You know, I hate to say it Parker, but I love Summer.
Yesterday Parker made a comment prior to our viewing of "The Dark Knight" (post to follow). He was talking about how his job sucks because of Summer. Being a cop there would be issues with Summer. More kids on the street, more fights on the streets, and more for him to do. But for me... Summer is what everyone envisions when the word "Summer" flows from your mouth...
Sleeping In Until 10
Watching afternoon TV
(don't read or look at this one Parker) Reading a good book
Eating good lunches
Drinking Smoothies
Movie Going
Going to bed after midnight
Going to plays
Going to new places
Watching Judy
(again, don't read Parker)Camp fires
Family coming into town
So raise a Razmataz or a Red Orange to Summer! Only 26 days left till the end...
P.S. Did anyone notice mom is the new fashion icon! LOOK:
So it turns out I have turned back into a movie man. No, don't fear Parker, I am not planning on reviewing all of the films I have seen this summer. But I am going to post the number (at least of the ones I can remember).
At this point in the summer I have seen a total of 12 movies. Ranging from superhero adventures, childhood epics and all the way to Grecian Musicals. I tell ya, this is a time when the movies are just plain fantastic.
So tomorrow... I will add lucky number 13 to the list when I see The Dark Knight. I do intend to do a review on this one... It's epic for goodness sakes.
I really enjoyed this book this time. I loved the themes she so cleverly worked through the story. The biggest theme was "memories." It was a unique look at how perspective, memory and a person's psychology affects their well-being. One thing the movies really lack is the whole inward look into Harry's thoughts. The last movie did the best job, but again... They stink in comparison.
Highlights of the book-
Harry's Christmas gift from the Dursley's--classically funny. The subtle character drops of the culprit in the story. The introduction of Ginny as a player in the story. The use of a Timeline which is deepened. The characters Moaning Myrtle, Gilderoy Lockheart, and Dobby--silly, funny, and enjoyable. We'll forget about Colin and Justin as they bored me.
So at the start of the month I decided I wanted to read the last Harry Potter book. But rather than reading just the one I thought I would go back and read all 7. Needless to say after reading them I am going to report back on the themes, ideas, and creative-genius that I found in them.
Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone
First of all I was brought back to the first time(s) I read this book. Rowling has a delightful way of bringing us into the world of Potter. One of my favorite things she is able to do is bring you directly into the story and create interest which keeps you reading. The first page states, after some amusing description of the Muggle family, "The Dursleys had everything they wanted, but they also had a secret, and their greatest fear was that somebody would discover it." A perfect hook for kids to keep reading--LOVE IT.
Although I clearly remember many of the details she sneaks in the book prior to the reveal, I love the way the smaller things set up future events such as the owl flying overhead with a letter for Dumbledore, the chocolate frog card, Ginny's excitement about seeing Harry for the first and second time, Lord Voldy's ultimate quest to live forever, the theme of death not being the end.
The Top 10 Reasons the Cottage REALLY is the Greatest Place to Live, and why you would like to live here too:
10. Your wife makes you Grilled Cheese Sandwiches for dinner.
9. Even though you don't have the internet, you can walk to the lovely Orcutt Shopping Center and utilize the Public Library and enjoy the free internet services.
8. Even though your neighbor blocks her internet from you, she gives you the password so you can use it anytime--free of charge.
7. The covered patio is beautifully cool while the outside soars to temperatures as high as 75 degrees.
6. You can watch great Reality TV, and all you pay for is the electricity.
5. You live steps away from a beautiful elementary school and a fun playground.
4. If in the mood for the fast paced life and busy city feel you are a few yards away from the busy world of Jack in the Box.
3. People walk by and say "Oh this house is cute" and "Look at this cute little place."
2. There are at least two other homes down the street who display art in their studios for everyone to see--soon to be a third home with a backyard studio.
I know I do this a lot, but it's true there are some AMAZING women in my life. And well, it's time to blog about them.
First is Fauf. My lovely bride. Best year of my life, and best wife ever. The winner, goodbye.
Ohh sweet L'Oreal. Now we know your name. The most amazing "do-it-all" waitress, at the most amazing up scale restaurant in the world... Anton & Michel's.
(Parker don't read this one) She is an amazing author. As I started the series I realize how amazing JK Rowling is.
Nicolette was amazing last year, again--PHENOMENAL! We love her, and it's all for you Donna! You and your beautiful multi-colored eyes. You rock our worlds.
Now we have a new love, this is a small picture of her greatness... Pavloff and his sensual, delightful Russian-Americanized Women. Simply delightful.
A new woman is the sculptress who has brought us amazing insights into the idea of balance... Paige, we love you and are excited about your upcoming wedding.
