Day Zero Project! 101/1001

I just joined this amazing new (well new to me) project: 101/1001.

The Challenge: Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.
The Criteria: Tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of work on your part).
Why 1001 Days? Many people have created lists in the past - frequently simple challenges such as New Year's resolutions or a 'Bucket List'. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organising and timing some tasks such as overseas trips, study semesters, or outdoor activities.
Who runs this website? The Day Zero Project was created by New Zealander, Michael Green.

I have started my project list today (September 20, 2011). As part of my list, I thought it would be better to break it down into categories. I will be updating my list (adding and notating completion) on a weekly basis. Here's my list of 101 things (broken down into categories):

Movies and Music

1. Go to 5 concerts
2. Visit the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland
3. Listen to 26 new bands (one for each letter of the alphabet)
4. Go to a music festival
5. Make a playlist of my favorite 101 songs
6. See all of IMDB's Top 250 movies
7. Have a Pixar marathon
8. See a movie at a drive-in
9. See a movie at an outdoor setting (not a drive-in)
10. Choose an actor/actress and see all their films
11. Watch 10 foreign films
12. Watch all the James Bond movies
13. Have a zombie movie marathon
14. Spend a day in PJs watching movies
15. See 101 new movies

Writing and Books

16. Keep a "Six Words to Describe the Day" journal for 6 months
17. Write a letter to myself to be opened at the end of 1001 days
18. Make a list of 101 inspirational quotes
19. Blog 1001 times
20. Complete NaNoWriMo
21. Find 26 unfamiliar words (one for each letter of the alphabet) and use in a blog post
22. Keep a journal for this project
23. Finish 100 creative writing prompts
24. Buy a moleskine notebook
25. Write 1000 words a day for a month
26. Complete The Artist's Way
27. Spend an afternoon in the park reading
28. Reread all of the Harry Potter books
29. Reread all of Jane Austen's novels
30. Read all the Booker Prize winning books
31. Finish 30 reading challenges
32. Read my height in books
33. Bookcross 20 books
34. Leave an inspirational note in a book to be found by someone else
35. Join or create a book club
36. Attend 3 literary events (not book club meetings)
37. Pass 250,000 pages read for my 1,000,000 pages challenge

Fashion, Body, Food, and Health

38. Buy a Little Black Dress
39. Get a full body massage
40. Buy a business suit
41. Get laser eye surgery
42. Buy a vintage dress
43. Throw away all my underwear and start again
44. Have a facial
45. Have manicure or pedicure
46. Take a yoga class
47. Eat only raw food for a day
48. Meditate every day for a month
49. Complete the 200 squat challenge
50. Go pick berries
51. Make 10 different types of cupcakes
52. Eat an apple a day for a month
53. Host a wine and cheese party
54. Host a regressive dinner party
55. Try 30 new recipes
56. Go on a preplanned picnic
57. Take a cooking class
58. Build a gingerbread house
59. Have a candlelit dinner
60. Tae a brewery tour
61. Make homemade salsa
62. Host a tea party
63. Host a homemade pizza party

Money

64. Get a piggy bank
65. Give money to a street musician
66. Save $5 for every task completed
67. Sell something on eBay
68. Tip 100%
69. Cash in my change jar
70. Don't spend any money for a week
71. Donate 100,000 grains of rice on freerice.com

Personal Development

72. Complete "50 Questions that Free Your Mind"
73. Take an IQ test
74. Learn to say "I love You" in 10 languages
75. Learn to make an origami crane
76. Make 100 homemade cards
77. Complete a soduku puzzle
78. Take 26 photos of things that inspire me (one for each letter of the alphabet)
79. Take a college class for fun
80. Do a 3-5 km walk
81. Get a passport
82. Make a wish at 11:11 on November 11, 2011

Activities, Travel, and Events

83. Stay at a Bed and Breakfast
84. Attend Mardi Gras
85. Celebrate St. Patrick's Day in a Irish pub
86. Participate in a flash mob or zombie walk
87. Go hiking or horseback riding
88. Go canoeing or kayaking
89. Build a snowman
90. Jump into a pile of leaves
91. Fly a kite
92. Play Bingo in a Bingo hall
93. Go ice Skating
94. Participate in or create a scavenger hunt
95. Visit 5 museums
96. See the opera, orchestra, or theatre production
97. Complete a coloring book
98. Take pictures in a photo booth
99. Send 10 postcards with postcrossing.com
100. Scrapbook 100 pages
101. Send flowers to a friend just because

I am so exciting to be starting this challenge!!!

A to Z Movies: Ocean's Eleven

Title: Ocean's Eleven

Year Released/Rating: 2001 PG-13

Starring: George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts

Directed By: Steven Soderbergh

Written By: George Clayton Johnson, Jack Golden Russell, Harry Brown, Charles Lederer, Ted Griffin

Star Rating: 5 /5 stars

Trivia: During the several takes it took to shoot the scene in which Rusty and Linus are spying on Tess as she is introduced coming down the stairs, Brad Pitt, who plays Rusty eating shrimps from a shrimp cocktail, ate 40 shrimps.

Extra Trivia: The script was sent to Julia Roberts with a $20 bill attached. Included was a note from George Clooney that said "I hear you're getting 20 a picture now". This of course is a joke referencing Julia Roberts becoming the highest paid actress at $20 million per picture.

Classic movie! I absolutely adore Brad Pitt and George Clooney. Their banter is just gorgeous. And the setup is just too fun. And there's so many interesting people in this movie: Don Cheadle, Carl Reiner, Casey Afleck, Scott Caan, Matt Damon. I love, love, love this movie so much. A great night.

