Eight random thoughts about me . . .

I have accepted a challenge from my friend Angie (see her blog at http://www.iorganizeyou.blogspot.com/). I am listing 8 random thoughts about me and will then challenge four friends listed below to comment here on 3 random thoughts about themselves:

a. Terry W.
b. Merri
c. Laura
d. Karen

1. I had the worst complexion in the world from my pre-teen through high school years. I was popular before that but after that I was called "pimples." This was incredibly painful to my psyche and self-image. Makes me sick to even relate this now.



2. I always wanted to see the Great Pyramids of Giza (Egypt) before I died. We were there 11 years ago - although I'm glad I went, it was rather disappointing. Have no desire to go back.



3. From 1964 -1984, I had a best friend. Twenty years of a wonderful, close friendship even though she moved to the West Coast. Then something happened - I'm not sure either of us will ever understand what - but we then had NO CONTACT for the next 20 years. She reached out to me 3 years ago and we're now back in each others' lives. I wish I talked to her more and let her know how much I value our relationship. 4. I don't do housework. And I don't cook except by prior appointment and special request.


5. I always wanted to visit the Greek Isles. Did that also 11 years ago. They are heaven. I want to go back.



















6. The best trip I ever took was to Italy (you know you're getting old when you can't remember when you went somewhere) - 9 days with a group of 29 friends on a wine and gourmet food excursion - Rome and south - the Amalfi coast is to die for - hope I get to go back.


7. Two things I always wanted to do - have never done them and probably never will:
i) sky diving


ii) snow skiing

8. All of the above exciting trips I've taken were when I was in health care management. I now own my own business. The current budget does not allow for such extravagance - glad I did it when I could.

Now I hope to hear from each of you that I've e-mailed . . . tag. You're it.

I love a good movie, don't you?

Did you happen to watch the American Film Institute’s “100 Best Movies” last week? I disagreewith so many of them and there were some that I’d never even heard of.

AFI and I do share some favorites (notably GONE WITH THE WIND, PSYCHO, NORTH BY NORTHWEST, REAR WINDOW, BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID, WIZARD OF OZ, SILENCE OF THE LAMBS, PSYCHO, SOPHIE’S CHOICE, JAWS, ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEXT, THE SIXTH SENSE, ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN).

I was surprised that some other well-known movies among my favorites didn’t make the grade (notably THE STING, THE BIG CHILL, DEAD POETS SOCIETY, CHICAGO, MAGNOLIA, WITNESS, THE ACCUSED, THE SHINING, DIAL M FOR MURDER and the remake A PERFECT MURDER).

But I wasn’t surprised that some of my other favorites among well-known movies were not on the list: FATAL ATTRACTION, BODY HEAT, THE OMEN, POLTERGEIST, MOMMIE DEAREST, PRIMAL FEAR, THE GAME - movies I love but I admit they aren’t the best of the lot to the movie “experts.”

While watching the AFI show, I naturally was in front of my ever-present laptop so I created another list - my favorite all-time movies that I bet most people have never heard of or seen. I highly recommend each and every one of them:

A SUMMER STORY - a 1986 movie about the power of societal class in early 20th century rural England. With British film star Imogen Stubbs. I would LOVE to find this on either VHS or DVD (preferred) as it’s just about my #1 all-time favorite movie.

SHIRLEY VALENTINE - a story of a married middle-aged woman seeking to find herself. I have this on VHS if anyone would like to borrow it.

ENOUGH - a Jennifer Lopez movie that critics hated but I loved mainly because my son and daughter-in-law were “extras.” The ferry scenes were supposed to be Lake Michigan in the movie, but were actually filmed in Port Townsend, Washington. We’ve taken this ferry from Pt. Townsend to both Whidbey Island and Victoria, British Columbia. I have this on DVD if anyone would like to borrow it. (Ask me sometime why I no longer like J Lo as a result of my kids’ experience.)

ONE POTATO, TWO POTATO - from the mid-60’s with Barbara Barrie about the struggle a white divorced woman has choosing between her black husband and her daughter.

PENNY SERENADE - from the early 40s with Cary Grant and Irene Dunn; guaranteed to make you cry. I first watched this back in the late 50’s while staying home “sick” from school one day. I have this on VHS if anyone would like to borrow it.

SOMEWHERE IN TIME - a sappy time-warp love story with Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour set at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island. We spent our 25th anniversary at the hotel - an experience everyone should have (the hotel, not the anniversary - but then, why not?) I have this on VHS if anyone would like to borrow it.

