a99kitten's Musings

Had a girls’ night tonight! Dinner and a movie – nothing crazy :)

Very yummy dinner at Kingfish in San Mateo where you eat like a King and drink like a fish. Hey – that’s their motto…and I did NOT drink like a fish! I yelped about it tonight – cannot believe I hadn’t already!! It’s one of my favorite local places for sure. I had their Big Eye Tuna (now renamed the ever so creative “Fresh Grilled #1 Ahi Tuna”.) It’s sashimi grade tuna seared over sushi rice with sesame spinach and garlic sauce. Otherwise known as “Yum”.

Ahi Tuna

We started with tuna tartare and cheesy garlic bread (yes, they do too pair quite well!) I had a glass of sparkle – Roederer Brut. Also quite yum.

I get the Ahi almost every time I go. I have tried other things there (the Po Boy roast beef with fries is very tasty) which are all delicious but this entree is simply too yummy for me to pass up. Perhaps if I ate there more often I might dare to try more new things but really…why? I like to stick to something good once I find it!

Then we saw Julie & Julia. VERY much enjoyed this movie. I love Meryl Streep in anything she does. And I really like Amy Adams a lot. I thoroughly enjoyed Enchanted and NOT just because McDreamy is in it :)

This movie was directed by Nora Ephron who has definitely made some great rom-coms and chick flicks.  This doesn’t disappoint in that department. Solid films with good happy-endings. Yes – I like that. If I wanted horrific, heart-wrenching, sad or depressing – I’ll read the news.  When I go to the movies I want to be entertained and made to smile – not shocked.

I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. I assume when Julie wrote her book (that the movie is based on) she used letters or some other base of knowledge for Julia’s portion of the movie. Julia and her husband seemed to be so in love and perfect for each other. A very cute part of the movie. They were the butter to each other’s bread…very sweet. Or, to paraphrase a Beastie, the cheese to the other’s macaroni…

The reviews I had read praised Meryl/Julia’s part of the movie but didn’t have as many kind words about Amy/Julie’s portion. Dull was the most common theme. I would disagree. While watching Meryl Streep act is always a joy. And her part was great. I would say I enjoyed the 2nd story of Julie’s just as much. It was a journey for her. Not one I would necessarily take but this is supposed to be based on this girl’s year-long journey to cook her way through Julia Child’s cookbook and blog about it. And during this time discovered some things about herself as well as renewing her passion for writing. I feel they accurately portrayed this. Although I would have insisted on cuter hair if I were Amy Adams…:)

Funny side note was that Julie’s husband gets upset with her for spending so much time and energy blogging about these things. I think I’ve had this same discussion with my husband re: twitter/blog. “Why, what’s the use?” Etc., etc. Because I like it…that’s why.

Another thing I noted – both of these characters cook a LOT obviously. Julia didn’t start out her life as a chef but took it on as a challenge and enjoyed it greatly as part of her life. Julie took it on as a personal challenge and enjoyed it as part of her life (although not professionally as a chef.) The people who I have known in real life who are chefs or work in professional kitchens hate cooking when they are home. NEVER want to do it. Yuck. “They do enough of it at work.” I would say then that they do not have the love for what they do like Julia, that’s for sure. Perhaps why she seemed to be such a happy/stable person. Certainly a far cry from the cooks you see on these dumb reality shows.

I also think it’s fantastic that she worked for the OSS during World War II (long before her success as a chef/writer/TV star.) FUN! This is not covered in the movie. Other than to say that she used to work at the OSS.

Now I want to buy the book! But it’s not available on Kindle? :( Dumb. Now that I want a Kindle – I’m paying attention to these things…but maybe I’ll buy it paperback anyway!

I am considering buying her cookbooks..even though I’m not all that into French food (a foodie I am not.) It does seem like every kitchen needs one much like the Joy of Cooking (which I do have.) And some of the food in the movie looked delicious so maybe I could attempt a bit of French cooking as long as I am not de-boning anything or killing lobsters. You do need cookbooks in hard copy form for sure (no e-books!) Having a cookbook that shows drips and spills on the pages shows you have tested those recipes and can speak to their to yumminess (or blech factor.) Although it would be fun to have an old school copy of it…I do love old books….