Best Bits:

Rusty: Did someone call for a doctor?

~~

Turk Malloy: I'm gonna get out of the car and drop you like third period French.

~~

Danny: Why do they always paint hallways that color?

Rusty: They say taupe is very soothing.

~~

Rusty: [on Danny walking out of prison in a loosened black-tie suit] I hope you were the Groom.

Danny: [on Rusty's attire for picking him up from prison] Ted Nugent called, he wants his shirt back.

~~

Basher: It will be nice working with proper villains again!

~~

Virgil Malloy: Are you a man?

Turk Malloy: Yes, nineteen. Virgil Malloy: Are you alive? Turk Malloy: Yes, eighteen. Virgil Malloy: Evel Knievel. Turk Malloy: ...shit.

~~

Reuben: What? Did you guys get a group rate or something?

Stranger by Zoe Archer

Title: Stranger (Blades of the Rose #4)

Author: Zoe Archer

Publisher: Zebra 2010

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Pages: 463

Rating: 5 / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Summer Romance - Paranormal; Books Around the World - England

How I Got It: I own it! (from the Borders closing sale)

Gemma Murphy has a nose for a story - even if the boys in Chicago's newsrooms would rather focus on her chest. So when she runs into a handsome man of mystery discussing how to save the world from fancy-pants Brit conspirators, she's sensing a scoop. Especially when he mentions there's magic involved. Of course, getting him on the record would be easier if he hadn't caught her eavesdropping...Catullus Graves knows what it's like to be shut out: his ancestors were slaves. And he's a genius inventor with appropriately eccentric habits, so even people who love him find him a little odd. But after meeting a certain redheaded scribbler, he's thinking of other types of science. Inconvenient, given that he needs to focus on preventing the end of the world as we know it. But with Gemma's insatiable curiosity sparking Catullus' inventive impulses, they might set off something explosive anyway...

The last book of the series definitely got back on track. After the ridiculous revelation from the third book, Rebel, I was glad to see the story get back on track. The characters, both new and old, made the book feel like an epic. Everyone coming together from across the world to fight the Heirs and take back the Primal Source made for a great adventure. I loved seeing more of Bennett, London, Astrid, Lesperance, Gabriel, and Thalia. The Heirs were appropriately vile. But it was Catullus and Gemma that shined the most. I loved Gemma's tenacious spirit and Catullus' cool intellect. They make a perfect pairing. I really bought the romance.

As to the story, I appreciated the inclusion of the mythical beings of England. A nice touch to see pixies and trolls and Queen Mab. When Catullus and Gemma journey into the Otherworld, I was momentarily reminded of Julie Kagawa's Iron Fey series. Thankfully, this book took the story to a new and different version of Otherworld. I especially loved the encounters with Queen Mab and of course Merlin. And finally, the epic battle was worthy of the end of the series. Everything was larger than life (some things literally) and the danger was great. Of course the Blades win, but with great losses. I was satisfied to see that there were injuries and losses. This wasn't some magical battle where the good guys come through unscathed while vanquishing all their enemies. This was a real battle.

Overall, I've really enjoyed this series. While I wasn't a fan of Archer's contribution to the Bianca D'Arc's zombie series, this one definitely drew me in. I loved the mix of magic, romance, and adventure. I even got some geography and culture thrown in for good measure. Recommend!

Blades of the Rose

#1 Warrior
#2 Scoundrel
#3 Rebel
#4 Stranger

Meals a la Tobe! #7

Sunday

Chinese Night

-- Chicken Stir Fry

-- Eggrolls

-- Crab Rangoon

Monday

-- Out to grab some Noodles & Co.

I wasn't feeling good at all, so no cooking for me. It's hard enough to make myself cook when I feel good. When I'm icky, it's just not going to happen. So pasta cheered me up (mostly because I didn't have to cook it!)

Tuesday

-- BBQ Chicken on the grill

-- Mashed Potatoes

-- Corn

-- Rolls

We had to get in a few more grill nights before it gets way too cold.

Wednesday

-- Eat out

It was my monthly Stampin' Up meeting. Afterwards, J drove down to meet me in Bellevue for dinner. We had some yummy Chinese at one of his old restaurant when he was on base. Yum Yum!

Thursday

-- Eat out

J had his meeting, so we went out to get something after the meeting. Yummy spinach artichoke calzone, cheesecake, and good beer from Old Chicago.

Friday

-- Leftover night

Saturday

-- Roast with potatoes, onions, and green beans in crock pot

Classic dinner. Love it!

Week summary/comments:

An odd week. Not much actual cooking being done. Instead, we ate out a lot and cleaned ou the fridge. We should be getting back to cooking this upcoming week.

A to Z Movies: Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind

Title: Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind

Year Released/Rating: 1984

Voices of: Alison Lohman, Patrick Stewart, Uma Thurman, Edward James Olmos, Shia, LaBeouf

Directed By: Hayao Miyazaki

Written By: Hayao Miyazaki

Star Rating: 5/5 stars

Trivia: Hayao Miyazaki was so upset by the original international cut version that he sent a samurai sword to the Executive at Disney with a simple note which read: "No cuts."

The only Miyazaki film that I hadn't seen. And I can't believe that I waited this long to watch. I loved this movie. An epic battle. A hope for humanity. Fantastical creatures. Great characters. And absolutely beautiful animation. All of Miyazaki's clouds are just gorgeous. Originally the versions released in the United States cut out many of the parts that point the finger at the humans for the destruction of the planet. I can see why Miyazaki was so upset; that is kinda the point. Without the realization of the destruction, Nausicaa cannot save the planet and forge a new world between the humans and the insects. I really loved this message. Even though all the Japanese movies are very pessimist, each one has a bit of hope in there. With this, we now own all the Miyazaki films. Yeah!

