Harry Potter & the Half-Blood Prince

I took my brother and his boys and my mom to see Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince last night. It was a little slow as far as Harry Potter movies go but as I recall {and it has been a while since I read the book} the book was a little slow too. - SPOILER ALERT - The big event was Dumbledore being killed by Snipe but as it happened I remembered what happens in the next book that clears everything up. Snipe is not the bad guy we think he is and Dumbledore was dieing anyway. Can't wait for the next movie - I sure hope that they don't make us wait as long for the next one.

On a side note: We saw a preview for a movie of a series of books that Ian has been reading called Percy Jackson and the Lighting Thief that Ian and I were excited to see that they made a movie out of.

I Laughed Until I Cried

These two movies are probably two of the funniest {if not most inappropriate} movies I have ever seen. There are several scenes where I laughed until I cried. They are NOT however, for the younger crowd. They are "mature" movies to say the least, but funny, funny, funny!

We went to the movies

and saw....

We loved this movie - even the adults laughed out loud at some of the humor but he kids belly laughed. It was very funny and entertaining. What a fun family outing.

UP

The other day I took the kids to the movie to see Up. 

It was a good movie that made me cry at least 4 times. Some of the sad parts were over the kids head but Emily sobbed when there was a dog that she thought might get hurt. It was a great story with a really good message. I think you should go see it.

Slumdog

Last Friday I thought that I was giving a Bunco party that I had donated {along with 4 other women} to our last years auction but I was off a week. I had a sitter set up and I believe that once you set a sitter up you don't cancel {they are counting on the money and could have turned down another job}. So we had a sitter and nothing to do so Terry and I decided to go to dinner and a movie. We at at the Greek restaurant and headed over to the theatre {and paid $10.50 a ticket} and saw Slumdog Millionaire. I didn't really want to see the movie but there didn't seem to be another movie that both Terry and I would agree on so I agreed to see it.  Several people asked me if I thought it was a good movie and I had a hard time answering that. There are many tough scenes that are hard to watch but I found myself sitting on the edge of my seat at times and interested in the characters in the movie. The movie ended up winning several Oscars {which I believe it deserved} so I guess it deserves the title "good movie" however I would still say at times difficult to watch.

Gran Torino

We met Tara & Kevin the other night for dinner and the food was great and the company even better! We had great conversations {some that made me laugh so hard I cried!} They had to make a trip to the airport so could not join us at the movies - Terry and I decided to see Gran Torino. I don't even know where to begin to describe this movie. It made me laugh, feel uncomfortable in my own skin {listening to all the racial slurs}, and at one point it made me cry.  It was a great movie but the racial slurs made me uncomfortable and listening to others laugh at them even more so. Clint was great and it is amazing to think that not only did he act in it he directed it. I hope I'm that cognitive when I am 78.

Two in one day!

Movies that is!

After that harrowing experience of taking the kids to see a movie earlier in the day I wasn't thrilled that Terry and I were headed back to the same theatre for our date. We checked out times at other theatres but none worked for having dinner and then going to the movie so we left early and braved what I thought were going to be horrific crowds once again.  To my surprise we got right off the freeway and into a parking spot within the normal time for Bridgeport and headed to find a place to eat. The wait was a bit long at the restaurants so we ended up sitting in the bar area for dinner at  McCormick and Schmick's. Branden and Sarah met us for a drink and then we went to see The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. However, we waited too long to go over to the theatre and ended up sitting in the 4th row from the front {my neck still hurts}. Despite the close seats I really liked the movie. It was interesting and a bit sad and bonus we were in time to see the previews and I saw a couple movies that I am excited to see!

