Movie Day

It's Sunday, and I have a couple hours to get things done this morning, and then I'm off to see a couple movies.  It's a good thing that this is a long weekend, given the way my weekend has come together!  There are definitely quite a few things left on my to do list for the weekend!

This afternoon I'm going to see The Help with a friend, and then tonight, Kung Fu Panda 2 with my brother at our local cheapie theatre.

It should be a fun way to spend a Sunday!

(And with that, I'm off to get some things done before all the fun begins!)

A Review of The Least Among You

The Least Among You tells the story of Richard Kelly, a young black man arrested during the 1965 Watts riots, who is serving probation by attending an all white seminary.  The story chronicles his journey of adapting to life in the seminary.  Kelly never wanted to attend seminary, and didn’t know what he believed about God.  He certainly hadn’t bargained for an all white seminary that was opposed to the idea of integration.  The plot ultimately centers around his need to decide whether violence or peace, truth or lies are the best answer to the challenges he faces.

To be honest, I didn’t like the movie.  It was dark – not just in theme, but in the way it was shot.  Every scene was dim and grey.  The story was not the most compelling of racial integration stories, and moved almost painfully slowly.  But most confusingly, it suffered from loose ends and unexplained details.  A topic was introduced, and then not followed through.  I was left with questions – what happened to Richard’s mother?  What about the drug money?  Why was it important to know that the president of the seminary had lost a son and had a wife who was severely depressed.  The filmmakers of The Least Among You had the chance to tell a compelling story that all those who have experienced that moment of questioning God’s calling and action could relate to.  Unfortunately, their story was lost in a myriad of rabbit trails and suffered from mediocre execution of the storytelling.

note: The Least Among You was provided to me as a free review copy from booksneeze.com.

Daily 5 - Day 339

Today's Daily 5:

1. Trading my hated Monday vaccuming chore for the chore of cooking supper.  I definitely got the way better end of that deal in my mind.
2. A tall mug of pomegranate green tea
3. taking a long hot bath and reading
4. watching the movie "Stranger than Fiction" with Mom and Dad tonight.  such great lines in that movie, and really, just one of the generally most creative and lovely movies on my list of favorites.
5. sleeping at mom and dad's tonight, because it's easier to get downtown for my 9 am midterm exam tomorrow morning from their house, than it is from Grandma's house.

Daily 5 - Day 261

Today's Daily 5:

1. Wearing my hair curly for the first time since I got it highlighted with a bunch of red again the other day.
2. A very much needed, long, lazy morning in bed
3. Spent about 8 hours with a friend from high school (saw a movie, did some shopping, went out for dinner, and walked for a while in my favorite park)
4. Having surprising conversations of a whole new level of depth with this long-time friend
5. Walking in my favorite park
6. bought a great new top, and a pair of black dress pants for work, both on sale
7. Really laughed at lot at the new J-Lo film "The Back-Up Plan"
8. Movie theatre popcorn.  With butter.
9. A hug from my friend
10. Setting up times to get together with some other friends and family over the next week or two, and knowing I'll get to collect hugs on most of those occasions as well.

Daily 5 - Day 249

For those who are curious, the background to the daily 5 can be found here.

Today's Daily 5:

1. Watching old episodes of ER on DVD
2. The funny little routines that have come to mark life at Grandma's
3. My dad unexpectedly having time to take my car to the mechanic for me today, instead of tomorrow as we'd planned, and calling me at work to offer to take care of that for me.
4. My "new" car passed the insurance inspection - I just have to fax in the paperwork tomorrow and it's all official.  Now I just need a name for it!
5. A mechanic who is very kind in what he charges me for - because he had done maintenance on the car for the previous owner, he didn't charge me for the inspection, just the oil change he also did today at my request.  I also love that he's really honest - he'll tell me if something is wrong with the car, and then he'll tell me if it needs to be fixed right away, or if it's something that can just be watched for the time-being.  It's so nice as a less than car savvy girl to have a mechanic who I know and trust.  I'd be in so much trouble if I ever move away from Calgary and my mechanic - I'm definitely the biggest target around when it comes to being dumb about car stuff!
6. I made pasta for dinner tonight and froze 4 meals.  It made enough for my supper tonight, lunch tomorrow, and four frozen meals.  Cooking for one is a pain, but if I can store a few favorite meals like this in the freezer, it should help with combating the less than healthy eating habits that have reared their ugly head since my arrival in Grandma's house.  I'm hoping to freeze a few other meals over the coming weeks, sort of cooking a "normal" sized (i.e. not for one person) meal, and then freezing several portions for work lunches or suppers on those nights when cooking is just too time consuming.  I'd specifically like to make some mini lasagna's to take out and pop in the oven.  The freezing thing works well for me, too, since I don't like to eat a ton of leftovers.  If I can pull it out in a couple of weeks, it's so much more likely to not get wasted.
7. I'm still really enjoying the audio book, "Stuff Christians Like" that I've been listening to most recently.  It's brought a lot of smiles as I've been sitting on the train and bus listening.  It's also the free audio book of the month on Christianaudio.com
8. I'm loving the book, "Jesus Freak" by Sara Miles that I've been reading as well.
9. Filtered water for drinking (from a glass bottle)
10. Watching a couple of movies in the background on my laptop in the last day or so, as I've been working on other stuff.