And then there's Miranda Priestly. I always hire the same girl- stylish, slender, of course... worships the magazine. But so often, they turn out to be- I don't know- disappointing and, um... stupid. So you, with that impressive résumé and the big speech about your so-called work ethic- I, um- I thought you would be different. I said to myself, go ahead. Take a chance. Hire the smart, fat girl. I had hope. My God. I live on it. Anyway, you ended up disappointing me more than, um- more than any of the other silly girls. That's all.
This sounds like some Ekart Tolle (who cares how to spell that man's name) book. Can you believe it... An open house and a NEW house? I love it. Here are pictures documenting both historic experiences...
I think life would be funny if it were a musical. This weekend Farah and I saw Aida at the Clark Center (thanks to the recommendation from Morgen). We liked it but only one of the performers had star quality (Mary Roach). So we went online and looked up Aida to see the REAL deal, and apparently it is impossible to find online other than on iTunes. But in the process we found some great stuff on YouTube.
So to add to the list of friends I proudly present, The Musical Edition:
Lady Ursula. I know she was on our list before, but here is the YouTube Ursula. She is really good, but TOTALLY extreme and has an intense way of doing things.
The Yawning Man from the theater. Can you believe anytime there was a slow song this man yawned EXTREMELY loud. Also he crawled into the theater up the stairs. And to answer your thoughts, I am not exaggerating at all.
I'll think of more, but this was the blog I forgot to post last week....
Yes, I am officially back in the blogging world and I am officially back in the realm of Movie Goers. I went to see both Narnia and Iron Man this weekend and was pleasantly surprised by both.
At any rate I thought I would re-visit the realm of Superheroes. A long time ago I assigned people superhero personas. Well, some time has passed and I thought I would reassign some people and make some additions to my superhero team.
Obviously I am the geeky, noble, and annoying Cyclops.
I follow rules (sometimes annoyingly too much) and I tend to take charge. So I give myself the Cyc role. Also I have the girl, so there.
Farah then, by placement of myself, would have to be Jean Grey.
I think this suits her well. She knows a lot about people, reads minds in someways, and is hot. So yup, she is Jean.
Parker still is the Incredible Nightcrawler.
He kind of pops into your life says something funny, then the next thing you know he is gone. Also he is a blue-ish type of person and well, there you go.
Jon is probably the Beast.
I mean he has hair that is big a scraggly, and have you seen the jaw on this guy? He's got beast status. Also I know he has to be a pretty smart so and so because he is an arcitect. Well maybe not yet, but by the end of the week I'd say so.
Morgen or Morgan is Dust.
There I said it she wears a burka and that's all there is to it.
I guess I should include some newbies on the ol' blog here. I would have to say Micah and Katrin (though I have no clue as of yet how to spell her name so I will hence forth call her Mrs. Mason until I figure out the proper spelling) are on the friends list for sure. So now to assign them some characters:
I am tempted to add more characters and friends on to the list but I will stop there since I am unsure as to the ethical boundaries surrounding other people's names on the blog. So until I obtain your permission I shall leave you nameless and characterless on the blog... SO in the mean time enjoy these Most Outrageous Clips I saw this week which had me tearing up in laughter:
This may come as a shock to some of you... But there are a lot of women in my life. I know some of you are planning on breaking the news to Fauf, but she already knows. Yes, Farah is still my love, but I must make time for some of these other women in my life.
In my daily conversation this she is with me, I'm sure...
At 5:00 she speaks to me...
As I drive home she reminds me KSBY 6 is the station she watches...
When I am having trouble spelling things, she comes to me...
And when I need schematics, well... there you go...
Well life has been ridiculously busy over the past 43 days, hence no blog and very little online checking-in. So here is a quick run down of the past weeks. Rather than go week by week I think the best idea is to give some headlines, which if I were savvy would turn into newslinks. Here we go:
Shaws Seek Sullivan Home: Sullivans Eagerly Await the Move
The Birthday Month Comes to the Nest
Nesters Go to Disneyland
Mimi Rolls Out the Red Carpet
SoCal Shaws Meet the Nesting Shaws at Mimi's
Nesters Call the Cops
The Birthday Month Leaves the Nest
Nesters Call the Cops... Again
Shaws Seek Silent Nest
Nest 2.0?
No Word on The New Nest
Teacher Appreciation Week Comes to PCS: Farah Honored, Michael's Life in Shame.
Sullivans Seek Rental
Sullivan Family Moves to Santa Maria
Cassidy: Child Genius?
I can go into more details on a couple of these, but I am unsure which ones to detail the most. So if you want me to comment on one of them, please comment.
He has a good sense of humor like Gambit, and he's tall. People like him and well, his eyes turn red at night after three hours of Worship team non-practice--ok well maybe not but I think it goes on long enough thank you very much.