Phone Home

We made plans to meet the Shih's at 1:40 at the Bridgeport movie theatre to see BedTime Stories. I really like to be early to movies {I love the previews so I can see what movie I want to see next} but we got a later start out the door that I had wanted {finding coats and shoes} as I was driving on the freeway I realized that I had forgotten my cell phone {seriously what did we do before cell phones?} It went from bad to worse form there. It took me more than 10 minutes to get off the freeway and to the parking lot {it should have taken 2} and at least another 6 or 8 to park {we got lucky}. Then we hurried over to the theatre because it was not 1:40 so we were going to miss the previews but we should still make the movie. But as we approached the theatre Ian pointed out that the like to buy tickets went all the way to the curb {we were not the only people with the idea to go to the movies}. I had Ian stand in line while I looked for Holli and then when I didn't see her got in line to purchase tickets form the Fandango machine beside the ticket counter. I was in line for about 10 minutes and as the person in front of me bought her tickets and walked away the machine changed to closed. Let me just say UGH as calmly as possible! Luckily I had left Ian in the other line so we only had to wait another 3 or 4 minutes before we could purchase our tickets and go in. Once in the building we then had to wait another couple of minutes to hand over our ticket to be let in. In the theatre it was dark so it took me a few minutes to realize that the Shih's were not in there. At this point {with no phone} there was not much I could do other than sit down in the front section of the crowded theatre {luckily the last row of the front section} and enjoy the movie and enjoy the movie we did without popcorn {not enough time to stand in that line too!} We ALL loved the movie. The kids laughed out loud belly laughs in a few places and although it was stressful {to say the least} I am glad we went. I sure would have been more fun to meet up with the Shih's but maybe another time and I will make sure I have my phone with me. When I got home and checked my phone there were several calls from Holli saying she was running late {thanks to all the reasons I was running late} and that they were going to see the next show - all because I left my phone at home.

I just had to

Words on Women and Strength

This was sent in an email to me today and it spoke to me so much that I wanted to share it with all my woman friends and say "Thank you" to you all of you. You are special to me!

Amahl And The Night Visitors

Sarah had her first performance with The Oregon Children's Choir this past weekend. They performed Amahl And The Night Visitors  - an opera in one act. Most of the Choir were cast as shepherds and shepherdesses {that's what Sarah was} and had very small parts singing only two songs {singing beautifully though}. Sarah loved being part of the production and was especially proud of the fact that they were all so quiet that they came into the back of the theatre without the audience knowing. 

Sarah's name in print {one among many}

Are you Wicked

Fans? 

I was emailed an offer to purchase tickets to see the musical Wicked as a pre-sale. The show isn't until March and isn't even on sale to the general public and there were dozens of show dates to choose from even still I had a hard time finding 6 good seats {3 for me and 3 for Tara} that I could purchase. I ended up getting them in the 1st balcony one section over from the center for March 6th at 7:30. I am so excited to see this play again. I saw it last January with Tara and her sister Kathryn in New York and loved it. I can't wait to share it with friends here in Portland.

By the way, if you live in Portland and are interested in seeing Wicked go here and purchase tickets during the pre-sale. The link will give you the code you need to purchase them before they go on sale to the public. The pre-sale ends December 5th - so hurry!

Twilight

A group of women from my kids school decided to get together and go see Twilight. We met at the California Pizza Kitchen but it was a busy night and it took quite a while for them to get us seated. My need to be on time was kicking in and I was starting to get more and more nervous about the idea of the theatre being full and there being enough seats for us all to sit together. Thankfully, Kim was just as anxious as I was so the two of us left the Pizza Kitchen early to save seats for us all. Kim and I bought our tickets and got a few snacks and headed into the theatre to find...... and entirely empty theatre. We were the first people in so we picked the best seats!  There were about 10 of us {we almost took up the whole row} excited to see how well they made the book into a movie. We were giddy - which went well with the fact that the book was written for tweens. I went in with low expectations and aside from a few corny {very corny} spots I enjoyed the movie. We giggled our way through it like a bunch of teenagers and at one point when they were tyring to get away a vampire jumped onto the back of their car and the person next to me sucked in their breath and I {was already startled} screamed and kicked the seat of the person in front of me. I then laughed so much I almost wet my pants. The movie wasn't rock star quality but it was fun and the company was great. I had a blast! The best part, we all had such a good time we decided to do it more often and just like that we became a movie club {kind of like a book club} and we even have a name - The Critics. The next movie we plan to see is Marley and Me. 

James and the Giant Peach

My mom and I took the kids to see the play James and the Giant Peach at the Newmark Theatre downtown.  I had read the book to the kids this summer so I thought it would be fun to go see the play. It was a cute play catered towards kids {an hour long} and my kids really enjoyed it. 

I forgot my camera so I took a picture of the kids with my phone. Ian looks board but it isn't about being at the play it's that he is 10 and his mom is taking his picture in public {again}.

