Lemon Sky

This was a film but originally was a play by Lanford Wilson. It had Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick in it. I wonder if this is when they met. They were quite young. Casey Affleck played a young boy. I knew the boy looked familiar; then I had to watch the credits to see who it was. He even sounds like he does now and moves his head and laughs the same way. And I must say, even then, a better actor than his brother, Ben. As with many plays, it takes awhile to get going and for the audience to begin to relate to the characters. This was a touching play about a moment in a young man's life. It was so well written and performed. I highly recommend it. I would go see it on stage if I could.

I've decided to create a list of favorite Christmas songs because I want to. Check it out on the right side of this blog where all of my lists are located.

A Charlie Brown Christmas

I am listening to a Christmas CD - A Charlie Brown Christmas. There is no music that makes me happier. Why is that? Has this music made me happy since childhood? Charlie Brown and the gang are in the back of my mind as I listen, but mostly it's the happy piano notes that I like. It's just happiness in musical form. My son can play Linus and Lucy on the piano and it's a difficult piece. I'm so glad he likes it as much as I do. Just hearing that rolling beat makes me want to get up and dance!

I went to see New Moon with my youngest son, his friend, and her mom. I liked it! It was better than the first movie, I think because there was more action - just more happening, generally, in that story. The effects are great. The movie works for guys because there was wolf fighting - my son's favorite animals are wolves - and vampires fighting, which face it, you never get to see in real life. Seeing that movie was an indulgence for me because I never go to see "girl movies." Having all boys in my family, we save our movie dollars for Harry Potter, Iron Man, etc. Speaking of Iron Man - we can't wait to see Robert Downey, Jr. in Sherlock Holmes. Yowza!! When literature and hunkiness get together, I swoon!

Watched Frost/Nixon - finally! Soon, it will be time to watch the contenders for THIS year's Oscars. I am so far behind on my movie watching. Still need to see The Reader, Revolutionary Road, and The Wrestler. The last one I just recorded, so that's up for today, I hope. Frost/Nixon was good. I'll bet it was a compelling play. I always liked Nixon. I never saw the original interviews. I relate to Nixon because he was an introverted thinker. He didn't appeal to the masses. He should have been a behind-the-scenes kind of guy. But, he was also paranoid and aggressively pursued "his enemies" while in public office. He had weaknesses. David Frost was interesting to watch because he really was just a talk show host and here he was interviewing a fallen president for ratings and publicity. The two hours went by fast, I can tell you that.

Finished listening to The Wee Free Men. I think I have a soft spot for Scottish stories. The wee men in this book are crazy and delightful and ye cn hardly unnerstand a werd that's sed by them. I should buy the book and see how Terry Pratchett writes their dialogue. Listening to the story is fantastic because the narrator does all the amazing voices and pronunciations and it's like a play. Very fun fantasy story - not just for kids. And the best part is - there are two more books with the same characters! I may listen to those again too.

David Cross' book This is Why I Drink is freaking funny. Not everyone would like his humor probably, but he is a funny guy. I'm looking forward to 5-1/2 more hours of hilarity.

The Day the Earth Stood Still

Yes, I watched it even though Keanu Reeves was in it. I figured, hey, he's robotic in most of his roles; this role is perfect for him! Turns out he was fine in the movie. However, the writer did not finish the job he started. There were so many questions by the end of the movie! I love science fiction and this movie could have been so much better. It didn't help that Will Smith's son played the cute little boy that no one watching the movie liked. Who made the choice that the cute kid should be a jerk? You're supposed to have sympathy for your protagonists. Anyway...rent the 1950s version and you'll like it, I'm sure. It's kind of slow - not like movies today - so you can knit while you watch it.

Can't wait to listen to David Sedaris' Holidays on Ice. I just downloaded it from audible.com and it has 6 new stories. It's a holiday tradition!! Tomorrow on Thanksgiving we will be watching Planes, Trains, and Automobiles. Another tradition. If you haven't seen it - where you been at? It's a really funny movie and when you're home cooking in your own kitchen, it makes you happy that you didn't travel to get your turkey dinner.

Just finished knitting a purple sock and already started the second one. Wearing the second pair I ever made right now. The socks that felt too hot in the summer are deliciously warm in the winter. They feel perfect on my feet. No seams rubbing anywhere. Knitted socks are the best!

