Funny Friday - Heat Wave

It has been SO HOT this summer so I thought this would be appropriate for today.

Fictitious Books I'd Like to Read

Recently I saw a charming, yet quirky little movie called Moonrise Kingdom.  In the movie, the lead female, Suzy, is an avid reader.

I loved the covers of her books and they seemed so fascinating.  So much so, that when I got home, I looked them up to see if they were real books (sadly, they are not).  I particularly was interested in reading "Disappearance of the 6th Grade".  Here are 3 of Suzy's books:

Suzy's books got me to thinking about other fictitious books that I would like to read.  The first one that came to mind was George McFly's book - "A Match Made in Space"

 

If you are a fan of the movie "Back to the Future", you will recognize this book.  When young George McFly was a teen, he was a budding writer and was really into Science Fiction, but he gave all that up when he got married and had kids.  However, when his son Marty (played by Michael J. Fox), went back in time to 1955 and met his dad, George.  He dressed up in a yellow haz-mat suit, similar to the one that is on the book cover, and it inspired George.  Also, Marty helped George change the outcome of his life and gave him more confidence so that George became a famous Sci-Fi writer and he wrote "A Match Made in Space" - which we see arriving in boxes near the end of the movie.  I bet this is a great Sci-Fi book and would love to see what kind of writer George McFly turned out to be.

Another one I would really love to get my hands on is the "Handbook for the Recently Deceased"

 Do you recognize this book?  I love the artwork - a nice little couple, who look like JFK and Jackie from the back (at least to me) are walking into the afterlife - this is from the movie "Beetlejuice" - after Adam and Barbara die, they find themselves sort of trapped in their home, particularly in the attic.  This book just shows up and they follow the instructions to draw a door and knock on it 3 times to enter - the bricks on the wall turn into a door and they enter.  Of course, later in the movie, the book falls into the wrong hands.  Wouldn't you just love to know what kind of things we need to know for the afterlife?  This book should would help with that.

Another fictitious book that would be quite and interesting read would be "How I Did It"

This book was written by Victor Frankenstein (that is Fronk-en-STEEN  to you) from the movie "Young Frankenstein" - one of the funniest movies ever written.  I love the simplicity of the title - he is just saying "Yep, here is what I did to create a monster"

As a BIG fan of the TV show "Castle", I always wanted to read a book written by Richard Castle.  He is the title character, who happens to be a James Patterson type writer and he follows the female lead detective, Kate Beckett around and he helps her solve cases.  He is a personal friend of the mayor, which is why he is allow to do this.  His series of books are about a fictional cop, Nikki Heat and she is loosely based on Kate.  I really wanted to read his first book - "Heat Wave"

Well guess what?  You really CAN read his first book and three others, you can buy them on Amazon !

I have read "Naked Heat" and it was really good - a bit strange at first reading a book written by Richard Castle, who is not even a real person but it was fun reading it and imagining that he modeled these after Kate - very cool !

Of course no fictitious book collection would be complete without Kramer's "Coffee Table" book about well...coffee tables.

 What is so great about Kramer's book is that (as he demonstrates on Regis and Kathie Lee), it actually turns into a tiny coffee table! Haha !!  Boy, that Kramer thought of everything!  I sure miss Seinfeld (which reminds me of all the fictitious movies I would love to see - like Rochelle, Rochelle)

And last, but not least, there are two more fake books I would like to read by none other than Brian Griffin.  Yes, they are written by a cartoon dog that walks, talks and lives his life as if he were human.

The first one is his famous novel that he had been working on for years..."Faster Than the Speed of Love"

Poor Brian, his novel was not what you would call a best seller.  However, he wrote a self-help book - one he said he just wrote in a few hours and put no thought into what-so-ever.  Of course THAT book, "Wish It, Want It, Do It" became a HUGE best-seller.  Go figure!

I think it would be fun to read these books - what fictitious books would you like to actually read ?

Buddhist Boot Camp

A flower doesn't stop being beautiful just because somebody walks by without noticing it, nor does it cease to be fragrant if its scent is taken for granted. The flower just continues to be its glorious self: elegant, graceful, and magnificent.

