I just love my hotties in jeans <g>
posted by Stacy~ at 1/28/2006 06:18:00 PM
| 6 comments
Saturday, January 28, 2006:
Friday, January 27, 2006:
Like it is for many people, reading is in my blood. It's not something I can control - I read everything from the cereal boxes on the breakfast table to the bottom of the Kleenex boxes to the signs on the bus. I read the tabloid headlines while standing in line at the grocery store and the billboards along streets while still managing to keep my eyes on the road. Reading is a joy, a pleasure, an unconscious appreciation for the way words flow without even considering all the work it takes to make that flow happen. Adding to that joy is the anticipation of walking into a bookstore and feeling surrounded by rows and rows of books and magazines, smelling the ink on paper, gaze captured by hundreds of thousands of shiny covers of various shapes and sizes. It is a voluntary addiction, one that consumes my time and money but gives me more pleasure than a bottle of wine or a box of chocolates ever could. But not necessarily more than a diamond <g>. I believe I have spent my money wisely and feel like I am rewarding myself for my hard work and lack of the "really bad" vices. How can reading be bad for you? I don't believe it can be. It opens up your world to possibilities.
That said, I have gradually entered another world - the world of amateur reviewing. Expressing my enjoyment of a book is very fulfilling, and I like finding ways of putting the words together and hopefully enticing someone else to pick up that book. It is not always easy; I have found myself agonizing over a review in my attempts to get it "just right". Admittedly, I am not comfortable writing a less than stellar review, so at this time, I only review books I enjoy. That may never change. I know others do not have any hang-ups about trashing a book, but when I think of how much work was put into it, I cannot help but feel sorry for the person taking a bashing. Whether or not that it's wise, it's ultimately my decision not to give such a review. Besides, reviews are subjective, so one person's trash is another's treasure.
One of the things I will be doing at this blog is reviewing. Books, movies, whatever. It's all amateur, based on my tastes and my opinions. It's hopefully a fun thing that hopefully encourages people to read other books and even make recommendations of their own. It's also another way of showing my appreciation for the many stories that have fired my imagination and put a smile on my face. Most of the stories I read are romances, but I also like science fiction, biographies, suspense, the classics, and some non-fiction. I hope to kick off my reviewing by having a blog contest, and more details will follow as to what that will be. If I can encourage even one other person to read, then it is well worth it :)
posted by Stacy~ at 1/27/2006 12:55:00 PM
| 0 comments
Wednesday, January 25, 2006:
"When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us".
Helen Keller (1880-1968) American humanitarian, writer and advocate for the deaf and blind
posted by Stacy~ at 1/25/2006 10:17:00 PM
| 1 comments
Full synopsis from Moviefone:
Colin Farrell plays the adventurous John Smith, who fought in Hungary and endured slavery in Turkey before sailing to America to pursue his destiny there. When this historical drama by Terrence Malick ('Badlands,' 'The Thin Red Line') begins, it is 1607; Smith is 27 years old and one of a group of British colonists hoping to establish a permanent settlement at Jamestown, Va., an uncharted spot on the edge of the New World. At first, Smith's fate doesn't seem promising, as he's been locked up in the brig for insubordination and is awaiting execution once the ship reaches shore. But in this unpredictable wilderness, every able-bodied man is needed, and so the charismatic Smith is set free. While exploring the lands beyond the settlement, he meets the headstrong and beautiful Pocahontas (newcomer Q'Orianka Kilcher), daughter of the powerful Chief Powhatan (August Schellenberg), who governs the land that the colonists are determined to tame. As the relationship between Smith and Pocahontas -- two passionate, fiercely independent people bound by duty, yet also to each other -- deepens, they must survive an attempt on Smith's life, Pocahontas' marriage to another man, and a looming conflict in which the triumph of one culture entails the sacrifice of another. The movie, which features gorgeous cinematography and meticulous attention to historical detail, also stars Christopher Plummer as Captain Christopher Newport and Christian Bale as John Rolfe.
This movie was not quite what I was expecting, but that actually made me enjoy it even more. There's not a lot of fighting and violence; the action is rather minimal. Instead the movie focuses more on relationships. For example, people's relationship with the land, and how the Indians respected the earth and were rewarded, while the settlers came more to the land with a sense of entitlement and were cursed. We also see the relationships between people. When John Smith is taken by the Indians and saved from death by Pocahontas, we see the gradual discovery between them as they become more and more fascinated with each other. Their feelings are unspoken by words, but evident in their actions as they dance slowly around each other, a hand reaching out to caress the other's face, the way they light up when the other is near. There are moments when all you hear is their thoughts, and the sound of the wind. It lulls you into a pleasantly calm state, and you are absorbed by the slow pace of the movie and the beauty of the land. One of my favorite things about the movie is Pocahontas' fascination with life, and living things. While is was a young child when we first meet her, you see it in her as she becomes older - she never loses her sense of wonder.
