madameblogalot

Prey: What an intriguing story. I could hardly put this book down (which is surprising since the frequent harsh language in it is very hard for me to read.) It was a fascinating story and I would call this one a HIT for me.

Under the Ash: This little book of poetry is an easy read (though requires lots of thought too!) by one of my favorite authors! I enjoyed all the poems, though I know that I am neither clever enough nor well-read enough to fully appreciate them to the fullest extent. Some of my favorites include Cursed, Manipulation (reminded me of the book I had just finished), Civil War in the Sunday Funnies, Colonization, and one of my all time favorites Spectrophotoelectric (did this one have new additions?) I would rate this book a HIT.

The Prisoner in the Third Cell: While this book is easy to read, I guess it just wasn’t my style. I sort of got the impression that is was a sort of embellished sermon. I guess I would rate this one as a MISS for me.

A Tale of Three Kings: This book did not make much sense to me. I don’t know if it was just that it was a MISS or that I just did not understand it. All I got out of it is that if your son is rebelling, or someone is bad to you, do nothing. And I certainly missed the point of “God never tells.” This book was also a MISS for me.

Little Pilgrim’s Progress: This kid’s version of John Bunyan’s classic makes the story easy to read. While the ideals are straightforward and simplistic it speaks a message as well. For me, I would rate the book neither a HIT or MISS, though I do wish I’d had it to read to the kids when they were young. I think now it would be too “little kid” for them, even though the message is still valid.

World’s Fastest Indian: This indie film starring Anthony Hopkins was all right. I would rate it neither a HIT or MISS, but it was a good enough way to pass the evening with my husband while the kids were gone!

The Picture of Dorian Gray(1945 film): This film carried the strong message of the novel. I liked the movie well enough, even though most of it was black and white. It was a bit slow moving in places and might be hard to grasp how some things play into the story if you haven’t read the book. I think the ending was changed as well as a few details. Overall, I would rate the movie a HIT since it maintained the storyline and the message. I think it might have been a rather chilling movie in 1945.

I think I have finally realized something “good” about not having any health insurance. Last week at therapy, both the doctor and the assistant said something to me about my following directions and doing everything I am supposed to do at home-all the stretching, exercises, ice. Whatever the doctor says, I try very hard to do. When the assistant mentioned how many people come in complaining that they aren’t improving and it’s because they are not following the plan at home, I realized what it is. I told her it’s because I am paying cash for every visit I make and I need to save money so I do everything I can to stop coming to the doctor. Those others are covered by insurance for every visit, so there is no rush to stop coming to the doctor. She thought maybe if everyone had to pay cash, just maybe they would follow doctor’s orders at home….

Murder at the Margin: This novel is required reading for my son’s economics course next semester. It was an easy read with a style similar to that of maybe Agatha Christie. It is a way to introduce basic economic ideas and vocabulary in an easy to read and understand way. While this is not an outstanding text I will rate it as a HIT.

Catch Me if You Can: Ever since seeing the movie a few months a go, I’ve wanted to read the book. I find the book as intriguing as the movie, if not more so. I still can’t imagine an older teenager pulling off all the stuff Frank Agabnale Jr. did. I enjoyed the book, finishing it in only a few days. While what Abagnale did is wrong, his story is intriguing and I found the book to be a HIT.

The Chronicles of Narnia, The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe: This first installment of the movie series was on television. While we have the video, I went ahead and watched the tv airing. I ended up enjoying the show and am happy they stuck pretty close to the book with the movie. When my husband said “You really like this, don’t you,” I knew I better list it as a HIT.

The Chronicles of Narnia, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader: I was a little hesitant about seeing this third installment of the series since they did not stay as close to the book in the second film. This third film seems to be even farther from the book than the others. However, as a Hollywood movie, the story stayed “good enough” and I was glad they left some of the most important ideas in it. We enjoyed it and I will go ahead and list it as a HIT (though be lenient if you love the books!)

Christmas Trio: Seeing this production of three Christmas stories at the community college theater was a treat. While nothing spectacular, I would still give it a HIT.

Christmas With the Kranks: Based on the book “Skipping Christmas” this film is a lot more goofy. It was an all right movie to watch the week before Christmas, but I would rate it as neither a HIT or MISS, being a near MISS.

Chaplin: This show features lots of well known actors portraying some well known actors. The story was interesting enough for those who like biographical portrayals. I thought Robert Downey Jr. did a pretty good job as Chaplin. I was very surprised though at the nudity portrayed in this 1992 PG-13 rated movie. I can’t decide if this one was a HIT or MISS for me.

