Movie Review: The Kids Are All Right

 The Kids Are All Right, starring Annette Bening and Julianne Moore is the story of a lesbian couple, who have been in a long term relationship (at least 18 years), who are raising two teenage children (a boy and a girl).  The children were conceived via a sperm bank.

It is basically just a snipped of their life at a pivotal and transitional place in their relationship, careers and family.  The eldest daughter has just turned 18 and is heading off to college and finding her wings.  The boy is figuring out which friends are good to have (or not in this case), and he is curious to meet his biological sperm donor.  The couple is experiencing angst in their relationship as it has grown stale and they issues not dealt with earlier are coming to a head.

The film was awarded the Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy, and Annette Bening was awarded the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy. The film also received four Academy Award nominations, including one for Best Picture, at the 83rd Academy Awards.

Let me be the first to say, I'm not at all knowledgeable about gay and lesbian families, nor, do I think, one could assume, they fall into a tidy category any more than hetero families do.

What I can say, is that I really did not like this movie.  I don't see why the story was written, or retold, or put on film.  To me, it was a pointless waste of time.

From my perspective, the sex was gratuitous and stupid, foul language was inserted that didn't feel natural; it seemed also to be gratuitous, the characters were unlikable, the dysfunction rampant, and I thought they portrayed the lesbian couple as stereotypically with one more manly-head-of-household-insensitive male type, and the other more sterotypically airheaded-housewifey-stupid, and both as stereotypically female with their overly verbose and constant "processing" with their kids.  If you took out the sex (which didn't need to be there...it was just thrown in for shock value), and the swearing (which was also just thrown in there), you would have a PG-13 movie with adult subject matter.  But there would still not be a good reason for it to exist or for anybody to watch it.  Why weren't lesbian actresses chosen to play the roles?  That would have been a start. 

At the end I thought..."Geeze...I hated everyone in this movie"...and then thought..."Nah, actually, the kids were all right." followed by "AHA! hence the title...everybody in this movie sucks but the kids are all right".
Did you see it?  What did you think?

Movie Review: The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest, by Stieg Larsson, is the third book/movie in the Millennium Trilogy.  I'm reviewing the Swedish version.  Later I'll come back and review the American versions when they come out.  I reviewed the book in an earlier post.

In this, the final "episode" or "installment", I found that it was really a continuation and completion of The Girl Who Played with Fire.  Probably so it wasn't a 1500 page book, it was divided into two books/movies.

We pick up pretty much exactly where the last movie ended and proceed to wrap up the issues with Lisbeth's pending trial, health issues, the research and publication of the sex trafficing ring, and to round up all the suspects who are still alive to bring to justice.

These stories are so complex and intricate that is is hard to give a good review without giving away too much of the story.  I've said it before and I'll say it again, the books could have been cut in half to eliminate the extraneous details, and the movies could have been enriched by including more.

Once again, the movie is rated R for language, nudity, violence and some sexual content.  It is probably the tamest of the three in this regard.

I'm sad that Stieg Larsson died before the books were even published.  I'm sorry to see the character of Lisbeth Salander end.  I love her.  She's one tough cookie.

Movie Review: The Girl Who Played with Fire

Yesterday, I reviewed the first film in the Millennium Trilogy, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo.

In a previous post, I reviewed the book, The Girl Who Played with Fire.  Please refer back to these for greater detail.  All three works are by deceased Swedish author Stieg Larsson.

In The Girl Who Played with Fire, we still have the same primary characters of Lisbeth Salander and Mikael Blomkvist.  Mikael is involved in assisting researchers who are attempting to expose a human trafficing ring of monumental proportions, that involves many well-known, government officials.

The research intersects with Lisbeth Salander in that her father, the one she tried to torch as a kid, is one of the kingpins of the trafficing ring.  And she's not finished with him.

As with all three books/movies, it just always seems to get really really complicated and dangerous.  For a good portion of this story, Lisbeth is wanted in connection with three murders.  Did she do it?  You'll have to watch/read to find out.

The film is rated R...and it's a good hard R.  Rated R for lesbian sex scenes, a recap of some of the rape scenes from the first movie/book (in flashback memories and during court proceedings), nudity, language, violence, the rape of a forced prostitute from the human trafficing, and adult themes/subject matter.  It's a murder, mystery, crime, suspense, thriller all rolled into one.  Once again, not for kids.

Movie Review: The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

Previously, I reviewed the book The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson.

There are multiple subplots.  Here's a link for a view at a more extensive summary.  And you may also wish to return to my book review for more information.  The primary characters of the Millennium Trilogy of books and subsequent movies are Mikael Blomkvist an investigative journalist for his own magazine and Lisbeth Salander, an antisocial genius and freelance private investigator, with a penache for computer hacking.  The setting is Sweden. Lisbeth IS the girl with the dragon tattoo.

Despite the many complicated subplots, the primary theme is that in Mikael's life he's just been sentenced to prison for story he couldn't prove, and is hired by a wealthy man to investigate the disappearance many years earlier of his niece.  Lisbeth enters into the story as a sidekick investigator.  She's got problems of her own.  As a child, she made some big, justified mistakes and was sentenced to an institution.  She's all grown up but still has a court appointed guardian.  And her guardian isn't very nice.

The books were long and verbose with not only rich and intricate detail but long, research oriented fact segments that were dry and boring.  All three books were published after Stieg Larsson's death.  So maybe they couldn't edit them like they should have been.

I stumbled upon these DVD rentals by accident.  I didn't know they had been made into movies.  Turns out they had, but they were not released to U.S. theaters.  They were made in Sweden.  All three were filmed in a straight shot of a 1 and 1 half hear time period.  You can watch the films in a foreign language, choose English subtitles, or choose English dubbing.  We chose the latter.

The dubbing is really bad.  It's like Japanamation bad.  Like Godzilla bad.  Whoever did the voice overs did a rotten job.  The acting in their voices is terrible.  The intricacy of the story (if you've read the books, you'll know what I mean) cannot be conveyed well on film.  But over all, I thought they did a darn good job.

Noomi Rapace brings Lisbeth to life and her portrayal is nothing short of stunning.



This movie is rated R.  And it's a hard R.  I have a theory.  I think that perhaps Scandanavian cultures are more comfortable with graphic sex and less comfortable with graphic violence.  I think American culture is more comfortable with graphic violence than it is with graphic sex.  This movie has several graphic scenes:  2 scenes of anal rape, 1scene of forced oral sex, snippets of these scenes are repeated during the course of the film.  There is nudity, violence, bad language (not undue), and scenes of torture.  Not for the feint of heart and for sure, not for children.

