bonus view of the day

view of the day

That's all folks. After a fabulous week in South Florida, the elders and I are heading to the airport to fly back to Columbus to ring in the new year. Yesterday, we spent the morning on the beach, dipping our toes in the water, reading trashy novels, and just staring at the great abyss of the endless ocean.

florida shenanigans

We have just returned from an amazing dinner at a place called The Sundy House, which features an amazing outdoor garden that you can sit in as you eat your dinner. We were just off the main path, seated by a small body of water, giant ferns, and several flowering trees. Frankly, it was stunning, and the food was to die for. As I sit here digesting, I can't help but giggle at the shenanigans of the elder crew currently residing in Delray Beach. First, this morning, my mother and godmother were out gardening, and planting flowers. As my mother was digging to plant something or other, she literally uncovered a toad, and accidentally flung it. She screamed like a little girl....and all I can think about is flying toads. Who does that? My mother...the toad flinger...is that anything like Robert Redford, the horse whisperer?
Anyway, as we were driving home, they were all talking about t-shirts that they had seen in the in-plane magazine they had been looking through as we flew down from Ohio. Two of my favorites were:

If you're telekinetic and you know it, raise my hand

I'm no rocket surgeon

The third one, my godmother shared with me (after a Peach-tini) was "Hump the Gay Whales." Um...my dad was laughing so hard that he was making that funny wheezing sound. Turns out, it was actually "Nuke the Gay Whales" as it was some sort of conservative magazine.

Oh the shenanigans of the 50+ crowd in South Florida.

concerns

Being in Florida around Christmas is bizarre. First, you wear shorts and sandals, and it is 80 degrees out. Second, you eat dinner outside at restaurants. Third, there are lizards everywhere. Sure, they're cute and stuff...but they are everywhere, and lately, I've noticed that they seem to be organizing themselves. First, there's just one or two, but then you open your eyes after sitting in the hot tub for twenty minutes, and there are like eight of them just standing there. What does it mean? What are they waiting for? I have decided to start tracking their movements. The little buggers won't take me while I'm alive.

fun leaps

Today, as is the holiday tradition, the parents and I headed to the movies to check out something family friendly. Having loved the first one, released a couple of years ago, we were all quite excited to see NATIONAL TREASURE: BOOK OF SECRETS . Fortunately, we had a lot of fun, and enjoyed this second outing. Okay....truth. If you cannot suspend your disbelief to epic proportions, do not go and see this movie. Frankly, it is ridiculous what they do, and you know, if you go in thinking this all has to make sense, then you will come out of it sorely disappointed. However, if you can go in, and have fun, and say whatever, then you will like this movie very much. Trauma has struck the Gates family. The great-grandfather once thought of as someone who tried to halt the Lincoln assassination, has now been listed as a co-conspirator. Nic Cage is pissed, and he with his pater (Jon Voigt), ex girl-friend (Diane Kruger), and plucky side-kick (Justin Bartha...aka cutie) are so not gonna stand for this. So, they decide to track down something elusive that no one thinks exists. They will have elaborate, destructive car chases, break into residences of leaders all over the world, and be pursued by a mad Ed Harris. Oh, and Helen Mirren plays the mater. Is it all ridiculousness all the time? Hecks, yeah. Is it super fun, if you just go along for the ride? Hecks, yeah.

Final thoughts: Buy your popcorn, suspend your disbelief, and just enjoy the ride. Sometimes, movies just don't have to make sense to be fun.

photo credit: www.movieweb.com

happy holidays!

For those of you who celebrate Christmas, I hope that you had a very merry one, and were fortunate enough to be around those you love, and got lots of good stuff. For those who don't, I hope that you had a nice day off, and went to the movies.

I write to you not from the heart of it all, but instead from Florida, where I am staying at my Godmother's house in Delray Beach. Today it was around 80 degrees, and we spent most of the day sitting by the pool, playing in the pool, or eating near the pool. It is so bizarre to be wearing shorts and sandals, grilling out, and having to worry about sunscreen. (No, Robin, I don't put it on every day...) We are enjoying a lazy week of sun, and will head back to the land of the Buckeyes next Monday, where we will ring in the new year unpacking bags, and crashing after hours of likely airline delays. However, I can't complain too much, as this is living, and I am enjoying the South Florida lifestyle.