So I highly recommend this movie. And I don’t think it’s strictly a chick flick at all. Just a good story where the the 2 main characters happen to be women. But since they don’t dress in bikinis, shoot things or have a pillow fight in their lingerie, some guys might not be interested :)

To quote a movie review I read (which maybe came from Julia? Sounds like something she would say):

“Sometimes a meal can be less than perfect but still so thoroughly enjoyable that a missed ingredient here or a bit of overcooking there doesn’t really matter.”

This nugget should be applied to life, love, the kitchen and movies :)

I finally finished reading the Entertainment Weekly mag featuring vampires. I must admit, I wanted to buy it to see where Angel/Angelus and Edward Cullen placed :) But I have loved vampires much longer than I have been familiar with these 2 characters.

I was first really intrigued by vampires after seeing the 1979 version of  “Dracula” starring Frank Langella. I remember seeing that movie with my Mom and just thinking vampires were the *coolest* ever. I didn’t go to public school. I had a private tutor (my Dad did not like the local public schools) and so I was allowed 1 period of my study for a subject of my choosing. So I chose vampires, werewolves, witches, etc. I was already kinda there with so much Arthurian reading and delving into Merlin,Morgan Le Fey and paganism. So just one or two more steps…I read every book I could find. I was such a regular at the library.

Although, in looking back, it does seem strange that neither my parents or my tutor thought this troubling. I guess since I had excellent grades, never caused any trouble, did all of my chores voluntarily and didn’t wear black – I could safely study the pagan arts and creatures of the night without causing any adult worry :)

I was quite annoyed by EW’s assertion (or the story’s author’s assertion anyway) that the first “sexy” vampire was Tom Cruise’s portrayal of LeStat.  Langella was HOT in this role. By far sexier and certainly before LeStat was ever even created. This entire movie is GREAT. Sir Laurence Olivier plays Dr. Van Helsing. And Frank Langella as the Count – awesome. And very creepy parts too. I *highly* recommend watching this version.

Frank Langella's Dracula

I read Interview With a Vampire before the movie was cast and enjoyed it. But when I heard Tom was cast as LeStat I was mortified. And I actually LOVE Tom Cruise – especially back then!  But I simply could not see him as LeStat. He was Maverick.  And Maverick-like characters. Completely different characters from LeStat.

Now, I really liked this book. But I didn’t love this book. Louis is a frackin’ whiner and I simply could not deal with his constant whine, whine, whine. LeStat was a welcome distraction to his whining for sure! And when I saw the movie I was taken aback by how much I loved Cruise’s LeStat. He definitely made the movie fun. And did not have to have a creepy movie kiss with kiddie Kristen Dunst (heebie-jeebies…). Good for him going against type and showing the nay-sayers (me included!) that he could rock the role.

I did NOT like Coppola’s “Bram Stoker’s Dracula” at all. And not because of Keanu Reeves. I just thought it was a boring, overly pretentious movie. And I liked the book, like the director and all the actors. Just the movie as a whole practically put me to sleep and I’m not that hard to please in the movie-watching department. How Gary Oldman ended up on the EW Top Vampire list (#10??) and not Frank Langella is mind-boggling. I like Gary Oldman…but not as Dracula in this movie.

And Gary’s vamp (#10) was ahead of Kiefer (#14) in Lost Boys?? Kiefer’s David was excellent. That movie ruled! Obviously completely different version but thoroughly enjoyable, entertaining, jumpy/scary and funny. The Coreys simply couldn’t do better (and so they seriously took a digger to avoid any kind of comparison obviously.) Dianne Wiest was excellent as the clueless Mom. Plus *great* soundtrack. I will always watch this if I come across it on TV.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer (the movie) – meh. I can remember I only really cared to see it because Luke “Dylan McKay” Perry was in it! However, Buffy the series – I loved from Episode 1. Still love it. When I’m flipping through the channels and come across a rerun – I will absolutely watch it. My favorite character was Angel/Angelus. Yes – he is absolutely physically hot (met David Boreanz at SD Comic Con – RAWR!! and very sweet in real life too!) But Angel was also tortured and bad but good and just awesome :) I was so sad when he left Sunnydale but watched every single episode of Angel (more than once) and feel they did a better job with the Angel series than Buffy after Angel left Buffy. The writing was darker, more grown-up but they also kept a dark humor to it. One of my favorite episodes was “Smile Time.”