The Hollywood version of this film (and most likely the other two) is slated for release in December 2011 starring Daniel Craig as Mikael Blomkvest and Rooney Mara as Lisbeth Salander.  I can totally see Daniel Craig in this role, but I'm going to have a hard time adjusting to anyone but Noomi Rapace playing Lisbeth Salander.  Rooney will have some big shoes to fill.  It will be interesting to see how they follow (or as is often the case in Hollywood...DON'T follow) the storyline. It will also be interesting to see if there is a slight flip in favor of more graphic violence and less graphic sex.  In American, this film could get an NC-17 rating.

Book Review: The Confession by John Grisham

"An innocent man is about to be executed.  Only a guilty man can save him" ~ quote from the book jacket ~  Well, yes.  A guilty man, and really really good timing, and cooperation, and good will, and the stars all lined up just right.

In The Confession, by John Grisham, a black high school student is accused, tried, and sentenced for the rape and murder of a white high school girl.  We join the story as Dante, who has spent 9 years in prison, is soon to be executed in Texas.

There was a coerced confession.  There is no body.  There is no evidence.

At the eleventh hour,someone else shows up and claims to be the real murderer.  And the race against the clock and those who would prefer not to have this mistake come to light, is on.

I breezed through this book.  It's a stunner.  As a parent, of a son, it touched my heart very deeply in places and in ways I can't begin to explain here.   I ached at the injustice. 

I came to a firm decision against the death penalty.  Yes, I know it's fiction, but there is a lot of accurate research in this book.  I was a waffler about the topic anyway.  I used to be a firm believer in the death penalty, but I've changed as I've aged and have been presented with new information.

This book would make one heck of a great movie.  Mark my words.  I don't see where there is a plan for this, but I'm banking on it.

John Grisham’s THE CONFESSION won the 2011 Harper Lee Prize for Legal Fiction.  Did I tell you it was good?

Movie Review: Lincoln Lawyer

Lincoln Lawyer, adapted from a Michael Connelly novel by the same title, is the story of a defense lawyer who might have just gotten in over his head with his latest client.

Mickey Haller (played by Matthew McConaughey), is a defense lawyer, whose X wife is a prosecuting attorney (Marissa Tomei).  He doesn't have an office, but rather, works out of his Lincoln Continental and is chauffeured around while he goes to meet with clients.  He appears more interested in money than the guilt of innocence of his clients and up until this case, did not appear to be bothered by getting questionable clients off.

He then meets his next client, Louis Roulet (played by Ryan Phillippe), a Beverly Hills playboy who is accused of the brutal rape and murder of a prostitute.  As the story unfolds, the danger builds, as does the body count.

I enjoyed the movie and would now like to read the book.  Somehow I missed it.  So many books...so little time.  It is rated R for violence, sexual content and language.  Nothing graphic (thank goodness).

If you're a fan of Country Western singer, Trace Adkins, see if you can spot him in this preview:

Movie Review: 127 Hours

"127 Hours is a 2010 biographical adventure film co-written, produced and directed by Danny Boyle. The film stars James Franco as mountain climber Aron Ralston, who became trapped by a boulder in Robbers Roost, Utah in April 2003." ~ Wikipedia ~

Well, there you have it...in a nutshell.  In keeping with the movie Castaway with Tom Hanks, this is pretty much a one man movie.  James Franco spends much of the movie exploring, being trapped, and freeing himself in this film.  He does an amazing acting job.  I fully believed him in is role as Aron Ralston.  There is some really great scenery and some fantastic camera angles.  For example, as Aron (played by Franco) runs out of water, we receive a bird's eye view into the bottom of his water bottle, as well as a view into his thirsty mouth from the bottom of the bottle looking up.  Fascinating perspectives.

I will say that I had to leave the room during the "infamous scene".  It doesn't last long, but I just could not watch it.  Needless to say, for this graphic scene alone, it is rated R.  There is also some swearing in it but it is certainly not pervasive.  I don't recommend it for kids due not only to this scene, but a one man show, which is rich in introspection will not hold the attention of a child.  I'm pretty strict, that movies rated R really are not meant for anyone under the age of 17.

I've seen Ralston on a few talk shows since this movie came out and he just seems like one heck of a nice guy.  A bit too much of a loner-thrill-seeker for my taste, but an all-around good guy.  He's talked on these shows of the vision he had when he was near death, where he saw his future wife and son.  It was a few years later, but he did marry, and his first born was indeed a son.   Other than a few bits here and there, Ralston agrees that it is as close to a documentary as a drama can probably hope to get.

We failed to see this in the theater because I knew I could not handle that one scene, but I got brave and we rented it from Blockbuster Express.  I'm glad we did.  It is unique and worthy of a viewing if you missed it.  Here's the preview:

Product Review: LashBlastLength Mascara by Cover Girl

As I continue in my quest for a mascara love-fest, one of my gal-pals Christy recommended LashBlastLength from CoverGirl.  It comes in a bright yellow tube and mine cost $6.94 at Wal-Mart.  Christy doesn't use the waterproof variety, and this particular formula only comes in a Water and Smudge RESISTANT forumla.  So that's what I bought.  Me and my smeary, smudgy raccoon eyes.

I liked the way this stuff went on.  It's a wetter formula than some and seemed to separate and define my lashes fairly well.  I purchased the black/brown or dark brown.  Even though my lashes are quite dark, my hair is dark blonde and I don't like the harshness of a very black mascara with my features and skin tone.  This color is quite subtle.

It wore well, smudged a teense and was a tad hard to remove (teense and tad...got that?).  I'll admit, I don't always remove my make-up before bed (good thing I don't wear it every day, right?), but most of my make-up is all natural anyway.  After sleeping with this mascara on (and Great Lash by Maybelline too for that matter), it was a bit crumbly the next morning.  Yeah, I know, I know...I'm supposed to take it off, or I'll die or turn into a pumpkin or something.  So sue me for bad habits.

This one shows promise.  As I have a chance to use it, I'll report back if it turns out I hate it, or grow to love it.  Either way.

Thanks Christy for chiming in!

Product Review: Great Lash Mascara

I asked some of my peeps on Facebook for their recommendations for mascara.  I'm still on the hunt for one I'm truly in love with.  I've reviewed a few brands (you can do a search in the search field to find these prior posts).

One of my friends...a big shout out and a holla to Sara, said that Great Lash Mascara by Maybelline is her go-to Mascara.

It has been on the market "FO-EVA".  I think it was what my mom used (and maybe still uses).  It's what I used in Jr High and High school.  And sometimes, the old stuff is pretty darn good.  Did I mention that it's cheap?  $3.84 at Wal-Mart.

I bought the waterproof in black/brown.  I have to use a waterproof/smudgeproof variety.  For whatever reason, everything smears and smudges on me.  I don't wear mascara (or make-up) very often since I'm inside my house most days, and care less and less about impressing anyone as I age.  But, once in a while, a girl likes to play make-up.

