Twits and Tweets

My twitterfeed quit working and this is a test to see if I reinstalled it successfully. Hummm da dummm…..

Is it weird that so far this year, I’ve seen eight times as many movies as I’ve read books?

It’s usually the opposite. But for some reason, I can’t get into anything on Mount To Be Read, so I’m taking my time with a nonfiction title that will probably challenge and stretch me.

I guess I’m avoiding that hard work by watching movies instead.

Not that there’s anything wrong with that… it’s just not my normal way of doing things.

Speaking of which, I’ve been playing with my blog today (besides the above mentioned twitter feeds).

Be sure and check back here on Friday for a fun new edition of Chocolate No Nuts.

If I was a Casting Director

At my local Sisters in Crime chapter, we sometimes talk about who we’d cast if Hollywood wanted to make a movie of our favorite books.

The one that always garners the most debate is Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum. I guess there’s been talk for years about bringing Stephanie’s exploits to the big screen and I’m not sure why it hasn’t happened. They are visual stories that unfold in my mind just like a movie.

I’ve decided that there really is only one choice to play Stephanie Plum.

Sandra Bullock

Some of my cohorts think Reese Witherspoon would be great. She would. But Sandra, I believe, has it all. The looks, the charm, the klutziness. I believe Sandy could blow up cars without trying.

Ranger: The Rock, Dwayne Johnson

Joe Morelli: This is the only one I can’t decide on for sure. Mark Wahlberg, maybe. Gerard Butler? Can Morelli be Irish/Italian? Jeffrey Dean Morgan? Yeah, I like that one.

Lula: Queen Latifah. I think she’d bring a sensitivity to a character who could be so over the top she’d become a caricature.

And there are opportunities for lots of other actors to have cameos. Can you see Candace Bergen as a shoplifter who skipped court because she had a spa day scheduled. And when Sandra, er, Stephanie shows up to haul her in, there’s an incident with the body wrap mud and… hmmm….. I think I need to use this myself. Never mind.

-----

Today, I’m praying for Billy Graham, Mel, and Dave.

Last move: Bride Wars – much better than I expected!

Currently reading: Inside Out by Larry Crabb

Plastic or Real

 

I watched a television movie the other night with Linda Hamilton, of the TV series Beauty and the Beast and the Terminator movies.

The movie itself was okay, but what really struck me was how real Ms. Hamilton looks. A few smile lines. Real skin, not a plastic flesh-colored covering on her face.

That got me looking at actress faces and thinking who looks still looks real and who traded in their face for a newer model.

I happened to catch last week’s Desperate Housewives and they’re all shiny and dewy and completely fake looking. Except during Felicity Huffman/Lynette’s dream sequence, I thought the “old” Lynette was lovely, much prettier than she is now.

During a late night channel surf, Victoria Principal chatted about something or other. She and Priscilla Presley tie in my “Scariest Smile Sweepstakes.”

I don’t mind getting older, really. I don’t want to look old, but I get it that it’s the price to pay for living.

I do have one suggestion for Ms. Hamilton, though: eyebrow shaping. Think about it. Other than that, you’re perfect!

------------

Today, I’m praying for Bev, Sue, and Elnora.

Last movie: Did You Hear About the Morgans?

Last book: Mr. Paradise by Elmore Leonard – my first Elmore Leonard. It was good, but I don’t think my mother will allow me to read another one with that kind of language.

Two Kinds of People

 

No, not men and women or conservatives and liberals. Not even Glass Half-fullers and Half-emptiers.

No, I’m talking about those who work through a cold and those who hibernate.

I’m one kind and most of my family is the other. Without passing judgment on either kind, I do see both sides.

Those who work through it feel they have people depending on them and they hate to let others down. So they power through.

And infect others in the process.

Those who take to their beds with the sniffles are shielding others from the germs. But letting their obligations slide. Or at least postponing it all.

Now that Christmas is over, it’s a germ free-for-all around here. So far, I’m okay. I’m on a strict regimen of Airborne, Echinacea with goldenseal, Zicam, Cold-Eze, and lots of water.

Pressing on…

 

-----------

Today I prayed for: Sue, Amber, Nevada Barr

Last movie: If You Believe – a sappy Lifetime Christmas movie.

Last book: Don’t Look Down by Jennifer Cruisie and Bob Mayer

Goals, Schmoals

It’s almost that time of year.