The Lost World: I was intrigued to read the “original Jurassic Park”. While I am not really a dinosaur fanatic I found this adventure to be fun enough to be mostly a HIT. Now I just want to read Jurassic Park and go back and watch the movie too (doesn’t seem like the movie was at all like this original novel.)

In raising teenagers, it often seems as if we are speaking different languages. I’m not talking about the slang they use (I often think that is a different language!) But in daily communication, I have found that my teens, especially the younger they are, find that the words we say to communicate what we want and expect from them often are lost in translation between our mouths and their ears (brains.) A couple of examples from our house are:

If I say “Drive safe/be careful”, it has been heard as “You’re a bad driver.” When asking “Where are you going-who is going to be there” they have heard “I don’t trust you.” And if I tell one “You can’t see that movie yet”, it is easily translated as “You’re a baby.”

One thing I have learned in parenting is that it’s a learning process. And it takes lots of communication. Sometimes it’s not healthy communication, but there is eventually a breakthrough if we keep talking. I am lucky to have articulate kids who will tell me that I’ve made them feel stupid (I guess that’s lucky!) I am glad they tell me what they are hearing. It gives me the chance to reword what I mean-”I care about you and want you to be safe”, “I care about where you go and who you are with and I want the best for you”, and “You are growing up and there is a time and place to take in certain things.”

It’s exhausting, but now with an older teen on the cusp of adulthood, we seem to be understanding each other a little better. That gives me hope that one day we will speak the same language!

The Red Baron: This movie seemed a bit disjointed. Even my son said after a few minutes that the movie was poorly made. It was so-so. I did enjoy the brief bios at the end of the movie. I think this movie was mostly a MISS with us.

The Hunchback of Notre Dame: It took me nearly three months to get through this book. I wanted to finish it as it is apparently the inspiration behind the writing of the Phantom of the Opera. The story was gruesome and not “enjoyable”. All I kept wondering is how Disney made this into a movie for children. This was a MISS for me.

Death of a Salesman: An easy to read script I read in one day. While it is more of a MISS in the sense of “enjoying” the story, in the sense of the depressing accuracy of life it is HIT on the head.

Be Kind Rewind: While not a great show, it had just enough silly/stupid humor and enough “goodness” to make it pretty much a HIT with us. (My son did wish they had done more “remakes”; I wished they had done Star Wars.)

Ivanhoe: I enjoyed the story of Ivanhoe (though I thought he was no more the hero of the story than several others.) I was able to figure out the identity of the Black Knight only a few pages before he was revealed. I also enjoyed Robin Hood being a part of the story (I’m not sure if his identity was supposed to be a surprise or not.) I do wish I had read a version of the story that was not so “King James”; it would have been a little easier to read then! I also don’t like how the author kept referring to the reader. This really detracts from the story for me. I want to get lost in the story, not be reminded that I am outside the story reading it! (I guess this must have something to do w/ the time period or style as I noticed it a bit in Hunchback and my daughter said it is also like that in Jane Eyre.) Even so, I will still call this book a HIT.

Jane Eyre: I only read this book because my daughter wanted me to. Not because she enjoyed it, but something more akin to “misery loves company” (it was required reading for her.) While I did not share her hatred of the book, I did not love it either. While I found some good messages (be true to yourself, avoid temptation) I don’t really find this a book for kids, especially not Freshmen. The one thing I especially did not like is how the author addresses the reader-that drove me crazy! I was surprised by a few things in the story, others found to be too similar to other stories (say Oliver Twist for example.) I would rate this book as neither a HIT or MISS.

Remember back when your kids were small and you would take them to the drugstore to pick up pictures? Back when a disposable camera was the only way to go, and when you had to come back the next day because you had to wait for the pictures to be developed? Those days are long gone, much to the chagrin of some people. But the new age has brought some exciting things. I think that this is one example of how, and how fast, times are changing. Almost no one uses throw away cameras any longer. Everyone has digital cameras, able to take a picture, see it instantly, upload it to all numbers of social networking sites as soon as they get home. Well, the latest and greatest in time changing technology is here. The digital camera camcorders . Not only is it “up to date”, but it is surprisingly easy to use and simple, yet sophisticated at the same time. Everyone should get their hands on one as soon as possible. The new possibilities seem endless for technology, and being able to experience those firsthand is truly amazing. I love things that push the cutting edge of technology, and it is even better when they are cheap and simple. That is why digital camcorders fit the bill perfectly.

Planning a move this summer? Whenever we have moved in the past, we always “moved ourselves.” We got the boxes and the truck and loaded and unpacked ourselves. This seems to be more economical than hiring a moving company. I do have to say that getting boxes these days seems to be rather a chore! Going to a retail store and asking for boxes just doesn’t seem to work very well, unless you can come in at the time they tell you they will give you the boxes.

