Merry Christmas vs. Happy Holidays

Now I know I am going to catch some flack for this but I have to say something.I see day in and day out, people freaking out about words “Merry Christmas” and the term “war on Christmas”Today I read someone posted that the school bus drivers were asked to remove decorations from their buses and asked NOT to wear Santa hats while driving. Now first decorations could be a hazard depending where they are, and I agree that if they want to wear a santa hat, so be it there is no harm in it. However, it was posted that this is Canada and that is how things are that if other people don’t like it, to bad we are Canadian and we say Merry Christmas.

 

Well, here’s the thing Merry Christmas is NOT a Canadian thing. Christianity isn’t a Canadian thing, it was brought here by the English, and it pushed out the traditions of the Native people who lived here in the first place. It was forced upon a people who were happy with their own traditions.  Christianity isn’t even an English thing, lol it was originated in the middle east.  You know .. where Jerusalem is.

 

Being Canadian gives you the freedom of religion, or the freedom NOT to believe in a god.  There are people who were raised here for generations that aren’t Christian, does that make them less of a Canadian because they don’t celebrate Christmas? No, of course not.  No matter what you believe in, or not believe in you are still Canadian if you were born here.  There are Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Pagan, Sikh  atheist, Agnostics, FLDS, Scientology, Jehovah’s Witness.. and the list goes on, that DONT celebrate “Christmas”.

We are all Canadians! Should it not be about spending time with our families, loving and being thankful for the year behind us? Should we not focus on the special time that we have to look forward to being with our loved ones?  I am all for freedom of faith and how you worship, or not worship… what I don’t think it right is being TOLD to suck it up because Christianity is the majority and to deal with it. If it was the other way around there would be none of it, but because its Christianity its ok and the rest of us have to suffer for it.  THATS NOT CANADIAN! 

Movie Review – Tucker and Dale vs. Evil (2010) *Spoiler Alert*

Hi there, long time since my last post huh? Sorry about that due to a death of a close friend I disappeared for a little while but I am back baby! lol

Ok so tonight the hubby and myself popped some popcorn and settled in for a comedic double feature date night!  On the agenda for the night, Tucker and Dale vs Evil and Horrible Bosses (review to follow soon).

First up Tucker and Dale vs Evil starring Alan Tudyk (Firefly, Transformers:Dark of the moon) Tyler Labine (Breaker High, Mad Love, Rise of the Planet of the Apes) and Katrina Bowden (Piranha 3D, 30 Rock). Directed by Eli Craig.

Now until a few days I hadn’t heard about this low-budget, but big on funny film. I had browsed http://getglue.com , during a brief discussion with another user over my favourite Sci fi show of all time (Firefly) they told me about a little known movie that Alan Tudyk was in called Tucker and Dale vs. Evil.  I had no idea what he was talking about or what the film was about, but I was a fan of both Labine and Tudyk so I hunted down a copy to check it out for myself.  I am so glad that I did! This has to be one of the funniest films I have seen in a long time.  :D

The movie takes place up the in the Appalachian Mountain, WV where Tucker (Tudyk) and Dale (Labine) are headed up to Dales new vacation home to fix it up and enjoy some fishing.   Also up the mountains are a bunch of college kids heading up to the lake for some skinny dipping, getting high, drinking and camping. (Ya I know we have seen this all before..be patient lol) During their drive the college kids discuss how they are up in Hillbilly country and to be careful or they could be the victims of a bad “Deliverance”  family out in the woods.  While driving down the highway they are passed by a beat up truck, and driving it is a dirty pair that really do look like something out of “The Hills Have Eyes”, ya you guessed it Tucker and Dale.  After soon realising that they had forgotten the beer they pull into “Last Chance Gas” (again I know, bear with me lol)  Where again they run into our duo looking creepier then before, spying on the girls of the group through the cans on the shelf.

So I know what your thinking, it sounds like every bad horror movie made, right? lol. Ya I know, but its not a horror remember.  After leaving the store Tucker has to talk Dale into talking to one on the girls because he is too shy to go over himself.   After getting the courage to go over, Dale forgets to leave the HUGE scythe he had been putting in the truck.  It is just the start of the ridiculousness, that is to follow.  The movie is not meant to break new ground, or at least I didn’t get that impression. You had your typical horror movie nods, like the cabin that had been owned by a manic 20 year before (not that Dale and Tucker caught that looking at the creepy clippings stapled to the wall, no they noticed the 3 for 1 coupon for food instead) the booby traps in the house – a moving pillar that when moved swung a nail laden board into a persons face.  You had the kids getting high in the woods and telling creepy stories, and deciding to go skinny dipping, where of course the pretty girl goes off on her own and smacks her head on a rock being knocked out, but when Dale and Tucker save her from drowning and try to tell her friends that they have her, they think they are creepy hillbilly that have kidnapped their friend and plan to do heinous things to her, and soon devise a plan to try to get her back from the bad men. Meanwhile the girl, Allie, (Bowden) is just fine and being fed breakfast in bed and playing board games.