If you are looking for lots of action scenes or even passionate love scenes, this is not the movie for you. Admittedly there are some wonderful shirtless scenes of Colin Farrell, but they are fairly innocent and not setting the stage for seduction. This movie is a lot about respect and consequences. Let yourself by hypnotized the the sounds of nature and you'll feel the stress drain from your body as it captures your attention and stays with you long after the film has ended.
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posted by Stacy~ at 1/25/2006 07:10:00 PM
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Thursday, January 19, 2006:
I just found out today that a sweet soul I knew from a couple of the Yahoo groups had passed away on Monday. Her name's Judy Schlueter. I had never met her face to face, but I'd responded to various posts she'd written and vice versa. We shared a love of books and that is a very strong bond. It really makes me realize how attached we can get to our on-line friends. I've been teary-eyed all day - I am really going to miss her. I've lost a dear friend.
She hadn't been feeling well - needed to get a pacemaker right around the holidays. We hadn't heard from her much but she was always in our thoughts, and we sent her Christmas cards even though she said she couldn't participate in the exchange this year. Our group(s) is such a close-knit one, and rather rare from what I've seen with other groups. We all all respect and care about one another, and shared parts of our lives, but we never get nasty or negative. I love how supportive everyone is of each other. Judy was such a big part of that. We were hit hard by the news. I liked knowing that even at age 70, she loved getting the daily pictures of the hotties that were sent out on the loop. There are many wonderful memories like that. So while I may not have known her for very long, she was a wonderful person and I wanted to take a moment to remember her. It's moments like these that make me realize how truly lucky I've been to have such amazing people in my life, and to take time to treasure them. Tonight I send prayers out to her family, and thank God that I knew such an amazing person and for a time she was a shining light in my life.
She hadn't been feeling well - needed to get a pacemaker right around the holidays. We hadn't heard from her much but she was always in our thoughts, and we sent her Christmas cards even though she said she couldn't participate in the exchange this year. Our group(s) is such a close-knit one, and rather rare from what I've seen with other groups. We all all respect and care about one another, and shared parts of our lives, but we never get nasty or negative. I love how supportive everyone is of each other. Judy was such a big part of that. We were hit hard by the news. I liked knowing that even at age 70, she loved getting the daily pictures of the hotties that were sent out on the loop. There are many wonderful memories like that. So while I may not have known her for very long, she was a wonderful person and I wanted to take a moment to remember her. It's moments like these that make me realize how truly lucky I've been to have such amazing people in my life, and to take time to treasure them. Tonight I send prayers out to her family, and thank God that I knew such an amazing person and for a time she was a shining light in my life.
posted by Stacy~ at 1/19/2006 08:49:00 PM
| 4 comments
Tuesday, January 17, 2006:
Everyone needs a little inspiration from time to time, and boy, I am inspired. Sweet dreams ;)
posted by Stacy~ at 1/17/2006 10:17:00 PM
| 0 comments
Monday, January 16, 2006:
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Today's Quote:
"Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step."
- Martin Luther King, Jr.
(1929 - 1968)
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posted by Stacy~ at 1/16/2006 07:26:00 PM
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Sunday, January 08, 2006:
I don't know why the more I fly, the more freaked out I get. I would think I would be used to it by now, but no. Instead, especially since I've managed to get the windowseat every single time, I am a nervous wreck. It's not the whole trip, just the take-offs, and during bad turbulence. The minute the plane leaves the ground, that's when my brain is convinced something bad is going to happen. How can something so heavy remain airborne for so long? I know, it's science, technology, blah, blah, blah. Does nothing for me to know this.
Once the plane is level, and all you hear is the hum of the engines and the clearing of throats from fellow passengers, I manage to return back to some type of normalcy. Unless there the disruptive shaking of turbulence to knock the book out of my hands if I'm not holding tight enough. Then I am (quietly) engaged in panic mode all over again. I don't think I even remember what I read during those tense moments.
Having once worked for an airline, even in jobs that weren't really related to an airline, I had dreams about crashes. Almost since day one. I would say 95% of the dreams were not tragic, but rather ended up with everyone surviving. They were strange dreams, involving planes doing things I didn't think it was possible to do.
I've talked to other people about this, and about 1/2 of them feel the same way I do, which I guess is somewhat reassuring. Misery loves company and all that. And maybe talking about it will help me work through it, or at least come to accept it. Because my flying days are not over. It feels good to get it out and admit my fear. So whether it's crazy or healthy, it's real, and I have to deal with it. Time to move on....
