Crazy Heart Moviegoing Experience

Yay! A theater FULL of old people and the average age with us in the theater was 63.6

Only two previes.

The Last Station

Date Night

Book 3 of 52 -- Nick Hornby's Juliet, Naked

I enjoyed this book so much. My recommendation is don't bother with my review just go get the book so your reading pleasure can begin as soon as possible.

Annie, Duncan, and Tucker have reached middle-age and are stuck in lives that have not, in their own opinions, been well lived. Regrets abound and all are seeking a way out of their own misery and confusion. Unbeknownst to them their lives are all about to collide. Their regrets couldn't be more opposite. Tucker has littered his life with ex-wives and children he has not done well by while Annie and Duncan have cohabited lazily for 15 years without committing to either marriage or children. With those conflicts laid out clearly Hornby proceeds to tell their individual stories with a tenderness and poignancy that illuminates the human condition. These three people come so alive and are handled with such a masterful touch that I enjoyed every single word of dialogue, description, and detailed insecurity. This book will make you laugh, it might even make you cry a little, but it cannot help but make you think about life and relationships and how each of our actions affect those around us every day.

Well done, Sir, very well done.

The Young Victoria Moviegoing Experience

Same day as A Single Man... we ate some lunch in between.

:)

Crazy Heart

Loss of a Teardrop Diamond

A Single Man Moviegoing Experience

Two previews in a small theater in Montclair.

The White Ribbon

Youth in Revolt

Book 2 of 52 -- James Patterson's I, Alex Cross

This is a quick, undemanding, unsatisfying read.

It relies on a tired story line that goes something like this: Our hero is the only person on the planet who can go up against the dark powerful forces who are doing horrific things, and bring them to justice. Everyone else has failed. The pressure on him to give up is intense. And incredibly, everyone else who is near this case ends up either dead or dead-ended, but somehow our hero gets a free pass.

Sounds sort of silly, doesn't it? And of course, let's not forget, the dark forces go right to the top, to the top I tell you. (No spoiler here, the White House is mentioned at the start of the book)

I read this book, there was nothing to it. But unlike Chinese food I'm not hungry for more an hour later.

Book 1 of 52 -- Sue Grafton's U is For Undertow

I have been reading Grafton's alphabet series for a very long time now, and I really do enjoy Kinsey and the stuff she gets up to.

I didn't think that this book was stellar, but I thought it was still strong.

I found that there wasn't that much suspense and the plot was fairly predictable.

I like the mix of the times of 1988 and 1967 and the way Ms. Grafton goes back and forth between the two, and the characters are still very good although there isn't that much of Henry in this one.

The book is all Kinsey as she tries to find out what happened in a 20 year kidnapping case where a little girl has been missing since she was abducted.

I still love the series and I really like Kinsey and in this book we get another fascinating look at her as a young child.

Yes, I am waiting for "V".

Invictus Moviegoing Experience‏

There were only three other people in the theater for a 10:20 am showing.

MY THEATER!

MWAH HA HA HA HA HA

PREVIEWS

Crazy Heart

Death At A Funeral

Up In The Air

Green Zone

Book of Eli

Edge of Darkness

Avatar Moviegoing Experience‏

It was in 3D!
I spent three bucks on the movie after a coupon and got free popcorn.

And... because I used my Movie Watchers card... I earned a free movie and soda ticket for a future movie!

Good times.

Previews:

Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief

Knight and Day

Clash of the Titans

Despicable Me

Shrek Forever And Ever

Alice in Wonderland

Book 67 of 52 -- Jill Jonnes' Conquering Gotham

Jill Jonnes does a wonderful job of describing the long and difficult saga concerning the digging of the Pennsylvania Railroad tunnels under the Hudson and East Rivers, as well as the construction of old Pennsylvania Station in the middle of turn-of-the-century New York's infamous "Tenderloin" district. Very well-written and easy to read, she discusses the travails Alexander Cassatt and subsequent PRR presidents had in dealing with New York's Tammany Hall, the shifting muck and silt under the Hudson River, which at times threatened to doom the project, and a number of other issues related to an undertaking that was described as one of the world's greatest engineering feats. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in railroading, New York City, or the Pennsylvania Railroad in particular.

I stole the review from Amazon... but it is a great book.

