I'm thinking of canceling my cable now too. Me... who is terrible-television obsessed. It hasn't been on in almost a week except to watch football, Wheel of Fortune, and the morning news - both which I can watch without cable.
This fast moving city girl, who needs to know that she can go grocery shopping at 2:00am if she wants to (nevermind that I usually grocery shop on Sunday afternoons like civilized people these days), who sometimes wants ice cream at 1:00am on a Tuesday just because (except that I'm too lazy to get out of bed and actually get it now), who still doesn't sleep well (although lately "not getting enough sleep" means I only got 6 hours... which I was lucky to get in 3 nights during college and grad school), is slowing down. Between the aforementioned fireplace, the cat, the frozen soups in the freezer, and the closet of comfy sweaters that were a requirement for growing up in the Midwest, I could stay home and doze on the couch all winter and not complain about not seeing anyone for weeks. Seriously, I have turned into an old lady. Or else the years of running like a chicken with my head cut off have caught up with me and my body is finally catching up on all of that rest I've been skipping since I was 12.
October feels like it was a blur. Honestly, everything since about July has felt like a blur. So much has changed in the last few months, even more if we go back a year, and I think I've just been coasting along until I got to a place where I felt comfortable examining my mistakes (honestly examining them, not just glossing over them and moving on), learning from them, and moving forward with my life. The hours at home alone give me so much time to think and for the first time in my life, I'm not terrified of those thoughts. In fact, it's been nice to be alone with my thoughts lately - I may be an old lady but I'm certainly not the crazy person that I always thought I was.
And I'm happy. Sounds simple but we all know that it isn't always as simple as we'd like it to be.
Alright, on to the book and movie reviews. It's been a while so I know I'll miss a few and these will be brief but it's worth it to share some of the great (and awful) things I've discovered lately.
Books
- "The Lost Symbol" (Dan Brown)
Finally got around to reading this one. I loved "The Da Vinci Code" until I read "Angels & Demons" and I still think A&D is the best one. The twists aren't twists anymore if they're pretty much the same in every book. And this one was obvious (at least to me) but I read it in one sitting so I guess I shouldn't complain too much. I mean, Dan Brown has a style. If that's what you're looking for, you'll like it. If it's not your thing, don't bother. Rating: Meh...
- "The Story of Edgar Sawtelle" (David Wroblewski)
Ok, so I'll admit I haven't finished this yet but the fact that it's taken me almost a week to get through is a big thumbs up in itself. It's not that it's difficult or boring or anything - it's that I want to savor it. Yes, this book was on Oprah's list and I don't particularly like Oprah (ok, can't stand her) but it's a book about a mute boy growing up in Northern Wisconsin and his family who raises a fictional breed of dog. As someone who (obviously) loves her pets, I find it truly awesome. Plus, the fact that he feeds his dogs cheese curds multiple times throughout the book certainly helps me cure homesickness a bit. It's so touching and so real (although not all at the same time) - perfect for the nights curled up on the couch that have become the norm.
Rating: LOVE IT
- "In the Bedroom" (2001)
Truly awful. I'm sorry, but it was terrible. I waited for weeks to get it from Netflix (for some reason it was always on a wait) and when I got it, it took me three tries to get through it because I kept falling asleep. Terrible. Netflix described Sissy Spacek & Tom Wilkinson's performances as "stunning" - bullshit. They were flat and boring and while I understand that the story of a boy who dies while having a love affair with a single mother isn't supposed to be exciting I do expect some life. They didn't deliver. And Marisa Tomei only made it worse. It got nominated for a number of Academy Awards but I couldn't stand it. Maybe something is wrong with me. Whatever - I don't recommend wasting your time.
Rating: Awful
- "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" (2010)
LOVED IT - If you have children, they will love it. If you are a parent of children, you will love it. Even if you just like silly movies that make you feel like you're in 6th grade and incredibly awkward again, you will also love it. So cute. So child friendly. Rent it. Two child-sized thumbs up.
Rating: So cute
- "The City of Lost Children" (1995)
I should have known better than to think a 1990's French "thriller" would be thrilling. I'll give it this much - the disjointed special effects were enough to throw you off your guard and it creeped me out a bit... but it was just weird. Again, got great reviews, I just wasn't feeling it. I think maybe I was just expecting too much and forgot how far cinema has come since 1995.
Rating: It's 1995 French... what do you expect?
- "The Changeling" (1980)So I didn't expect much from this movie. "Horror" movies from the 1980's don't usually turn out quite the way I planned - they're usually so terribly made that I end up laughing instead of shuddering. Not so much with this film. It genuinely freaked me out a little. I mean, it was bad 80's acting and not great cinematography BUT they followed the number one rule of horror movies (at least my number one rule) and didn't really show the "ghost." The only time you saw a figure at all was when they showed how the boy died. Otherwise, it was just eerie things happening and that freaks me out more than some shadowy figure. So glad I took a chance on this one. I think my aunt recommended it - if she happens to read this, thanks. Well done!
Rating: Pleasantly surprised
So there you have it friends. The life according to me... lately at least.
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