Best Bits:

Nausicaä: It's so beautiful. It's hard to believe these spores could kill me.

~~

Kushana: Nice valley. Think I'll keep it.

~~

Nausicaä: Every one of us relies on water from the wells, because mankind has polluted all the lakes and rivers. but do you know why the well water is pure? It's because the trees of the wastelands purify it! And you plan to burn the trees down? You must not burn down the toxic jungle! You should have left the giant warrior beneath the earth!... Asbel, tell them how the jungle evolved and how the insects are gaurding it so we won't pollute the earth again. Asbel please!

A to Z Movies: Mr. and Mrs. Smith

Title: Mr. and Mrs. Smith

Year Released/Rating: 2005 PG-13

Starring: Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Vince Vaughn, Adam Brody

Directed By: Doug Liman

Written By: Simon Kinberg

Star Rating: 4/5 stars

Trivia: When Jane is going to her first shown kill, she correctly answers a question from the quiz show Jeopardy!. This was unscripted and spur of the moment on the part of Jolie.

Extra Trivia: When the Smiths are holding hostage "The Tank",Adam Brody's character, he is wearing a t-shirt from the 1999 "Fight Club" movie,in which Brad Pitt played one of his most well known roles,Tyler Durden.

J's pick tonight. I voted for lighter action. Something not too serious, but with some good dialogue and action sequences. And we picked Mr. and Mrs. Smith. I especially love the dialogue and looks in this movie. Jolie and Pitt have an awesome way of communicating without speaking. I love it! And we get Vince Vaughn popping in here and there h some great lines. Overall, a good fun lighter action film.

Best Bits:

Eddie: Tell me you got smart and that you killed that lying bitch.

Jane Smith: This lying bitch?

Eddie: Guess that was just wishful thinking. ~~

John Smith: [angry that Benjamin had blown their cover] You burn the picture after you get the assignment! It's the first thing you learn!

Benjamin: Oh, I must have missed that day. Just like you missed the one about not marrying the enemy.

~~

John Smith: Web of lies!

~~

John Smith: [just before running over an assassin with the minivan] These fuckers get younger every year.

~~

Jane Smith: Any last words?

John Smith: The new curtains are hideous.

~~

Martin Coleman: Shame about the red oak.

A to Z Movies: Layer Cake

Title: Layer Cake

Year Released/Rating: 2004 R

Starring: Daniel Craig, Tom Hardy, Colm Meaney, George Harris, Michael Gambon

Directed By: Matthew Vaughn

Written By: J.J. Connolly

Star Rating: 5 /5 stars

Trivia: In the penultimate scene at the Stokes country club, XXXX and his fellow drug dealers are eating a layer cake.

We have a ton of good movies for L, it was just a problem of narrowing them down to one. J mentioned Layer Cake and I jumped on it. I haven't seen the movie since it came out on dvd. I liked it (It has Daniel Craig for goodness sakes!) and thought it would be a great British movie to watch. Concidentally I picked up the book the movie was based on from the clearance rack at a local used book store. Unfortunately it's still packed in one of the many book boxes in the garage. So, I'll have to wait to read it. The movie will just have to do for now...

To the movie... I love smart British movies. I loved the dialogue, the set-ups, the action sequences. They aren't all reliant on big explosions or even cussing. It's more about the art of the conversation. I just love that! And I forgot how many people were in this movie. Tons of British actors that I see all the time. Because you know, J and I have an obsession with British movies and tv. This movie really grabs your attention from start to finish. I love it!

Best Bits:

XXXX: My name? If you knew that, you'd be as clever as me.

~~

Eddie Temple: England. Typical. Even drug dealers don't work weekends.

~~

Morty: Why did you keep the gun?

Gene: I know it sounds silly now, but it was my favorite.

Morty: You better not let the other guns know you have a favorite.

~~

XXXX: I'm not a gangster. I'm a businessman whose commodity happens to be cocaine.

~~

XXXX: Everyone wants to walk through a door marked "private." Therefore, have a good reason to be affluent.

~~

XXXX: A Roman general once said, "If you want peace, plan for war."

BTT: Replay

Have you ever finished a book and loved it so much you went right back and started re-reading it again?
(And obviously, if so, we want titles!)

There have definitely been a couple of books I have done with.

The first was probably The Awakening by Kate Chopin. I had to read the book for an hour long presentation for my 10th grade American Literature/U.S. History class. We had to choose an American novel from a list. I picked Huckleberry Finn, but too many others had also picked it. So the teacher picked for me. I was skeptical.. But once I finished the book, I went right back and read it again. I loved it so much. It has since become my favorite book. One of those that I reread every other year or so, just to feel it again.

I've also done with this Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Twilight, and The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. All from my favorites bookshelf. Some book you just have to reread and quickly!

Jack of Fables: Jack of Hearts by Bill Willingham

Title: Jack of Fables Vol 2: Jack of Hearts

Author: Bill Willingham

Publisher: Vertigo 2007

Genre: Graphic Novel; Fantasy

Pages: 144

Rating: 4 / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Fables Series

In this volume collecting issues #6-11, Jack reveals the secret of his former relationship with the illustrious Snow Queen — when he took her powers and became known as Jack Frost. And in present times, he lands in Las Vegas and meets his lovely new bride, a directionless heiress. Could it possibly be "happily ever after" at last?