Daily 5 - Day 141

Happy New Year!  Okay, now that we've got that out of the way, here's the December 31st edition of the Daily 5.  We'll revisit the whole new year/new decade/dreams/plans/hopes/resolutions/goals thing in the morning, after I've slept for several hours.

Today's Daily 5:

1. Brief conversation and "e-hugs" with a dear friend who understood in a way most wouldn't have
2. A few great deals at the scrapbooking store this morning, including something that will I think be a challenge for the new year
3. Finishing a book I've been reading for months (more on that to come as well)
4. Finishing the rather larger than I originally thought project of organizing all of my recipes
5. Mostly enjoying a quiet day alone, even if it was one of the harder days of the holiday season for me
   
6. cooking hamburgers for lunch on the George Foreman grill my parents gave me in August for my birthday  - the George Foreman definitely ranks up there in terms of birthday gifts - or at least in terms of really boring "practical" birthday gifts :)
   
7. Hanging with my parents and their friends tonight - better than being alone I think - though I've got to tell you that I've got tons of dirt for the next time they accuse my brothers and I of having warped minds!  After several hours with all of these people, some of whom we're related to, and some of whom we've basically known via the church since birth, well, I think I know where we got the warped minds!
8. Watching the cooking movie "No Reservations" while I typed and sorted and organized recipes (thought it seemed appropriate)
9. Loving the new straightening styling product I picked up at the salon yesterday.  the second attempt at flat ironing my hair when quite a bit more smoothly than the first, thanks in large part to the new styling product.
10. 141 days of daily 5 lists, to round out a really challenging year - grateful for the way it does help me think through my day and see things differently, recognizing the things I can be so thankful for.
    

Pray the Devil Back to Hell

I found this article quite interesting. It talks about this movie, which I would like to see, I think.

Heading out for the evening

I'm still "spinning" a little from this morning.

I spent a chunk of the afternoon in "my" park, writing, listening and praying.

It helped with the processing a bit.

I'm going out to see "Star Trek" with my dad (and maybe mom) tonight. Did you know that I'm just a bit of a trekkie? Nothing too obsessive, but I've definitely loved several incarnations of the television show, and went through a time period in my teenage years where I read quite a few novels as well!

So, dad and I (and maybe mom!) are going to have a movie date and catch the latest Star Trek movie (which neither of us has managed to see yet) at the "cheap" theatre in town. Should be fun.

Plus, since I haven't been hungry, and I'm on my way out the door, I'm totally planning on having popcorn for supper!

Daily 5 - Day 5

Image via Wikipedia

Today was fabulous, and I'll get around to writing about it eventually, but in the meantime, here are the daily 5:

1. Fresh, juicy, in-season blackberries from the farmer's market
2. another solo movie experience, and having the movie be fantastic (Julie & Julia - more thoughts on that coming soon too)
3. accomplishing most of the major things on my (long) list for the weekend, and yet feeling like I was rested and joyful.
4. getting my feet wet while journaling in "my" spot in the park
5. Hanging out with the gorillas at the zoo this morning and learning some new things about them from an interpretive talk.
   