My Angel puppet from the "Smile Time" episode

And of course whenever Angelus took over and came out to play…he was great when he was being the ultimate baddie (and yes, where I got my dog’s name from.)

Sure, they lost it a bit during the whole Conner/Cordelia and Jasmine story lines but still – always loved the show. Buffy went downhill with Angel leaving, then Dawn arriving, Buffy turned into a whore, died, came back and then fell for Spike?? No. Eww. No offense to Spike – great character – but as a BAD guy!!! He and Drusilla were awesome together! Second vampire with a soul who Buffy falls for – no, yuck. Cheap, blonde imitation of Angel at that point. But was sad to see Buffy end. And was VERY sad when Angel ended. Much darker series ender…I just recently found out they have made some graphic novels as a follow up to that ending. I need to get on reading those (into my never-ending stack of reading!) But now with both off the air…there were no more vamps :(

We did have the Blade movies (first movie was good but the others – meh) and the Underworld series which I liked. But again – the first one I loved and the rest – ok. Although I did just read a rumor today that Selene (Kate Beckinsale) is returning in #4 (she was not in #3.) Notice though having said meh to the movies…I did see them :) What can I say – I love the vampire/werewolf story.

And to really capture the apparent epic battle between vampires and werewolves comes Twilight. And yes, I fell for Edward Cullen’s charms :) The author definitely hit a nerve in the girl market with these. She writes teen-angst very well. Edward is written as the perfect soul mate. Oh sure, there is one small issue – he’s a vampire – but whatever. True love conquers all, right?! :) I made fun of this movie when I saw the ad for it and heard all the commotion for it on TV. They (the cast) came to a mall in San Francisco to promote it before it came out and he (Robert Pattinson) was nearly trampled to death (according to the news.) I remember thinking “Are you kidding?” But then a friend and I saw it on a lark – and I think we were swooning in about 10 minutes :) Such suckers for the idealized romantic hero. So then I bought the books and am now a proud member of Team Edward. hehehe…

But now that I am almost done with Book 4 of the Twilight series and have to wait for each of the next 3 movies to come out, I will start watching True Blood and reading the Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris. Not sure how I will like it. I saw about 10 minutes of an ep and didn’t like it when it first aired on HBO last year. But everyone I know loves it so I bought the Season 1 DVD set and will give it as try. But none of the guys are very cute :( At least in the pictures I see of them – I want my vamps hot! ;)

Plus the EW article had a couple other book suggestions that I will check out (maybe once I get a Kindle!?) namely the “Blue Bloods” series by Melissa de le Cruz (probably my next one) and “Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter” by Laurell K. Hamilton.

Plus the CW has a new Twilight rip-off/copy coming this season called The Vampire Diaries (starts Sept 10 – set your DVR!) Who knows, it could be entertaining :) At least worth watching the first couple…

Our company has an office in Romania…aka Transylvania. I’d like to go there sometime. Prince Vlad “the Impaler” Tepes’ castle is big tourist attraction. You know, because why wouldn’t it be? :) Many more vampire tales elsewhere but can you find and go into those castles? And it’s where the name Dracula started so I think a fun visit!

All the newer tales have definitely changed up the vampire (and werewolf) lore though. So no matter how many books, legends, historical tales, and movies you consume on the subject, you can’t be sure you know everything. Because then they come along and sparkle in the sun on ya!

But at least I can say I was way ahead of this fangy fad :)

Watched Fanboys tonight. Loved it. I’m a fairly serious Star Wars geek fan and I know no one like this. Is it sad that I wish I had someone to argue with about the finer points of Star Wars and sibling kissing with? Yes? Ok…well…that’s cool :)

Seth Rogan played a trekker (and a pimp!). Hysterical. Practically unrecognizable but his voice is a giveaway.  But he called Han Solo a bitch – he needs to go down!

