Merry Christmas!!

[gateslacker]

I hope everyone is having a safe, happy, and blessed Christmas. Today's Christmas breakfast was very nice and we had the additional happiness of having the sun out. I have missed it so much these last few weeks, I started thinking about that Ray Bradbury short story. Bri and Abby were a hoot opening their pressies and they both had a great time with my singing snowman family, even though it clashed quite a bit with the other Christmas music. This year we didn't draw names and only bought for the kids, with the exception of my brother who had already begun his Christmas shopping when the decision was made. In addition to the girls, I did buy my brother and his wife a gift.  My brother bought bikes for both girls and that was a cute reveal. I got them the Tag reading system with a Spongebob book for Brianna, of course. Brandon wanted money this year so a shopping trip is planned for the am. Yesterday, when we were having dinner with his other Nanny, he jokingly asked me what he was getting, as if he didn't know. I teasingly told him that  he should just forget the cash because it would only be lumps of coal. Today, when he "opened" his present, he very theatrically threw the money down proclaiming that he really wanted that lump of coal. LOL, I did!  My brother and his wife stayed for awhile after everyone else left. We get along so well and I continue to find it strange that, even though he is 12 years younger,  I  tend to have more in common with him and have a better friendship with him than I do my sister. Maybe it is because we seem to have similar temperaments.

I had to work last Saturday and then Sunday was practically spent at church. We had the morning service and then came back at 3:30 to practice for the play that evening. This year, they decided to do Doctor Newheart again as it had been several years. This play is always a success because it is pretty funny. Initially, Brandon is the one who wanted to be in the play and before I knew it, I had been talked into playing the title character, Doctor Newheart. So, you know me, I was exceedingly nervous but found that, even though I had to do much talking and even had a couple of solo's, I stopped being nervous more quickly than I did last year. Is this hope that I will overcome my fear of public speaking/performance? I would like to think so but I suspect that in my weird mind, the fear is lessened because the words are given to me, either in the dialogue or in the song. And, even though I had my lines memorized, we have the play in the computer system so we had the lines displayed on the back screen. Not having to worry about forgetting a line goes a long way in fear reduction, too .LOL.

Then, it was back to work Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Fortunately, I only had to work 8hrs on Christmas Eve. I left work and joined my MIL for dinner. Then, it was back home to finally get the very few presents under the tree (I only just shopped for them last week!) and get my house in some sort of order for the family gathering today. (It was a wreck).

Of course, I have found some time to watch TV. I am still behind with Atlantis and, somehow, last week's Sanctuary didn't record. Anyone know where I can find it? I was going to wait for a repeat but I don't see one on the schedule during the next week or so.

Spoilers for Dark Knight and Lost Treasure of the Grand Canyon below (Now where else would you see those two in the same sentence???) I am usually so far behind everyone else, I doubt a spoiler is even needed.......



I watched The Andromeda Strain, which was okay. It didn't wow me but it kept me interested. I had never read the book so there was a bit of mystery involved for me. I finally saw The Dark Knight and, believe it or not, I don't think it lived up to the hype. Certainly the performances were terrific but Christian Bale does not benefit from doing his most powerful emotional scenes when he is behind the mask. The story itself lost its tenuous hold on me in the second half of the movie. One of the things I really enjoyed about Batman Begins was how they portrayed Bruce Wayne's journey to becoming Batman. It made plausible the idea that this person with no supernatural ability whatsoever could become a superhero and perform the stunts he does. So, I suppose I expected the same plausibility in this film as well. In the end, I didn't buy the Harvey Dent to Two Face transformation and I certainly could never see someone in his condition wreaking the havoc he does. (puhleeeze) I didn't buy that he wouldn't kill The Joker when he had the chance but he would kill those cops and the Oldman character's family. His response to Rachel's(was that her name?) death was too much whereas the Bruce Wayne/Batman response was not enough.(the mask again?) I could believe that The Joker had the resources to pull off the bank heist and the murders of the first Commissioner, the Judge, etc. Not so much on arranging all those flammable barrels with explosive devices in buildings and boats along with the multiple kidnappings while he is in jail. (Especially not when he has been portrayed as a loner, wild card who kills most of his accomplices). I think the performances were terrific and award worthy but, to me, the story is not. 