Time to evaluate how we did on last year’s goals and to think about what’s next.

In 2009 I planned to:

1. Read 100 books
2. Read a writing craft book each month
3. Write 1000 words a day or edit for two hours
4. Write a Charming Note 5 days a week. (See Making a Literary Life by Carolyn See)
5. Establish my own blog on blogspot and leave my former host site
6. Attend the Mt. Hermon and American Christian Fiction Writer’s conferences
7. Work on having a judgmental/critical spirit

I accomplished:

• I’m at 74 books read. If I really put it in high gear, I might get to 80    
• I’ve read several craft books, but probably only 1 every couple of months
• I probably only did this half the days I had available
• Probably averaged 2-3 a week
• You’re here, aren’t you? Did it.
• Made it to Mt. Hermon but not to ACFW
• I think I’m better. Or maybe I’m delusional and I should work on returning to reality in 2010     

For 2010 my goals are pretty much the same as 2009. I still want to read 100 books in one year. Since I started keeping track about five years ago, 80 is the most I’ve done. I believe that to live the life I want, I need to be more intentional. That means being disciplined to put my butt in the chair several hours a day. Calling the people I want to stay in contact with. Setting up times to have dinner with my kids or lunch with Mom instead of waiting until everyone shows up hungry at the same time.

Goals are good.

--------------

Today I prayed for: Nancy, Donald, and Tom.

Next on my TBR stack: The Lazarus Trap by Davis Bunn.

Last movie: The Tenth Circle, a made for TV movie based on the book by the same name by Jodi Picoult.

Blindsided

When I saw the previews for the Sandra Bullock movie, The Blind Side, I knew I wanted to see it. But I was afraid to.

Afraid that 1) I’d cry my eyes out and 2) It would be gooey, sweet, overly sentimental blahness.

I was wrong on both counts.

I got a little choked up at a few parts and at the end, but left with my eyes not appreciably any redder.

And I thought the writer, producers, director and cast did an outstanding job of keeping the story from turning maudlin’ and self-serving.

Bullock showed Leigh Anne Tuohy as strong and determined, but not as a My-way-or-the-highway kind of woman. She questioned her own motives, she debated if what she did for this young man could be at the expense of her family.

Tuohy’s faith was certainly a driving force but it was never exploited as either an excuse for not doing more for other kids or used as a stepping stone to preach to the rest of us that we ought to find a disadvantaged child to help.

The movie is the story of one woman, one family, one athlete. And how they changed their world.

I highly recommend it.

-----------------

Today I prayed for: Sarah, Mel, Tyrell.

Currently reading: Nobody’s Baby But Mine by Susan Elizabeth Phillips – I’m afraid there’s going to be a very graphic sex scene, but so far, so good.

Last movie: The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency

 

Technorati Tags: The Blind Side,Leigh Tuohy,Sandra Bullock

Following the Rules

So after being invisible, the thing I hate most is being a “good” girl, a rule follower.

Especially when it gets you a kick in the teeth.

Our church has a special Christmas event for the preschoolers. The annual Birthday Party for Jesus is a highlight for all the preschoolers and their parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles.

Because, who doesn’t love to watch 2 and 3 year olds get their faces painted, ride ponies, decorate and eat cookies, and watch Mary and Joseph ride a donkey into the church parking lot before showing off their newborn wrapped in swaddling cloths. From Babies ‘R Us.

So many parents and grandparents signed up to attend that a rule was quickly instituted: One child = 1 adult.

I happened to be working in the church Information Booth one Sunday last year and someone came to buy tickets for the party. They purchased 1 child ticket. And 6 adult tickets. Yes, SIX. Two parents and four grandparents, had to be. But I said nothing. I sold them their tickets and patted myself on the back because we were following the rules.

In 2007 the Perfect Grand-daughter was 2 and eligible for the first time. Auntie took her. In 2008 Grampie took her. 2009 should be Grammie’s turn.

Guess what? Yep. No Birthday Party for Jesus in 2009. The economic crunch means the church has no money for hired ponies to ride. There’s not even enough for refrigerated cookie dough.

So. Being a rule-following-back-patter got me exactly nothing. No photo ops of Perfect Grand-daughter on the pony of her dreams. No shared pancakes. Bupkis.

I refuse to give up my day with her though. We’re going to decorate the best darn cookies in town.

Now, where can I find a pony for her to ride?