Funny pop culture references throughout: Nobody Puts baby in the Corner, Menudo, WonderTwin Powers,Talk to me Goose, Judge Reinhold,  Scooby Doo, Silent Bob AND Jay :) William Shatner! Funny…

And the best! “Harrison Ford is the greatest actor of all time! Han Solo, Indiana Jones, Deckard! He’s never done a bad movie!”  (showing Six Days and Seven Nights billboard) LOL!! It’s ok..Mr. Ford…I blame that crazy beeyotch Heche..

I think it was best to not watch this movie with my husband. He would be afraid that I would know ALL of these references :) (he gets afraid when we watch Big Bang Theory and I know all of those references.) And only as strong as the weakest link? Wookie home planet = Kashyyyk… simple. A baby question…

The memorabilia room that we all dream exists…Steve Sansweet knows it does…(excellent on a Ray Parks/Darth Maul cameo there!)

Fun movie. I liked it. Star Wars fan? Watch it. You do not have to be a crazed fan. Just like Star Wars and you will laugh. And the crawl…Who remembers how they felt in the Episode 1 crawl? After waiting how many years?? Do not care how you felt about the movie – the actual experience of seeing that movie – awesome :) I waited hours in that line and do not regret it. Not one minute. Ever.

p.s. Why are all douchebag older brothers in movies Chazz, Chett, whatever?

p.p.s I am always calling Chewie from now..

p.p.p.s I *always* want to steal the Hwy 101 road sign “Lucas Valley Road”

p.p.p.p.s who wouldn’t flash someone displaying sign ‘if you like wookies….’? :)

Saw “The Ugly Truth” tonight. Movie was ok…if you wait for DVD or cable, you are probably happier watching it from the comfort of your sofa in your jammies. But I’m not unhappy I saw it opening night in the theater either. I’m easy – as long as the movie keeps me entertained and I am not annoyed by the people around me or thinking my butt is, or knees are, sore from sitting there for so long – I’m good (plus some funny previews for other movies!!)

I am NOT an artsy-fartsy movie person. Ugh…HATE. Movies are made to entertain me – I do not give a crap about noticing art direction gone wrong or the material on that dress was NOT from that period. Ugh..please. Is the story or are the actors keeping me entertained? Is my attention off work for these 2 hours? Yes? Great!! All I ask for.

I am not a Katherine Heigl fan. I didn’t mind her on Grey’s Anatomy during the first few seasons but when she and George got together…barf. Thought she was kinda funny in Knocked Up.  But is she supposed to “replace” Meg Ryan as America’s RomCom sweetheart? Or challenge Jennifer Aniston for these same roles? Notsomuch…

Gerard Butler however…love him. Loved 300. Loved RockNRolla. Saw P.S. I Love You because he was in it (Hillary Swank is another actress I am just not a fan of.) He is worth sitting through annoying actresses for…

yes...

Although he did keep his shirt on through this entire movie. Quite unfair :)

The funny thing about this movie is that the wickedly obvious stereotypes we get thrown at us are actually pretty spot on.  Generalized? Sure. A bit over the top? Absolutely. But yet, I cannot argue with them. My husband has said almost verbatim what he (Butler’s character) says about men in this movie. What men like, look for and seek out in women.

Do I think ALL men are like that? Well…sort of. I think the men that are not all outwardly like this, are only different due to conditioning. They had to conform differently due to some life experiences (good or bad) which altered them. BUT – do they still respond to boobs? Of course they do. Do they still look at hot slutty chicks and drool (even if only internally) – yes. Do they realize that is not what will make them happy so they do not pursue it? Maybe a few have realized this.

I have been told by more than 1 guy (husband included) that men do not equate sex and love. It’s shown to us in vivid color in movies, on TV and in the news. Men have wives they love and do not want to leave. Men marry women they know will love them forever and be awesome mothers to their children. However, some different type of chicklet comes along and they start thinking with their little head.

