Marvelous Movie Monday - Firewall

Click the post title for a link to the imdb site entry about this movie.

Yay! A date night! Eric and I actually got to go to a real movie in the THEATER on Saturday night - buttered popcorn and a shared pop, too!

We also got to go to a restaurant which I will review for you later.

So, about Firewall:

Stars Harrison Ford as a man in charge of security for all of a bank's computer operations. Pretty big responsibility. There's a bank robber, played by Paul Bettany, a wife of Harrison Ford played by Virginia Madsen (remember her in Fire with Fire? If you don't you didn't go into puberty in the 80's because her co-star was Craig Sheffer, an 80's hottie), then the kids and various other bit players. Some bigger actors playing bit parts were Robert Patrick (the bad terminator cop in T-2), as the guy in charge of a merger the bank is going through and Alan Arkin is Harrison's boss.

What happens is this robber (Paul Bettany) and his helpers kidnap Han Solo's family and hold them hostage so Han will get into the bank's computer system and transfer a bunch of money through to some off shore accounts without getting caught, of course, by the new boss-merger guy played by the Terminator, who happens to already be kind of wary of Han because he doesn't really know him and they've had some rough meetings regarding the company's security.

There's too much twisty-turny stuff to give away the plot or the ending, and it's all too much to even mention, but it does keep you on the edge of your seat.

Because I am a mom, I was pretty happy with Virginia Madsen's performance. She took care of her kids as best she could in a difficult situation. There was a particularly heart-wrenching part where the son, who is severely allergic to peanuts is given peanut-laced cookies by the robber, who is trying to make a point to Han so that he will DO AS HE ASKS! Anyway, it is a pretty tense couple of seconds as the robber let them go through the kid's backpack and their house looking for the antidote and the kid's not breathing and they can't find it and they realize HE HAS IT. And Harrison has to put his tail between his legs and "ask nicely." Being a parent of a child with health issues, it is especially hard to watch.

The robber is also kind of spiteful and forces Han Solo to fire his Administrative Assistant (let's just call her Chewey). Which, everyone knows, you don't mess with the assistant, you will regret it in the end, because it is Chewey, of course who will help Han Solo save the day!

I liked the action, it was very suspenseful, with twists around every corner. But the ending was kind of flat. After all the hell they put Han Solo through they should have explained how his life got back to normal without him losing his job. And the Robert Patrick character wasn't totally developed. He could have been played by someone less famous and it would have been fine, but since it was played by him, you wanted to see him more, but didn't.

I'm only slightly disappointed. It could have been much worse, but the suspense kind of makes up for it.

Health Club Stank

In all the years I've gone to my local health club - whose website you can go to if you click on the title of this post - I've smelled many smells.

You get the obvious body-odor, sweat, gamey smell that most health clubs get.

Then near the kids' playcenter (which, for the health club's benefit, I recently took my kids to and they LOVED) you have the diaper-rotten baby milk smell.

You have the bleachy smell of the tiny towels they hand out for sweat-moppin'.

You have the poop smell from the bathrooms because exercise gets you going.

You have that general b.o. mixed with protein powder like odor that emanates from the free weight room when the big dogs play.

But the one smell that I can't handle - the one that causes me to stop breathing during a hard run on the treadmill?

The "paranoid-old-man wearing a gallon of cologne-a-la-sam malone" smell.

Look, I appreciate the sentiment. They are tryng to squeeze in a few more of the few days they have left on this earth by getting "fit." They don't want to offend, by smelling like that old-person-mixed-with-b.o.-smell. But EVERY SINGLE TIME I SEE AN OLD MAN HEADING MY WAY I SMELL HIM BEFORE HE ARRIVES. EVERY TIME!!!!

I am tempted to post a note, sayng "Too much cologne is as offensive as none at all" so that I might be able to work out without inhaling 2 gallons of alcohol and WHATEVER SKUNK THEY GOT THE COLOGNE FROM.

But that wouldn't be polite, now would it?

So...

So, I'm still not totally sure if I'm going to be one of those "theme" blogs. I don't really seem to have a theme. I just write about what I want to, and I can't think of any new and interesting topic to base a theme on that hasn't already been done by someone else.

So, for right now, I will be just writing about my girls, the running, my diseased knee and of course, Marvelous Movie Mondays, which is really just a recap of my pathetic social life, defined by what video I may have rented the previous weekend.

So, I'm going to try to go to the Bloomsday run this May in Spokane. It's awesome. 7.46 miles of pure fun. Not kidding. There are always 50 - 60,000 people running this race and there's lots of entertainment along the way.