As the movie goes on, one by one the college group wind up dead by their own hands for the most part.  One of my favourites in the movie is after they decide that they are going to rescue Allie and they are going to take out Tucker and Dale and one of the college kids takes a running start at Tucker who is using a wood chipper, and as Tucker bends over to feed more wood into the machine, he trips over him and dives head first into the running machine, followed by a fountain of fake blood being spewed out the other end of the machine and a wonderful crunching sound. After getting the machine to stop Tucker calls the to head of the guy “Hey are you ok?”   lol
I wont tell you to much of the movie because I really do think you should take the time to see it yourself, but I assure you it gets bloody, gory and funnier as the film progresses. Dale even gets to be the man of the hour, saving Allie from being sawed in half by a large circular saw, where she is tied to a piece of wood that is inching closer to the blade. LOL It maybe a bit cheesy but it really is hilarious. The director does a wonderful job of blending the gore and blood with heart-felt sweetness and hilarity.

I have said it before and I will say it again, I havent been to art school, or film school so I can’t tell you what I think of the technical aspects of the movie, I can tell you it doesn’t look like a big budget movie but I think that it is part of the charm of the film.   I should mention that it did debut at Sundance, also winning the Midnight Audience Award at SXSW, the Jury Prize for First Feature at Fantasia, the Best Director award at Fantaspoa, and the Best Motion Picture Award at Sitges.   I found it a great laugh and good date movie for me and the hubby.  Its a tongue in cheek comedic gore fest,  up there with other movies like Shaun of the Dead, My name is Bruce, and the older movie Master Squad, though I am not sure how many of you might remember that one.

In the end I would HIGHLY recommend this movie for anyone who has a sense of humor and loves horror slasher flicks.  It is a great balance of blood, crazy, funny and even a little romance mixed in for good measure.  Go out, find a copy and have a good laugh I promise you wont be disappointed.

I give the move a very firm 9/10

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1465522/

The most wonderful day of the year!

Good morning everybody! And, a wonderful first day back to school, for those of us parents lucky enough to see the kids leave this morning.

As I got my youngest ready for his first day back today, I saw parents all over Facebook and Twitter wishing their younglings a good day back too.  I never thought to much about WHY, my mother always looked almost relieved when we went back after holidays, I just knew that she seemed a little more relaxed after waving us good-bye in the morning. lol
I understand now,  I really do.  After 2 months of “Mom mom mom mom mom” and the in and out of the house, and the countless times you have to kick them out of the fridge, stopping them from eating us out of house and home it is nice to see them off to drive someone else crazy for a change. lol

The youngest went off today with all new clothes, supplies, shoes, jacket, hell he even had on new socks and underwear. I cant help but sit back and wonder why we as parents think Christmas is a racket, screw that! Its back to school shopping that has it all beat.  Not only do we as parents run around trying to get everything for them to go back, (back pack, pencil-case, all the trimmings that go with it) in less than a month a guarantee you, that most of us parents will be having to go out and get a lot of it all over again.  Now I will give credit where credit is due in my case.  The kids grandparents did the majority of the shopping this year. Thank goodness! Man, I was with my mother when she didnt the supply shopping, and WOW!  Yay for Grammie! Yay for Nana and Papa too, who went all out and shopped for clothing with them as well.  Now an 8 yr old isnt hard to shop for, but have you tried a 16 yr old male?  Girls are easier in the sence they TELL you what they want and usually you have get them to scale the list back a bit.  Not a 16 yr old boy, oh no! Instead, you have non-committal shrugs, and “whatever” answers when you ask what do you need.  The good thing about having boys, is that they really dont have the “must have” lists that I notice most girls have.  I also luck out that my oldest isnt a trend zombie, so clothing didnt break anybody.

I am happy to say getting the youngest off was a breeze, other then the kick in the butt he needed to get out of bed. lol Just like his mother…. not a morning person  I want to wish all my readers with children a wonderfully quiet day at home. Enjoy the silence my friends. Oh and to those who have little ones still at home, waiting to start school….. Good Luck, it will be your time soon enough.