That is why I was happy to see that moving box kits are actually available. I have to say that I am not sure I would have thought about ordering boxes. But it seems like it is more than that. These boxes are made just right for all your stuff. There are kitchen kits and assortments ranging from 1 bedroom to the deluxe package for large homes. These kits include bubble wrap, wardrobe boxes, dish protectors and tape. And instead of waiting for the right time to get boxes, you can order these and have them shipped right to your door. And there are several money saving moving packages going on right now.

I found this post that I had written over a year ago. Its sentiment still rings true with me…

I do not advocate lying. I don’t like lying to people to protect them, even kids. I don’t mean that we have to tell them everything in an effort to be honest, but I think if we lie, we end up making things worse when the truth does come out.

I have tried to live an honest life and to be up front in dealing with my children. As they age, I think they can handle more truth about how we live and feel as people. I wonder though in my honesty (I am not talking about brutal honesty) if I am hurting my children. Am I giving them too much information too soon? Am I hurting them by telling the truth about how certain actions make me feel? Is it unfair or will it help them to see how their actions affect the people around them.

It is such a delicate balance in rasing kids. As I strive for honesty, I ask for it from my family in return. I hope that I am not causing too much stress when I tell my kids the truth about their actions, whether that be good or bad.

High Fidelity: I watched this movie because my sister named one of her blogs after it. I watched the whole thing until about ten minutes before it was over. Then my daughter wanted to come in and tell me something, so I never found out the resolution of the show. The show was neither a HIT nor a MISS for me.

Ghost Whisperer: I’ve not seen the TV series before, but my daughter has watched with my husband. She wanted to watch it this week and I’ve had nothing else to do but sit and watch TV. It was a bit eerie/”scary” for me but the episode turned out to be ok. I did like the ending. I would give this episode a HIT but as of yet can not speak to the series. *After viewing the show for a couple of weeks, I would say that some of the episodes are hits,others near misses. It is definitely for older teens/adults. There has been some intense scenes showing drugs and lots of death including suicide/attempted suicide. I am not too keen though on some of the most recent episodes where the hero’s husband’s spirit is now in another man’s body. A little too out there for me*

Pioneer Woman: Again, laying around all day, I found an old TV movie (1973) starring William Shatner and introducing Helen Hunt. My daughter wanted to watch since it was reminiscent of Little House on the Prairie. It was not that great of a show. And it was funny to see some of the “special effects”-basically a rubber snake dropped onto the table! This was a near MISS but I guess I’d say overall that it was neither.

Phantom of the Opera: My daughter, mother and I watched the film version and some of the special features as well. As usual, this one remains a HIT with me. I am hoping to read the book soon.

The Hound of the Baskervilles: I had never read nor seen this Sherlock Holmes mystery. So while I was laid up I caught it on TV. Again, I missed the very end of the show! However, I have to admit it was a MISS with me. Though I still don’t know what the real Hound was!

Field of Dreams: I was happy to see this old HIT come on television. I watched and enjoyed the show again. It has been a while since I’ve seen it. I still got teary eyed when Ray and Terrence pick up a young Archie. And cried when Archie stepped off the field to his destiny as Doc Graham. The show was again a HIT with me.

The Fugitive: Immediately following Field of Dreams, another old favorite of mine came on. I love Harrison Ford and this show is a pretty good one. I enjoyed watching two HITs in one day!

The Phantom of the Opera: I also read the book that started it all! I think the book explained some of the background and some of the details a bit better. Of course, it’s a bit of a different take than the stage play and film. I did enjoy it though and I think I like the epilogue and afterward as much as the main story! I would call the book a HIT, though I can’t decide if it’s better to read it before you see the film or read it after…

The House of the Scorpion: this book by Nancy Farmer is on the ninth grade required reading list. At first I thought a book about a clone in an opium empire was not going to be good reading. I am glad I gave it a chance. Though it is a young adult book, it had a good story line and was really pretty clean. I found it to be thought provoking too. I found myself thinking that a lot of the humans in the book were less human, or at least humane, than the clone. It brings up interesting thoughts about the “rightness” of cloning. And I like how it concludes with the ideas of power, greed, and eternal youth being shown as not being “right” or good for society. I would say this book is a HIT.

Beverly Hills Chihuahua: My oldest nephew asked me to read this short novel based on the movie. I tried to decline but when he described it as “an adventure about teamwork and friendship” I told him that I would read it. Plus, I like reading things with others in my life; it gives us something to share. I must say that I don’t really like the book but I am glad that he did and that he saw the teamwork and friendship in it. For me it was a MISS while for him it is a HIT.