So, another run that I'm kind of interested in is the St. Patrick's Day Dash in Seattle, from the Seattle Center to Safeco. It's only 3. 5 miles, and it is on March 12th. Kind of good because that's about as far as I will be able to run. I'm trying to recruit a sister or two to go with. I'm very excited for the "wearin' o'the green." I'm actually tempted to go in some whacky outfit. Yes, I will endeavor to make a total fool of myself in front of total strangers, while running! F-U-N! FUN!

So, this morning on TV it was the Brady Bunch where everyone thinks Alice is going to elope with Sam the Butcher and they throw them a surprise party, but they were only going to a bowling tournament. I tell you, I love the Brady Bunch. As cheesy a show that it is, I still watch.

And, so, speaking of TV shows, Lost is on tonight. I'm going to have to hurt someone if it is a rerun. I only look forward to a few things in life, my husband's paycheck, my childrens' accomplishments, however small, and last but certainly not least, FRESH episodes of Lost.

Just Perpetuating The Whole White Trash Cliche

Click the title of this post for a link to an update on our favorite white trash figure skater who, I'm embarrassed to say actually almost got into a fight with my older sister one time down in Vancouver. I'm not bragging, I'm actually quite ashamed, but it is true. Gross.

Here We Are

Aren't we all cute. This is from last summer.

Marvelous Movie Monday - Elizabethtown

Elizabethtown:
Loved it!

Cute, cute, cute. Sooo Cameron Crowe. Typical soundtrack, old classic rock music, wistful, contemplative.

At first, somewhat dark and depressing, it does have its happy ending.

Don't want to say too much, except to see this movie. Legolas from The Lord of The Rings is in it as the star. He's great, but no long blond locks and bow this time (pooh!).

Kirsten Dunst is his female counterpart. Annoying and endearing all at once. You will be irritated by her at first, but enamored of her by the credits. Her character is wise beyond her years.

Some great character actors; Paula Dean from foodtv plays a great role as Legolas's aunt.

I won't mention Sarandon because politically, she's an idiot. Her part, I felt, wasn't really needed. Nor is she. Not bitter!

Over all, I would say it's a 4 microwave popcorns out of 5.

*Content not appropriate for children*

Coming To You Live From Torino, Italy...

Update:
I've got a problem with my knee, so that has set me back a little with my running. However, I have done the best I can to keep up and am still doing strength training and using an elliptical trainer for cardio as long as it doesn't bother my knee.

So, it looks like the tumor that was removed from the knee back in December 2000 is probably back. I had an MRI today and although the tech wouldn't diagnose (which is fine with me!) I did get to look at the images and it looks like it is back. I will go in on Tuesday to see what is up with that.

Don't be alarmed, the tumor that was removed before was what is called a "giant cell" tumor, which is rarely malignant. In fact, it was benign in 2000, so I've not been concerned. However, it does chap me a little that I've got this problem again, especially when I'm trying to get my running back. My orthopedic guy said that he may send me to some specialist who deals with these types of tumors. But that all depends on what he sees on the MRI. I will let you all know then.

On the job front: There may be hope for me after all. It just so happens that a position is coming open with my company that may be a good move. I've interviewed today and am SUPER excited about the prospects. The only other two candidates is an old guy who has tons of experience but who is kind of old, so I don't know if they want someone who might be retiring soon. Plus, I think they are looking for someone internal. The other candidate is this tool from the building I work in. To put it nicely, I wasn't enthused when he sat at our table at the Christmas party this year. I am hoping that his true personality will come through and they will say no to him, which leaves me, the only real choice. I've got another meeting or two, but hopefully the job will be mine. I will let you all know either way of course!

Okay, now that I've gotten all of that out of my system, my next post should be more entertaining. Sorry to be a bore!

My Vast Right Wing Conspiracy - Mohammed

Click the title of this post and you will be taken to a very funny site which is trying to come up with the most amount of comments ever - 1600, and they are getting close.

They are coming up with as many ways as possible to substitute movie names with "Mohammed" in honor of the whole Danish cartoon scandal uproar thingy.

Pretty funny stuff. You may even see a comment or two from me!

Marvelous Movie Monday - Last of the Mohicans

Last of the Mohicans (Click the "Marvelous Movie Monday - Last of the Mohicans" title above for a link to imdb)

Okay, so, I've started my new exciting Monday post called, "Marvelous Movie Monday" with a movie that came out in 1992

What's up with that?