NOW – the “smart” man does not ever consider leaving his wife/partner for this chickie. He only wants 1 thing. And never confuses the two. Then you have the ding-dong who does and wrecks it for other guys! (Yes, I have heard this argument verbalized.)

Tony Soprano was a perfect example. He, at no time, wanted to leave Carmela. Sure he had a mistress. And cheated on his mistress with a bimbo. But that had nothing to do with the love for his wife.  Politicians live this theory.

HUH???

Women do not think this way. Again, I generalize. I am 100% sure there are dirty whores out there who want to keep their husbands/partners who love them, support them and will be there for them through thick and thin but also want their pool boys. But I really think this is a HUGE minority. Most women simply do not think this way. Sex *does* equate to love. Or maybe the girls I know are just a much higher quality.  Because none of my girlfriends have ever thought this way. And personally, I am offended by these women. They are simply out there giving females a bad name.

Anyway, this movie tries to break down “the ugly truth” about men, what they want and look for in women. And how women can get and keep the men they want using these simple steps – blow jobs, boobs on display, tight outfits, and laughing at his jokes (even if not funny.) Oh yeah, and faking orgasms if necessary. I’d be insulted but I know that it’s pretty much spot on. What guy doesn’t actually really like these things? (ok, well they do NOT want to know you are faking laughing at the jokes or anything else!)

The other funny, yet true, thing about this movie was the notion that girls use lists to judge men. Men on paper. List guy.  A woman will give up on lust, or some certain quality in one guy if another guy has 9 out of 10 qualities from her list. Again, while generalized, I think this is also true. Women like security whether it is physical, financial, whatever. Especially if you are thinking about raising children. It’s pack order. You seek out the best mate. Best meaning a whole list of things, not just 1 quality.  But does that always mean you picked the best person for you to make you the happiest in life? Maybe not. But you have to fight against that ingrained behavior for pack/family survival.

In this movie, it works out as you assume it will after the credits rolled in the beginning.  Do I think it would work out that way in real life? Probably not. But I have a soft romantic side which fights against my cynical side all the time so who knows :)

Today was a fun day! I did sleep in till about 7am like a lazy slack! Huskies said HOT outside already Mom! I took them down to a forest walk so it was mostly shady so they could stay cooler. They had the same reaction today that they had last fall on this same walk – something wicked this way is! They smell a bear? Or a dead body? Ghost? Angelus is afraid of nothing (ok, well…bees…) and he was acting strange and not wanting to continue on down the path.  And Storm had less than zero interest in continuing. So I of course made them continue on…but then was imagining a scary movie…where the dumb girl makes her dogs keep going down the scary path even though every person watching the movie is screaming at the screen to listen to your dogs!!! So we turned around :)

After doggie walk and coffee and email..I went on my hike. About 6 miles with 3 of it straight uphill. Beautiful though. A great hike. The goal was making it up to Hawks Peak. And I did :)

Hawks Peak view 2

There was still snow in some of the higher elevation areas.  And the best part – I saw 1 biker in the distance but other than that – came across no one. Very peaceful.  It was windy up on the tippy-top rock at Hawks Peak so I had to be careful not be blown off the rock!

Hawk's Peak View 1

I was using my iPhone app TrailGuru and it said about 6 miles and almost 2 hours but then my battery died – doh!! Good thing I didn’t run across any bears and need the phone camera!

Then it was lunch (turkey burger!!) and sun/tanning time! I just started reading James Patterson’s “8th Confession”. I realized today as I was going through my stack of books that I brought that I *always* read a James Patterson book on my vacation. So I moved it up in the priority pile :) These are always fun summer reads. This is the Women’s Murder Club series he does. I really like this series. ABC made a short-lived TV series based on it last season which I also liked. But not as much as the books obviously. Although Angie Harmon (who played the main character – Lindsay Boxer) was quite likable. I find his books, and this series in particular, to be very fun reads. And when you are baking in the sun, “thinking” books are not always the best (Milton Friedman’s “Capitalism and Freedom” is next in my pile…might get pushed down for “Gossip Girl” till after vacation..)