Two great continuing adventures of Jack. He is really growing on me as a character. Not quite as good as the main Fables series, but definitely a great little read. I enjoyed the story about the Snow Queen. Shows us what she was like before becoming the partner of the Adversary. And the little (hee hee) twist as to what caused her illness: Very nice! Wonder if that will come back up again. Entertaining back story. The Vegas story was interesting, but mostly for the interludes featuring the Page sisters and Mr. Revise. I am really liking the whole deleting fables side plot. Very interesting stuff. Can't wait to see what happens to Jack next!

Jack of Fables:

Rebel by Zoe Archer

Title: Rebel (Blades of the Rose #3)

Author: Zoe Archer

Publisher: Zebra 2010

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Pages: 398

Rating: 4 / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Summer Romance - Paranormal; Books Around the World - Canada

How I Got It: I own it! (from the Borders closing sale)

Nathan Lesperance is used to being different. He's the first Native attorney in Vancouver, and welcome neither with white society nor his sometime tribe. Not to mention the powerful wildness he's always felt inside him, too dangerous to set free. Then he met Astrid Bramfield and saw his like within her piercing eyes. Now, unless she helps him through the harsh terrain and the harsher unknowns of his true abilities, it could very well get him killed...Astrid has traveled this path before. Once she was a Blade of the Rose, protecting the world's magic from unscrupulous men, with her husband by her side. But she's loved and lost, and as a world-class frontierswoman, she knows all about survival. Nathan's searing gaze and long, lean muscles mean nothing but trouble. Yet something has ignited a forgotten flame inside her: a burning need for adventure, for life - and perhaps even for love...

Well I hunkered down today, grabbed my tea and sweater, went out to the back porch, and finally finally finished this book. It took me 5 days! That's just crazy for me. It's finally done, over, finished. But what are my thoughts? I'm having a hard time coming to a consensus on this one. Do I like it? Do I just like it less than the previous books in the series? Do I have an issue with the main character? All good questions... After some pondering, I think I've finally collected my thoughts.

The Good

The series continues to entertain me. I still enjoyed the far flung location, this one in the rugged Canadian Wilderness. I still loved the adventure and action sequences. The final battle was the most brutal yet. I still like the magical aspects. It was nice to see the Sources tied to a Native American tribe. I liked the twist of having three connected Sources. I am still taken with the writing style. Not too descriptive, not too conversationalist, just right amounts of action and quiet moments. I am really digging this series.

The Bad

The decision to make Nathan an Earth Spirit. It felt so cheap, so overused. Maybe it's because I've read a ton of shifter/werewolf/witch/vampire books lately, but I just felt out of touch with the character. I want to connect to the characters. In fact, I think I have a fixation on characters lately. I also took issue with the baddies in this book. They just didn't seem bad enough. I loved the nastiness of the Heirs in the first two books. For goodness sakes, in the second book on the baddies is the female lead's father. There's not much nastier than that. But these ones seemed almost like caricatures, but real villans. I was disappointed.

The Verdict

I enjoyed it, just not as much as the first two. I am still looking forward to reading the fourth book, Stranger, and seeing Catullus' story play out. But first, maybe a graphic novel break...

Blades of the Rose

I've Got the Funky Book Blues...

You ever have one of those weeks. You know, the one where you are just in a reading funk. the book is interesting, mildly entertaining, but somehow you get stuck. You just can't seem to finish it. It sits on your nightstand (Finally! I have a freaking nightstand after 8 weeks on backorder!). It sits there and begs to be finished. And yet, every time you pick it up and start to read something distracts you, like sleep, or a headache, or J needing something (he's very needy with his free time). You put it down after only reading ~10 pages. All in all, it ends up taking forever to read a 400 page book. Especially when in the past you have read a 400 page book in a day. Just like that... I'm having one of those weeks. I just can't seem to get over the reading funk. I contemplated joining a readathon starting this Thursday, but I just can't get over this funk. I have so many great looking books I want to get to. They sit on the bookshelf next to my reading (and everything else) chair and cry out to me: Read me! Review me! Pass me along to another deserving reader! And yet, they're still there, because I can't get through this stinkin' book. But I'm not ready to give up on it. I only have 100 pages left. I am determined to finish. Even if I only read 10 pages a night... that's only 10 days, right? I should get to reading now... but there's that style blog I was reading and my Google Reader is getting a bit out of control. Damn you distractions!

A to Z Movies: A Knight's Tale

Title: A Knight's Tale

Year Released/Rating: 2001 PG-13

Starring: Heath Ledger, Rufus Sewell, Paul Bettany, Mark Addy,

Directed By: Brian Helgeland

Written By: Brian Helgeland

Star Rating: 4/5 stars

Trivia: When Chaucer first introduces "Sir Ulrich" in his speech, the crowd does not react at first because the Czech extras could not understand the speech. Mark Addy's loud prompt was what tipped them off to start cheering. This awkward moment was left in because it made the scene funnier.

Extra Trivia: The initial scene of the two knights jousting in the first scene of the movie is actually footage of Heath Ledger's stunt double in an accident. During filming of a later scene in the movie, the lance of the stunt double's opponent moved off target and hit him in the head. The double fell to the ground unconscious. The entire footage was used for the introduction.

Overall, I like this movie. It's fun. It's got an interesting soundtrack. I like the re-imagined costumes. The story is entertaining. I like it. I don't absolutely love it, but I own it, so that must say something. I like Heath Ledger. And Alan Tudyk is awesome. But my favorite is definitely Paul Bettany. Any scene with Chaucer is an automatic win. My issue with the movie comes with the romantic story line. I could so without it. I really think we could have made a decent movie without the love story. It's unnecessary. And Jocelyn's character is utterly annoying. Ever time she opens her mouth I want to smack her. It's as if the filmmakers wanted a "feminist" (I'm using quotations, because she's really not) character but wound up with a spoiled rich girl. She plays at the feminist until she's got him on the line. Then she switches back to the flower. And finally she gives him herself as a Prize (her words not mine) after the mid movie climax. The entire character is utterly ridiculous. And for that I took away a star. I just try to ignore her scenes and think of it as a movie about a boy becoming a knight.

