WALL-E --- Well Worth another Watch

For all of you who were a little put off by WALL-E and the blatant global warming/Al Gore/ anti consumerism/anti capitalism propaganda, here's a reason to give it another chance.

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WALL-E and I have become fast friends as that is Reed's new favorite movie. I am glad for the break from Thomas the Tank Engine and his other (very obnoxious) train movies. The songs from them are still stuck in my head.... So I appreciate the songs from Helly Dolly replacing them. But I digress.

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After watching WALL-E for the billionth time, maybe I have been indoctrinated enough to find merit in its message. Here is my attempt to sway you.

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Lately the subjects of survival, self reliance, preparedness and such have been nagging at me. I recently prepared my (and Reed's) 72 hour kit. (And one of these days I'll get to that post.) Before you ask, "What in the world does WALL-E have to do with this?" let me explain.

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For a long time, we as a society have been acting very similar to those people on the Axiom. Everything was handed to them. Everything was automated. They need not lift a finger or get up from their shuttle seats. They had no concept of the world surrounding them because they were too busy looking at the computer screen continuously in front of them. Because they didn't need to do anything for themselves, they became unable to do anything for themselves.

While the Axiom is a gross exaggeration of what can happen, we can see this slow decline in ourselves if we take a moment to look.

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--- How many of us rely on the drive thru to provide dinner?

--- How many of us rely on the Safeway bakery to provide bread?

--- How many of us rely on the ATM machine to pop out cash 24 hours a day?

--- How many of us rely on the Credit Card to make up for a negative bank account?

--- How many of us rely on the Mobil station to have gas at a moments notice?

--- How many of us rely on the 24 hour Walmart to have any basics we need all the time?

--- How many of us rely on our car for short trips to close by destinations?

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Ok, ok, you get it... And yes, I am as guilty as the next person. And its ok that you answered yes

to all of the questions. BUT and this is a big BUT... DO YOU HAVE A BACK UP PLAN?

More importantly, do you have the skill set required to survive should all of the above disappear?

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I'm not getting all doomsday on you, but this something that prophets, government leaders, and others have warned us about.

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One of the most emphasized problems with this (our) society in WALL-E is the effect our "have it now, have it easy, no work involved" society has on us physically. All the people on the Axiom are severly overweight and unable to perform simple actions for themselves (including walking.)

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Now we all know that I am not the poster child for successful weight loss and maintaining a healthy weight. This is another one of those things that have been nagging at me lately. More for Reed than any other reason. But if you need a little motivation or a new perspective to give you a push in the "healthier lifestyle" direction, read what a fellow blogger had to say.

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Maintaining a higher level of Physical Fitness will increase your ability to survive the worst possible conditions. Unfortunately, many Americans are overweight and almost never engage in physical activity. When the balloon goes up and SHTF (shit hits the fan), your body may be the biggest asset you have during the crunch. Vehicles brake down and run out of gas but a well tuned fighting machine that is properly hydrated, nourished, and trained to endure the extremes will never fail you.... (survivetheworst.blogspot.com)

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When things get tough (and I do mean when, not if) we will all be better off if we are starting from a good place physically, temporally, spiritually, mentally. This is the time to prepare. This is the time to start placing emergency plans. This is the time to begin increasing your skill set. This is the time to start paying attention to what is going on locally and federally. Soon, tomorrow will be too late. Now I'm not saying that you need to live on a farm and grow all you eat and never participate in the perks of urban living. Im just reminding you (and me) to keep it in proper perspective and not live completely reliant on it.

Oh, Orson! (my favorite brooding manly man)

"I sometimes have a queer feeling with regard to you--especially when you are near me, as now: it is as if I had a string somewhere under my left ribs, tightly and inextricably knotted to a similar string situated in the corresponding quarter of your little frame. And if that boisterous channel, and two hundred miles or so of land come broad between us, I am afraid that cord of communion will be snapt; and then I've a nervous notion I should take to bleeding inwardly." -Mr. Rochester, Chapter 23, pg. 221

This is my favorite, favorite part of Jane Eyre. And while I attempt to read thewhole book now and again(not just this chapter), nothing brings it more to life than watching the Orson Welles verison. (sigh)

So to all who think my heart has shriveled and am forever doomed to the titles of cynic, pessimist or "bitter: party of one"... here is proof it hasn't and there is hope, though I have had moments of bleeding inwardly.