This did a pretty darn good job.  It went on a little waxy (who knows how long the tubes sit on the shelf too?), and it did seem to clump on me a little bit.  My lashes aren't very long, but they are fairly thick and sort of have a mind of their own.  I'm not about to spend time combing them or separating each lash like some women I've known.  I just don't care that much.  Some definition and length would be nice.

While I didn't love Great Lash enough to marry it, it did the job.  Thanks for the recommend Sara!  I love when my readers pipe in to help a girl out!

Celebrity Ghost Stories. Maksim Chmerkovskiy

Have any of you ever seen the TV show Celebrity Ghost Stories?  It's on the Biography Channel which unfortunately, I don't get.  It features interviews (with some dorky dramatizations) with celebrities who have experienced paranormal activity.  Oh MAN, I wished I had this program!  From time to time, as I find some good ones, I'll try to post some.  This one is about 10 minutes long, and features Maksim Chmerkovskiy from Dancing With the Stars...who doesn't believe in ghosts.

Business Review: VoiceAmerica Online Radio

True, interesting story.  I was checking my cell phone voice mail and I had a message, September 1st, from someone named Sherry, who was an assistant to someone named Mr. Duffy from VoiceAmerica.  She was calling on his behalf because he was a Sr. producer interested in talking with me about a radio show.

Well, that sounded interesting.  I had never heard of VoiceAmerica, so my initial thought was that someone had read my blog or my Examiner.com articles, or my web page and was interested in a radio interview about some aspect of any of those topics.  Rather than calling back right away, I began to look around online to see what I could learn.  I'm suspicious that way.

I did find the website for VoiceAmerica and I did find a staff person named Scott Duffy.  So far so good.  So I emailed Scott Duffy directly to explain the phone message I had.  I got back a cryptic response of "Oh, I was just about to call her, so, what do you want to do?".  To which I responded something to the effect of "huh?  You called me, what do YOU want to do?".  It was sort of confusing.

I continued to look around the website and tried to find some reviews about the company, complaints about the company, any buzz about the company.  And honestly, for the most part, the information about the company is coming from the company.  They have a "Host Kit" you can download, and it is a bunch of advertising for them without any substance or detail.

The best I could piece together is that VoiceAmerica is an online, talk radio business that for a fee (how much, I have no idea), will allow you to pay them to have your own talk show.  OK, that's sort of interesting.  But I'm just a poor blogging housewife with no money.  Where did they get my cell phone number?  Why were they calling me?  I have no money.  I have never expressed a desire to host my own talk radio show.  But here's "Mr. Duffy" acting as though I contacted THEM.

So, I did get another message from Scott Duffy apologizing for any confusion, and stating that I must be "a hot commodity to have made it to the desk of both of his assistants". OK, dude, that's a bunch of crap.  He also said "they were looking for people to host shows etc and were interested in me".  Never said why.  They man had no idea who I was or why he might be interested in me.  He made it sound as though they were looking to hire when in fact, their business is ALL about recruitment.

My conclusion?  VoiceAmerica must do some random trolling for bloggers or people with an online presence who might be desperate enough to get more public exposure to pay someone to let them talk on a radio show once a week online.  I don't doubt that this is the case for some people trying to build their businesses by using this medium for advertising themselves.  I think VoiceAmerica must do some cold-call soliciting, pretending to be interested in the individual even though they have no knowledge of them.

There are not many complaints with the BBB online for this company.  I saw only two that were old and had been closed so I was unable to view them.  Therefore, the BBB gave them an A rating.  I'm sure they are legit, but they raised all of my red flags about being pandered to.  I believe my last email to Mr. Duffy, in the part of the email where he says I must be a "hot commodity", I responded "OK, now I KN OW you're blowing smoke, because I'm not on anyone's list of hot commodities".  I thanked him for his "interest" but stated that I was not interested in paying him so I could host my own radio show.  That's the last I heard from his office.

See, I'm thinking, eventually, somebody should be paying ME to be on the air, not the other way around.

I can't say that VoiceAmerica is not legit.  They have some interesting looking broadcasts.  If I liked talk radio, I might even listen to some of them.  You can check it out on their site. 

But first of all, I really hate it when so-called professionals use titles instead of their names.  "Mr. Duffy"?  I don't even call my doctor "Dr.".  People say it's a matter of showing respect.  I say it's a matter of trying to view oneself as more important than someone else.  I mean, they used my first name in their correspondence with me, so why am I interested in "Mr. So and so"? 

Secondly, don't pretend you know me, are interested specifically in what I can do for you, when you have no idea who I am and are really soliciting for me to pay YOU for a service.  That chaps.

Lastly, be upfront with your business proposition.  There is no place on the website, or in the kit that states that they want you to pay them for them to provide you with an "opportunity", much less the specific terms and amounts.  I'm assuming they schmooze you with their wonderfulness and then send you a contract with that info spelled out later.  Put your terms and fees on your website alongside the service you provide.  Be honest and straightforward.  Nothing makes me angrier than hidden agendas and misleading advertising.  It sort of puts them on par with Multi-Level Network Marketers who want to "share an opportunity" and "it doesn't involve selling, it involves sharing the opportunity with others", but they often won't say up front what company they are with and what it is they "aren't" selling.  Barf.

Rant over.  I'm sure their programing is fine.  But this experience with them made my ass ache.

DVD Review: Charlie St. Cloud starring Zach Efron

Charlie St. Cloud, starring teen heart-throb, Zach Efron, is an adaptation of a book by the same title by Ben Sherwood.  It is the story of two brothers who are extremely close.  It's the story of life, death and what might be in between.  It's the story of love and how it can transcend distance.  It's the story of the choices we make to move forward, or stay behind.

When I first saw the previews in theaters, I was interested.  For whatever reason, we missed it in the theater, so we rented it.  I really enjoyed it.  But then, life/death and the beyond is my thing.

In my opinion, the previews showed a little too much because for a good part of the movie I felt like I already knew it and knew what was going to happen.  But there turned out to be a couple of interesting twists.  I might even have to read the book now as I'm sure it has more depth and detail.  Don't books ALWAYS??

I liked the movie.  Worth renting.

Rated PG-13 for some language, sensuality and an intense accident scene.  Everything tastefully done, but it isn't a kid's movie due to the subject matter.  It might bore most young kids silly.

Product Review: Pajama Jeans "As Seen On TV"

Oh yes, I really did. Hey, don't laugh.  Don't judge me. I hate clothing that pinches or binds.  I almost never wear jeans.  I thought..."hmmmm, I wonder."  I'm embarrassed to admit buying them because they have become the "butt" of so many jokes of late.  It's sort of like admitting you went out of your way to buy "Mom jeans" (see video clip below).

So I bought a pair on impulse when I saw them on the shelf at RiteAide.  $39.99.  Are you kidding me?  That's one expensive-ass pair of sweats.  But I'm doing it all for you.  Do you believe me?