Best Bits:

[Keeping beat for a dance lesson] Chaucer: And one and two and three and four and your hands should be light like a birdie on a branch. And one and two and three and four and Wat doesn't lead he follows like a girl. [Wat punches him. Scene changes, and Chaucer now has a tissue stuck up one nostril] Chaucer: And one and two and twirlie twirlie twirlie! And one and two and you're still getting it wrong! And one and two and three and four you can hit me all day cause you punch like a... what? Roland: A girl! ~~ William: Oi sir, what are you doing? Chaucer: Uh... trudging. You know, trudging? [pause] Chaucer: To trudge: the slow, weary, depressing yet determined walk of a man who has nothing left in life except the impulse to simply soldier on. William: Uhhh... were you robbed? Chaucer: [laughs] Funny really, yes, but at the same time a huge resounding no. It's more of an... involuntary vow of poverty... really ~~ Wat: Uh, betray us, and I will fong you, until your insides are out, your outsides are in, your entrails will become your extrails I will w-rip... all the p... ung. Pain, lots of pain. ~~ Chaucer: Yes, behold my lord Ulrich, the rock, the hard place, like a wind from Guilderland he sweeps by blown far from his homeland in search of glory and honor, we walk... in the garden... of his turbulence! [crowd is silent, cricket noise] Roland: Yeah. Crowd: Yeahhhhh! ~~ Chaucer: I'm a writer. Wat: A what? Chaucer: A wha- a what? A writer. You know, I write, with ink, and parchment. Geoffrey Chaucer's the name, writing's the game. You've probably read my book? the Book of the Duchess? No? Well, it was allegorical. Roland: Well, we won't hold that against you, that's for every man to decide for himself. ~~ Chaucer: [singing] He's quick, he's funny, he makes me lots of money, Lichtenstein! Lichtenstein! ~~ Germaine: My Lord, the Count Adehmar, Son of Phillip DeVitry, son of Gilles... er... Master of the Free Companies, defender of his enormous manhood, a shining example of chivalry and champagne.

Music Monday -- Counting Crows "Omaha"

I feel like I'm finally starting to get the hang of this new city. In honor of that, this week's Music Monday post features one of my favorite bands from high school and their song featuring my new city. Enjoy!

Lyrics (my favorite lines in bold):

Start tearing the old man down Run past the heather and down to the old road Start turning the grain into the ground Roll a new leaf over In the middle of the night, there's an old man treading around in the gathered rain Well mister, if you're going to walk on water Could you drop a line my way?

Omaha Somewhere in middle America Get right to the heart of matters It's the heart that matters more I think you better turn your ticket in And get your money back at the door

Start threading a needleBrush past the shuttle that slides through the cold roomStart turning the wool across the wire Roll a new life over In the middle of the night, there's an old man threading his toes through a bucket of rain Hey mister, you don't want to walk on water you're only going to walk all over me

Omaha Somewhere in middle America Get right to the heart of the matters It's the heart that matters more I think you better turn your ticket in And get your money back at the door

Start running the banner down Drop past the color come up through the summer rain Start turning the girl into the ground Roll a new love over In the middle of the day, there's a young man rolling around in the earth and rain Hey Mister, if you're going to walk on water You know you're only going to walk all over me.

Omaha Somewhere in middle America Get right to the heart of matters It's the heart that matters more I think you better turn your ticket in And get your money back at the door

For your viewing pleasure, the song set to pics from Omaha. (Not mine. They went a little heavy on field pics, but whatever.)

A to Z Movies: Jurassic Park

Title: Jurassic Park

Year Released/Rating: 1993 PG-13

Starring: Sam Neill, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, Richard Attenborough

Directed By: Steven Spielberg

Written By: Michael Crichton and David Koepp

Star Rating: 4.5 /5 stars

Trivia: When the T-Rex comes through the glass roof of the Explorer in the first attack, the glass was not meant to break, producing the noticeably genuine screams from the children.

Extra Trivia: The full-sized animatron of the tyrannosaurus rex weighed about 13,000 to 15,000 pounds. During the shooting of the initial T-rex attack scene that took place in a downpour and was shot on a soundstage, the latex that covered the T-rex puppet absorbed great amounts of water, making it much heavier and harder to control. Technicians worked throughout the night with blow driers trying to dry the latex out. Eventually, they suspended a platform above the T-rex, out of camera range, to keep the water off it during filming.

I remember seeing this in the theater and being scared out of my mind. I didn't even read the book until later. And once I did read it, I realized that the book is even scarier. It's still one of my favorite films from my preteen years.

The opening scene is just fantastic. There's no explanation. No exposition. Just action. We see an encounter with one of the dinos, we don't really know which one, and the tragic results. Obviously if we pay attention later in the movie we know that the accident happened at the Raptor cage. Just a great establishment of tone for the rest of the movie. Once our scientists get to the island, everything seems nice and happy. But we should all be remembering the opening scene. It's just great. And the score! Oh the score! It's just amazing. My favorite scene has to be with the initial encounter with the T-rex. The rain, the mud, the Jeeps, the kids. All so very scary. Overall, I love it!

Best Bits: Almost all of them come from Malcolm... no surprise here.

