National Parks

Have you been watching Ken Burns’ series on PBS about the National Parks?  It will make you cry!  Seriously!  Of course, his team is masterful at telling poignant stories as well as choosing moving music to go along with it.  But, my goodness, between the beauty of all the parks, the stories people share about going with their families as children and now taking their own children (and they cry), and the rangers talking about how inspired they are by their workplace…it’s just amazing.  And, of course, I now want to go to every park from Alaska to southern Florida!

Movie moods

Last night, I was in the mood to watch a very sad movie.  I don’t know why, as I was in a very good mood (like a dancing mood!), but that was my wish.  I couldn’t think of a movie that I own that would be sad enough though.  *laughs*

This morning, I woke up with a strong desire to watch “Honey, I Shrunk the Kids”!  What kind of mood does that movie call for?!  I haven’t seen that movie for a long while.  I knew I had a full agenda today, but I got on the library website to request the DVD and perhaps I’ll have a chance to watch it in a day or two.

I’m a movie kind of person.  I own a lot of DVDs and also request a lot of DVDs from the library.  If I’ve had a horrible day, I’ll watch something like “Because of Winn Dixie” because it restores my faith in the good in the world (such a sweet movie).  If I’m in a mood to snuggle under a blanket and be cozy, I’ll watch “Little Women.”  If I’m in a quiet mood, I’ll watch something like “Finding Neverland” or “Dead Poet’s Society.”  In the mood for something light, then “You’ve Got Mail.”

If I ever figure out what mood brought on “Honey, I Shrunk the Kids!”, I’ll let you know. 

Movies, movies, movies

It’s been great to catch up on a bunch of movies this summer.  I got a slew of DVDs from the library, and most enjoyed “Doubt” and “Bolt.”  I also thought “Australia” was good (though long).

And just yesterday, in a time period of seven hours, I saw two movies that I loved!  I went to opening day of “Julie & Julia” — a funny, sweet film based on two true stories (as the opening credits tell you).  It was great to see that in the theater, where the collective laughter of the audience just added to the fun.  And then I got “Last Chance Harvey” from the library, which is a quiet, charming romantic film with two fabulous actors as leads (Dustin Hoffman and Emma Thompson).  Two thumbs up for both movies!

The last DVD that remains on my library list is “Rachel Getting Married,” and then I’ll probably be on a relatively movie-free streak again for awhile.  There is a movie called “The Blind Side” coming out in theaters on November 20th that I have my eyes on though.

Game shows

I remember watching a LOT of game shows when I was a kid.  During summers, we’d watch The Price is Right in the mornings, and we always watched The Family Feud.  There was also Card Sharks, Joker’s Wild, and The $25,000 Pyramid.  I also have some memories of Name That Tune and some game show that was like Scrabble.  As I grew up, Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune became — and probably still are — the Kings of TV game shows.

Of all the shows, with all the prizes, my favorite of all time was The Family Feud.  It wasn’t a game of pure chance, but it also wasn’t a game show that just required knowing a bunch of facts.  You had to know how people think, what different people would say when asked the same question.  And, perhaps most important to me as a kid, it was a game that kids could understand and play along with at home just as well as the adults.  We could figure out answers to questions like “Name something that is orange” or ”Name something you’d find in your Grandma’s attic.”  I recently discovered that the latest version of The Family Feud is on ION television every evening.  It’s been fun to rediscover the show this week, and John O’Hurley (of Seinfeld fame) is a great host.

What was (or is) your favorite game show?  Did it seem like there were billions of game shows on when you were a kid too?

Little of this, little of that

Five random bits…

… I got “Bolt” last week on DVD from the library.  It’s so cute!  The first 10 minutes or so initally confused me, but after that, I was in love with the little dog and his friends!  I lean so heavily toward preferring dramas, but it’s good to laugh, and this movie made me laugh out loud!

… I did a load of all PINK laundry today.  Girl power!

… I have a kind of big meeting at school tomorrow.  I’m hoping that I get what I want out of it (it’s my education after all!), but wish me luck.