MoleAsses Cookie Recipe

Ok... So anytime my mom cooked with molasses, she would have to tell us some stupid joke about a family of moles. I really dont remember the story. Maybe they went out for a while, leaving dinner or cookies or something. So when they came back and walked into their hole, one of the family members said, MMM smells good. And the reply was.... "Well it smells like a bunch of MoleAsses to me." Anyway, writing up this recipe made me think of it. Ill have to ask my mom the real version of the story when she gets back into town.

MoleAsses Cookie Recipe (Soft and Reduced Fat Version)

3/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 C molasses
1/2 C low-fat buttermilk (Isn't that an oxymoron?)
1/4 C vegetable oil
2 C flour
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 C sugar (I added this in cause I didnt want the cookies to be too bitter, but I dont think it really needed it.)

1. Preheat oven to 375.
2. Dissolve baking soda in molasses in a large bowl.
3. Combine buttermilk with oil; stir into molasses mixture.
4. Combine flour, ginger, sugar and salt.
5. Add flour mixture into the molasses mixture.
6. Coat hand with cooking spray. (I just used water)
7. Shape dough into little balls and place 2 in apart. (FYI: The "dough" has a consistancy closer to cake batter. So don't be surprised if its sticky. Thus the cooking spray.)
8. Bake @ 375 for 10 min.

Glaze:
Combine in a zip-loc baggie:
1 C powdered sugar
1 T water
1/2 tsp vanilla
I noticed that the glaze was super thick and I didn't like it. I added 2 T water the second time and it was too watery. So I think its just a play it by ear thing on the water depending on how thick or thin you want your glaze to be.

Cut the corner of your zip-loc baggie and squirt glaze over top of cookies.
MMMM. ENJOY.

I suggest making these while watching Lonesome Dove or Open Range. That way you almost feel like you were a part of all the fun back then.

Lion King

Lion King is playing in our waiting room today. As Scar was singing his little "be prepared" song, all I could think of was Obama.

Name that movie part 2

So the movie lines were such fun I think I may have to do it again. I thought So I Married An Axe Murderer would be difficult, but obviously you guys have no life and watch too many movies just like me. I think there will be no more hints. So with that said: My favorite movie of all times.

"Dinosaur world is the only place a boy like me can be truely happy!"

"Haaaaaaaa. A hankering for CHOCOLATE. I need it badly."

'They told me about things they did on their motorcycles, some of them were fun, but some of them were scary!"

"They tried to touch me in my no-no special place."

Name that movie

Quote #1:
...Because he puts a highly addictive chemical in it that makes you crave it nightly, smart ass....

Hint: Say it with a Scottish accent.

Still need help?

Quote #2:
She smelled like Beef Vegetable Soup.

Hint: No accent for this one.

Quote #3:
He'll be crying himself to sleep on his HUGE pilla...

Hint: This one has the Scottish accent.

Second rate goods

So yesterday I begged Ella to watch Reed for me so I could take a nap as I was feeling a bit under the weather and completely exhaused from the ordeal the day before..... I tried so hard, but couldn't fall asleep. Instead this is what ran through my mind.


Back when I was a kid, 12 or so, I used to watch a movie a lot. One of the lines referred to girls that marry really young as, "Second rate goods that had to be sold in a hurry". If you can name the movie, you get the prize.

Anyway, I laughed and continued down this train of thought.

If this is true, then does that make me.....

An impluse buy that was later returned w/o being opened, that was then bought by someone else when it was on super clearance, then used, and then returned to the store?

You know, like once, I bought a DVD player when visiting my little sister in Thatcher so we could watch some movies we rented. But I knew I wasn't gonna keep the DVD player so we kept all the packaging and repacked it and returned it to the local Walmart. EXCEPT we forgot to take out the DVD that we had RENTED and had to go back to the return lady at Walmart and ask her to get the DVD back out of the DVD player. So much for being all smooth and crafty about "deciding we just didn't want that type of DVD player". I think we told the return lady that my "husband said no, that he wanted a name brand and he made me bring it back." Im not very good at lying, especially considering the rented copy of Moulin Rogue still inside.

But would I even be considered "bought"? Like was I put on Layaway but then never picked up so I was put on Super Clearance, BUT just got lifted cause even the super clearance price was too much, then I was used, and then returned to the store for store credit? So the crook made money in the process?


See this is why I cant ever get a nap.