Once the plane is level, and all you hear is the hum of the engines and the clearing of throats from fellow passengers, I manage to return back to some type of normalcy. Unless there the disruptive shaking of turbulence to knock the book out of my hands if I'm not holding tight enough. Then I am (quietly) engaged in panic mode all over again. I don't think I even remember what I read during those tense moments.
Having once worked for an airline, even in jobs that weren't really related to an airline, I had dreams about crashes. Almost since day one. I would say 95% of the dreams were not tragic, but rather ended up with everyone surviving. They were strange dreams, involving planes doing things I didn't think it was possible to do.
I've talked to other people about this, and about 1/2 of them feel the same way I do, which I guess is somewhat reassuring. Misery loves company and all that. And maybe talking about it will help me work through it, or at least come to accept it. Because my flying days are not over. It feels good to get it out and admit my fear. So whether it's crazy or healthy, it's real, and I have to deal with it. Time to move on....
posted by Stacy~ at 1/08/2006 07:36:00 PM
| 0 comments
Monday, January 02, 2006:
Okay, so it's the start of a new year, and I always feel really excited about it. It seems filled with possibility, a time to try new things, go new places. A time to set goals and accomplish something we said we've always wanted to do.
Since I'm horrible at the whole resolution thing, I decided to think of something that was easier to achieve, something I've always wanted to do that wouldn't take much effort, maybe just guts. And I settled on the one thing sure to fit the bill - skydiving.
Now, I've always been afraid of heights. It's not something I can really explain, other than whenever I am high up - at a mall, going up an escalator, where I'm surrounded by open space - I feel very light-headed and dizzy, like I could pass out any moment. It's not a wholly unpleasant sensation, but it does take away some of my control. It's just a very strange feeling that can border on hysteria if I dwell on it too long.
And of course they do say the best way to conquer your fear is to face it head-on. So, as long as I can remember, I've always wanted to try skydiving. Not bungee-jumping, not parasailing (that involves water which is for another time) but jump out of a plane, feel the rush of the wind as you hurdle towards the ground, screaming, exhilirating skydiving. Because the only damn way you are going to get me to jump out of the plane is if someone else is strapped to me who claims to know what they're doing.
Will I do it? I don't know, but I do have a friend at work who plans on doing it over the summer, and I mentioned I would try it with her. So if she remembers, or if I remind her, I may do this crazy stunt. Who knows, I might even want to do it again. Or maybe not.
Since I'm horrible at the whole resolution thing, I decided to think of something that was easier to achieve, something I've always wanted to do that wouldn't take much effort, maybe just guts. And I settled on the one thing sure to fit the bill - skydiving.
Now, I've always been afraid of heights. It's not something I can really explain, other than whenever I am high up - at a mall, going up an escalator, where I'm surrounded by open space - I feel very light-headed and dizzy, like I could pass out any moment. It's not a wholly unpleasant sensation, but it does take away some of my control. It's just a very strange feeling that can border on hysteria if I dwell on it too long.
And of course they do say the best way to conquer your fear is to face it head-on. So, as long as I can remember, I've always wanted to try skydiving. Not bungee-jumping, not parasailing (that involves water which is for another time) but jump out of a plane, feel the rush of the wind as you hurdle towards the ground, screaming, exhilirating skydiving. Because the only damn way you are going to get me to jump out of the plane is if someone else is strapped to me who claims to know what they're doing.
Will I do it? I don't know, but I do have a friend at work who plans on doing it over the summer, and I mentioned I would try it with her. So if she remembers, or if I remind her, I may do this crazy stunt. Who knows, I might even want to do it again. Or maybe not.
posted by Stacy~ at 1/02/2006 09:59:00 PM
| 0 comments
Sunday, January 01, 2006:
It's the very first day of 2006, and also my very first post. We'll see if it'll be my last. It's a bleak, cold and dreary day in January, but still has the promise of possibility. A good day to relax, think about what this year will be about, and get some quality reading done.
My New Year's resolution? Don't really have one cuz I have almost no chance of making it happen, but I would like to donate more time to volunteering, eat healthier, be organized, and stop procrastinating. Creating this blog will be a way to check up on myself for that.
I'll keep this short and sweet, and bore you with the details later. Happy New Year!!!
My New Year's resolution? Don't really have one cuz I have almost no chance of making it happen, but I would like to donate more time to volunteering, eat healthier, be organized, and stop procrastinating. Creating this blog will be a way to check up on myself for that.
I'll keep this short and sweet, and bore you with the details later. Happy New Year!!!
posted by Stacy~ at 1/01/2006 11:38:00 PM
| 0 comments