Daily 5 - Day 4

Today's daily 5 moments of joy etc.:

1. a fantastic and challenging sermon at church tonight
2. seeing a movie solo this afternoon
3. a day that felt quite peaceful for the first time in a while
4. plans to spend the next hour or so curled up in bed, writing a piece that's been stirring in my heart for several days
5. leftover vietnamese food for dinner
   

Saturday Mid-day

I'm having a fairly restful and peaceful Saturday. Sort of a nice change of pace actually.

I've done some errands (and have more to do).

I went and got a massage (so thankful for insurance coverage!)

I saw a movie solo.

And now, I think I'm going to take a nap. I made it home and my energy is waning. I'm hoping to go to church tonight, but right now, I think I need to sleep.

Daily 5 - Day 3

Today was officially nuts.

For the first time I've brought work home with me. Nothing too major, but a process and procedure that definitely needs to be rewritten before I have to rely on it on Monday morning.

I followed work up with a work related errand (and another one to come tomorrow), a stop at a bookstore (yep, came away with purchases, what else is new!), a quick grocery trip, and then an evening at my parent's house, letting my mom feed and love on me, and watching a movie together.

But, there were some great moments, so, without further ado, and before I head off to journal and hopefully sleep, here's today's daily 5:

Image via Wikipedia

1. Listening to the same song (Jesus Lover of My Soul: It's all About You) on repeat for my entire commute this morning, and letting it resonate in my heart.
2. Watching "Chariots of Fire" with mom (and dad at times) and being challenged again by the depth conviction of Eric Liddell, and moved by the music (and remembering the first synchro duet my partner and I ever choreographed and self-coached, performed to music from "Chariots of Fire")
3. A few blackberries snitched from the fresh ones mom bought at the farmer's market today, and mom being willing to make popcorn (a favorite snack of our family, consumed in enormous quantities) at my request, because it had been quite some time since I'd had good homemade salted and buttered popcorn.
   
4. Wearing jeans to work.
5. Waking up this morning and feeling like sleep had brought a bit of rest.
   

The Plan

Have you all figured out yet that I'm a much happier individual when there is some semblance of planning and order in my life? It can be a totally flexible plan, and can change completely upon arrival at the time for execution of the plan, but I'm a less stressed, happier person if there is some sort of plan in place as a starting point.

That said, I have a plan for the evening.

I will drive from work to the library branch where they are holding a copy of a DVD that I requested.

(I may stop at my parent's house, depending on a returned phone call, to pick up any mail that may be waiting for me there.)

From the library I will go home, pre-heat the oven, and toss in some comfort food. (In my case, tonight that likely means chicken fingers and french fries.)

While said comfort food is cooking, I will likely take a long, hot shower, and then put on my comfy pajamas.

Theoretically neither of my roommates, nor the fiancee tag-a-long who is a near constant presence in our home these days, will actually be at home for the greater portion of the evening.

Thus, following my shower, I will settle in the living room with my laptop, and my plate of comfort food, wrap my pajama clad self in a blanket, and put the dvd I will have picked up from the library in the dvd player. I will then spend a few happy hours watching Monty Python and the Holy Grail, while surfing the internet, or playing a computer game. This will be followed by some reading, and a hopefully early bedtime.

Of course, these plans are entirely flexible and subject to change depending on a wide variety of circumstances, and my own mood, but just at this moment, I can't think of anything I'd enjoy quite so much as an evening of British humor (quirky, and oddly intelligent and appealing to the history/poly sci major that lurks within me) while curled up on a couch in my pajams. Except possibly conversations with one of a very few people. Those would definitely be better than Monty Python!

Waiting for spring

Today has been a hard day emotionally. Caught in the midst of some difficult things. Waiting desperately for spring.

I spent the morning with my roommate, doing errands. We went for breakfast, then got groceries and did some shopping. It was a good time.

Then home.

I'm settled on the couch, watching a movie I've felt prompted and compelled to watch all week. "The Pianist" the story of a Polish composer and pianist, who was a Jew. I've only been watching for a few short minutes, but there are images that have already implanted themselves within me.

In a little while, I'm going to church. my brother is leading worship, and his choir is singing at a large local church tonight.

And tomorrow? Tomorrow my roommate and I are headed for the mountains. For a day of much needed rest.

Stranger than Fiction

I'm curled up on my couch, crocheting a scarf and watching a favorite movie.

It's a good way to spend a Sunday afternoon. Eventually I'll go out and get some groceries and likely settle down with a book, but for now, I'm settled in with the story of Harold Krick.