Book 66 of 52 -- Stuart Woods' Hothouse Orchid

Mr. Woods is on cruise control with his books... so I will remain on cruise control for my review.

Cmon Stuart.

You can do better than this.

Smelmooo

Book 65 of 52 -- Jon Katz' Izzy & Lenore

OK, so it's not quite fair for me to review a Jon Katz book, because I am a dog lover. I

f you are like me and you'll cross the street to visit with a dog to give him a pat, ask the owner's his name, and never think to ask the owner's name, here is a book for you.

I have never read a Jon Katz dog book, or any of his non-dog books, and this one is a keeper.

Intense, yet sweet, it give you everything you want: mug shots of his adorable dogs, tear jerker stories within a story, and of course, more and more and more about the two stars of the book, Izzy & Lenore.

Read it. You'll eat it up.

Up In The Air Moviegoing Experience

Previews!

Crazy on the Outside

Greenberg

Death At a Funeral

Leap Year

The Lovely Bones

Shutter Island

Survivor Samoa Finale!

We are live... in Florida... watching the finale and nowhere near our house which has about a foot of snow in the yard.

Heh heh.

The first immunity challenge is over and Bret has won again. The original Foa Foa Four now has to vote someone off...

First Tribal Council
Mick, Jaison, Jaison, Jaison
The fifth place finisher is: Jaison (Keep hope alive for Tucker's Nuts!)

Final Immunity Challenge
Wow... in what was a heart wrenching and suspenseful challenge, Russell barely edges out Bret to win the final immunity.

Second Tribal Council
Suspense is driving me nuts and it is down to Bret or Mick.
Brett, Mick, Brett, Brett... so that makes Brett the fourth place finisher.

The final three are Russell, Natalie, and Mick.

Final Vote Time to count! (Votes are FOR the million dollars.)

Natalie
Russell
Natalie
Russell
Natalie
Natalie
Natalie

The winner is Natalie and Tucker's Nuts loses... again.

Tucker's Nuts
Mick Trimming (14) -- THIRD PLACE
Brett Clouser (10) -- FOURTH PLACE
Shannon Waters (18) -- Booted Week Thirteen
David Ball (15) -- Booted Week Twelve
Laura Morett (19) -- Booted Week Ten
Kelly Sharbaugh (11) -- Booted Week Nine
Elizabeth Kim (7) -- Booted Week Seven
Ashley Trainer (3) -- Booted Week Five
Betsy Bolan (2) -- Booted Week Two
Mike Borassi (6) -- Pulled out In Episode Two (Illness)

Assssshhhfault!!
Natalie White (13) -- WINNER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Russell Hantz (12) -- SECOND PLACE
Jaison Robinson (20) -- FIFTH PLACE
Monica Padilla (8) -- Booted Week Twelve
John Fincher (1) -- Booted Week Eleven
Erik Cardona (5) -- Booted Week Eight
Russell Swan (16) -- Removed in Week Six (Medevaced)
Yasmin Giles (17) -- Booted Week Four
Ben Browning (4) -- Booted Week Three
Marisa Calihan (9) -- Booted Week One

Survivor Samoa -- Week Thirteen

Ugh... the mullet is gone!

Tucker's Nuts
Brett Clouser (10)
Mick Trimming (14)
Shannon Waters (18) -- Booted Week Thirteen
David Ball (15) -- Booted Week Twelve
Laura Morett (19) -- Booted Week Ten
Kelly Sharbaugh (11) -- Booted Week Nine
Elizabeth Kim (7) -- Booted Week Seven
Ashley Trainer (3) -- Booted Week Five
Betsy Bolan (2) -- Booted Week Two
Mike Borassi (6) -- Pulled out In Episode Two (Illness)

Assssshhhfault!!
Russell Hantz (12)
Natalie White (13)
Jaison Robinson (20)
Monica Padilla (8) -- Booted Week Twelve
John Fincher (1) -- Booted Week Eleven
Erik Cardona (5) -- Booted Week Eight
Russell Swan (16) -- Removed in Week Six (Medevaced)
Yasmin Giles (17) -- Booted Week Four
Ben Browning (4) -- Booted Week Three
Marisa Calihan (9) -- Booted Week One

Survivor Samoa Week Twelve... Double Boot Episode!

