discount on tickets). She somehow found 6 tickets and the Sedatole clan and I got to see the movie!! It was very cute but the ending had an odd twist, I thought. The cinematography and attention to detail was fantastic. Probably even more realistic than most animated movies I’ve seen lately (including Monsters, Inc. which did an awesome job of making the fur and details of the characters seem so real). I’d recommend seeing it just for that! 3 1/2 out of 5 stars.

Oh, Mumble’s eyes are just as blue as Elijah Wood’s eyes. So cool!!

Tonight, I’m meeting my buddy Greg for a little Blue October. What a great break!!

Friday Night Lights (2004)

http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=thebigbenfors-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B00005JNEW&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&lc1=0000ff&bc1=000000&bg1=ffffff&f=ifr

I don’t know how many of you actually know this but I really don’t care much for football. It’s a bit ironic that I do what I do for a living and love every Friday night. I really don’t understand the rules and regulations of the game but the camaradarie and team spirit that a football team can bring to a community is priceless.

After being an extra in the upcoming TV version of Friday Night Lights, I figured I should go ahead and watch the movie it’s based upon. As everyone I’ve spoken to has said, it’s a good movie. I really enjoyed the documentary styled cinematography they used on this movie. I kept wondering if they are going to do the TV show the same way, seeing as the director (as well as other crew) is the same for both.

I remember Odessa Permian football being the end-all-be-all of Texas football in the late ’80s. I also remember how Midland Lee was their big rival. The summer after my senior year in high school, DCI World Championships were in Dallas and the Midland Lee band kids stayed in the same hotel as our band kids did. I met one of their percussionists and the two things other than drum corps he could talk about was going to North Texas State University and Midland football. When did Westlake or Judson become tops?

Anyways, I really enjoyed the movie and if you haven’t seen it yet, consider it. Have some tissues for the end. It really grabs your heart.
4 out of 5 stars.

Getting my blog on while I can

Okay, beginning of day 2 and let’s see what I’ve accomplished:

Need to dos:

  • 4 1/2 loads of laundry (I think I counted 6 or 7 total loads)
  • Fixing up the guest bedroom (with what I have. Now I know what I need to get)
  • Hanging some art in my bedroom
  • Water my yard
  • Started to clean the kitchen

    • Want to dos:

  • Watch a movie (The Producers – see below)
  • Take a long, hot bath

    • Not too bad, if I may say so myself. Did I run around like a mad woman trying to get everything done yesterday? No. I did a few things, watched a bit of TV, did a few more things, chatted on the phone, etc.. I stayed relaxed and accomplished a few things.

    Today, my goals are:

  • Vaccuum
  • Finish laundry
  • Clean bathrooms
  • Finish cleaning kitchen
  • Cook
  • Watch another movie

    • I think those are quite attainable goals. I really need to mow my yard but I think I’ll let one of the kids do it later in the week. There are at least 2 of them that do great lawn work and I still can’t do any edging because I don’t own a weed eater.

    http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=thebigbenfors-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B000EWBKMG&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&lc1=0000ff&bc1=000000&bg1=ffffff&f=ifrSo, I watched The Producers last night. I was actually quite bored with it. I’m wondering if the size of my TV had something to do with it. You see, I saw The Produders on stage last year for my 32nd birthday. It was an amazing production! The movie is fairly similar to the stage production and I think the did most of the “bigger than life” aspects you get on stage well for a movie but I didn’t catch a lot of that on my little 19″ TV. Am I going to run out and get a new TV right away? Would be nice but no. Could I maybe not have been up for that movie last night? Very probably so. Things I hadn’t finished yet (yard, laundry) kept pulling on my attention. Because of all these variables, I’m not going to officially review it or score it as I would any other movie.

    The Break Up

    It’s not about doing the things you love,
    it’s about doing things with the one you love!

    If this phrase doesn’t just speak to you, you are not ready to be in any serious relationship. I know, I’m sounding a bit negative in my opening statement and I don’t really mean to…I just don’t know any other way to put it out there.

    I just saw a movie that absolutely spoke to me. It was the “story of my life” for the past several years. (I think I’m done with cliches now.)

    In The Break Up, Brooke & Gary are having great times together (or so it seems) until it all blows up one night. She says that he’s not invested in their relationship, he says he works hard. The problem is, they have a different definition of what makes a relationship strong and successful. In opening montages, you see them meet, get together, move in together and you see their lives evolve. *I really enjoyed how the main characters were developed and you connect with them but it doesn’t take half the damn movie!* Then, we come to this one night that I mentioned earlier and they break up; problem is, they own this condo together.