OH WELL....
"I don't want sunbursts or marble halls", I just want get bought one of these days.

Unexpected Answer?

Not long after boo-hoo-ing on my blog yesterday, I decided I needed a nap. (Reed was asleep and I had a chance!!!) But naptime went as usual. My mind started reeling about all the things that didn't get done this weekend and various other stresses. I yelled at my brain, trying to will it to stop for two seconds so I could rest and there it was.

"You have no power over me...."

For those of you without the "in my world" context, I will elaborate. This is a movie line (shocker) from The Labrynth. I love love love that movie, always have. Anyway, this girl messes up, gets her little brother taken away from her (who she was supposed to be watching) and has to go on this fantasy world wild goose chase to get him back. Finally at the end, faced with her brothers kidnapper (no less than the fabulous David Bowie) after playing his games for what seems like forever, she pauses and says... "You have no power over me..." Immediately the "Labrynth" around her shatters and the dream world she has been stuck in disappears and she is reunited with her brother.

This movie line became my mantra not long after I found out I was going to have Reed. All of the sudden, the reasons to stay in a bad situation didn't matter. I had the power. I realized the "fog" I was stuck in was all a false reality. Kinda like in Labrynth or Alice in Wonderland. I just had to stand up and take back my power. I was hellbent on making sure everyone saw that my powers had returned. I was a crusader. I have since mellowed, but realize I may have let a little too much of my wonder woman escape. So I think I was getting a big ol reminder to not cower or give in to the fog that is waiting, wanting to engulf me. And I knew this was a course in life I did NOT want to relearn.

As I was guided to remember my former mantra, I was also guided to pull out some old books on tape. The Amulek Alternative and The Simeon Solution both by Anne Osborn Poelman. One was sent to me in Montana by Shaunasee. (Shout out to you girly. Who knew your package would be even more helpful than it was so many years ago.) I put in the first tape that happened to be on the second side and I was too lazy to rewind (Oh we are spoiled these days...) and figured Id just listened to it from where it was. And the author was basically saying the exact same thing. She went on to reference the Joseph Smith story and the intense dispair he felt just before having his vision. The light came just before he felt he could no longer hold on and he was going to give himself up to the power binding him. So that triggered memories of the Michael McLean song, while trite and very dated, (I always loved Michael McLean) "Just hold on, the light will come." So between the two, I realized I was getting some answers. Just not exactly what I wanted. The knowledge that I have the power of choice and am far stronger than the storm that rages around me and the faith that the light, the safe harbor and the answers to my unending pleas will come was the answer I needed.

PS the books come HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. I just ordered hard copies from Amazon.

We are here... Being a 912-er.

Just as a funny preface. I find it tragically comical that my blogs seem to evolve/revolve around Reed's current movies of choice. Most people take the animated movies of Disney, Pixar, Fox, and Dreamworks at face value. I, on the otherhand, have to find eternal truths and meaning within in. (Probably to justify that fact that I have lost count of how many times I have watched them. ) Along the same lines, Reed is currently fascinated with Thomas the Tank Engine. I dont know who introduced him to the series, but he loves it. And I cannot for the life of me find anything of value..... But that's neither here nor there.

Last Friday was Glenn Beck's special program introducing his We Surrond Them program. It was about time as he has been teasing us with values and principles and pictures and not really getting down to the nitty gritty of what he was concocting. In hindsight it was not much of a surprise, but I did have a couple A-HA moments.

Just as a quick sum up, when you put together (and live by) the 9 principles and 12 values Glenn Beck first introduced, we become the people we were on 9/12/01. (Clever huh) We love our country, we jump in to help any way we can and we believe and live what our forfathers established for us. Glenn's message was a call to action, to each individual and as local communities to come together to let Washington know that we stand by the principles and values of a 912-er and that the foundation that was laid by the founding fathers (that included these principles) are what make America great. America looses its greatness every time the government and even its people stray from the ideaology of the founding fathers. Obama seems to say the term "Ideaology" with distain. But it is this "ideaology" that brought about life, liberty and the persuit of happiness that we should treasure much more that we do today.

Glenn suggested it was time to really understand what our constitution means. I, like most, had a mediocre education in this country's history, taught by an unqualified football coach. This does not cut it. I have decided to take my historical education into my own hands buying a couple books as suggested by Glenn. The 5000 year leap and The Making of America, both by Cleon Skousen. I figured this was a good start and so far the reading proves to be very informative and not too laborous.