After sun time, it was chore time – laundry, cleaning guest bedrooms used this weekend, vacuuming house (I am ALL FOR 1 story houses btw…truly….stairs suck), hosing off deck pollen & spider webs (Angelus was VERY happy with this), and taking the garbage and recycling out to the bear box for pick-up day tomorrow. Now…I considered “accidentally” dropping garbage in the driveway and entryway to “accidentally” attract a bear or 2 (they LOVE and know when garbage day is – very smart bears!)…but I didn’t (dang it!)

Then we did another short buddy walk. I wore flip flops when I did this…unwise…I stabbed my foot on a big stick. OUCH! Bleeding!!! Crazy that the buddies can walk on all the sticks and rocks like they do. What pansy feet I have :)

I set myself a time limit on chores so it was time to make dinner and pick a movie! I made my tofu spaghetti – yum! And watched “Doubt”. Good movie. Not as dark as made out to be…but perhaps that is because A) I like the actors (Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Amy Adams) and B) I’m not Catholic. Good watch though.

But now just about time for sleepy so I can do it all again tomorrow :)

Last night I finally started watching the new show NBC show “Merlin”. I had (the first) 2 episodes recorded from Sunday night. I love pretty much all stories Arthurian. But I also get offended when they go way off original story unless they do it well. It’s such a great, multi-faceted story so please don’t F it up is all I ask…

Now, ‘do it well’ to me means “Excalibur” (1981 movie), “Camelot” (broadway in 60s plus 1982 play broadcast on HBO w/Richard Harris – LOVED IT – I know all the words to all the songs!), Camelot 3000 (12-part comic series 1982-1985), “King Arthur” (2004 movie). I’ve read “Le Morte d’Arthur” by Sir Thomas Malory and “The Once and Future King” by T.H. White. I’ve seen or read most versions of this story, good, bad or just wacky (have you seen George Romero’s 1981 ‘Knightriders’ with Ed Harris? I have! And loved it :)), as I LOVE this story. In just about all forms. Although when I went to see “First Knight” with a friend and, within the first few minutes said out loud “THAT’S NOT TRUE!” (she curled up and pretended she didn’t know me,) I realized there are some versions that should not be made (no offense to either Sean Connery and Richard Gere who I normally love just not in this movie.) Oh, and the JFK stealing of the whole Camelot/”one brief shining moment” theme = vomit-inducing….

But back to Merlin…I have enjoyed this TV show so far. They have shown 2 episodes and I have watched both. They have totally F’ed with the “history” but that’s OK. Hard to keep re-telling the same story I guess. Movie & TV writers seem unable to come up with new concepts (a new 90210 and Melrose Place…really??) but if they can re-tell a classic in a new way, and maybe get new people (kids even!) interested in the old classics (maybe even read them!), I am all for that.

I read they are gearing this story to kids. With all the killing, that seems like a bizarre choice…but ok…I say just make the show and your audience will be created. Merlin and Arthur are young – late teens(ish)? Arthur has started off as a kind of a jerk (the QB) and Merlin is the good, nice guy (the geek). Guinevere is a lady-in-waiting servant (pretty girl who will get the guy) who seems to like Merlin so far but that’s probably just as a really good friend as it plays out more. And Uther is the jerk dad to Arthur. So, yeah…geared towards kids/teens. But then throw in some stabbing, jousting, killer snakes, scary killer witches and death and we have got ourselves a good show!

The characters and how they meet, interact, etc. are mostly completely wrong from ‘history’ but again, as long as it is enjoyable, I don’t mind. So far, they have Merlin, Arthur, Uther, Morgana (Morgan le Fey) and Guinevere. Lancelot has ALWAYS been my favorite character so a story without him seems very odd. But then, maybe they will incorporate him (and the other Knights of the Round Table.) Hard not to since he was an integral part of the legend. My love for that character and all of his strengths and faults is probably due it’s own posting sometime (after I re-watch & re-read all my favorites!) :)