    Brooke & Gary really have two completely different backgrounds – he is a “family business” kinda guy and she is well educated and works at an art gallery – and I could really see how this caused riffs in their relationship. He liked to go to sporting events, play video games on his big TV and the main focus of his social time seemed to be drinking. She wanted to periodically go to the ballet or take dancing lessons or have a nice dinner party but always seemed to give in to whatever he wanted to do.

    Okay, I’m starting to spoil the movie. Fact is, I could really relate to the characters in this story. When Jim & I broke up, it was much like this. I loved him still but we just had such different needs in our lives at the time. By the time we were maybe ready to work on putting the pieces back together, they didn’t seem to be from the same puzzle anymore. It really hurt, and for a long time. Honestly, it was probably the most serious relationship I’d ever have. I think when I have moments that I’m sad and lonely, it’s not necessarily that I miss him (although, he is a great guy…just not for me), I miss what we had when things were really in their peak. Have I let the good one get away? I don’t think so. Somewhere, there’s a person who holds the piece from the same puzzle.

    Anyways, YES, it’s a chick flick but that shouldn’t keep guys from going to see it if you really want a view into what a woman is thinking and wants. BUT, you must NOT watch it from the point of view of the jackass bartender…even though he is HILLARIOUS! This is a very funny movie, even with its serious topic. 4.5 out of 5 stars.

    Okay, I’ve gotta go take out the trash and dig all the Whoppers out of the bottom of my purse. 🙂

    Do we always have to have a title?

    Goodness, I need to update, don’t I? It’s unlike me to go so many days without writing something.

    It’s been a good week. I spent Monday & Tuesday at the Band Hall, taking care of little things that will help next year start smoothly. There are actually a lot of little things to do and I’m a little behind but it’ll all get done when I go back to work next week.

    On Wednesday, Thursday & Friday, I spent at Connally High School working with the YEA!/The Cadets Summer Leadership Series camp. I’m not actually on staff but maybe next year, as they expand the number of camps they run, I might be. It was an interview of sorts. Their curriculum is some of the best I’ve seen; and I’ve seen lots of leadership curriculum being taught. The staff consists of people who have either marched or worked with The Cadets and as much as you may dislike George Hopkins, he has an awesome crew running The Cadets. I think I’m going to find a way to either send our leadership or have them do a camp at our school next year.

    I was supposed to go to S. Padre Island this weekend with The Millers but I decided that some of my friends really need “girl time” and with this being a “long” holiday weekend, it would be a great time to do just that. Saturday, Cathy & I spent the day trying to get some sun (we played in the pool at her mom & dad’s but got very little sun) and just kickin’ back, not worrying about work. Aside from the fact the sun stayed behind clouds most of the day, it was great! Yesterday, we went to see The Lake House and she did some family stuff since it was her brother’s birthday. I had dinner with my friend Stephanie, who is a banking lawyer so any time to hang out is treasured. I’ve known Steph since we were in high school and we just don’t get enough time together. We’re definitely going to try to get some more girl’s nights in coming up. She, Cathy and I had one early this year and we had so much fun; then got so damn busy we rarely saw each other. That nonsense has got to stop. 😉

    Today, Cathy & Steph must work (corporate life must suck like that) but I think we’re going to get together for dinner. If the weather cooperates, I think I’m going to grill but if not, I have a great grill pan I got during my days schlepping Pampered Chef so I’ll just grill indoors. Tomorrow is National America Day. (Is that redundant?) We’ll probably get together and hope for sun, maybe shop a little (still looking for a chair for the living room) and go to watch fireworks somewhere.

    It may not be the beach (I was really looking forward to going) but it’s been a perfect weekend so far.

    Oh, before I sign off, I must review The Lake House. Without a doubt, it was a “chick flick”. The plot outline from IMDB says:

    A lonely doctor (Bullock) who once occupied an unusual lakeside home begins exchanging love letters with its newest resident, a frustrated architect (Reeves). They must try to unravel the mystery behind their extraordinary romance before it’s too late.

    The film is done fairly well and if you’ve seen any commercials for the movie, you’ll know that the two residents are living two years apart. There are parts where they’re writing each other but it’s put in dialog form and I found that a bit annoying (they don’t even have paper near them). I can see that they did it to keep the format from seeming repetative but I think it came across a bit lame. Aside from that, a cute chick flick that made me cry a bit at the end. The scenery is beautiful, too. I’m going to give it 3.5 stars out of 5.

    After The Fourth, I have the rest of the week off but I think I’m going to clean house and get the cats bathed. No, I’m not doing it myself. They’ve got a major dander problem right now and I think it’s making me break out. I think it’s because of the mild winter we had. Should be an intersting process. I’ll try to get pictures!