Happy Back to School, xxoo

He’s not the Daddy, you’re a ho darlin’

Ok so, normally I wouldn’t post two days in a row, gosh knows I don’t want to bore you, however I have been tossing this around in my head for some time. Wondering mostly if I should, it’s not the most popular view-point.  Not that, that has ever stopped me from opening my mouth before.

So, as I posted of Twitter, my husband has an affinity for The Maury Show.  I have no idea why, but alas we all have those indulges we don’t tell other people, his is Maury. lol  I have said in the past and I will say it again I am sure, I can’t stand the show.  I think it is the lowest form of entertainment.  People flock to see it in person and watch it on TV, and basically what you are watching are a series of bad mistakes made over and over.  Girls who come on with 3, 4, 5.. even sometimes 10 men to find out who the father is. It’s like watching a train wreck in progress.  You know you shouldnt watch, its gruesome, but you just can’t look away in awe.   Dont get me wrong, I KNOW he does other shows, but let’s be honest, people don’t tune it to watch “Is she a guy or a girl?” or “Make Over Madness”.  They tune in day after day, sometime 2-3 times a day, to watch Maury say, “You are not the Father” and watch the girl scream and do the run of shame, as my husband calls it.  You know, where they run off stage and throw themselves on the floor of the couch and scream and cry, “Why mama, NO! It cant be true!”  UGH! Really?

Are you telling me that in the short span of time that you can get pregnant you don’t know who you slept with?  If you don’t, its time to stop drinking and partying and get yourself some help.  Oh and while your add it, some birth control.  Some of these girls are 16,17 years old and they are bringing on 5 or 6 guys to be tested.  There is only a 2-4 day span when a woman can get pregnant, exactly what are you doing girl? Running a train on your ass during your free periods at school?  Seriously though, what are they doing?
I can’t say too much about the age, I had my first son at the age of 16, but I didn’t need a roster to know who his father was.
You watch these girls go on stage, crying that they got pregnant and they have to do everything by themselves, that the father isn’t doing anything to help. Um ya that’s because you’re a ho and you don’t know who the daddy is dear.  Girls that scream and cry, that they are 100% sure that the guy(s) they have there are the father, and test after test, Maury always seems to have the same answer, that they are not the father!  Mean while the girl has called him every name in the book, dragged him on national tv to defame him, announce to the world the size of their penis’ (which is always lady like, don’t you know) and in the end it’s not their baby!  Do these girls ever think about the consequences of their actions, starting with bedding the entire neighborhood?  Here’s an idea, CLOSE YOUR LEGS!   You wont have this problem if you didn’t sleep around with everybody in town.  The guys in my opinion always seem to get the (pardon my french) shitty end of the stick.  No one can take back the fact that they have been dragged out on tv and insulted and harassed for who knows how long.

How about the fact that sooner or later these children are going to see the show their mothers have been on, and see the fact that mommy didn’t know who their daddy was.  They will see, for some of them, man after man paraded out on stage while their mom scream and hollers and makes a complete fool out of herself only to find out Mommy Dearest has to come back in 6 months with a new set of men.  I feel bad for the kids, they didn’t ask for the embarrassment that will ensue at some point when their friends see it on You Tube and have a field day with it.  That’s  saying  nothing for the embarrassment of the ridiculous names these women are choosing for their children! OMG, I swear some of them have just grabbed a bag of scrabble tiles and thrown them out on a table and said “yep that’s what I will name my baby.”.  Some of the dumbest names have been said on that show.  Do people not realize that their children have to grown up and have these names for the rest of their lives?  Their not puppies, or kittens, they are CHILDREN!  My gosh, oh and please KNOW who the father IS before naming him after a man and calling him a jr. or the first.  You will just look that much more ridiculous after the fact and this kid is named after someone who isn’t even blood to them.