… One of my friends who is new to e-mail (yes, there are still those people out there) chatted with me online for 2 hours last evening.  That was fun!  Good to catch up, and it’s almost like talking to someone when there’s a lot of back and forth that quickly.  She’s out looking for a husband for me today.  Good thing one of us is.  *giggles*

… I have a ton of work to do the next few days, but then I’m leaving town and taking absolutely NO work with me!  Yay!

Doubt

I have been catching up on all the movies from the last year that I want to see.  I am on waiting lists for several at the library, including “Seven Pounds,” “Australia” and “Last Chance Harvey.”  Looking forward to seeing all of those.

A couple of weeks ago, I got the movie “Doubt” and I’ve been singing its praises ever since.  But I’m getting really frustrated with that process because, without exception, every person who I’ve mentioned the movie to has said, “Isn’t it about child abuse?”

For the record, “Doubt” is not a movie about child abuse.  The content is dramatic but not disturbing.  It is a movie about suspicion, accusation, and — get this — doubt!  And yes, the accusation is about child abuse but it’s not ever clear that anything happened.  I’d say that anyone who enjoys mysteries or shows like Law & Order would probably enjoy Doubt.  I had it from the library for one week, and I watched it in its entirety three times and watched half of it two or three other times.  I then bought it, and it wasn’t even on sale (gasp!), which is high praise from me. 

When I sat here watching ”Doubt” the first time, I thought this movie is quite good.  And at the end, during the very last scene, I thought, no, this movie is brilliant.

Up, up and away

I saw Disney Pixar’s new film “Up” today.  I realized a few minutes into it that all I knew about the movie was that it had something to do with balloons!  You tell me it’s Pixar and there are balloons (I love balloons!), and I’m there!  So the actual plot was all a surprise.  (And I won’t spoil it for you.)  The movie had me hooked as soon as the main character met his future bride, and it took off from there.  It was one of my favorite Pixar movies, probably right up there behind Nemo.

My theater didn’t show the Pixar short film before “Up” though.  *pouts*  Pixar short films are near and dear to me, and I have their short film collection on DVD.  So I’ll have to make a point to get “Up” on DVD from the library when it comes out, just to see the short film!

Also on my movie list this summer are “My Sister’s Keeper” and possibly the Eddie Murphy film (which looks too cute!).  I’m not sure I know what else is coming out!  What’s on your list?

Harvard Medical Documentary

The fourth installment of the Harvard Medical School documentary is on PBS this month.  Yay!

The first part of the documentary aired in 1991, and they followed seven students through medical school at Harvard.  The second part showed their residencies, and the third part showed several of them in practice (not all of them decided to pursue a traditional path in medicine).  Now, they are middle aged and quite reflective about this whole process.  NOVA aired a recap of some of the first documentaries this week, and I guess they are going to show more next week.  I have the other parts of the documentary on tape (and have watched them many, many times!), so I’ve seen all the old stuff and could probably recite some of it!  I’m looking forward to seeing how they are doing now.

Oscar, Oscar

I am watching the Oscars, even though I’m pretty sure that the only movie that I’ve seen that was nominated for anything was Wall-E (which just won!).  One of my friends and I are chatting via e-mail about dresses, etc.  What is up with all the drab color dresses this year?  Where’s the PURPLE, BLUE, and more RED, RED, RED please!

Memory Lane

I recently purchased a DVD boxset that is completely taking me down memory lane.  It’s a show that I adored as a kid/adolescent and the main character is still part of my thinking from time to time, as I have cute stripey socks that remind me of her.  The show?  Punky Brewster!  Punky was just a couple of years younger than me, and having a spunky little girl as the main character on a show was pretty rare at that time.  I loved it then, and it’s fun to re-watch all these episodes that I haven’t seen in ages.  And, I still knew all the words to the theme song even though I hadn’t heard it for many years and would not have been able to come up with any of it off the top of my head!  Funny how music brings all the words back.

What shows from your childhood bring back lots of memories?  Do you own any of them on DVD?