Happy Birthday Sarah

For Sarah's 8th birthday she invited two friends to go out to dinner, a movie and to stay the night instead of having a party. Meghan and Ella joined us for the evening and I think all the girls had a great time. Sarah is decked out in her present from us - her High School Musical attire. I personally thought the movie was a bit long {as in, is it over yet?} but the three girls LOVED it! Ian, who was along for the evenings festivities rolled his eyes and made faces every time they sang a love song. I found it entertaining to watch him.

Guilty Pleasure

I went to the movies on Thursday morning with some girlfriends and saw the movie The Women. When I sat down in the theatre I was giddy and felt like I was doing something naughty - going to the movie in the middle of the day, in the middle of the week - how could I! It was so much fun and we hope to do it again soon. The movie was laugh out loud funny in many places {and corny in others} and the interesting thing was that even though there were men alluded to in the movie and it even had some street scenes in NYC there wasn't a man in it anywhere - kind of interesting. I even had lunch with one of my friends after. What a great day and a wonderful way to spend some "me" time.

wall.E

On Sunday we went to see wall.E at the Bridgeport Theatre with the Potters. As we drove there from church it started to rain and I didn't think much about it. The guys dropped us {Mom's and all the kids} off at the front of the theatre and went to park the cars. Aimee and I paid for our tickets and got in line to buy popcorn and soda and headed to get seats all the while the storm really picked up and there was lightning and thunder and a torrential down pour of rain. The Thunder was LOUD and the lightning was so very close. As we were headed into the theatre the power went out and all the kids {except Emily} thought it was cool. The power went back on quickly but not before Emily started to protest. We headed on in to get seated with Emily complaining all the way. My hands were full and I couldn't hold her, I just needed to get to our seats so I could put my stuff down and get Emily but couldn't get it done before Emily started yelling {VERY loudly} "I WANT TO GO HOME, I DON'T WANT TO BE HERE" over and over again. We made quite a scene! Once I got to my seat I was able to get her and calm her down by telling her that we were safer in the theatre than outside. That worked for a while but at one point during the movie she asked me if the storm was over and when I said I thought so she asked if we could go home. We didn't go home of course, and we LOVED the movie! It was cute and witty {I heard many adults laughing}. One of my favorite parts is when wall.E  recharges himself in the sun and as he powers up he makes the sound of an apple computer being turned on. I would recommend this movie highly and so would my kids, however when Emily talks about it she talks about the very scary storm that happened when she saw it. By the way, I looked ALL over the Internet on the local news stations for photos of the storm. It was so big I was sure there would be some lightning photos but I only found one and it was someones personal picture so I didn't post it.

Missed it by that much....

Terry and I saw Get Smart as the ending to our time away. We both enjoyed the movie. I loved the 'classic' lines along with the new jokes. My favorite was a joke about how much we all are going to miss the actors political opinions after they bomb LA {and the actors all die}. After we watched the movie we headed over to the Apple store because I had an appointment at the Genius Bar {turned out my battery was a goner} and while there we ran into our old neighbor who was buying a computer for their youngest son who was going off to collage in the fall {we met him when he was three - talk about feeling old} and we were talking about the movie when I said that I liked it that it had some of the classic lines from the series when the sales person helping them looked at me and said "I didn't know it was a remake" again, talk about feeling old. I really do not need these reminders. Oh well, we did enjoy the movie.

Also while in Sunriver

We saw.....

Emily had actually seen it already the night she stayed with the Slingsby's but was willing {and excited} to see it again. I thought it was a cute movie {the kids loved it} and enjoyed it. I had heard some controversy about the overweight character and how he has to eat for comfort and what a bad message they were sending to kids - all I have to say is they were over thinking it. The main character is overweight but I don't think the message is to eat more I think it is you can do any thing when you put your mind to it {or in the panda's case his stomach}. Maybe is was a bad message about food.... Oh darn, now they have me over thinking it. It was a cute movie, take your kids to see it.

O.A.R. Concert

Terry called me on Thursday to let me know that Branden had tickets to see O.A.R {Of A Revolution} for us to go along with Branden and Sarah and Brad and Angela. I had never heard of them before and the best way I can describe them is a bit like the Dave Matthews band. I liked them and they were easy to listen to {even though I had never even heard of them} however I just think concerts make me feel old. Everyone looks young, dresses young {aka skimpy}, drinks a lot, are loud, stands {instead of sitting} and I can't see. I sound old even to me!