Dr. Alan Grant: Oh my God. Do you know what this is? This is a dinosaur egg. The dinosaurs are breeding.

~~

John Hammond: All major theme parks have had delays. When they opened Disneyland in 1956, nothing worked!

Dr. Ian Malcolm: But, John. If the Pirates of the Caribbean breaks down, the pirates don't eat the tourists.

~~

Dr. Ian Malcolm: Anybody hear that? It's a, um... It's an impact tremor, that's what it is... I'm fairly alarmed here.

~~

Dr. Ian Malcolm: Remind me to thank John for a lovely weekend.

~~

Dr. Ian Malcolm: God creates dinosaurs. God destroys dinosaurs. God creates man. Man destroys God. Man creates dinosaurs...

Dr. Ellie Sattler: Dinosaurs eat man. Woman inherits the earth...

~~

Dr. Ian Malcolm: But again, how do you know they're all female? Does someone gone into the park and, uh... pull up the dinosaurs' skirts?

Henry Wu: No, we control their chromosomes. It's really not that difficult. All vertebrate embryoes are inherently female anyway. They just require an extra hormone given at the right developmental stage to make them male. We simply deny them that.

~~

Dr. Alan Grant: [holding a newly-hatched Dinosaur in his hands] What species is this?

Henry Wu: It's uh, a velociraptor.

Dr. Alan Grant: [in disbelief] You bred raptors?

~~

Tim: [after the tour car falls upside down on them at the bottom of the tree] Well... we're back... in the car again.

Dr. Alan Grant: Well, at least you're out of the tree.

~~

Dr. Ian Malcolm: If there is one thing the history of evolution has taught us it's that life will not be contained. Life breaks free, expands to new territories, and crashes through barriers, painfully, maybe even dangerously, but, ah, well, there it is.

A to Z Movies: Iron Man

Title: Iron Man

Year Released/Rating: 2008 PG-13

Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Jeff Bridges, Terrance Howard, Gwyneth Paltrow

Directed By: Jon Favreau

Written By: Mark Fergus, Hawk Ostby, Art Marcum, Matt Holloway, Stan Lee, Don Heck, Larry Lieber, Jack Kirby

Star Rating: 5/5 stars

Trivia: The script was not completely prepared when filming began, since the filmmakers were more focused on the story and the action, so the dialogue was mostly ad-libbed throughout filming; Jon Favreau acknowledged this made the film feel more natural. Some scenes were shot with two cameras to capture lines improvised on the spot;Robert Downey Jr. would ask for many takes of one scene since he wanted to try something new. Gwyneth Paltrow, on the other hand, had a difficult time trying to match Downey with a suitable line, as she never knew what he would say.

Extra Trivia: Agent Phil Coulson repeatedly states he is a member of the 'Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division' (finally shortening it to SHIELD). In the comics, the SHIELD agency originally stood for the 'Supreme Headquarters, International Espionage/Law-Enforcement Division', then in 1991 was revised to the 'Strategic Hazard Intervention/Espionage Logistics Directorate'.

Tonight I wanted some action and not a quirky comedy. We chose between Indiana Jones (my pick: The Last Crusade) and Iron Man. Obviously we went with Iron Man. I think the main reason I love this movie is Robert Downey Jr. He is Tony Stark. He's not an actor playing Tony Stark. He really is Tony Stark. In interviews Robert Downey Jr.further described his portrayal of Stark as "a challenge of making a wealthy, establishmentarian, weapons-manufacturing, hard-drinking, womanizing prick into a character who is likable and a hero." That's it, right there. He's an asshole, you want to hate him, and yet you still really root for him. And speaking of, Jeff Bridges is the ultimate villain. He's that slimy businessman that runs a bit of double dealing on the side. He's making you money, but also has higher aspirations. Watch out for him! So nicely done. I really appreciated it. Especially since Mickey Rourke's villan in Iron Man 2 is so week. At least Justin Hammer is fun to watch. Definitely my favorite of the Avengers movies so far.

Best Bits:

Virginia 'Pepper' Potts: [walking in on Stark's robots trying to get him out of the Iron Man suit] What is going on here? Tony Stark: Let's face it, this is not the worst thing you've caught me doing. Virginia 'Pepper' Potts: Are those bullet holes?

~~

Tony Stark: [reading the newspaper] "Iron Man". That's kind of catchy. It's got a nice ring to it.

~~

Tony Stark: Give me a scotch. I'm starving.

~~

Tony Stark: Hmmm. Your eyes are red. Tears for your long lost boss?

Virginia 'Pepper' Potts: Tears of joy. I hate job hunting. Tony Stark: Yeah, well, vacation's over.

~~

Agent Phil Coulson: I'm Agent Phil Coulson with the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division.

Virginia 'Pepper' Potts: That's quite a mouthful. Agent Phil Coulson: I know. We're working on it.

~~

Agent Phil Coulson: This isn't my first rodeo, Mr. Stark.

~~

Obadiah Stane: [discussing the company's future with Tony] We're iron mongers, we make weapons.

~~

Virginia 'Pepper' Potts: Agent Coulson, I just wanted to say thank you very much for all of your help.

Agent Phil Coulson: That's what we do. You'll be hearing from us. Virginia 'Pepper' Potts: From the Strategic Homeland... Agent Phil Coulson: [interrupting] Just call us SHIELD.