Tomorrow, I think the plan is to hit Barnes & Noble, Bed, Bath and Beyond, and possibly go out to dinner. Seriously, does it get any better than this?

p.s. i love gerard butler

On Saturday morning past, a friend and I went and took in the new flick, P.S. I LOVE YOU, based on the novel of the same name by Cecelia Ahern. I really liked the book...it was really sad, but hopeful, and a good read. Basically a young woman's husband of 9 years dies from a brain tumor, and she is devastated. However, he sends her a series of letters (after he passes) with things to do to help her grieve, and eventually move on from the death. The movie is really actually nothing like the book. The book was written by an Irish woman, and takes place in Ireland, with an Irish heroine...but now it is about an American woman who married an Irishman. He does die and send letters, but there are lots of differences...instead of the widow and her friends going to the tropics, they go to Ireland....her parents are together in the book, but now the father abandoned the mother in the film. Let's just say that lots of things are way different. Anyway, I digress. I liked the movie...I just feel like I would have cast it very differently. Hilary Swank is really likable in the part...it is just a really different role for her, and the whole time, I was thinking it was really different role for her. Gerard Butler is fabulous as always. Was this a great movie? Honestly, no. However, I left it having had a good cry, and a smile on my face.

Final thoughts: A movie to see when you need a good cry. Take kleenex, some chocolate, and marvel at the power of love. Oh, and it could just as easily be done with NetFlix while wearing your pajamas.

photo credit: http://www.movieweb.com/

go ohio!

Hooray for Ohio people doing good stuff. Lindsay Nicole Chambers, Otterbein grad, and fellow Ohio native is currently the swing in the Broadway production of LEGALLY BLONDE. She went on yesterday as Enid, the angry lesbian law student, and so I wandered down to midtown and took it in. There is nothing cooler than seeing someone you know doing something cool!

Support live theatre! Congrats, Lindsay!

photo credit: www.playbill.com

oh....those witty teenagers

I have been looking forward to seeing JUNO for months, and happily, I wasn't disappointed when I finally got to check it out. JUNO tells the story of Juno, a 16 year-old who finds herself pregnant, and unsure of what to do. Exploring her options, she considers adoption to a lovely couple played by (the always fabulous) Jennifer Garner and Jason Bateman. The father of the baby, Michael Cera, tries to keep up with Juno, unsure of where their relationship stands. Add into the equation the fabulous Allison Janney and JK Simmons as Juno's supportive-ish parents, and you have the recipe for a funny and sweet comedy. Much has been made of the script, which has many great moments, although I found that every once in a while it got a little too precocious for me, and I look forward to seeing more of Cody Diablo's work, the former stripper who penned it. Ellen Page is a force to be reckoned with as Juno, bringing both freshness and weariness to the pregnant and confused teen.

Final thoughts: Love the people, love the idea, a good time to be had at the theatre...although, you could rent this one, and not lose the charm.

Photo credit: www.movieweb.com

sad, but great

The roommate loves Keira Knightley, and I adore James McAvoy, so together we went to take in the new flick ATONEMENT. Wow. Every once in a while, you see something that is an incredible, realistic, stylized, sad, moving, well-made flick, and all you can do is sit and wish that you could watch it again for the first time. This movie was beautiful, and everything that an epic, sweeping drama should be. The story centers on a young girl who sees something out her window between her sister (Knightley) and the housekeeper's son (McAvoy) that she doesn't understand. Add in McAvoy sending Knightley a letter meant to apoligize, sending the wrong draft, and asking the sister to deliver it, and you have a disaster in the making. I don't want to give too much away because the story unfolds so interestingly...and it would be too bad to go in knowing too much. Suffice it to say, that although the series of events are movie-fantastic, they still feel realistic within the scope of the story. The actors involved are fabulous (as confirmed by the recent slew of Golden Globe nominations), and both Knightley and McAvoy are fantastic in their parts. The music is to die for, and the settings, both grim and grand are beautifully done.

Final thoughts: Epic...but simple. I know that sounds bizarre...but it is really a fabulous movie that will haunt you long past you've stepped out of the theatre.

photo credit: http://www.movieweb.com/

controversial.....yet boring

So, I took in the controversial THE GOLDEN COMPASS and was completely underwhelmed. First, I didn't actually see any sort of controversy, other than the fact that I lost interest, and missed the last two minutes of the movie to go the bathroom. Seriously. I am one of those people who never goes to the bathroom during a movie. I would rather sit there and suffer greatly than miss a moment of a flick. I held out as long as I could...but finally just went because I was so uncomfortable. Anyway, as I am coming back to the theatre, I see that everyone is leaving. I walked out and missed the last few moments of the movie. All I can say is they must be planning for a sequel since nothing was really resolved at the end of this one.