Two reasons:

1. There are so many movies out there, none of which I've reviewed on my blog (until now). I've got to catch up!

2. I'm a working mother. In order to go out to a new release, that takes a babysitter, and a free night with my husband, who isn't always readily available. However, every 2 or 3 months or so we might be able to go out by ourselves, and in that instance, I will endeavor to bring a review of he most up-to-date movie out there that my husband and I can both agree upon.

Now, let's get started.

The Last of the Mohicans is a classic, as far as I'm concerned. If you like history, and you like period pieces, with all the old-fashiondy clothes and stuff, this is the movie for you.

This movie stars Daniel Day Lewis, who, although he has kind of a bony-face, is a total hottie in this one. The heroine is Mary Elizabeth Stuart Masterstrontonio or something or other - Wait, no, wrong one. She's Madeleine Stowe. They make a great couple.

He's a faux indian (white, raised by a Mohican played by Russell Means named Chingachgook) named Nathaniel (indian name Hawkeye) who runs across Cora (Madeleine Stowe) and her sister Alice during the time of the French-English wars on the way to Can-tuck-ee (Kentucky - whatever) and helps her survive a few hatchet jobs and war parties and they "fall in love" quite quickly.

It kind of reminds me of one of those romance novels with the long-haired hero and his heroine and they have only each other to cling to. And they have all the hot loving.

The music is phenomenal and the cinematography is gorgeous. Except for the savages and wars and hard life stuff, it almost makes you wish you lived back then - almost.

There is an evil indian, who is Huron, pretending to be Mohican, named Mogwa (I can't help but think of Gremlins when I hear his name - is anyone else with me on this one?) who is totally hell-bent on killing the two girls because his family was killed during a war by the English, led by the girls' father, who is a general in the English military.

He is played by Wes Studi, the same evil-indian guy who was in Dances With Wolves.

Anyway, Hawkeye's brother, Uncas (Eric Schweig) is equally hot and he loves Madeleine's sister, Alice (Jodi something). There's a twist at the end and it always makes me cry (but I'm a sucker, so it might not be the same for you).

This movie is so good that while my brother was in the Army stationed in Germany, he ended up buying 3 copies because people kept stealing them.

We have a copy that we keep in a safety deposit box, so you really got to be in the mood for it in order to go all the way to the bank to get it out (just kidding, it's on the shelf with all the other movies - but if we get broke into I know you stole it so don't even try).

Based on the combined romance/action factor, which is helpful in keeping both the wife AND the husband happy in a marriage, I rate this movie 5 microwave popcorns out of 5.

***The kids should be in bed when this is on***

Yummy Food

Everyday Italian is a good show I like to watch. Click on the Yummy Food headline to a recipe I saw last night that looked delicious.

Or, cut and paste:

http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,1977,FOOD_9936_29662,00.html

Lisa

To: Anonymous

Ode to Anonymous,

Anonymous, oh how I love thee,
Thy first reader, how ye shine!
Within thy dear heart, O citizen of Lowtotem,
Ye shall be patient and kind.

I have a reader! I have a reader! Joy!

I am on my way to great wealth, fame and maybe even a book deal!

Love ya!
Lisa

Rachael Ray

I love Rachael Ray (but not in THAT way. Not that there's anything wrong with that).

I love Tasty Travels and 40 Dollars A Day and 30 Minute Meals.

She's my hero, she's the ultimate multitasker.

However, I was watching Foodtv this weekend (Boy Meets Grill - Bobby Flay is another favorite and I've actually had dreams about him, so I guess I like HIM in that way) and noticed on a commercial that she has gained weight.

I imagine with her profession that is one of the drawbacks. However, she doesn't have to try EVERYTHING she makes. And even though I love her, not EVERYTHING she makes can be THAT good. Her facial expressions are a little over the top. It makes me think she likes food a lot more than she's letting on.

Before too long, her next show will be, "$400 of food in 30 minutes."

I now, I'm not one to talk. BUT, I'm working hard on limiting my portions and I've been working out 6 days a week, just to get back to what I was before Halloween. It's just that I'm not in the public eye. If I were in front of a camera every day, I would be working out like a madman.

Don't even let me get started on Emeril and Mario Batalli.

Crap Bowl

Who else believes the Seahawks were robbed?

Officiating in that game was mediocre. Seahawks could have had fewer penalties, but the officials simply weren't watching Pittsburg the way they were Seattle. And the call that they had a touchdown when it didn't make it over the white line? Total B.S. I'm sure I will hear different from some others, but I believe the Seahawks would have won if the calls were made correctly.

I'm not even a fan.

In fact, I've been known to say I hate football.

I just know a thrown game when I see one.

Now I have a depressed husband. FUN!