I had watched the commercials, and seen them on some talk shows, watched some YouTube reviews and read some online reviews.  For the most part, they get very positive (not revolutionary) reviews.

A few reviews mentioned that the dye transfers really badly...like so badly that you end up with it on your skin and underwear.  So before I even try to wear them, I washed them alone, with my regular detergent, a couple of tablespoons of salt and about a half cup of vinegar (both of which are known to retard bleeding colors and to set dyes).  We'll see how that works.  I flung them over a kitchen chair to dry and then air fluffed them in the dryer.  I'm a bit afraid to have them shrink.

I tried them on before washing them.  I would have to say that I'm between sizes.  The next size up would have been too large and the one I bought is a little snug.  And the waist doesn't give as much as I would like.  I have to shimmy a bit to get them over my hips.  This might be a challenge when I have to pee.  I don't have a strong bladder.  Sometimes I have to run for it.

Overall, they look like jeans to me.  A dark wash, boot cut, mid rise jean.  I'm tall (5'8") and the length in bare feet was adequate.  I won't be wearing heels with them anyway.  Cuz if you don't like pinch pants, you really don't like uncomfortable shoes.  They ride a little lower than I would like, but I never tuck shirts into my pants...I think that ship has sailed...I'm chunky.  So I usually wear a bit longer shirt, untucked to cover the waistline of my clothes anyway...so who cares.

After wearing them all day, I must say...I really like them.  And I went to my mom's...fashion police expert.  I didn't say anything.  At one point, she said "Did you get new jeans, those look really good."  OK, if it passes the muster of "Mrs-What-Not-To-Wear", they must really be OK.  They have a bright pink drawstring...what?  So I just pulled that out.  I hate drawstrings.  They also seem to really grab lint.  So if that bothers you...it will bother you.  I really don't care that much.  That probably means they will hold animal hair like crazy too.  But I don't have animals, so again, I don't care.  But if you do...note to self.  Later, Mom also mentioned that she saw the dreaded "Camel Toe" effect.  Oh dear God!  I better keep a watch out for that.  I'll get hubby on camel toe patrol and get back to you.

I'll keep you posted on how they wash, wear and hold their shape (and dye).

Here is the TV commercial, a Rachel Ray review, a Jay Leno's commentary and an SNL ad for "Mom Jeans" to enjoy.  I think Jay sort of misses the point...it's not about being lazy and fat, it's about comfortable clothing you can move in that looks a bit better than sweats.  Or that's my take.

Spiritual Experience: Drunk Spirits Make Me Dizzy

This email is from November of 2006.  I was relaying an odd experience I had to a friend:

Last night was an odd and freaky night for me. I could not sleep. I was scared and paranoid. About 10 p.m. I started getting really, REALLY dizzy. This lasted through the night. 

At one point I looked over and noticed that the attic cover plate was askew and it had not been at least a day before (never has been before and never since). I told myself that the wind must have whipped through the new vents in the attic during the wind storm, but I was, of course convinced that somebody came into the house while I was out, and was hiding up there watching me, waiting to come down until I was asleep (hubby is away hunting). 

The neighbors in the big tan house were having a party...do drinking parties attract party spirits? And what happened with me? About 3 years ago, I received a STRONG mandate from somewhere that said "DO N*O*T* Drink again!!!!!!!!!!!". Other than once or twice, I haven't had a drink since. I only drank a couple of times a year maybe anyway, but the message was SO strong, I listened.

Several things appeared to have been going on.  Experiences I've had since this time have given me a patched together framework for making some sense out of some of my experiences.  Of course, I have no idea if they are accurate, and I don't put forth my theories as fact...just what it feels like to me.

The most logical explanation would be that I'm uneasy and don't sleep well when my husband is away.  Couple that with not feeling physically well, and a loud party going on next door, the uneasiness was amplified.  Seeing the attic door moved by the wind ramped it up even more.

That's logical.  That's what most people would accept.  But I'm not most people.  I believe that spirits who partied and got drunk or used drugs when they were living, are attracted to those who party.  They hang out in bars, at parties and with others in the flesh who are addicted.  They influence them to use more, and they live vicariously through others what they can no longer fully experience.  That's the spirits who have not learned what they need to learn yet.  Sometimes I believe they even enter the bodies of others to as fully as possible, relive their using days.  I don't mean they possess their host like a Chiller-Diller movie, but they can body hop and be a little bit like a leech...both borrowing a body for tactile experience and influencing to get more of what they want (if it's what the person is tending towards anyway).  I know that seems a little freaky but that's been my experience and appears in plenty of written work.  And this can leave the "host" exhausted.

I also believe that when my husband is away, spirits who might want to intimidate a woman (or get their jollies by being a bully), tend to appear.  I'm sort of easy to scare.  OK, really easy.  And I can sense them, which makes it way more fun for them than to try to hassle somebody who is dense to sensing spirit energy.

So, here's what I think happened.  Hubby is gone.  I'm more vulnerable.  The neighbors are having a party which attracted drunk spirits to the area which is already situated in the original or "old town" area of the city so has lots of spirits roaming around anyway.  It wasn't too difficult to slip on over to my house for a little harassment.  So a drunk spirit came over from the party, and hid in the attic and moved the trap door for effect.  I felt his energy and his drunkenness and, in fact, felt the drunk impact in my own body.  I'm an empath.  I often feel the physical sensations of other people anyway.  I could be way off, but that's my interpretation of how it felt.

That last bit of the email is a separate issue.  I'm relaying how one day, out of the blue, I hear in my head this message so strongly it's like someone yelled at me..."DO....NOT.....DRINK....AGAIN".  And it isn't like I drink....maybe at that time, a couple of drinks a YEAR.  I took it to mean that something bad might happen if I did...a health problem, a car accident...any number of things.  It was so strong that I heeded it.  Since that time, I can probably count on one hand the number of times I've had a drink since.  And all of those times, even though it was a single drink, I felt ill.  So, I think my days of any type of alcohol use are pretty much a think of the past.  Which is no big deal, cuz I don't care...but there are some drinks that taste mighty nice.  And once in a while, there's just nothing quite like the release you get in the back of your tense neck when a bit of alcohol hits your system.  But totally not worth it.  Especially if it makes me not feel well...even a little bit.  I recently had a margarita with a friend over dinner.  I head an irregular heart beat and a headache for the rest of the evening.  Bummer.  But someone cared enough to warn me loudly.  Pays to listen to stuff like that.

DVD Review: Unknown starring Liam Neeson and January Jones

Unknown starring Liam Neeson and January Jones is a mystery thriller that is non-stop action from the word "Go".

Dr. Martin Harris (Neeson) travels with his wife (Jones) to Berlin for a biotechnology summit.  From the time they leave the airport, things begin to unravel.