Meals a la Tobe! #6

Sunday From Rachel Ray's Book of 10

-- Fall Minestrone

2 tbsp EVOO 1/2 teas red pepper flakes 4 garlic cloves, chopped 3 Portobello mushroom caps, chopped 2 med onions, chopped 2 med carrots, diced 2 celery ribs, chopped salt and pepper 2 stems of fresh rosemary 8 fresh sage leaves, thinly sliced 1 med zucchini, diced 1 small bunch of kale, chopped 1 15 oz can of cannellini beans, drained (northern white beans) 1 14 oz can of diced tomatoes 1 quart 2 cups veggie stock Piece of rind of Parmigiano cheese (just used a couple small chunks instead) 1 cup ditalini pasta (used bow ties, cause they were in the cupboard) Grated Parmigiano-Reggiano for topping
Heat med soup pot over med-high heat, add EVOO. Add red pepper, garlic, mushrooms, onions, carrots, and celery. Cook 5-6 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and add rosemary and sage. Add zucchini and greens and stir until wilted down (2-3 minutes). Add beans, tomatoes, stock, and cheese. Place lid on pot and bring to a boil. Uncover and add pasta. Cook 7-8 minutes at roiling simmer until pasta is al dente. Remove pot from heat. Remove rosemary stems and rind. Enjoy!

-- Asiago Cheese Batard

Very very yummy. It turned into more a stew than a soup, but I like it like that. We had enough left over that I put half into a plastic container for leftovers and half into the freezer for later. I am definitely putting this recipe on my list.

Monday

-- Pizza (J's meeting night at our house, our guest brought pizza!)

Tuesday

-- Pizza leftovers

Wednesday

-- Spinach, Mushroom, and Mozzarella Calzones

Very yummy and so easy to make. Get a pizza crust, throw whatever toppings you want on the pizza crust, fold in half, cook in oven for ~15 minutes. Voila! Easy to eat calzones!

Thursday

-- Brats on the Grill

-- Potato Chips

-- Broccoli

Friday

-- Lazy, lazy... We had Boston Market.

Saturday

-- Spicy Shrimp and Penne with Puttanesca Sauce

1 lb penne pasta Coarse slat 1/4 cup EVOO 8 garlic cloves, chopped 2 teas red pepper flakes 8-10 whole anchovy fillets 1/2 cup black olives, chopped 3-4 tbsp capers, drained and chopped 1 14 oz can diced tomatoes 1 14 oz can crushed tomatoes 1 lb (24 count) peeled and deveined shrimp 2 handfuls parsley leaves, chopped
Boil a large pot of water, add and cook penne pasta. Heat a large deep skillet over medium heat. Add EVOO, garlic, red pepper, and anchovies. Break up the fish with a wooden spoon until they melt in the oil. Add olives, capers, and tomatoes. Bring sauce to a bubble and add shrimp. Cover the pan to cook the shrimp (3-4 minutes). Uncover and add parsley. Toss together pasta and sauce. Enjoy!

Definitely not as good as I hoped. It had all the flavors there, but they weren't strong enough. It ended up being fairly bland. J and I agree that it would probably help to cook this in a pot all day. Then the flavors would have time to settle in. Unfortunately, I didn't, so it really wasn't that good. Probably going into the "not making again" pile.

Week summary/comments: J's constant meeting day changes really threw me of this week. My meal plan just went out the window. I did a lot of improvising and throwing together. Thankfully we already had many of the ingredients in the fridge. (And brats in the freezer!) Next week, I actually have some recipes to tryout. Wish me luck.

A to Z Movies: Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle

Title: Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle

Year Released/Rating: 2004 R

Starring: Kal Penn, John Cho,

Directed By: Danny Leiner

Written By: Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg

Star Rating: 5 /5 stars

Trivia: There were no White Castles in the filming location so a building was trucked in.

Extra Trivia: In the scene where Harold and Kumar walk to Freakshow's house, John Cho was unaware that there was a German Shepherd in the cage next to them. When the dog barks, Cho shouts and grabs Kal Penn. This reaction was genuine.

One of my favorite silly comedies. I just love Harold and Kumar. They're awesome characters. And the movie is just awesome. The cheetah scene: Makes me giggle every time. The raccoon scene: So absurd it's hilarious. All the parts with NPH: downright genius, especially his exciting line. Kumar's dream sequence with the bag of weed: a beautiful love story. Ryan Reynolds' scene in the hospital: awkward! So many great scenes. And Goldstein and Rosenberg are just way to funny to just be side characters.

Best Bits:

Harold: Doog, where's my car? Kumar: Where's his car, dude?

~~

Harold: Did Doogie Houser just steal my fucking car?

~~

Dr. Patel: I will not tolerate this business from you any longer. You have one more interview tomorrow morning, and if I hear from Dr. Wein that you are anything short of spectacular, I'll completely cut you off. Kumar: Dad, come on. Dr. Patel: Daddy is not coming on anything!

~~

Harold: [to Maria in elevator, after seeing luggage at her feet] Sure got a lotta baggage.

~~

Harold: [about to ride cheetah] This is either a really smart move or by far the stupidest thing that we have ever tried.

~~

Kumar: I forgot my cell phone. Harold: You wanna run back and get it? [both turn and look at their front door 20 feet from them] Kumar: No, we've gone too far.

~~

Kumar: So where you going to go now, Neil?

Neil Patrick Harris: [puts on sunglasses] Wherever God takes me!

A to Z Movies: The Green Hornet

Title: The Green Hornet

Year Released/Rating: 2011 PG-13

Starring: Seth Rogen, Jay Chou, Tom Wilkinson, Cameron Diaz, Christoph Waltz

Directed By: Michel Gondry

Written By: Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg

Star Rating: 4 /5 stars

Trivia: Asian pop star Jay Chou got the role of Kato after a video conference with Seth Rogen was set up. He was invited to do a screen test - the filmmakers did not know he was a famous singer in Asia up until the last moments.