I’ve been sucked into both eps shown so far. So I will definitely keep watching. The only recognizable actor (to me) is Anthony Stewart Head (Giles from Buffy the Vampire Slayer.) Since the show is called Merlin, they are gearing this to the Merlin character so lots of magic, etc. They are clearly going after the Harry Potter crowd (there is a dragon voiced by John Hurt plus they showed an extended trailer for the next HP movie during the premier ep.) That’s OK – I like that story too. But the Arthur legend is so, so much more than a fantasy story for kids. So far, no might for right; undying loyalty for your brothers-in-arms, betrayals of those you still love so much, etc, In my opinion, the original story is too dark and convoluted for kids or TV but I’m sure the writers can play with it and make it work. And I will take what I can get on TV with Jack Bauer and Chuck Bass gone! So far they have had a decent amount of sword-play and jousting to keep me happy :) I go to the Renaissance Faire solely to watch the jousting!

So if you any affinity for King Arthur, Arthurian legend, Merlin or fantasy, I suggest checking this show out and seeing what you think. I’ll keep watching unless they really offend :) Fun TV for the summer. But really…if you like this legend and haven’t seen or read any of the above mentioned interpretations, you should check them out. And send me any that you have!

This weekend I watched 3 movies!!! 4 if you count Thursday night! This is UNHEARD OF for me! Mostly because I never sit still long enough for this many movies. I love movies though. I used to love going to the movies until it became kind of a chore (live far from theater, pricey!, obnoxious movie-goers, prefer my couch!) I used to take my little brother about 2x per week. That was fun :)

On Thursday, I saw Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants with a (girl) friend which I already spoke of in an earlier post. I don’t see too many guys volunteering to sit down and watch this, even with Blake Lively’s awesome hair…

On Saturday night, I watched The Duchess with Ralph Fiennes and Keira Knightley. I really liked this movie. It was very well done, well acted, gorgeous costumes and based on real life people which I now have to read all about! It was sad though – in a frowny-face, melancholy kind of way though, not tears. It was a tale of marriage to the “right” guy or be with the right guy. I won’t give away anything that happens but I will have to say I love RF in anything (I first loved him as a psychotic Nazi so really…there you go) and Keira Knightley is really proving to be a great actress. Although I still think my favorite role of hers so far is from Love Actually. I can see men watching and enjoying this movie. Maybe not choosing it as their first choice, but enjoying it once on.

On Sunday morning, while I was doing my cardio, I started watching Baby Mama. To say that I went past my normal 45 minutes easily because I was enjoying the movie is saying a lot :) I love comedies. I love being made to laugh. I’m really not the arty-farty movie-watching girl (unless a British period piece.) Tina Fey was good in this. But I think she played the role she always plays, which I like but it’s the same. Amy Poehler was hysterical. Her wisecracks had me laughing every time :) Cute movie, predictable = sure. But I don’t mind that if I’m laughing :) And Sigourney Weaver as the “old” owner of the Surrogacy Center – excellent! Almost as good as watching her in Working Girl. She can be funny and not just kill aliens!

Sunday night was “He’s Just Not That Into You”. I really enjoyed this movie. Very cute. Lots of things for both guys and girls to laugh at. Sure, aimed more at girls. But I KNOW there are plenty of things for the guys to chuckle at. My husband actually enjoyed it, so it couldn’t have been *too* man-hating and girl-centric! Great cast. Very attractive cast :) And I like movies where all of the stories/characters are connected somehow (Love Actually, Pulp Fiction, Crash) Makes it fun to try and figure out how it all plays together. I want to read this book now too! Although my husband and I have various theories on the characters…and the discussions might not be good for us ;-)

So this weekend was great – I actually got my money’s worth out of my Netflix membership (2) and HBO subscription (2). They both usually make quite a lot of money off of us. Taking a week off next week and I *intend* to watch a movie per night up in Tahoe! We’ll see how that goes :) I have FanBoys (new), Taken (watch again!), animated Wonder Woman (new) and Twilight (3rd time – shut up!) to watch on DVD also!!

As Siskel & Ebert used to say “We’ll see you at the movies!” (or on the sofa watching the movies!)

p.s. (re: he’s just not that into you) and we are still *discussing* the various characters and who cheated on whom, and who was a giant douche and why, etc, etc, etc…. You should totally see it :)