Following an accident, Neeson discovers that someone else has taken his place in his life and he has no way to prove who he is. It's as though he never existed.  There is intrigue and espionage, and mystery and like I said, non-stop action.  It is tension filled all the way through.  Unknown, is unpredictable and that's what made it fun.  I probably could have done without watching it right before sleep...it sort of keys you up with all of that action.  I kept wanting to reach into the movie and help Neeson prove who he was...that it was all a set-up.  But was it?  Hmmmm.

Since it was PG-13, I could handle the violence.  There's a lot of violence, it's just not graphic.  There are memory fragment sex scenes, which in my opinion added nothing to the story, were gratuitous and totally unnecessary...but who am I, right?  That's how it got the PG-13 rating.  Everyone puts forth great performances.

Nobody is who you think they are.  Nobody.  So who are they?

Energy Healing Experience: That Old Song

I'm still sorting through old email's I've saved where I describe and spiritual experience to someone as I try to sort out the significance.  I found this email dated November 12, 2006:

I met with a client on Wednesday.  All seemed to go well.  During the session a song started going through my head and I just kept it to myself.  Then over the next couple of days it was constantly in my head...singing it etc.  SO I called the client to ask her if it meant anything to her and it didn't.  I looked up the song on the internet and even though it is a common song, I was surprised to find out that it is not known who wrote it, or when it was written, but that it can be traced back to earliest colonial times...predating the Civil War.  After I called the client, the song went away.  This morning it is back.  Any ideas?

I failed to mention what the song was and I don't remember now.  Whoever I wrote to didn't have any ideas about it.  As I look at this email now, how I would explain it was that a spirit came through during our session with a clue about their age and identity.  We just both failed to figure it out.  Sometimes it happens like that. *sigh*.  Either the clue was in the lyrics of the song, or the clue was that the song SHOULD have had some significance to one of us but we just were unable to make the connection.  It's also possible this was an ancestor from a colonial time period.  Even now, my impression is that it was a woman.  But that's all I know.

I Suck at Proof Reading

I'm sorry.  I'll say it right up front.  I totally suck at proof reading.  I feel a bit embarrassed by all of the mistakes I find in these posts.  I'm sure there will be one in this post too.

I have slight, unidentified (at least not professionally) learning disabilities.  I can't spell, and no matter how many times I read over something, I miss obvious mistakes.  I might re-read a post a year later and find a whole new set of mistakes I missed earlier.  And it just isn't realistic to find a friend who will quickly do my proof reading for me every day.

I think fast and type fast and I'll be honest, because I'm so ineffective with proof reading, I've learned to hate it like I hate cleaning the shower.  So I've sort of given up.  I give things the once over...sometimes...and sometimes, I just don't bother.  Same goes for my shower.

In some ways, perhaps that's the beauty of a blog.  It is informal by nature and it's mine and I'm the boss of it.  While I'm sorry you have to read a bunch of mistakes and sometimes I might not be clear in expressing a thought, or there may be multiple misspelled words. I can tell you it won't change.  If I had to make it perfect...like a term paper, or a business letter, I wouldn't bother.  And I figure a message with some mistakes is better than no message at all.

There were occasions, even as an adult, when my grandmother would return letters I had sent to her...corrected in red ink.  My thought?  "Woman, you're gonna die lonely cuz I'm never writing to you again."  Of course, I did, but I always felt very uneasy and inadequate about it.  My mom is a perfectionist about there being no mistakes in any written form (or any other) too.  I quit sharing my writing with her because she never focused on content, she just proof read and corrected.  Barf.  Who wants that?

If it is a big pet peeve for any of you, that my posts lack attention to detail, you could, if you really must, post my mistakes and I'll try to correct them.  I just won't promise to always do it, and I won't promise to proof read that carefully.

Is it OK for it to just be Willow's quirk?  Well, one of Willow's MANY quirks?  Guess what?  I won't be buying these books either.

DVD Review: Hereafter starring Matt Damen

Right off, I'll tell you I kinda dug this movie.  If you've followed along and are familiar with my interests, it isn't hard to figure out my fascination with the subject matter.

In Hereafter, (directed by Clint Eastwood), Matt Damon plays a man who is a gifted but reluctant medium.  His experience has been that using his gift was too difficult for him.  He lost friends when they found out more than they were ready to handle, and the constant intrusion of desperately grieving people who wanted a message from their deceased loved ones, overtook his life and his personal sense of privacy and freedom.  How was THAT for a run-on sentence?

In the movie, his brother would like nothing better than to get him back into action as a paid medium.  He sorta wants to ride his shirt-tails, manage him and probably pay himself as well.  But "George" just wants to be a regular guy.  Easier said than done.  People still find him (sometimes with the "help" of his brother).

At least two other main story lines weave into this theme;  one is a woman in France who had a tragic near death experience and is at a loss for how to explain it, and another is a little boy in England who has suffered a family loss and needs to heal and move on.  As fate would have it, all of these lives eventually intersect.

The mode that "George" receives information or "makes connection" is through hand to hand contact and the ways in which he describes the information he is receiving is very contemporary and in keeping with my own experiences and that of professional mediums.

We rented a copy from one of the Blockbuster kiosk machines, but I'm sure it is widely available in many locations.  It is rated PG 13 for some images of natural disasters and maybe some light swearing.

This movie, had me at "Hello". 

Letting Go

I think this piece was originally written to reflect the
feelings of lunching a teenager into the world of independence.  However, I know so many people who still hang on to loved ones who struggle...those with mental illness or addiction.  At some point, without having these beautiful words to guide me, I came to similar conclusions with regards to my own child.  These words will apply well to situations of worry of many types.

Letting Go

From "Give them Wings" by Carol Kuykendall

To let go doesn't mean to stop caring,

It means I can't do it for someone else.

To let go is not to cut myself off,

it's the realization that I can't control another.

To let go is not to enable,

but to allow learning from natural consequences.

To let go is to admit powerlessness,

which means the outcome is not in my hands,

To let go is not to try to change or blame another.

I can only change myself.

To let go is not to care for, but to care about.

To let go is not to fix, but to be supportive.

To let go is not to judge,

but to allow another to be a human being.

To let go is not to be in the middle arranging all the outcomes, 

but to allow others to effect their own outcomes.

To let go is not to be protective;

it is to permit another to face reality.

To let go is not to deny, but to accept.

To let go is not to nag, scold, or argue,

but to search out my own shortcomings and to correct them.

To let go is not to adjust everything to my desires,

but to take each day as it comes.

To let go is not to criticize and regulate anyone,

But to try to become what I dream I can be.

To let go is not to regret the past,

but to grow and live for the future.

To let go is to fear less and love more.

DVD Review: The Social Network

The Social Network is a drama depiction about the creation of Facebook by Mark Zuckerberg (played by Jessie Eisenberg).

It is always hard to separate fact from fiction or to determine who did what exactly, but if the portrayal of the story in the movie is factual and accurate, it could easily be argued that Mark Zuckerberg may be guilty of intellectual theft.