Finally I would like to add, if you get pregnant and CHOOSE to keep the baby, you then have to take responisibilty for that child.  You do not have the right to use that child for a pay cheque.  If you have the child, and then you have to raise the child on your own, no bitching is allowed.  As a woman you have a choice when you get pregnant to keep the child, adoption or have an abortion.  This is not the stone age where a woman has no choices.  I am tired of these woman going on tv, after a one night stand and crying that they are doing everything by them selves.  Uh ya, so?  Women do it all the time.  Military wives, truckers wives, woman who have men that travel a lot, and widows.  They all do it themselves, and they don’t bitch about it.  There are single mothers all over the world that take care of their children day in and day out with out help from anybody. Why, because they are moms. If that is too much for you then either give the child up, or suck it up and be a mom.  If your 16 and crying that you had to leave school, and take care of a baby, then maybe… just maybe you should have thought about that BEFORE having sex!  It’s not like a 16 yr old doesn’t know how a baby is made, and if they don’t then that falls on the parents for not educating their child in the first place.  Do they really think that at 16-17 yrs old that the guy is ready to be a parent either? NO.  Now before I get flogged, I don’t mean that men that are in relationships for a time and run have the right to. I am not saying that.  Men who knowingly not use a condom while in a relationship, and get a girl pregnant should man up and pay child support.  They were aware of the consequences of their actions and buck up cupcake, its time to grow up and be a dad.  I am talking about the one night stands, flings, and “booty calls”.  They werent in a relationship, and should have the choice of walking away, like the woman does IF she CHOOSES to not have the baby, or keep it.  Where is it written that a man doesn’t have that choice?  I think it’s a little lop-sided that woman have the choice but men don’t.  If we choose to give the baby up for adoption, we don’t pay child support do we?  No, so why should a man be attached to a woman who met in a bar for one night for the rest of his life?   Lets call it what it is, a double standard.

Oh and just because it irks me something fierce,  I wish someone would teach some of these girls what the meaning of ALONE means.   When you are raising the child with help from family, friends, or a boyfriend.. you are not alone!  You are with out the birth father, yes, but you are not alone, pick another term please.    Sorry that last one drives me crazy. lol

Please feel free to rant back at me, I look forward to hearing from my readers.
Thank you,
Beth

So tired of Stupid

So, over the last few days I have had a few things running about my brain and have tossed the idea back and forth about writing about it.  The only reason why I hesitate, is to be honest, it’s not very nice.  Thing is, if you know me at all, I am not really known for being all that nice. LOL Actually depending on who you ask I am an out right Bitch most of the time. A label that really doesn’t bother me, there are some many other things as of late that I have been called, Bitch would be almost be a compliment.

The reason why I bring this up is because I have become increasingly aware at the amount of STUPID, that infects my life . The definition of Stupid is as follows:

stu·pid

adjective /ˈst(y)o͞opid/ stupider, comparative; stupidest, superlative Lacking intelligence or common sense - I was stupid enough to think she was perfect Dazed and unable to think clearly - apprehension was numbing her brain and making her stupid Used to express exasperation or boredom - she told him to stop messing with his stupid painting noun /ˈst(y)o͞opid/ stupids, plural A stupid person (often used as a term of address) - you’re not a coward, stupid!

Lets start with the obvious perpetrators of stupid, the media.
I watch a lot of CNN, because I wont watch FOX.  I like to space my stupid out in a day.  If I watched those right-wing whack jobs for any more than 10 mins, I would have used up all my tolerence for stupid all at once.   However, I am finding it increasingly more and more annoying to try to weed out what is actually news on CNN, among the “fluff” as I call it, that they have shown.  Personally I watch CNN, to get caught up on world events, become informed about the world around us, not to read on their ticker at the bottom who the new contestants of Dancing with the stars are!  I am sorry but that is not news.  I don’t care, and I would assume that the majority of people watching CNN in the first place is more interested in Libya, or Afghanistan, then finding out that some washed up celebrity who hasn’t had a job in a while is trying to drum up some interest by Cha Cha’ing on Wednesday nights. (I don’t know if it’s on Wednesdays I just picked a day).  They have entire channels devoted to Fluff TV, lets keep the news un cluttered thank you.

Speaking of those channels I mentioned. Why is it that there ARE channels devoted to vapid reality tv, in the first place.  I live in reality thank you, when I turn on the tv for entertainment I would like some semblance of intelligence thank you.  I am so tired of seeing hour after hour of brain-dead reality tv.  I can’t say that I don’t watch some reality Tv, and I am not immune from  the drama that in sues.  I do watch Hells Kitchen, and Master Chef with Gordon Ramsey, and I can’t say that I watch it entirely for the food.  However the contestant on the show actually have to have a brain to be able to cook and not kill themselves in the kitchen. If someone can tell me the intellectual properties of The Jersey Shore, The bachelor or Teen Mom I would like to hear it.  It’s not just reality tv that is to blame for the stupid.  As a geek, I watch G4 TV a lot. A channel devoted to tech, video games, and primarily a demographic of 16-38 yr old men.  However, lately they have decided to jump on the Stupid-train and resort to the lowest common denominator in their programming.  They have a show usually it is hosted by a male and female  duo Kevin Pereria and Candice Bailey. One of their co-hosts Sarah Underwood, though I am sure in life is a doll and sweet as anything, spends a lot of her screen time acting like the typical dumb blonde.  In recent weeks, she has done segments on Philadelphia’s naked bike ride, she has made a habit of having her breasts “motor-boated” after the phrase “I am so sure” is said by Candice Bailey, and my favourite last Monday she Co-Hosted with Candice Bailey and spent the first 5 minutes of the show talking and showing off her ass.  SERIOUSLY NOW!   Most people who watch are intelligent people who are interested in valid topics that USED to be shown on the show. Now, they are few, and far between, they pander to the teenage boys that watch. I get it girl on girl is tawdry, get over it.  *Rolls eyes*