Have you seen the movie "Stranger than Fiction"? If you haven't, you need to. It's absolutely fantastic in every way. So funny and hopeful and redemptive. And lines that make me laugh and laugh, delivered in such a deadpan way.

One of my favorites?

"Dramatic Irony. It'll f**k you every time." (Dustin Hoffman's character)

Sunburnt and Other Things...

Could someone tell me how I managed to spend a month in the Mediterranean in January without getting so much as a tan, and yet, when I spend a few hours outdoors on the first warmish and sunny spring day of the year, I manage to quite nicely sunburn my face and neck.

I watched the movie "Dan in Real Life" this afternoon. I liked it. A happy, family sort of movie. Predictable, but happy. I need some happy in my life these days.

I'm incessantly hungry. Seriously. I've been eating nearly constantly all day.

I bought pork buns in China Town today. I love pork buns. (Did I mention that I've been incessantly hungry today?)

I'm going to see a movie with my baby brother, T., tonight. I'm looking forward to hanging out with him too.

Later.

January 1, 2008

I went to the park today. The park where I often go to think and pray. A sort of pilgrimage site for me. I couldn't stay very long - it was too cold to spend more than 15 or 20 minutes outside at a stretch this morning. It was short, but so needed. Hardly anyone else was in the park, so when I'd stop moving, there was a perfect silence. So peaceful and deep and filled with the presence of God.
I built a tiny altar near the river one day early this fall. A monument to some time spent praying and listening. Today I added these three stones - symbolizing nothing and so many things. Three stones as I let my heart wander and talked with Jesus.

After the park I ended up driving around the city. A weird pilgrimage of sorts. To a number of places I've gone over the years to pray. Along routes that were some of the first places where I began to hear the voice of the Father, where it became more than a one-sided conversation. Places I drove and screamed at God while I was depressed. Places I drove and prayed in wonderment those first few months after I was healed. Places where I drove with desperately broken people in my passenger seat, talking and praying. Places and routes full of memories and nostalgia. And as I drove, I let the memories float back, and I prayed for the future. It was such a special time, a great way to start a new year!

This is a picture of my baby brother, T. and I. We had a movie date tonight. (We saw quite possibly the worst movie on the planet, "Enchanted" on the recommendation of one of T's friends. Instead of mutually enjoying a movie, we ended up bonding over rolled eyes, glances at our watches and groans of almost physical pain at the ridiculously bad nature of the movie.) We're hoping to have dinner together on Monday night, but if we can't, well, then tonight was the last time we'll see each other until I get back from Malta.

There is joy in T's smile again these last few days that has been missing for quite a while. I'm still praying that his wrist will be healed - whether supernaturally or with another surgery. I'd love it if you would pray with me for that. That he'll fully get his music back one day. But it made me happy to see the joy in his eyes again.

I asked him to pray for me before we separated for the evening. My church is commissioning me for my trip to Malta on Sunday, but T. will be out of town. I really wanted to hear him pray for me, as the sibling and family member who is most able to hear and accept my heart, and my differences from the family and religious structure I grew up in. He agreed and prayed blessing and other beautiful things over my life, my trip, my relationships. Such a special moment, sitting there in the car, parked in front of my parent's house in the dark, and hearing my baby brother talk to Jesus about me.

This was a good way to start a new year.

P.S. I Love You

My roommate and I went to see the new movie, "P.S., I Love You" last night. SO fantastic!

I haven't laughed that hard in a very long time. Great humor.

And then, in the next second, I was crying. Touching moments, pathos, beautiful.

Plus, hardly any crude language, hardly any extraneous sex. (While I cope with other movies that have too much of those things, I'm always happy to come across a great movie that doesn't have them!)

Evening Plans

I'm considering taking myself on a date tonight. A date with myself. To a movie. I've been wanting a good solo movie experience for a while, and there are several films out right now that I would be interested in seeing...

So (and I'm still debating doing this tonight - I may push it to tomorrow night), these are the five movies (in no apparent order) on the list of ones I'd drop the appropriate amount of money to get a ticket to see...

1. Into the Wild
2. Dan in Real Life
3. August Rush
4. Across the Universe
5. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford

Has anyone out there seen any of these? Recommendations?

Prince Caspian

So excited for the next installment - I'll break my "can't watch fantasy because it gives me nightmares" rule for this one!