With a background of what we want to get back to, we can then move forward in our local communities to come together to make some noise. (This is where Reed's movies come in.) After watching Glenn, all I could think about was Horton Hears A Who. The Who's are chanting and yelling "We are here, we are here, we are here" in a desperate attempt to save their lives, their world from distruction. As they realize the people that determine their fate still cant hear them, the Mayor desperately cries out, "We need every voice!!!" This is what Glenn has done. It is time we stand up and say what we want, deserve and ultimately require of our politicians both locally and federally. Just a side note, our local officials have much more effect that we give them credit for and if we are not participating locally it will be to our detriment.

So, here is my one last "YOP" (the term YOP I borrow with much thanks the the Good Doc...Dr Suess.) I am here and I am hoping that my little shout out will encourage others to take a stand and help us restore America to what it should be... Ideal as that may seem to some.

Dont know where to start..... Here's a couple ways to go:

http://www.the912project.com/

http://www.atlasshrugged.com/

http://www.glennbeck.com/

"WE NEED EVERY VOICE!"

Just keep swimming...

So Reeds new favorite movie is Finding Nemo. And I could now quote the whole movie for y'all. But it has got me thinking. I hope this comes together and makes sense. If not bear with me, I swear I have a point.

Lately, I have seen the effects of the economy and the stress of life in general in everyone around me. Friends and coworkers facing bankruptcy, pay cuts, layoffs, etc. I too have faced some of these. I went over my 401K with my dad yesterday and begged him to advise me on what I needed to be doing. Its a tough call when the amount of money I put in last quarter was less than the amount I lost. He had no answers. No one does, and anyone who says they do are most likely trying to play on your desperation to scam you out of more money. It has been interesting to watch people as they react to the strain. People have become more and more cautious and some have become downright control freaks.

Through this, I have watched a coworker, who started off with the "control everything" attitude change to just giving it over. Letting it go. She is a Catholic woman who watched her whole controlled little world fall apart. A husbands poor business practices and lack of fidelity, unwise investments and just the economic climate in general left them with hundreds of thousands in debt, 2 houses worth far less than the mortgages drawn for them, and a family barely hanging together with 2 kids and 1 on the way. When it got to where she could take no more, in an act of pure desparation, she fell to her knees and finally looked to the only One with the answers. She then and there relinquished her tight grip on the course of her life and pled for the Lord to just help her to know what she should be doing and to help her through the storm that encircled her. She gave it to the Lord. She knew she couldn't do it anymore and she just gave it to Him. Her whole perspective on life has changed since that day. You can see the joy back in her life, she is healthy and resetting her priorities. She was offered a job with a 30,000 pay increase. She let go and things started falling into place.

Now, back to Nemo. As I said earlier, I have watched the movie about a million times. At least 4 times a week for the past couple months. And anytime Dori comes on Reed gets so excited and just laughs. But after about the first millionth time, I finally figured out what it was saying. See Nemos dad, spent his whole existance trying to control everything to keep his son safe, and it didn't work. And as he went out searching for Nemo after he is taken, his controlling ways and the things he thinks will get him to Nemo only work against him and keep him from his son. He spends a lot of the movie ignoring and trying to get rid of the one fish (Dori) that is actually helping him get to his son....mostly because he feels HE knows better. One of hardest parts for me to watch is when they are in the whale and Dori tells Marlin "Its time to let go." I swear everytime I hear that, I know it a message from someone trying to push me in the right direction. Of course his response is, "How do you know something bad wont happen?" Dori's response is simply, "I dont." And she lets go. Of course they are then shot back out into the ocean and are able to continue on their journey and eventually find Nemo. Its funny how all of Marlin's controlling made him unable to see the answers and the help that was swimming right next to him.

I guess for me the most striking parallel to our lives is the death grip we have on "control." But there are so many variables in life, the control is only an illusion. So my current goal is to be Dori. To start relinquishing my "psuedo-control" and my ideas on how things should be and stop worrying about all the "thats not fair" things in life and just take it to the Lord. My coworker did everything by the book, her investments, her marriage, etc. But there were things beyond her control. And while her first reaction was to become bitter and frustrated and lash out, she was quickly humbled and realized that she was wasting vital energy and time. She took it to the Lord and was blessed and guided because of it. See, the Lord can't guide you if you refuse to let go. He cant help if you don't have the faith enough in Him that you will recieve the guidance you need.