I haven't read the books, so perhaps that is why I was confused by what was going on. The movie opens with several minutes of voice over exposition. So, there is dust that connects us to other worlds, and every person is connected with an animal that comes with them all the time. Huh?

Final thoughts: Kids may dig the action/adventure, but adults may be left scratching their heads about what it all means....or maybe I am just kind of dumb. Daniel Craig, I came for you, and you had like eighteen seconds of screen time. Boo.

photo credit: www.movieweb.com

things that rock

Today, we had our first NYC snowfall. Seriously people, winter is almost here. So, in honor of the new season, the season of sharing, I thought I would share with you some things that totally rock.

1) Scrabble. Board games are back, baby, and Scrabble is the game of winners. You have to like, think, and stuff, and there's strategy, and for once, being smart and dorky can be celebrated whilst winning an honest-to-G-d competition. I mean, Scrabble isn't really a sport...but as you kick *ss....know that you are finally winning something.

2) Michael Cera. I have spoken openly of my ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT love, and Cera is a huge part of why I adored that show. He is doing so much great work...SUPERBAD was hilarious, and he has the upcoming JUNO arriving in theatres any moment. Plus, he has this freaking-hilarious web show called CLARK AND MICHAEL. Make sure to check him out in something as soon as you can.

3) Grilled Cheese Sandwiches. What more is there to say....melted cheese on bread. Relive the best part of your childhood by indulging in a grilled cheese sandwich. Bonus points if you have tomato soup.

4) 30 Rock. This sophomore comedy on NBC is hilarious. Helmed by former SNL head-writer Tina Fey, this show pokes fun at everything and features Alec Baldwin. Seriously, this is the best show you're not watching. (Thursdays at 8:30 on NBC.)

5) The Broadway strike is over! Shows went back to work this week....hooray! NYC and the theatre community at large are back to normal. To celebrate, wherever you live, go and see some live theatre. Make sure to tell them that Beth sent you.

6) Holiday movies. Yes, people, it is again that time. Time for the release of the holiday movies. This time of year, you get the wanna-be award winners, plus the holiday feel-goods, and also them grand adventures. Between P.S. I LOVE YOU, SWEENEY TODD, and NATIONAL TREASURE 2, baby Jesus is just going to have to wait....I am heading to the theatres

I know that there are a million other things that rock...but I want to watch more CLARK AND MICHAEL, and then I have to go to bed. So, I will add more posts another time.

rushing to see august rush

For many-a-months, I have been really looking forward to seeing the film, AUGUST RUSH. I finally made it out to see it yesterday, and I really liked it. Keri Russell (one of my current girl crushes) is so lovely in it, bringing depth and a sad poignancy to what could have become a minor part. She is well matched by Jonathan Rhys Meyers who plays her one-night lover and possible soul mate. This movie is full of things that obsess me. Music, pregnancy, romance...I mean, seriously? I actually could have done without the character of August Rush, and just watched the story of these two star-crossed lovers. Alas, Freddie Highmore plays August Rush, a (slightly creepy and just plain weird) child up for adoption in a children's home who hears the music of his parents everywhere he goes....like in the fields of wind and grass....or cars honking and steam in the streets of NYC. So, he runs away to NYC to try to find the parents he has never met, and instead falls in with Fagin and his band of pickpockets...I mean "the wizard" and his band of parent less street musicians, played by the incredibly miscast Robin Williams. The movie jumps between August's trip to the city, and the memories of the night that Lyla (Russell) and Lewis (Meyers) met and spent a wonderful night together. So, you should know going into this movie, you have to suspend your disbelief further than you ever have before...I am so not kidding. However, you can still see a sweet and romantic movie about love, family, and music. Funny side note: At one point, August ends up going to Juilliard to study...and since I was at the 68th Street Loews, which is across the street from the 66th street Juilliard, there were giddy screams from current students. There is something fun about seeing movies about NYC in NYC.

Final thoughts: A sweet movie...but one you can probably see on NetFlix...unless you love Keri Russell as much as I do.

Photo credit: www.movieweb.com