It’s not just Tv, it people everywhere.  From stupid people, that we  are all surrounded by it.  Tom Hanks said it best, “Stupid is as Stupid does.”  People who swear an over abundance, because they don’t have the vocabulary to articulate what they want to say, sound stupid.  Take the time to think about what you have to say first and maybe you wouldn’t sound like a mouth breather.  Swearing isn’t bad, just do it in moderation please. I swear, like a sailor sometimes depending on the day lol. However I can speak with out doing so, something some people I know, are incapable of doing.  People who have nothing better in their lives to do but pass judgement of people and things they don’t know anything about it, sound and are acting stupid.  If you don’t know what you are talking about when you open your mouth, here’s and idea, don’t speak.  It will save everybody a lot of headache and, it will save you from showing how stupid you are in the end.

To be continued…. because the stupid never ends

Movie Review: Water For Elephants

Last night I had the rare opportunity to curl up with a chick flick, with out the moans and groans of either of the kids or the husband around to ruin it for me.  I have meant to watch this for a little while now.  I heard wonderful things about the film from a few friends of mine, but I will be honest I really thought alot of the praise for the film came from the fact that Rob Pattinson  was in it, and most of them are twilight fans lol.  Dont get me wrong, I wouldn’t kick the man out of bed for eating crackers, but I like a little more to go on then a hot guy is in a movie for me to watch it.  Resse Witherspoon (Legally blonde, Sweet Home Alabama, Walk the Line) and Christoph Waltz (Green Hornet, Inglorious Basterds) rounded out the cast.

Now, I havent read the book as of yet, though I will say it’s on my future reading list.  I was expecting a fluff chick flick and was pleasantly surprised to see that it was more in-depth and far darker than I had expected.
It’s about a young man having to make a new life for himself after the accidental death of his parents on the day of his final exam at Cornell’s veterinary School.  Losing everything in his life, Jacob Jankowski (Pattinson) set out to re-build his life.  While walking the rails, he hops the train of the Benzini Circus and his life changes completely.   While working for the circus as their vet he falls for the ring masters wife, Marlena Rosenbluth (Whitherspoon), causing issues for the married couple.  The owner and Ring Master August (Waltz) is not a man to be trifled with, and has a very distinctive violent streak which he liked unleashing on the various animals and people around him.

Im not one on ceremony, so you will have to forgive me if I don’t go in-depth into the direction, or photography or anything else too techniqucial, because I will be the first one to tell you I would be talking out of… well you get my point I am sure.
I will tell you, I did like the film better then I thought I would.  I did however, find that the movie lulled in some places, causing me to look at the clock and wonder if it would pick up eventually.  The actors did a good job in their performances,  Waltz stole the scene a few times, and I thought to myself that they could have gotten a stronger male for the lead role.  Now, again there is nothing wrong with Pattinson, I just found that a few times there could/should have been someone stronger in the role.  He was believable as the depression era vet, but I found the chemistry lacking between Witherspoon and himself.   Again I will say I havent read the book, so I can’t comment about how right, or true to the story the film is.  I will however say that the story was a beautifully written one.  I did enjoy the circus backdrop the film contained,  it was reminiscent of the HBO series Carnivale.   A few times, I the subject was a bit too dark for me (ie: the abuse of some of the animals) though I know it to be staged and no animals were hurt in the making of the film, it is still hard to watch and pulled deeply at my heart-strings.  I am sure that was the point so, bravo!   Job accomplished.

I can’t say that I will find myself watching this film over and over, as well as it was done, it still dragged in places making it difficult to really overly enjoy after a while.  A few scenes could have been cut down, and maybe lengthen a few that should ahve had more explanation, was the last impression that the film left me with.  The ending was predictable, but it is a romance and the boy usually gets his girl.  Over an all, it was a sweet movie that I would recommend to a friend looking for a girls night movie, but women please don’t torture your men with this one. Save it for girls night.  It is rated PG 13, so it’s an ok Mother/daughter movie as well. especially if your daughter is a Twilight fan.