So, as we face the portent that is our current life and as we look to the future knowing that this is only the beginning of the storm, I hope that we all (myself included) remember to be a Dori and just keep swimming. That we let go of our death grip and just let the Lord steer for a while.

MOVIE TAG

SUPPOSEDLY if you've seen over 94 films, you have no life. Mark the ones you've seen. Copy this list, go to your own blog, paste this as a post. Then, put x's next to the films you've seen, add them up, change the header adding your number, and click post at the bottom. Have fun.
( ) Rocky Horror Picture Show
(x) Grease
(x) Pirates of the Caribbean
(x) Pirates of the Caribbean 2: Dead Man's Chest
( ) Boondock Saints
(x) Fight Club
( ) Starsky and Hutch
(x) Neverending Story
(x) Blazing Saddles
( ) Airplane
Total: 6
(x) The Princess Bride
(x ) Anchorman
(x ) Napoleon Dynamite
(x) Labyrinth
( x) Saw ---turned it off part way through
( ) Saw II
(x) White Noise ---scared the everlovin outta me
( ) White Oleander
(x) Anger Management
(x) 50 First Dates
(x) The Princess Diaries
(x) The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement
Total so far: 16
(x) Scream
(x ) Scream 2
(x ) Scream 3
( ) Scary Movie
( ) Scary Movie 2
( ) Scary Movie 3
( ) Scary Movie 4
(x ) American Pie
(x ) American Pie 2
(x ) American Wedding
(x ) American Pie Band Camp
Total so far: 23
(x)Harry Potter 1
(x) Harry Potter 2
(x) Harry Potter 3
(x) Harry Potter 4
( ) Resident Evil 1
( ) Resident Evil 2
(x) The Wedding Singer
(x) Little Black Book
(x) The Village
(x) Lilo & Stitch
Total so far: 31
(x) Finding Nemo
(x) Finding Neverland
(x) Signs
(x) The Grinch
( x) Texas Chainsaw Massacre
( ) Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning
( ) White Chicks
( x) Butterfly Effect
(x) 13 Going on 30
( ) I, Robot
(x) Robots
Total so far: 39
(x ) Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story
( ) Universal Soldier
(x ) Lemony Snicket: A Series Of Unfortunate Events
(x) Along Came Polly
( ) Deep Impact
( ) KingPin
(x) Never Been Kissed
(x) Meet The Parents
(x) Meet the Fockers
( ) Eight Crazy Nights
(x ) Joe Dirt
(x ) KING KONG
Total so far: 47
(x) A Cinderella Story
(x) The Terminal
(x ) The Lizzie McGuire Movie
( ) Passport to Paris
(x) Dumb & Dumber
(x) Dumber & Dumberer
(x) Final Destination
( x) Final Destination 2
(x ) Final Destination 3
(x ) Halloween
(x ) The Ring
(x ) The Ring 2
( ) Surviving X-MAS
( ) Flubber
Total so far: 58
(x ) Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle
(x) Practical Magic
(x) Chicago
(x ) Ghost Ship
() From Hell
(x ) Hellboy
(x ) Secret Window
( ) I Am Sam
( ) The Whole Nine Yards
( ) The Whole Ten Yards
Total so far: 64
(x ) The Day After Tomorrow
( ) Child's Play
( ) Seed of Chucky
( ) Bride of Chucky
(x ) Ten Things I Hate About You
(x) Just Married
(x ) Gothika
( ) Nightmare on Elm Street
(x) Sixteen Candles
(x) Remember the Titans
( ) Coach Carter
(x ) The Grudge
( ) The Grudge 2
( ) The Mask
( ) Son Of The Mask
Total so far: 71
( ) Bad Boys
( ) Bad Boys 2
( ) Joy Ride
(x ) Lucky Number Slevin
(x) Ocean's Eleven
( ) Ocean's Twelve