The Elegance of the Hedgehog

I just finished reading this book. I'm going to talk about the ending, so don't read any further if you haven't read it. Epiphanies have happened to me during my lifetime. Profound ideas about literature, the world, what it means to be alive. I have often worried that just when my life has reached the peak of satisfaction, when everything comes together in perfect harmony and bliss, that is moment when it will all be taken from you. My reason for being on this earth has been completed and I immediately move on. So, perhaps it is better to circle around that attainment of  perfection. Or does something magical keep us from reaching perfection? And is our death merely random? Am I only trying still to find meaning in everything that happens on this earth? Achieving a profound revelation and then dying, or being killed, is a tragedy. I suppose that's all it is in the end. I always think of John Lennon. I never thought much about him at all before he died but now I always think of him and the way he died and wonder if he found harmony and bliss and then was shot dead. He'd done what he came here to do. And I suppose many more people think of him now in a profound and positive way than they would have had he lived. There's something quite compelling about a martyr. That's the main thing that makes Jesus so popular to most people who base their religious beliefs on him. He died for them. What is the meaning in Madame Michel's random death? If it is random, can there be meaning? Yes. For Paloma, it was a lesson in why we should hang on to life and hold it dear, no matter the problems we see in the world; the larger world or in our own small world. Of course, I knew beauty would be the author's reason for living. It may sound simple but it is true and real. Stop and smell the roses. Cliche, but apt. Yesterday, my oldest son said, I love you. I was preoccupied and his words seemed a bit intrusive, but I thought of how other parents don't hear these words from their teenagers and I felt grateful. I went over to him and said, thank you, and gave him a hug. If he never said it again, I would have that memory, that moment. I try to live in the present even as I go along thinking of my next project, my next shopping errand, our next family event. This idea of beauty - noticing it, seeking it, surrounding oneself with it - it's a good one. I'm going to pursue it.

An Hour Before Daylight

I finished listening to this book this morning. It was nice to listen to as I went to sleep...and also in the middle of the night when I woke up and couldn't get back to sleep. Jimmy Carter evokes his life growing up on a farm with plenty of detail...smells, sights, and sounds that I have only read about. His stories about his mom and dad and family were interesting and although I didn't get a lot of insight into who he was as a president, I think I have an idea of him as a person. It's funny how he reflects on his family being a bit eccentric...and then the sadness of all of his siblings and his dad dying of pancreatic cancer. My dad had that and died from the surgery that would have removed the cancer. I have admired Jimmy Carter for a long time because he has gone beyond his role as a president and created a fantastic legacy, including Middle East negotiations, memoirs, and of course, Habitat for Humanity. I am looking forward to reading his book about Christmas memories this season.

   I am working on EZ's baby surprise jacket. I started on two different kinds of yarn and ended up with Knit Picks' Wool of the Andes that I have left over from another project. It's a very nice yarn although I don't like wool for a baby sweater. Might be too itchy. It will work for this project though. When I go back to the knitting store where I hope to teach this class, I will purchase a yarn that is cotton and something else for ease of care and wear.

  And also, I think EZ could have done a better job of writing instructions for this garment. I'm working on improving the directions.

Quiet

I was watching the British version of The Office last night. It was fun because I haven't seen the episodes in a long time. I watched these episodes before the American version was on the air and Ricky Gervais makes me as uncomfortable as ever. You can really despise David Brent but Michael Scott - well, you have to love him. Perhaps it was only serendipity but I think it was the genius of Steve Carell that made his character lovable. That's why our version of the show works...the characters have become lovable. Crazy...but lovable. Like a family.

     I have lots of leftover balls of yarn from all of the blankets that I make. Recently, some friends and I made a Log Cabin blanket that is destined for Project Linus. I still have more yarn, so I began and finished a Granny Square blanket with each round a different color. Using 12 blocks, it is a respectable size for a toddler or young child. I saw this simple scarf on Ravelry and happened to be at a yarn store yesterday and bought yarn to get it started. I was going to make the scarf just by looking at the photo but I ended up buying the pattern. I'm glad I did because now I know how the short rows work and I'm supporting another designer. The yarn I'm using is a lesser weight but I think it will still be fine. I'm using handpainted yarn so I hope to see a nice variation of color when it's finished.

    I listened to The Marriage Bureau for Rich People which I truly enjoyed. It was fun to listen to and I liked the different Indian voices. It had plenty of Indian customs which is always interesting. Not sure what I'll listen to next. I'm catching up on podcasts but will eventually turn to another book. I know I have Wishful Drinking on my iPod which is Carrie Fisher's new book. She is so funny and talented...I'm sure it will be another great listen.

    Really enjoying The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down. So much information about the Hmong people. Stuff about the Vietnam war that I didn't know either. Makes me want to listen to A Bright Shining Lie. 

   I suppose I should watch a movie this weekend. Everyone's been busy and we haven't watched anything as a family. My son wants to see Twilight...I've already seen it...and maybe I'll try getting a movie from Netflix directly to my TV. Saves time not having to watch what we have and waiting for the next disc.