In the end, I would give the movie 7.5/10

Have a watch yourself and let me know what you think

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1067583/

Movies that make you go hmmmm…

Spoiler alert! Post contains spoilers for a few movies…

I can’t say that I have too much to say lately.  To honest with all of you  my life hasn’t been all that exciting.  My days have been spent running around like a chicken with my head cut off, getting the kids ready to go back to school in less than a couple of weeks, getting the house cleaned up for an inspection, which by the way is a pain in my ass! Who thought up the idea of every 5 months invading a tenants apartment and making them uncomfortable in their own homes?  The funny part of it was, they never showed up to inspect the place, nice huh?  On top of all that I have been on another movie kick, unfortunately I can’t say that the movies I have chosen have been all that stellar.

First off I thought I would watch Pirates of the Caribbean, on Stranger Tides, OMG the movie SUCKED!  The whole lot that produced the film should be smacked and forced to apologize to the fans of the series and offer them their money back, for those of them that paid to see it. Thankfully I can say I didn’t!  I have never been so disappointed in a movie I had looked forward to seeing.  I understand the director was different, but the characters shouldnt have been.  It was like watching Johnny Depp and Geoffery Rush, try to find who their characters were all over again.  Barbossa was rewritten to be different but it seemed like it was beyond who the character was in the first place, you know, the character that the fans actually liked and got to know.  The hair, make up, and costuming were, horrible!  They changed Depp’s wig colour, and yes I realized that they were going for a “sun-kissed” look, however, if he didn’t have sun-kissed hair in the first three, why give it to him now?  They took all but I would say 3 of the original actors/characters out of the series, added Penelope Cruz, UGH!, and Ian McShane.  Now I like Ian McShane!(Deadwood, Pillars of the Earth, Death Race) Love him in almost everything I have seen him in, but THIS, was not his role.  Cruz is annoying to the ears on a good day, but this role was too far beyond her talent. (What little there is to begin with)  I found myself looking at the clock only 30 minutes into the film wondering when it was going to pick up and get good.  It didnt…at all.  I was so disappointed in the hap-hazard way they threw in the mermaids, and haunted Queen Anne’s Revenge.  Which by the way, I have done some reading, I would  like to know where they got the idea of taking a REAL Pirate, and giving him a MAGIC ship! It was ridiculous to say the least. Mostly because it was controlled by a magic sword that Blackbeard possessed. Seriously… what were they thinking?  I know the other films had an “other-worldly” feel to them, but it made sense when it did. This, was just thrown in, to make it bigger then it was.  The script seemed thrown together, without thought to earlier character development.  All in all, it was a HUGE let down!  I am sorry to say that they are making yet another of the films at a later time, hopefully they do a better job at the next one.

After that I thought I would watch a fluff film. You know the type, something you know you don’t have to think to hard about while watching it.  I love fluff films personally, give your brain some down time while you enjoy something simple but good…. well usually anyway.  I thought I would watch Red Riding Hood, with Amanda Seyfried, Virginia Madsen, Billy Burke, Gary Oldman to name a few.  I will admit the reason for me watching it was for two smaller parts in the film played but two of my favourite actors, Michael Shanks (SG1,Sancutary) and Michael Hogan (Battlestar Galactica, Warehouse 13).  I am a  HUGE SCI FI, geek so they were a big draw.
I wish I hadn’t bothered, lol.  It was boring, not well thought out, and frankly all over the place.  The script was silly, and not well thought out, the plot had holes in it a bus could drive through, the acting was sad to say was weak at best, and it was just silly.  I liked the idea of a modern take, (sort of) of Little Red Riding Hood, the idea was a good one. It just seemed like they were trying to make some money off the Werewolf/Vampire craze since Twilight came out.    I was happy to see two of my favourite actors in something, but I am sure they would agree it wasnt one of their finer films they have done.   They drag you on this ill-thought up journey through the story, bad special effects, and a ridiculous ending.  I can see why it was a pass on DVDuesday on AOTS.  Remind me to thank Chris Gore for the heads up, I just wish I had listened to it!

Other than that I have watched Tangled by Disney, which I have to say was really cute! And Tekken, which I couldn’t get through.. just not my thing.  I can give you a better break down at a later time, I think I have talked enough haha.
Let me know what you thought of these films, I would love to hear from someone else who endured them as well

TTFN
Beth

 

My weekend with Austen…

Good Afternoon,

I know I know, I have lacked in my posts the last few days.  I apologize, to my few readers, and grateful for you all.
I have taken some time to myself after the dreadful past few weeks.   The drama having died down, and the persons responsible being removed from my life, I thought I would re-charge myself with some much-needed quiet time.