J's pick for last night. Before I get to the movie review, I must say we have a ton of mob/mafia movies for the letter G: Get Shorty, Goodfellas, The Godfather. It's a bit weird...

So I am not ashamed to admit that I like this movie. I like Seth Rogen. I like Jay Chou. I like Christoph Waltz (he always plays good villans). I like the look of the film. I like the action sequences. I love the James Franco cameo (priceless!). This is a really fun film. It doesn't have the serious superhero finding himself tone that so many others do. But I'm okay with that. It's just Britt Reid trying to make his father proud. And he does it in a spectacularly silly fashion. I just love Seth Rogen. My favorite parts are all the parallel shots. Gondry repeats so many scenarios and setups throughout the movie. To me, it makes it even more like a comic book. We get frames instead of huge wide shots. We get short snippets of action. We get fun one-liners instead of huge conversations. I love all those. Overall, a good fun film.

Best Bits:

[repeated line] Britt Reid: Let's roll, Kato!

~~

Kato: I was born in Shanghai. You know Shanghai?

Britt Reid: Yeah, I love Japan.

~~

Mike Axford: You are blowing this guy completely out of proportion.

Britt Reid: I will blow this guy in any proportion I want!

~~

Danny 'Crystal' Clear: I've got a see through piano.

~~

Chudnofsky: You said I was boring. My gun has two barrels, that's not boring.

~~

Britt Reid: Kato, I want you to take my hand, and I want you to come with me on this adventure.

Kato: I go with you, but I don't want to touch you.

~~

Britt Reid: The Green Hornet and his reliable partner, The Blue Wombat.

Kato: [smacks him]

Britt Reid: Oh! Oh man. Okay. How 'bout, um, the Red Hippopotamus? No? Not Red Hippopotamus?

Kato: Because I'm not red.

Britt Reid: I don't know. Why don't you tell me! The uh, Origamitrix...

Jack of Fables: The (Nearly) Great Escape by Bill Willingham

Title: Jack of Fables Vol 1: The (Nearly) Great Escape

Author: Bill Willingham

Publisher: Vertigo 2007

Genre: Graphic Novel; Fantasy

Pages: 128

Rating: 4 / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Fables Series

Jack is forced into the Golden Boughs Retirement Community, a jail of sorts where Fables are imprisoned until society-at-large forgets about them, thereby diminishing their magic powers. Enlisting the support of Goldilocks and a cage full of fairies, Jack plans the entire retirement community's escape. Willingham and Sturges give Jack a bad-boy attitude, making him an everyman hero that readers won't always identify with, but will enjoy watching flub and fake his way to freedom, complete with clever riffs on the Turtle and the Hare, the Toothfairy, Mother Goose and Humpty Dumpty.

Not as great as the main Fables series, but definitely a good read. Jack has always been on the periphery of the Fables series. He finally gets his starring role. This volume picks up right where Fables: Homelands leaves off. Jack has been cast out of Fabletown forever, but soon finds himself among other Fables. Some of whom are no longer remembered. But this isn't a nice home. It's a prison run by the horrendous Mr. Revise and his Senior Librarians, the Page sisters. We meet Humpty Dumpty, the Tortoise and the Hare, The Carpenter and the Walrus, Goldilocks (her return!), Paul Bunyan and Babe, and even Alice. All were great side characters. I especially love Goldilocks. She's so psychotic, it's just fun to see her work. A great Jack story. Can't wait to read the rest.

Jack of Fables:

Scoundrel by Zoe Archer

Title: Scoundrel (Blades of the Rose #2)

Author: Zoe Archer

Publisher: Zebra 2010

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Pages: 400

Rating: 5 / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Summer Romance - Paranormal; Books Around the World (Greek)

How I Got It: I own it! (from the Borders closing sale)

London Harcourt's father is bent on subjugating the world's magic to British rule. But since London is a mere female, he hasn't bothered to tell her so. He's said only that he's leading a voyage to the Greek isles. No matter, after a smothering marriage and three years of straitlaced widowhood, London jumps at the opportunity - unfortunately, right into the arms of Bennett Day. Bennett is a ladies' man, when he's not dodging lethal attacks to protect the powers of the ancients from men like London's father. Sometimes, he's a ladies' man even when he is dodging them. But the minute he sees London he knows she will require his full attention. The woman is lovely, brilliant, and the only known speaker of a dialect of ancient Greek that holds the key to calling down the wrath of the gods. Bennett will be risking his life again - but around London, what really worries him is the danger to his heart...

A great addition to the series. I loved this one so much! The characters! The culture! The adventure! The magic!

Bennett Day made his appearance in Warrior and I just knew who was going to be a great character. A rogue but one with a sense of honor. He treats women as equals not the delicate flowers most men of the time saw. I loved that in his character. I think I fell in love with him right from the beginning. London is an interesting case. While she starts as that delicate flower, inside she has a thirst for knowledge and adventure. Once she figures out how to satisfy that thirst, she goes after it. I liked that. She's innocent in many ways, but open to new experiences. And Athena is just awesome. A witch from a matriarchal clan. She reminds me of the Amazons: strong, independent, not needing a man.

The story was full of adventure, danger, and riddles (of course). I loved the journey through the Greek Isles to the hidden islands and ruins. The descriptions were amazing. I really felt like I was on a boat in the beautiful Aegean Sea. And of course, Greek mythological creatures made their appearances. My favorite was the Nereids. Such fun! And the hidden creature at the top of the island. I won't give away who it is, but after reading it, it completely makes sense. I just love this story!

Blades of the Rose