Clearly, the idea of internet, internal, college social networking sites were developing.  Zuckerberg was approached by some Harvard students to develop an exclusive social networking site.  Zuckerberg took that idea, and improved upon it and implemented it himself.  I guess it could be argued that he changed the platform and created something better than the idea he was originally approached with.  It can very easily be argued that Zukerberg may be one of a precious few minds that could write the code for such a site.  Intellectual theft was a pretty new concept too.

It appears, at least from the portrayal in this film that as with many genius minds, there are social shortcomings for Zuckerberg.  He is awkward, literal, and confused by social nuance.  He's not popular.  He has no finesse, no tact, no social graces.  Sort of ironic he should build the largest, most popular social networking site (and rated number 2 site on the planet just behind google.com).  Given his genius for code, social deficits and age, it isn't really too hard for me to have some compassion that he was clueless about the ramifications of perceived or real intellectual theft or his inability to grasp that what he did could even qualify for it.  He was also a young college kid with no understanding of law or of business.  He just knows computers and code.

I held both contempt and empathy for his character.  Eisenberg gives one heck of a performance. There just isn't much to like about Zuckerberg (at least as portrayed), and yet, there is a vulnerability and naivety that comes through.

DVD Review: Black Swan

I think it is now officially safe to say, that I am not a fan of the "psychological thriller" genre.  I'm also not totally sure unless someone spells it out for me, what constitutes a psychological thriller.

Black Swan, which met with much acclaim and popularity, is the story of a mentally unbalanced ballet dancer who snaps under the pressure of her new, leading role playing both the black and the white swan in Swan Lake.

It's rated R for some creepy bloody scenes, sex (including lesbian oral sex scene, and masturbation scenes) and for the dark thematic content.  I'm sort of glad I knew a bit of the story line prior to renting it.  Knowing that much of what we see on the screen is a product of her internal psychosis made it a little less confusing and disturbing to watch.  But it was still disturbing.

Natalie Portman gives a fantastic performance.  Problem is, I don't care and I didn't like any of the characters in the film.  I just didn't like it.  I had to close my eyes through the bloody scenes (which are not graphic, just disturbing), and the sex may have been the highlight...and even that wasn't very good.  Go figure.

I'm not a fan.  I don't get it.  It's two hours of my life I'll never get back.  As usual, I'm left wondering about why and how movies get such high honors.  But, I admitted that this isn't a genre I like much.  Many MANY people loved this film.  I just...didn't.

I'm going to give you an infallible key to determining if you will like this movie:  Ready?  If you liked cult classics Donnie Darko, Fight Club, and/or Requiem for a Dream, go for it.  You'll enjoy this too.  If you didn't.  You won't.  If you have seen and liked Black Swan, but not these other movies I just mentioned, try them, I bet you'll like them.  I just won't be able to take movie recommendations from you...ever.

Video Rental Review: Country Strong

We rented Country Strong from Netflix.  It's the story of a country singer who falls victim to the pitfalls of fame and addiction.  It's sort of a worn-out theme.  Not much I can say about a story we've all seen a million times.

I will say, that the music is good (albeit obviously well-doctored in the studio first).  The acting is good.  Everyone in this movie gives a strong performance.  Who knew that Gweneth Paltrow could sing?  OK, I knew it cuz I had heard her on awards shows.  But before that?  No idea.  And Tim McGraw, the singer, can act.  I did know that since I've seen him in a few other movies.

So...a weak, predictable story, but good acting and good music.  Worth renting, but I wouldn't have been happy to pay full price for it at the theater.  How's that?

Book Review: I Still Dream About You by Fannie Flagg

I Still Dream About You by Fannie Flagg was a bit different "beach read" than what I'm used to.

It is the story of Maggie, who, throughout the entire book, has a specific plan for suicide.  But life just keeps getting in her way.

The characters are endearing and the writing is good.  I'm just no so sure how I feel about a somewhat comical or lighthearted look at suicide.

Maggie does not fit the profile of someone who would attempt suicide either.  She's too methodical, too calculating, too orderly with her plan.  She's not even displaying depressive symptoms.  She's simply decided that life hasn't turned out quite like she had hoped, so she'd going to end it all.  She plans to end it with as much careful planning as possible so as to have complete control over how it goes down.

It was entertaining but a bit hollow?  Shallow?  I'm not sure how to describe it.  I guess it fits with the category of "beach read".  Not deep, not riveting, not a page-turner, yet entertaining.  I honestly cannot tell you how the title of the book relates to the story (unless we're talking about the love that got away).

Fannie Flagg has a long history in Hollywood.  I remember her most as the comedic sidekick on Candid Camera.  Fannie Flagg has struggled with some learning disabilities so I certainly give her props for her courage to write.  Her writing is solid.  She expresses herself well.

In case you're curious, here's is a clip of Fannie from Candid Camera, back in the day.

Book Review: Lipstick in Afghanistan by Roberta Gately

Lipstick in Afghanistan is a fictional story laced with author, Roberta Gately's real-life experiences.

It is the story of a young woman, desperate to make a difference in the world ever since she was a child.  She makes it through nursing school and ends up working in a clinic in Afghanistan with an aid organization.  The story follows her life there for approximately 6 months.

The role of lipstick in the book seems to symbolize a unifying thread between women, between cultures, between faiths.  I like the way it was woven into the lives of the female characters.

It is slightly reminiscent of Three Cups of Tea; a little fiction, a little fact.  Lipstick takes it a bit further with a little romance and a little war action.

While I enjoyed the book, it was a little dry in places.  The author did a good job of painting the picture of the setting, but the story lacked something.  I can't really put my finger on it.  I wasn't fully engrossed.  Something fell a little flat and I wish I could say what.  Maybe, like Three Cups of Tea, it was a bit too documentary for a fictional work.  Perhaps this is due to it being a mix of the author's experiences and true stories she heard or that others she knew experienced. 

If you read it, or have read it, help me out....what kept it from being a super good read?

What's the Harm in Poking Fun?

I'm not sure I really need to give examples, cuz I think we all know it when we hear it directed at us or about us.  It's the Don Rickles, Henny Youngman, and in fact, most stand up comedy styles.  Make fun of people.  "Your so fat....", blonde jokes, Polack jokes, lawyer, politician jokes....keep the list running.  You can also include cruel jokes we make about ourselves...to get there first before someone else does.

Any type of joking that makes fun of another person, isn't really fun.  Not really.  Teasing can be so cruel.  And sometimes there is a fine line and we may not always know where the line is.