Our Mother Nature has provided us with these immeasurably valuable teachers that blossom despite their short lifespan, stars that continue to shine even if we fail to stare at them, and trees that don't take it personally if we never bow down in gratitude for the oxygen they provide.

We also have an incredible and unlimited capacity to love, but the question is: can we do it like a flower? Without needing to be admired, adored, or even noticed? Can we open our hearts completely to give, forgive, celebrate, and joyfully live our lives without hesitation or need for reciprocity?

It seems like sometimes we go beyond taking things personally and are noticeably deflated when unappreciated. In-fact, devastated, we wilt in sorrow and then attempt to guard ourselves by withholding, using all sorts of protections and defenses. We get hurt (even angry), if our boss fails to recognize an astonishing feat, if a lover pulls their hand away, or when a friend forgets our birthday. Can you imagine a flower copping an attitude for not being praised, or the moon dimming its glow because we're too self-absorbed to notice it more often?

Make an effort to shine no matter what, to love unconditionally, and to be a kind and gentle soul (even when nobody is watching). And, if you're so inclined, hug the next tree you see and say, "Thank you!"

---- 

This chapter is called "Love is the recognition of beauty" from the book Buddhist Boot Camp by Timber Hawkeye

Funny Friday - John Steinbeck Style

The Grapes of Wrath

Okay, I know you have been sitting on pins and needles just waiting to hear back from me as to what I decided to make with the beautify Bernat Waverly yarn, now that I decided NOT to make the crochet-along afghan (which was why I purchased this yarn in the first place).

Well, you can quit holding your breath now. I found the perfect pattern.....

Isn't she pretty ??  I already have the white and greens and I'm basically going to be replacing the browns in the photos with pinks.

I also considered this pattern (which I've posted about before):

I'm pretty sure I will go with the first one because it is all worked in one piece (no sewing) and also because I think the 2nd one would look better in shades of purple.

Of course, as much as I'd like to get started on this I have 2 other projects that I am going to finish beforehand.


1)  Patchwork Baby Afghan that I am knitting for my soon to be born great-niece
2) Around the World Afghan that I am crocheting for me (wow - can't believe I started that afghan that long ago and haven't made much progress on it - time really flies)

Yarn Love

 I love Lion Brand yarn - love them all !!  They have so many beautiful yarns and colors and their website is FANTASTIC - fully of patterns.  I have been a member of their website as long as I can remember.  Some of the patterns use to be free and some had a small cost (not too expensive - $0.99 - $1.99 - along those lines).  At that time, their free patterns were mostly the ones printed on the yarn bands but also available on their website.

Well many, many years ago, they made ALL of their patterns free.  I remember when I got the e-mail saying so - I went pattern crazy - printing out so many.  I was a happy girl. Heck, I still am a happy girl - they literally have thousands of free patterns and they are so well written.  Even the "experienced" skill level ones are easy to follow.

My favorite yarn of theirs is probably Vanna's Choice (named for the beautiful Vanna White), who is a fellow crocheter (she may knit too but seems like I heard she crocheted) - she has been their spokesperson for over 15 years.  I also love Pound of Love, Amazing, Jamie, and  Homespun.

I receive an email from them each week with new patterns and such.  But this week I about stopped dead in my tracks when I saw this.  How cute are these?  Itty, Bitty, Teeny, Weeny and insanely cute little skeins of yarn, called Bonbons.

They are so perfect for smaller projects, such as Amigurumi.  They come 8 to a pack in a variety of colors - just look at this cute little pack !  I can't wait to see them in person.  The Lion Brand website has them listed as $7.99 per pack - so about $1 a skein.  The yarn looks a bit like DMC (embroidery) floss.  One skein of DMC floss is 10 g and 1 skein of Lion Brand floss states 10 g (according to the website).