Now, at another end of the spectrum, we have Lost Treasure of the Grand Canyon which was actually better than expected. Shannon Doherty sucked but most of the other characters were somewhat engaging. I have to admit I was surprised by MS who captured just the right tone for this sort of movie. After watching several B turns culminating in  Megasnake, which I have never actually watched based on the knowledge that even seeing The Hotness would not be able to salvage this movie, I was leery of another B turn. I was pleasantly surprised by numerous aspects of this one. The period clothing with just the right amount of scruff and stubble engaged my salivary glands quite appropriately. The decreasing amount of dress encouraged further drooling. Salivary excess aside, I was shocked that MS was playing an eye catching archeaologist and not once did I ever see Daniel Jackson!!! Not even when he was spouting ancient Aztec and surely I should have seen TWTID then. I mean, anyone watching this show because MS was in it HAD to be waiting for Daniel to show up. It had to take more than a parasol and period clothing to discourage attentive Daniel spotters such as myself. Am I the only one impressed that he was able to create yet another drool worthy, reluctant hero type academic? Plus, the story and the special effects didn't totally and completely suck.

I am supposed to go to my Mom's this evening for dinner but it's 4pm and I am still full. I wonder if she would be disappointed if I cut out and just hang out. I am very much enjoying this leisure time and have no desire to go anywhere.

Comments

[ruralstar.livejournal.com]

I love Brandon's reaction to the cash! That's priceless.

Sounds like a busy but really good time of late. I hope we get to meet your brother when we're down in April. Looking forward to our visit more and more all of the time. So is D. I'm not sure what she expects. She only knows for sure that Tenn isn't Vermont LOL.

((((((((hugs)))))))) and a very Merry Christmas to you both!

Ruralstar

[dm-lunsford.livejournal.com]

Ditto your observation about Dr. Thain from the latest B-movie. Michael did a fab job of giving the character just enough of that hesitant, unsure sense without making him seem silly. I was especially impressed with how he managed to show development of the reluctant hero aspect, while also managing to hang on to some of the original character traits. And you're right - despite all the potential connections, it never really jumped out as "Daniel Jackson". Of course, he was GORGEOUS throughout. Don't even get me started on those boots! *swoon*

Alas, the only real disappointment was the female lead. How frustrating to have to perform opposite the very dull stuff she was tossing out. Of course, I couldn't help thinking how the entire thing might have turned out with, oh, say, someone like Teryl Rothery in that role. *squee* (Yes, I'll be 102 and the Dan/Jan love still won't have gone away.)

[gateslacker.livejournal.com]

Oh, wow, if you think about it, your visit is really just around the corner. You two need to be thinking about what you want to see and do while you are in Tennessee.

((((hugs)))))

[gateslacker.livejournal.com]

Alas, the only real disappointment was the female lead. How frustrating to have to perform opposite the very dull stuff she was tossing out.

Absolutely!!! And I had to LOL at the image of your elderly self watching DVD's, or whatever there is at that point, and squeeing over Dan/Jan. Think they'll let us have marathon viewing parties in the nursing home?

[dm-lunsford.livejournal.com]

Think they'll let us have marathon viewing parties in the nursing home?

I certainly hope so! I can see myself, striving to convert the entire nursing home staff into Dan/Jan shippers. ; )

better late then never

[scarym1.livejournal.com]

I was chatting to Rural this afternoon about her trip to see you and it occured to me that I haven't seen you post on LJ about Christmas. So I went back a few pages and found this entry. I am sorry I missed it. I was checking LJ somewhat requlary over the holidays.

I am glad to hear you had a good time. I had a nice relaxing visit home as well.

I was wondering what your thoughts were on TLofGC. It was amazing that MS was able to create a totally different archaeologist character without a trace of DJ. He was so sweet as the reluctant hero. It is something I wouldn't mind watching again. I just wish he had a better actress to work with. That must have been hard for him.

I can just see us all in our 70's visiting one another and pulling out the DVD's for a good Stargate Marathon. : )

I hope your new year was good.

(((HUGS)))