I know of what I speak.  I was raised in a family where cruel, cutting, caustic humor reigned supreme.  And I'm not blaming my family.  They brought forward what they knew.  I'm responsible from what I do from today onward.  Always.  What I learned in my family was that outright arguing was not permitted.  We were to act "lady-like" and "if you can't say something nice, don't say anything".  But people do get angry and they do have disagreements.  So, it can be quickly learned that you can get in a jab, a slam, a poke, a slap, (well, you get my point) by slipping in some "humor".  It's a passive aggressive way of sort of speaking your truth, or of at least letting someone know you are putting them down or trying to boost yourself up by putting them down, by slipping in some rude, hurtful humor.

You'll also know that your humor is crossing the line if you pay attention to the other person....do they seem shocked, surprised, hurt?  Do they fire back with one of their own?  Do they call you on it?  Do they cry, get mad or perhaps you don't hear from them so often anymore?  You can recognize hurtful humor if someone responds negatively to it, and your flash defensive response to them is "You're just too sensitive."  or "Can't you take a joke?", or "I was ONLY kidding."  Those are all deflections to not take responsibility for hurting someone.

Using hurtful humor is addictive.  Somehow it can make you feel a bit more powerful.  And people laugh so you get positive reinforcement for it.  Trust me on this.  I know.  I'm the recovering queen of caustic humor.  At least I hope I'm recovering.  I realized, probably way too many years after I've hurt many people that it isn't funny, it isn't nice, I don't like it when others do it to me, so why should I do it?  It becomes habit, like I said.  It becomes the only acceptable way you can sort of say you're not happy with someone without actually having to have an honest and uncomfortable conversation with them.  That takes time, and it's hard.

It honestly is as harsh or worse than a slap.  Don't kid yourself if you think you slid one by.  As a culture we are very well-versed in this type of humor.  Our sitcoms and stand up comedy is based on putting someone else down.  A loved one, a boss, a neighbor, a race, a political or religious affiliation.  Hey, I laugh too.  I'm not all holier than thou.  But I'm becoming more aware.  I cringe sometimes more than I laugh.  And certain types of humor are less and less funny to me.  I'm becoming more aware of when I sling an arrow.  I think I've always been aware when someone slung one at me.  It could be because they don't like me, or I've done something to offend them, or they don't agree with me, or they are jealous or threatened by me...any number of reasons to sling arrows.

How does one enter recover?  Awareness.  Effort.  Commitment.  It's a process that could take me the rest of my life.  Once an addict, always an addict.

One step is to start to notice.  Notice unkind humor on TV and movies.  Notice it in stand up comedy.  Notice it on social networking sites.  Notice it when it flies out of your mouth (no need to beat yourself up just yet, just notice it), notice it in your family and with your friends.  Just be an observer.

Make a personal commitment to improve.  It will take time.  For example, I may not notice until hours or days later that I said something that wasn't kind and said it with a joke.  I notice that didn't feel good when I remember it.  I re commit.  If I'm really brave (which I'll admit, most of the time, I'm not), I'll apologize. "Last week, I made that joke about your hair...I'm sorry.  That was unkind and uncalled for and mean."  Mostly I just try real hard not to keep doing it.

I notice when others make jokes about other people.  Sometimes I counter with a positive rather than making a big deal out of what they said.  If someone says "OMG DID YOU SEE HER FAT ASS??", I might say "I'm sure she's aware of that.  I like her.  She's always been very kind to me."

I notice in my family of origin.  I really don't have it worked out yet just what my response should or will be.  I've tried counter joking and that doesn't really fit.  It doesn't really fit to get mad and make a scene either (because that just brings on the "you're too sensitive, can't take a joke" crap.  I've tried humor that calls attention to the joke such as "will you help me take that knife out of my back?".  Even that seems to not fully have the desired effect.

One approach is not to participate or join in or counter with another joke.  You can give a look of disapproval and remain silent.  Sometimes that works.  Sometimes I've said "that wasn't kind" and left it at that.  I get "teased" a lot in my family for being the black sheep or being "Crazy Aunt Willow" because I'm a bit over the top for my family.

I get "teased" for my large appetite.  It would not be uncommon to hear over a loud speaker at a wedding or funeral "The buffet is now ready, please try to get there before Willow....or Willow, you need to get at the end of the line so that everyone gets something to eat."  I don't find this funny.  Never have.  But I've laughed along.  I've also tempered my eating in front of family.  I never know quite what the right response is.  The honest thing to do would be to take them quietly aside and say "jokes about my appetite are hurtful to me.  Please stop."  I'm not quite there yet.  Once, when I stopped by a family member's house I was told there was cake in the kitchen, to which someone else replied "but we haven't had any yet so don't eat it all"  ha ha tee hee.  So I just politely didn't eat any.  Then there were comments "Oh you can have some, (just not ALL of it), you KNOW your eating is notorious...just kidding...bla bla bla".  I just continued to say, "no thank you, I don't want any" and the point got through and the person who made the joke didn't feel very good cuz the joke fell flat.  But that still isn't really the response I want to make.

I don't want to embarrass someone like they just did me.  Returning an unkindness for an unkindness is not what I want to do.  I want to be honest.  I want to learn good, appropriate communication skills.

Is it really so-so-so hard to say "I like __________ as a choice for president, because...." vs  bashing the other one and saying cruel things about them?  Is it impossible to resist countering with an attack if you don't agree?  Would it be possible to say, "I disagree. I like this other choice for these reasons" and not include reasons of "because they don't do what your idiot guy does".  Can we be polite and respectful and speak for what we like vs harping on what we don't like?

Is it possible to stand for something without having to attack something else?  Instead of anti war, can we be pro peace?  Instead of haggling over parenting, can we agree to wanting happy children?  Instead of pushing our religion and bashing someone else (or making jokes), can we just wish each other a pleasant journey toward their personal truth?  Instead of bashing how someone looks, how big or small, pretty or not, their ethnicity, race, gender, sexual orientation etc, can we not learn to love people and appreciate diversity...that very spice that makes us interesting?

In our families, can we put aside our insecurities and support each others gifts and quit trying to vie for attention, or position or to win points or gain affection?  If juggling for position, or working to gain love and acceptance in your family is your goal, perhaps choosing a new family of supportive friends is in order and letting your family know you're spending less time with them because of the lack of support and how difficult it is to feel accepted and how it doesn't feel good so you're not going to continue to play the old games.

I've pulled myself from family meals when relatives are in town.  It's like an alcoholic sitting at a bar.  That's where the old patterns emerge.  And I've decided I want to be in recovery.  So I've begged off the obligatory meals with large family groupings.  I'll come visit before meals or after meals, or I really like to just get together for coffee with just one relative at a time.  Because meal times are some of our most habitual times to "poke fun" at each other.  And I go to it like a moth to a flame.  I leave feeling like I've been sucked dry and I need an I.V. drip of self esteem.  They don't intend that, we're just in a cycle.  I can only be responsible for me.  I can't make them different.  I can only make me different.  I'm just as guilty, so I gotta work on me.

A good sense of humor is a wonderful thing.  Is it possible to have a great sense of humor, be entertaining, be funny and NOT make fun of anyone?  Is it?