(x) Bourne Identity
(x) Bourne Supremecy
( ) Lone Star
( ) Bedazzled
( ) Predator I
( ) Predator II
(x ) The Fog
(x) Ice Age
(x ) Ice Age 2: The Meltdown
(x ) Curious George (like 3times a week. One of Reeds favorites)
Total so far: 79
(x) Independence Day
( ) Cujo
( )A Bronx Tale
() Darkness Falls
( x) Christine (is this that Stephen king Car movie?)
(x) ET
( ) Children of the Corn
( ) My Boss's Daughter
(x) Maid in Manhattan
( ) War of the Worlds
() Rush Hour
( ) Rush Hour 2
Total so far: 83
( ) Best Bet
(x) How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
(x) She's All That
( ) Calendar Girls
( ) Sideways
() Mars Attacks
( ) Event Horizon
(X) Ever After
(x) Wizard of Oz
(x) Forrest Gump
() Big Trouble in Little China
( ) The Terminator
( ) The Terminator 2
( ) The Terminator 3
Total so far: 88
(x) X-Men
(x) X-2
( x) X-3
(x) Spider-Man
(x) Spider-Man 2
() Sky High
( ) Jeepers Creepers
( ) Jeepers Creepers 2
(x) Catch Me If You Can
(x) The Little Mermaid
(x) Freaky Friday (original -- no lindsey lohan garbage....)
(x) Reign of Fire
( x) The Skulls
(x) Cruel Intentions
( ) Cruel Intentions 2
(x)The Hot Chick
(x) Shrek
(x) Shrek 2
Total so far:102
() Swimfan
(x) Miracle on 34th street
(x ) Old School
(x) The Notebook
(x ) K-Pax
( ) Krippendorf's Tribe
(x) A Walk to Remember
(x ) Ice Castles
( ) Boogeyman
(x) The 40-year-old Virgin (OHHH KELLY CLARKSON!!!)
Total so far: 109
(x) Lord of the Rings Fellowship of the Ring
(x) Lord of the Rings The Two Towers
(x) Lord of the Rings Return Of the King
(x) Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark
( ) Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
(x) Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
Total so far: 114
(x ) Baseketball
( ) Hostel
( ) Waiting for Guffman
( ) House of 1000 Corpses
( ) Devils Rejects
(x) Elf
( ) Highlander
( ) Mothman Prophecies
( ) American History X
( ) Three
( ) The Jacket
( x) Kung Fu Hustle (turned it off-- boring)
( ) Shaolin Soccer
( ) Night Watch
(x) Monsters Inc.
(x) Titanic
(x) Monty Python and the Holy Grail
(x) Shaun Of the Dead
( ) Willard
( ) High Tension
( ) Club Dread
( ) Hulk
( ) Dawn Of the Dead
(x) Hook
(x) Chronicles Of Narnia: The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe
( ) 28 days later
( ) Orgazmo
( ) Phantasm
(x) Waterworld
(x ) Kill Bill vol 1 (turned it off -- dumb)
() Kill Bill vol 2
( ) Mortal Kombat
( ) Wolf Creek
() Kingdom of Heaven
( x) the Hills Have Eyes (walked out of the theater, got money back)
( ) I Spit on Your Grave aka the Day of the Woman
( ) The Last House on the Left
( ) Re-Animator
( x) Army of Darkness (classic!!!)
() Star Wars Ep. I The Phantom Menace
() Star Wars Ep. II Attack of the Clones
() Star Wars Ep. III Revenge of the Sith
(x) Star Wars Ep. IV A New Hope
() Star Wars Ep. V The Empire Strikes Back
() Star Wars Ep. VI Return of the Jedi
() Ewoks Caravan Of Courage
() Ewoks The Battle For Endor
( x) The Matrix
( x) The Matrix Reloaded
( x) The Matrix Revolutions
( ) Animatrix
( ) Evil Dead
( ) Evil Dead 2
(x) Team America: World Police (DURKA DURKA GEE-HAAD)
(x) Red Dragon
(x ) Silence of the Lambs
( ) Hannibal