My choices in how I would spend this time are few as the kids are still home for summer vacation, and the everyday routine still needing to be attended to, I chose to have an Austen movie marathon.  While with my mother up north we had watched the mini series that was the BBC of Pride and Prejudice, with Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy.  I have read some of Ms. Austen’s work over the years, but found it difficult to read and follow.  I find that you have to read between the lines of everything that is said.  The Edwardian age was not known for free thinking and straight forward conversation.  It seems everybody spent a lot of time saying everything but what they really meant. Not that I mind, for all the pomp and circumstance of everything, it seemed a simpler time.

So I sat down last night and today with a few of her best. Another version of Pride and Prejudice, this time with Keira Knightly as Lizzie Bennett, Sense and Sensibilty, with Emma Thompson, Kate Winslet, and Alan Rickman. Who in my opinion could read the phone book and I would sit and listen to him. lol  Emma, with Gwenyth Paltrow and Alan Cummings.  Persusasion, which was one I hadn’t heard, and little known actors in it however I found it to be beautifully done and terribly romantic, and finally I watched Mansfield Park with Jonny Lee Miller, which to my surprise was a little more political than her other works, or at least I must say the film was.

All of the films were wonderfully done, with gorgeous costumes, amazing locations that made me home sick for places I have never been to myself.  Watching the rolling hills of England, Ireland and Scotland where the films were shot made me long for them like I had been there in a past life.  Some may say that Austen’s work is made up of silly girls that do nothing but look for a husbands and ways to make it higher in society. I could not agree with all those arguments entirely, however I would say that at closer look her heroines are out spoken woman, for the time that is. They are not waif little things that do nothing but scheme to get further ahead, but are educated woman who chose how to live their lives in way to make THEM happy, not as to make everybody else happy.

Remembering that in the early 1800′s woman still could not inherit, own property, or be alone with a man without chaperone, her female leads in my opinion were strong women in their own way.  I found myself very endeared by the setting, people and splendor of the time.  As a woman I can not say that I was not moved by the romance or her writing and the portrayal of it on-screen.
I love my husband dearly, however like so many men these days, he is not the most romantic. There were no pros, or sonnets read during our courtship, and I dare say that I don’t know a single woman who had such things read to her. lol
That is not saying my husband or the husbands of my friends can’t be romantic in their own ways, because I know it to be possible. Show me a girl who wouldn’t like her own Mr. Darcy or Mr. Knightly and I will show you a girl who is lying lol.
If nothing else,  Ms. Austen knew the heart of women of her time and time ahead.  I look forward to watching all of them over and over, and as well I look to grab her books again and try one more to read once more.

I suggest to all the women I know, take a moment for yourself and lose yourself  inside the world of Jane Austen, if only for a day. Things in life will seem better when you are through, I promise you.
I would like to thank Ms Austen not only for my new piece of mind, but for women everywhere who still believe in romance in no small part due to her collective works.

There and back again…

Well I am home again, ok I was home yesterday but I was too tired to post yesterday.  Though my vacation was cut short due to personal reasons, what time I did spend up north with my mom was wonderful and I look forward to heading back up later this month.

We left at 6am last Monday morning and after a quick stop at Timmy’s for breakfast we were off!  I love long drives, and couldn’t wait to get on the road.  Now a word of warning, DONT  eat a Tim Hortons breakfast sandwich unless you KNOW your going to be by a bathroom for the next 6 hours! OMG talk about a long 3 hrs when you are constantly having to find a bathroom to stop at. UGH!!

We got the cottage around 10 or so, and since I had been up WAY to early and didn’t feel the greatest I took a nap when I got there, can you blame me lol.  I wish I had taken a few minutes first when I got there after unpacking the van to look at everything but I was beat.

So after my brief nap mom took me out to lunch at a little greasy spoon in town.  Cambellville is a cute little town that made me think of Paris, Ont. the whole time we were there. It was uncanny.  Food wasnt the greatest, but it was big portions so not too bad.  Not a place I would write home about, but I thought I would let you know.  I wish I could remember the name of the place, maybe next time I will write it down lol.

After Lunch we headed out to the trailer park my mom purchased a new trailer from. WOW, I tell you trailer parks are not like they used to be!  These were more like houses, with bay windows, full decks,  flower gardens, the works.  You should see the interiors as well, holy crap!  Hardwood floors, modern kitchens, and bathrooms, three bed rooms and fully furnished and decorated!  I was dumb founded to see them.  The park at first glance, does look like a trailer park and I made comment to my mother as we drove in I felt I was rolling into an episode of Trailer park boys for a second.lol   A salt water pool, man-made beach on Lake Seymour, club house with big screen and Wii for the kids, HUGE playground, a fish cleaning hut, convince store on grounds…. these were just a few of the perks of this place. Hell before we left I told mom I wanted one too lol.
The place was just beautiful and I am told that there is amazing fishing as well in Lake Seymour, not to say that is any kind of selling point for me personally, but I know the kids will like it and I may even get my husband to come up with me a couple of times because of it lol.