I challenge you to pay attention this week.  Post some of the unkind "humor" you hear and how it made you feel now that you are trying to become more aware.  If you're really brave, post something "humorous" you've said that you caught yourself at and how you felt when you caught it.  I'm not trying to make you feel bad, I'm trying to make you aware.  I've stopped watching TV shows that poke fun at people.  One example is, my husband and I never enjoyed Everybody Loves Raymond despite it being a smash hit.  The show was centered on humorously putting each other down.  No love, just slams.  I don't watch programming like that for the most part....it feeds the addiction to build ourselves up by laughing AT others.

You can also include unkind statements and gossip to this if you're feeling really brave.  Two years ago, I posted a 24 Hour Sound Off  Speak No Evil Challenge...you could try that and report back.

Can we help each other to make our world better by trying our best not to hurt others with our words, our jokes, our gossip?  I need all the help I can get.  Seems I'm always poking fun of people on Facebook for their reposting habits.  I need to learn to just let that little pet peeve slide on by.  It irritates me.  So what?  I can learn to skim and keep my fingers off the keys.  I know it may not look like it, but for every snarky comment I make, there are 100 I didn't make.  Progress, not perfection.  Keep moving forward.

How has unkind humor impacted you?  What has it felt like?  Do you participate?  Do you make fun of yourself in unkind ways?  Can we create a discussion about that here that might spread to the rest of the world?

I saw this on FB last week (and no, I won't be mad at you if you laugh):

Bob forgot his wedding anniversary. His wife was mad. She told him " tomorrow morning i expect to find a gift in the driveway that goes from 0 to 200 in 6 seconds AND IT BETTER BE THERE!!!!!!!" The next morning when his wife woke up, she looked out the window to find a box... gift wrapped in the middle of the driveway. She opened it and found a brand new bathroom scale... Bob has been missing since Friday!! Repost when u stop laughing

It hits all the basics...my love for reposts (not so much), it makes fun of the stereotype that all couples dislike each other, how all husbands forget anniversaries and should be punished, it makes fun of the stereotype that all wives are bitches, and it makes fun of wives/women who are overweight.  And when you break it down, it's not very funny.

Book Review: Promise Me by Richard Paul Evans

Promise Me by Richard Paul Evans is a book about one woman and three men, two necklaces and two promises.  One promise that wasn't kept, and One promise that was.

It is a story about trust, love, healing, and living.  And it has a metaphysical twist that I adored...a lot.  But of course, I can't tell you what that is, cuz that would just ruin your fun.

As a rule, I truly enjoy Richard Paul Evans books. He is categorized as a Christian writer, and you can always depend on him slipping in Christian references, whether or not they really fit or add to the story, which I think of more as "gratuitous Christianity", but oh well.  Whatever.  Roll with it.  If you're not Christian, his work is still good, stories compelling, and he appeals no matter what your beliefs.

I enjoyed this book a great deal.  Sped right through it.  And I loved, loved loved, the twist.  Think...Time Traveler's Wife (a book/movie reference).  That's all I'm sayin'.

Book Review: Never Look Away by Linwood Barclay

Never Look Away by Linwood Barclay is a thriller that I sped through like a runaway train.  I was hooked from the start and it never let up.

What starts out as an attempted child abduction turns into so much more.  So so much more.  This story is unpredictable, which is hard to do sometimes. Seems I often guess "who dunnit" or who the bad guy is.  This was a fun read.  I'm not going to give you a story line because that, quite honestly would give too much away.

Suffice to say, the book is written in first person voice by the primary character who is a newspaper reporter hot on the trail of a great story...when his son almost disappears, and then his wife DOES disappear.

A worthy read.  Good enough, it is worth reading his other books to see if they are just as good.  And it just recently came out in paperback so the price is right!

Book Review: The Provence Cure for the Brokenhearted by Bridget Asher

The Provence Cure for the Brokenhearted by Bridget Asher is a story of multi-generational healing and the magic of a house and property.

A young window ends up traveling to a childhood summer home in France to try to put her life into perspective for herself and her son.

The characters are lovable and flawed, and you root for the entire extended family to find their way.

I really enjoyed this book.  A step above "beach read".  Not riveting and spectacular, but certainly endearing and engrossing.

Recipe: Green Grape and Tomatillo Salsa

I got this recipe in the Energy Times free magazine from my local health food store.  And, THEY, in turn, got it from the California Table Grape Commission.  See how recipes get around?

This can be a bit wet with lots of liquid.  You can always strain it, but if you do, I would wait until it has all sat together for a few hours to let the flavors blend.  Adjust your "heat factor" up or down by altering the amount/size of your jalepenos (or leave seeds in or out as well).  It's yummy.  I doubled the recipe.  Why not?

Green Grape and Tomatillo Salsa
8 oz tomatillos, husked and rinsed (about 5-8 fruits)
1 and 3/4 cups seedless green grapes, separated and rinsed
2 Tbsp coarsely chopped fresh cilantro
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 jalapeno pepper, coarsely chopped (remove the seeds for a milder flavor)
1/2 tsp salt
1 Tbsp lime juice

Place all the ingredients in a food processor and pulse until slightly coarse in texture.  Refrigerate for up to three days.

Book Review: An Irish Country Courtship by Patrick Taylor

An Irish Country Courtship by Patrick Taylor, is, I believe the 5th in the series of the Country Doctor books by this author.  Once again, I come to the party late.  But it's never too late to catch up.

In this book, the lives of two country doctors are shown.  One is an aging, established doctor prone to over indulgences, and  the other, a younger doctor trying to decide if this small-time stuff is really to his liking.

The elder doctor is widowed and just beginning to fall in love with someone he's knows for a very long time, and the younger one has a tendency to fall deeply and hopelessly for women who just aren't right for him (unless, of course the hopeful ending is his turning point).

Reading this book put me in mind of the Public Television series we're currently watching called Doc Martin (see yesterday's post for review).  Of course, the doctors in this book are nothing like Doc Martin, but the setting (rural British medicine) are shared themes.

This book also reminded me of the series by James Herriot (All Creatures Great and Small...).  The difference being, one deals with a country vet and the other with a country doctor.

This is a step above a beach read.  It's fun.  You can truly see and know the characters, the place, the people of the town.  The narratives give you a true feel for the area.  You can almost hear the accents and the brogues. The language is rich in the colloquialisms of the area and they truly caught me off guard at times and made me laugh out loud.

I'll leave you with a few of the stand-out quotes that brought this book to life:

"He was fit to be tied, he was. He'd a face on him like a bulldog that had licked piss off a nettle."

"What in the name of sainted baby Jesus in velvet trousers do you think you're doing??!!!"

 "The night was as black as Saint Nick's hat band" 

"The wind was like a stepmother's breath

"A face the tide wouldn't even take out"