Total 134. I guess I have no life. But I love movies and I included the ones I started to watch but never finished for one reason or another.

Bad boys...

So last night I was up all night trying to get caught up with Season 4 of Lost so Ill be ready for Season 5. Im so excited!!! Anyway, as I was watching I got all swoony over Sawyer (again). He is my favorite! And it got me to thinking about my way too big problem with falling for the bad boys. So Im just curious about what everyone else's opinions on this. Who are your favorite bad boys and why? (Characters, not in real life)

As a help in getting you started, the little thinking I did brought me to the conclusion that there are different types or catagories for them. (IE: the Lothario, the Brooder, the Dangerous, the Crass. ) Im sure there are more types. So if you have another catagory to add or favorites in the catagories, leave a comment or email me (blueyedmle@msn.com) and eventually I wanna compile it into a theory of sorts.

As another little help to get you started, these are examples I have come up with so far:

The Lothario: "McSteamy" (Eric Dane) - Gray's Anatomy or
Daniel Cleaver (Hugh Grant) - Bridget Jones

The Brooder: Bob Howard (Vincent DOnofrio) - The Whole Wide World or
Mr. Rochester (Orson Welles) - Jane Eyre

The Dangerous: Lex Luthor (Michael Rosenbaum) - Smallville or
James "Sawyer" Ford (Josh Holloway) - Lost

The Crass: Stiffler (Sean William Scott) - American Pie or
Jeremy (Vince Vaughn) - Wedding Crashers

Thanks for your help in advance.... Im excited to see what others have to say.

To all the Twilight-er-pated

SPOILER ALERT: Before you read this, I just want to warn you that while I wont spoil the ending for you all, I may just spoil the whole Twilight concept for you. Read with caution. If you love Twilight, loved the story, loved the books, loved the movie you may want to stop reading.

To be fair, I really enjoyed reading the books. (Actually I only read the first 2. I will get to the others as soon as I find a few extra moments in my life.) I went and saw the move on Saturday and I really liked it. I liked its quirky style. I dug the way the director chose to do things. I even kinda dug Bella's Technicolor dream when she is gonna get bit by Edward in all its "softcore porn fantasy" feel, you know kinda Elvira mistress of the dark-ish meets the legendary Vincent Price - "House of Usher"- ish. I like to call it "gaudy goth".
So you ask, what could possibly be wrong to spoil all the fun?

I was talking to a coworker on Friday about my plans to see Twilight. It was a big deal cause I hadn't been to a movie since V for Vendetta. Well over 2 years. She hadn't even heard of Twilignt. So I started to give her the basic overview. You know... Blada blada blada vampire love story. Her response was not the usual "that sounded painfully embarissing for you to admit you actually would read that kinda book" sigh. It was, "Oh, so a typical forbidden love story. Bad guy, good girl. Danger." I was like, "Yeah, ok."

Well, Damn it, Tessa, it got me thinking way too hard about it. And all I could keep coming back to was:
"WHAT THE HELL ARE WE TEACHING ALL OF THESE LITTLE TEENAGE GIRLS"

Granted, my response comes from a lifetime of failed romances that began as, "if he could only see what I see when I look at him, he would realize how amazing he is and would accomplish amazing things". What keeps replaying in my head is that dumb mutual story about the indian and the snake. --You knew what I was when you picked me up-- But do you think all of my "project men", my "lost causes", my "my love can fix it" men were really snakes? Of course not. (Im oozing sarcasm right not... OOZING. I just dont want it to be too subtle.) They were different. Including the I just want to stomp all over the moral line of what I can and cant do guy that dismissed me the minute I decided I would rather go on a mission than give it up to him, the Montana find that teared up when we taught him the first discussion, but quickly forgot what he had learned when things got tough, and of course my drug addict baby daddy.
Before I get into too much trouble. I must say: I do not dismiss or deny what I saw in them. It was there and they were amazing but they didn't know it and they didn't really want to know it and that was the problem. From hard, hurtful, tearfilled lessons I have learned that some gambles, some dangers are just NOT worth the risk.

Maybe I spent one too many days in my Gender Differences Psych class and maybe it was a little to women's lib doctrine-ish. I know, I know, we laugh at those professors that condemn Disney for teaching little girls that they have to be saved by a prince. They are all quacks. But really guys. What are we reading and what are we teaching little girls about love? That it is more romantic when its dangerous? That its ok if he's the "bad guy" -- the books words not mine. That their love can save them? That its ok to change who you are so you can be like them so you can be together? That love should be so overpowering that you want give up everything to be with the man you love... your family, your friends, your whole life, literally?

Let me tell you from personal experience... That is not love, my friends. It is at times exciting and fun and there is nothing more heady than a new love with a "bad boy", but it turns into a nightmare very quickly. It is NOT LOVE. Its a form a mental abuse.

Now, once again. To be fair, I have not read the rest of the series and Im sure I will and Im sure I will enjoy it as much as I did the others. As of now, I do not know if Bella "changes" for Edward. But the overarching message, intentional or not, is dangerous to young, impressionable, twitterpated little girl hearts. And those are the target readers. Girls who haven't been faced with the consequences of a "my love can save him" attitude. And like I said earlier, some dangers are not worth the risk.