 

Considering that DMC is often on sale 5 for $1 and it comes in at least 87 different colors, it may be a better choice then Lion  Brand for these type of projects but the Lion Brand is just so darned cute !!   Plus I have not seen them in person so I don't know if they really are like DMC floss or not (they just appear to be from the photos and projects).   With this pack pictures above, I could so see myself make Georgia and Georgia Tech friendship bracelets !  The right colors are in there.

Anyway..... if you see these in the store anywhere, leave me a comment so I check them out - also, let me know what you think.

Funny Friday - Whatcha Thinkin ?

Happy Independence Day

This is my 300th post !!  I hope you have a Happy, Fun & Relaxing Independence Day !

2012 Movies - Version 06.2012

Listing of movies I've seen in 2012 (does not include TV movies or movies I've re-watched)

A ❤ indicates my favorite for the month.

June 2012

Mr. Popper's Penguins - pretty cute, would have been better without the poop jokes but I am sure it made the kids laugh.
Rock of Ages - just when I think I can't love ❤Tom Cruise❤ anymore, here he comes as Stacee Jaxx ❤
Hangover II - pretty funny-like the first one but set it Bancock
Kung Fu Panda II - cute, they set it up for a part III right at the end.
Brave - the latest Disney/Pixar creations - wonderful, of course !
Magic Mike - great dancing, not so great acting.

May 2012  

Monte Carlo - pretty cute teen movie with a Prince & the Pauper theme.

Going the Distance - Drew Barrymore flick - was ok but not her best film by any means

The Kids are Alright - pretty good story but too much unnecessary nudity

One Day - long love story, the finally get together and then tragedy strikes

Paul - alien movie where Blythe Danner drops the f-bomb, shows you how good it was - NOT !

Dark Shadows - way better than I thought it would be based on the reviews I'd heard - I really liked it.

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel - great legendary British actors in this movie, interesting to see Indian culture. ❤

April 2012

Eat, Pray, Love - better than I thought it would be.

Horrible Bosses - was okay, didn't hate it, didn't love it - but did not like Jennifer Aniston's character at all

Chimpanzee - so sweet, so amazing, incredible photography - wow !

Water for Elephants - the book was a bit slow to me, so was the movie - good acting though.

Pirates - Band of Misfits (3D) - funny, cute story - I love 3D

Larry Crowne - Tom Hanks/Julie Roberts.  I heard a lot of bad reviews for this when it first came out but I decided to watch it and I liked it.

Magi

March 2012
The Way - staring Martin Sheen, about a man taking over a pilgrimage for his son, pretty good
Legally Blond 2 - I love Reese Witherspoon but ... the first Legally Blond was great, the didn't need #2
Salmon Fishing in the Yemen - very funny movie - romance but also drama - I loved it.❤
Cedar Rapids - watched on HBO, was just okay
Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son - also on HBO - also just okay
Bridemaids - not as crude as I thought it was going to be (really only a couple of crude scenes), it was a pretty good story but not sure what the big hoopla was about it.  Also don't know why Melissa McCarthy was nominated for Best Supporting Actress, she did a fine job but she wasn't any more special then the other girls in it.   

February 2012
Extremely Loud and Incredible Close - good acting, had a lot of narration, a little upsetting
Warhorse - Epic storytelling in classic Steven Spielberg fashion - I loved it ❤
Moneyball - true story - good but kind of slow for me
Ides of March - very good, incredible to know stuff like that (or worse) goes on in real life. 
Tree of Life - very artsy movie that was HORRIBLE
Midnight in Paris - sweet, charming and romantic. 

January 2012

Something Borrowed - good story but moved a little slow I thought

Mean Girls - really liked it

Hall Pass - just okay - was crude and predictable

Twilight - Breaking Dawn Part I - good, a little cheesy when the werewolves talked to each other though

Insidious - not as scary as I thought it would be but was creepy and spooky without gore

The Artist - I LOVED this movie - LOVED it !!    ❤ ❤ ❤
The Karate Kid (the newer one with Jaden Smith) - never saw it before, they should have named it The Kung-Fu Kid, I wonder why they didn't?
The Descendants - good movie, good acting, beautiful location