After I was done drooling over my moms new purchase, or at least the park, she hasn’t gotten the keys yet as they are building it to order for her. We headed back into town to go a bit of shopping for dinner.  I really love the little town, any little town really.  I have lived in a large city all my life, but I would give anything for a small place in a small town.
After getting back I took my camera out back of my dads cottage and took some great pics of the Trent river. My dads back door leads to his little dock right on the river.  I sat there for sometime just enjoying the quiet of the place with my feet dangling in the  water.  That was the most I was putting in of course, too much vegetation for my liking, which means slimy river bed, which means fish.. *shutters* I don’t do slimy lol  The water felt nice though.  Not much water traffic, as the locke wasnt too far up from where we were, but there were a few larger craft buzzing around.  Which was alright till the wake soaked me sitting there.

After a quick dinner mom read her book and I settled in for a marathon of Pride and Prejudice, with Colin Firth as Mr.Darcy. YAY! I love Jane Austen.  When that was finished it was time for bed, I needed it too I was exhausted by then and looked forward to bed.

The next day we headed back out pretty early, Mom wanted to show me some of the towns near by, and a few places her and my sisters had found while they had been up there a week or so earlier.
We visited a cute cheese factory, that still makes cheese the old fashion way with locally produced cream. It was really nie and I picked some up to bring home to the hubby.  We also went to a chocolate factory that does all the chocolates for the school in Ont. for their fund-raising.  Prices were amazing, but I only grabbed some for kids and hubby.
We did some shopping in Belleville Ont., and Trenton Ont. as well.  None of that even came close to the long drives down back country roads.

I saw 100-year-old farms, rolling hills where all you can see for miles was green and a few live stock.  I was in heaven!  Farms, and trees, cows, horses, sheep.  A farmers swap meet where we stopped briefly to be shocked at  the prices they wanted for things lol.  I almost came home with a new pet Cornish game hen, haha. The husband would have killed me told me to cook it but it was adorable and I wanted to take it home.  He was so cute

I found myself longing for a small stone farm-house and acres of green farm land to call my own as we drove along.  I wouldn’t be happier then I would be out in the country.  With nothing around you for miles, no stores, little traffic and your nearest neighbor half a mile up the road.  I don’t mean Hagarsville, or Cayuga. I mean Up north were it is still mostly untouched by large cities and huge amounts of traffic.  It reminded me of the pictures you see of the Highlands in Scotland.  Where if I have my way one days that’s exactly where I will end up, even for a short time.

Like I said, my trip was cut short due to some family business, however I am heading back up there again later this month with my mom again when her new summer home is finished.  I greatly look forward to it!  Even though it was short, I had a wonderful time with just my mother and myself. It was the first time it was just me and her since I was a child and I cant wait to do it again.  Hopefully I can convince my teenager that the fresh air would do him some good and drag him with me some time, and I already know that my youngest will jump at the chance to go.

I just want to take a minute to say thanks to my Mother for asking and taking  me this week.  I cant wait to do it again.
All my Love
Beth

On a quick note…

Hi again,

Ya I know I said I was done till I got home, I promise it’s just a quick note.

I wanted to take a minute and do some shameless promotion of a friends blog.
I have known this girl for… OMG ten years, geez where does the time go ?
Anyway, this girl is a good friend and it was her who encouraged me to start my blog in the first place and I cant thank her enough.

Rants~N~Scribbles is one of the few blogs I read on a daily basis.  Its written by my dear friend Gwenyth Love.
 I find it fun,informative and well written.
It’s a book review blog that she does herself, and with great talent I would add.  Not only is it a great read, ( pardon the pun)  she cares about her readers, and holds contests and giveaways when she can.  Personally I love Teaser Tuesdays and WWW Wednesdays!

I want you ALL, to take a moment and go read her latest entries when you get a chance.  She has great taste and who knows maybe you’ll see something you hadn’t before and find a new book to read, which is ALWAYS a good thing.

http://rantsnscribbles.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2011-08-04T06%3A27%3A00-07%3A00&max-results=7

Thank you for you for taking the minute to read MY blog, now take another second to read hers .
Thanks again and I will see you when I get home.

XX Beth