TV: Riverworld

It's the hubby's fault. He wanted to watch Syfy's 4 hour movie, Riverworld, because he had read the book and wanted to see how the movie would fare. So I watched it with him.

The book by Phillip Jose Farmer is about giving the human race a chance to prove themselves worthy of continuing some alien based cycle of creation. Humans are resurrected on Riverworld, a planet with a seemingly neverending river, and given a grail (a box that provides them with food, cloth, make-up, tobacco products, & hair care utensils). The grail functions at these stone mushrooms three times a day. They are necessary because there is no animal life with the exception of fish and no metals or ores. With nothing to worry about such as a variable temperature, old age (as they are all 25 years old), shelter, they have time to be introspective and use their better nature.

The movie is slightly different. The grail is a bracelet. There is metal. They were put there as a result of Earth's accidental destruction. And biggest of all, they are there fighting a war for groups of aliens called the Caretakers. The Salvationists believe that it is torture for the humans to be resurrected (and subject in both book and movie to becoming grail slaves for more powerful people) and a waste of time. The Second Chancers believe that this world is the preservation of a race of people that wouldn't exist otherwise. The two warring sides have chosen champions even though they are forbidden from interferring and interacting with humans. The Second Chancer champion is the star of the show.

It was interesting and makes me consider reading the books. My biggest reason for pointing out this movie is because B says they may make it a series. It might be interesting, too, but if I miss it, no big loss.

BTW, Sci Fi released a previous Riverworld movie, but I haven't seen that.

Miscellaneous: Children's Birthday Parties

I've always thought people went overboard at parties.

When the kid turns one, he or she doesn't need 50 guests and a 10x10 room full of toys.
A bounce house, pony, and more gifts going out as party bags than came in is excessive.
Big, massive celebrations every year of a child's life are unnecessary.
Making sure the party is bigger and better than the Jones' makes it less about the child and his or her day.

In our house we have one big party every 3 years. We have the kids invite 6-10 guests to whatever they want. For the in between years, they can invite 1 or 2 of their closest friends to spend the day. The kiddos never get up to 10 guests and end up having a very intimate party with all the extras. No ponies, no clowns, no bounce houses. I'm not trying to be a meanie, but kids who expect big birthday parties every year are spoiled.

One small birthday was the 6 yo birthday girl and two friends for a tea party. We shopped at thrift stores for cups and saucers (that the girls got to take home filled with goodies). I made a teapot shaped cake (upright, not flat). They had fruit teas, and I taught the girls how to have a proper tea. There were scones, and the girls made decorated cookies. Easy, quick and cute! $60

One large birthday was the 10 yo birthday girl and 6 friends to the movie theater. Popcorn, sodas, and glowing jewelry. Pizza at the house after. Goody bags were popcorn shaped containers filled with popcorn, Cracker Jacks, and theater candy. $275

I've also done the movie party with 2 friends. We had pizza across the street before the theater (so no money spent on goodies there) and ice cream afterward a few shops down. $80

The money has to be well spent, and the birthday girl should have fun on her day. Those are my primary concerns.

That brings me to the reason for the post. We are heading toward a 13th birthday party. (big year) I want to do the hotel room sleep over. Use the pool and facilities, order pizza brought in, and watch movies on PPV. My biggest obstacles are how to get a room or suite that allows us to have 5 or 6 kids! This kid is not big on prissy - no manicures, sparkly fairy dos, or make up. Amusement parks scare her. Any ideas? Either help for mine or another idea?

Men: Shemar Moore

Name: Shemar Moore (Shemar Franklin Moore)
Best Known For: TV, The Young and the Restless, Criminal Minds
Year of Birth: 1970
Status: Single
Height: 6'1"
Fun Fact: Cycles to raise funds for MS

I was not going to post about this hottie. I think he's too mainstream and overexposed. But I was watching an episode of Ellen. He talked about a biking accident in which he'd worn all the necessary protection equipment, including the padding in the biker pants to protect "the situation." "The situation" would allow him to provide grandchildren for his mother.

Later, he provided a couple of pictures for Ellen to share. One was a naked picture of him when he was about 1 year old. "The situation" was blocked by a black rectangle. Here's the ensuing conversation:

Ellen: That's your situation right there.
Shemar: I've come a long way. I've come a long way.
Ellen: Yeah? Prove it.

Shemar then fakes us out with a crotch reach.

I almost fell off the sofa.

Now, I think back and remember something on the Internet about Shemar on the beach in his birthday suit - showing us "the situation."

D*mn.

WARNING! Don't visit some of the sites you might see - viruses and all.

Chocolate:The Current Chocolate

Just a quick chocolate bite today. Someone gifted me with 4 1.5 oz See's chocolate bars recently. Of course it didn't take more than 48 hours for them to be gone. Oops! Anyway, they were milk chocolate, milk chocolate with toffee, milk chocolate with almonds, and dark chocolate with almonds.

While I enjoyed the chocolate (I'm beginning to get my taste buds back) I found the milk chocolate too sweet and the dark with just a tad too much after taste. I was hoping for the semi-sweet balance of cacao somewhere. It served my purposes nicely however. :)

Books: Beezus and Ramona

I have a special place in my heart for the Ramona books, a series by Beverly Cleary (who also wrote the Mouse and the Motorcycle.) I won't get into it now why at my age I know all about these books (no, the girls never took to it), but I have the set from Beezus and Ramona to Ramona's World. Ramona Quimby is a very energetic and often confused little girl that every young girl her age would understand. She lives with her parents and older sister Beatrice (AKA Beezus).