SCHOOL OF ROCK - a Jack Black comedy about a rogue “teacher” who brings out the best in kids with the use of good old rock ‘n roll.

3 DAYS OF THE CONDOR - an old Robert Redford cloak and dagger thriller. I don’t even understand all of it, but I love it.

RETURN TO PARADISE - a sleeper with Joaquin Phoenix (one of my favorites!!!) and Anne Heche, similar to Midnight Express.

REVERSAL OF FORTUNE - a true story about the trials of Claus von Bulow (played by Jeremy Irons who won both the Oscar & Golden Globe for Best Actor) who was tried twice for the attempted murder of his multi-millionaire wife Sunny (Glenn Close). In fact, one of my favorite movie lines is from this movie: After being told he was a strange man, Jeremy Irons’ reply is so cool - “You have no idea.” I guess you have to see/hear it. It's how he said it, now what he said.

COMING HOME - a very sexy post-Vietnam War movie with Jane Fonda and Jon Voigt. Just thinking about one of the scenes makes me . . . oh, never mind.

Now them're some good movies.

What are some of your favorite movies that most people may not have seen or even heard of?

Signs, signs, everywhere a sign....

I don't know what it is about signs - I guess it's the weirdness, or the oxymoronic, or the unusual, or the play on words - I don't know, but some signs just speak to me. A few recent signs that I just couldn't help but photograph:

1. Can you hear yourself asking for a glass of Effen vodka?






2. An off-beat "open" sign in a tobacco shop window in Wrigleyville (Chicago):

3. A sign in train tunnel on the way to a Cubs game: (In case you can't read it, it says, "Please don't come to the ballpark with a cold - I'll catch it.")

4. Seen on an off-limits building at a lavendar farm/petting zoo where we held part of (my 2-year-old granddaughter's (Emme) birthday party:

5. An isn't this sad: Outside the gift shop in the above-mentioned zoo/farm, there's a bunch of farm animals including these unusual Swiss Highland cattle. Inside is the picture telling of their fate.

I just don't get the motion picture rating system.

We saw a movie, "Mr. Brooks," over the weekend. Most of the critics didn't like it, calling it "silly" and "preposterous." But it had sufficient scariness and enough plot twists to keep us interested. I especially liked it because one of my favorites, William Hurt, was in it. Just don't see enough of him anymore.

The movie was rated "R" for very good reasons - lots of profanity, tons of explicit, gratuitous violence, explicit sex and nudity - but I'm an adult and I can handle it.

My problem? It wasn't with the movie, it was with the theater. Sitting in the row immediately in front of us was a family - mom, dad, and two little girls - one approximately 9 years old and one approximately 3 years old!!!!! And their son who was maybe 14 or 15 sat in another row, but immediately after the film finished, he walked up to them and excitedly (of course) said, "Wow - that was the greatest movie I've ever seen. I want to get it as soon as it's out on DVD and I'm gonna watch it every day!"

What is wrong with these parents? What is wrong with the rating system that allows parents to subject young children to these adult themes and images?

My husband and I deliberately tried to block out our disgust so we could enjoy the film, but it wasn't easy. I couldn't help but watch the parents during certain scenes to see if they were uncomfortable - but nothing - just eating their popcorn and watching the screen.

What's your take on this? Is it child abuse? Is it child endangering? Is it bad parenting?

Meet my friend Angie Weid

I have a great "new friend" (a future blog posting on this subject) who can help so many of you out there in blogland.

Angie Weid is: a mom, a rocket scientist (really, she is), an engineer with 3 patents in her name, and a woman who loves life. Angie left the corporate world a few years ago and is owner of an organizing service called Organized Solutions.

The things that I think are the coolest about what she does are organizing spaces and "clean up" of files after a "technical" employee has left a company. I encourage you to read her blog (www.iorganizeyou.blogspot.com) to see her "before" and "after" photos of offices, garages, etc., that she has transformed. (I probably need that service more than anyone in the world, but more about that later, too).

Garage "before" Same garage "after"

Is that cool, or what?

Please read the blog of another friend, Deb Peters, at www.cnpofohio.blogspot.com, to read about how Angie helped a company expunge files and organize software of a recently departed employee.

Is that cool, or what?

Please check out Angie's website, www.iOrganizeYou.com, or call her at 734-890-1276 or email her at angie@iOrganizeYou.com to find out what she can do for you.