First boot... Shambo, Dave, Dave, Dave, Dave... DAVID BALL...

Second boot... Monica, Russell, Russell, Monica, Monica... MONICA!!!!!!!!!

Tucker's Nuts
Brett Clouser (10)
Mick Trimming (14)
Shannon Waters (18)
David Ball (15) -- Booted Week Twelve
Laura Morett (19) -- Booted Week Ten
Kelly Sharbaugh (11) -- Booted Week Nine
Elizabeth Kim (7) -- Booted Week Seven
Ashley Trainer (3) -- Booted Week Five
Betsy Bolan (2) -- Booted Week Two
Mike Borassi (6) -- Pulled out In Episode Two (Illness)

Assssshhhfault!!
Monica Padilla (8) -- Booted Week Twelve
Russell Hantz (12)
Natalie White (13)
Jaison Robinson (20)
John Fincher (1) -- Booted Week Eleven
Erik Cardona (5) -- Booted Week Eight
Russell Swan (16) -- Removed in Week Six (Medevaced)
Yasmin Giles (17) -- Booted Week Four
Ben Browning (4) -- Booted Week Three
Marisa Calihan (9) -- Booted Week One

Survivor Samoa Week 11

Suck it John.

Tucker's Nuts
Brett Clouser (10)
Mick Trimming (14)
David Ball (15)
Shannon Waters (18)
Laura Morett (19) -- Booted Week Ten
Kelly Sharbaugh (11) -- Booted Week Nine
Elizabeth Kim (7) -- Booted Week Seven
Ashley Trainer (3) -- Booted Week Five
Betsy Bolan (2) -- Booted Week Two
Mike Borassi (6) -- Pulled out In Episode Two (Illness)

Assssshhhfault!!
Monica Padilla (8)
Russell Hantz (12)
Natalie White (13)
Jaison Robinson (20)
John Fincher (1) -- Booted Week Eleven
Erik Cardona (5) -- Booted Week Eight
Russell Swan (16) -- Removed in Week Six (Medevaced)
Yasmin Giles (17) -- Booted Week Four
Ben Browning (4) -- Booted Week Three
Marisa Calihan (9) -- Booted Week One

The Fantastic Mr. Fox Moviegoing Experience‏

How to Train Your Dragon

Alice in Wonderland

Despicable Me

The Tooth Fairy

Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakuel.

Book 64 of 52 -- Nicholas Sparks' The Last Song

This story seemed to take a bit longer to get into, but, when I did, I was hooked and I enjoyed the unfolding.

The beauty of reading a Nicolas Sparks book is that I can read it any time of day.

Dammit.

:)

Survivor on Thanksgiving

The DVR program description is promising me a new episode tonight.

I bet it is just a clip show.....

Yeah... it was.

Tucker's Nuts
Brett Clouser (10)
Mick Trimming (14)
David Ball (15)
Shannon Waters (18)
Laura Morett (19) -- Booted Week Ten
Kelly Sharbaugh (11) -- Booted Week Nine
Elizabeth Kim (7) -- Booted Week Seven
Ashley Trainer (3) -- Booted Week Five
Betsy Bolan (2) -- Booted Week Two
Mike Borassi (6) -- Pulled out In Episode Two (Illness)

Assssshhhfault!!
John Fincher (1)
Monica Padilla (8)
Russell Hantz (12)
Natalie White (13)
Jaison Robinson (20)
Erik Cardona (5) -- Booted Week Eight
Russell Swan (16) -- Removed in Week Six (Medevaced)
Yasmin Giles (17) -- Booted Week Four
Ben Browning (4) -- Booted Week Three
Marisa Calihan (9) -- Booted Week One

Book 63 of 52 -- Dan Brown's The Lost Symbol

Not entirely bad, but it was too long formulaic.

I saw this from someone on the web and it describes a typical Dan Brown/Robert Langdon book.

Character A: Have you heard of X?
Character B (usually Langdon): Yes, but I thought that was just a myth.
Character A shows or tells B something.
Character B reacts with shock.
Then, insert scenes of people walking from one place to another, being chased.
Then, insert the sentence "Suddenly everything made sense." At least for the next ten pages.
Repeat.


Funny.