The first book, Beezus and Ramona really focuses on their story from Beezus' point of view, but as the books series continues, it's all about Ramona. There was a TV series at one time about Ramona, though I never watched it. What has me writing about it now is the new movie coming out this year. I don't think I'm going to like it.



First of all there are six years between the sisters. The actresses, Joey King and Selena Gomez, are about 7 years apart in age which fits the age range. However, Joey King, an 11 year old, is playing an 8 year old while Selena Gomez looks like her age. It somehow doesn't look right. Second, it seems like they are going to try to squeeze in all of Ramona's many transgressions into one year of her life - her 8 year old one. Many of the things Ramona does would not make sense for an 8 year old. And that's exactly the appeal of the books - that Ramona acts like the typical child of her age.

I don't have to worry about being forced to watch the movie, A & M don't like anything related to teen/preteen Disney. They don't like Selena Gomez. Still, the whole idea bothers me. If you really want the story - go to the source. Here's the list in order:

Beezus and Ramona
Ramona the Pest
Ramona the Brave
Ramona and Her Father
Ramona and Her Mother
Ramona Quimby, Age 8
Ramona Forever
Ramona's World

TV: Ugly Betty Ends

This is it.

I started this post a week ago after catching up with Ugly Betty OnDemand. Even through my hacking cough, I nearly had a coronary over what they've thrown into the episodes. I was actually only going to watch one when I started and watched three just to see Justin deal with his boyfriend! It was too cute!

Anyway as I write now, the last UGLY BETTY has aired. Let's have a moment of silence.

SPOILERS!

Now, what do I think? OMG! I knew that nothing was going to work out between Betty and Henry. I thought it was a little like getting poked with a stick and someone cackling at the other end. Let's not even get into that little Gio thing they threw at us before the finale. Oh, and as soon as Amanda started cooing with that older man, I knew he was her father. Loved that I got to see the handsome Grant Bowler again :) I even kinda saw that Wilhelmina was going to shed her inner b*tch.

Of course I got teary eyed when Betty had Daniel sign the release papers. Rewind, the beginning of the episode I was on hyper-alert when Daniel was getting those weird looks on his face. Then Claire started in on it...I KNEW he loved her. Rewind further, there was a lot of speculation about who Betty would end up with, many saying she should end up alone. I wanted her to be with Daniel, but thought it was too weird. Fast foward to the finale...

A promise of dinner was not enough. I wanted a full on kiss. Sigh. Goodbye

BETTY

Miscellaneous: Quilting

B's family has these family reunions every year. One part of the reunion is to sell raffle tickets and gather money for the next reunion. People attending are expected to bring items to get raffled off. Back in '04 or '05 I'd gotten into making quilts, baby quilts. There was no way I could do all the complicated maneuvers required to make every corner match up, but I'd seen this product somewhere that could make quilting a breeze.

Example/Review

I completed two baby quilts using the same method as the review. It was quick and easy for someone who had never made a quilt before. (A real one, anyway. I'd made some other quilt-like baby blankets about 10 years ago.) The size of the interfacing is perfect for baby quilts.

Here's the bummer part. I thought sure I'd taken pictures of the quilts I made, one for the reunion that year and another for a friend, but I can't seem to find the pictures anywhere. If I find them or the people who received my quilts send me pictures, then I'll update. Otherwise I plan to make another baby quilt this summer.

If you've never quilted before, this material is the perfect starting point.

Men: Dan Lee

Bad news. Very bad news. There's no photo :( But look at Dan's fun fact :)

Name: Daniel Lee
Best Known For: Underwear model
Year of Birth: ?

Status: Single
Height: ?
Fun Fact: Major treat...video workout!

I also found that he is an army vet and from Virginia.

Pictures here and here and here...

Chocolate: Cadbury Royal Dark Mini-Eggs

I'm still sick :( so I apologize for the late chocolate post.

M still believes in the Easter Bunny. A is a little skeptical now, but the rule in our house is that if you don't believe then the entity disappears. She isn't willing to let go of all the stuff she gets from the Easter Bunny, tooth fairy, Santa, and the like. So B dutifully went out to get basket stuff. Among the treats were Cadbury Royal Dark Mini-Eggs.

Can we say yum?

They were so tasty the girls had to hide their basket on Sunday morning.

Here is a review:
Candy Blog Review

Books: Kindred in Death

Stop right there!

If you haven't read the 2009 release of one of J.D.Robb's In Death series of books, I don't want to spoil it for you - so read no farther!

However, if you have, I wanted to give a short review. Kindred in Death starts off with the murder of a 16 year old innocent and daughter of a good solid cop. I liked everything about the story - I always do - from the gruesome beginning to Eve Dallas (tough cop and closet softie) to e-devices. But this time I was actually looking forward to a slightly different ending. When she got the bad guy this time, she didn't rub it in his face enough. Of course she had a ton of evidence and the killer confessed, including that his father was in on it. But the kid didn't believe that his father was the one behind everything from the beginning. Eve had some proof and the opportunity to get more, and I had hoped she would shove it in the kid's face. She didn't. I was bummed.

But don't let that stop you from reading!

Sick

I'm sick.

Coughing.

Hacking.

Snotting.

Sick.

And it's spring break. Who hexed me?