Monday Blurbs ~ Fourth Edition.

Aha! It's Monday again and this week I seem to be on top of my schedule. ;)

On Friday we didn't exactly watch anything though I did watch the beginning and end of 17 Again {I was pleasantly engaged in a lovely phone call for the middle of the movie ;)} and on Saturday I watched the middle portion of said movie with my folks. Now, the hard part about watching a movie geared toward teenagers {aside from the fact that yes, it usually is a fairly stupid movie} is that my parents like to talk during the movie and point out how bad or stupid it is. They did that with this movie of course but the difference was that they'd say it was awful and then laugh at a funny scene which sent confusing messages. Anyway, 17 Again is about a thirty-seven year old man who gets a second chance when he is magically changed back into a teenager again. The catch is that he's seventeen in 2009 rather than 1989. The movie really wasn't very good although it was fun to see Zac Efron in something other than High School Musical and I liked that it had a wait-till-marriage message aimed at today's public schooled teens.

In the evening {also on Saturday} my Dad, siblings, and I watched most of Die Hard. Made in 1988 and starring Bruce Willis as John McClane, the wise-cracking New York cop who comes to LA to spend Christmas with his wife. When twelve terrorists, led by Hans Gruber {played by Alan Rickman} take everyone hostage, including his wife; it's up to McClane to stop them. He bounces around the darkened building with various guns, taking out the bad guys one by one and radioing the cops down below who can't figure out who he is. This movie, while bloody, violent and with strong language {the channel it was on muted the worst foul word thankfully}, is a classic and has a good plot. And a must-see if you want to better understand some of the subplot twists in the sequels.

Also on Saturday evening we watched Source Code. Made in 2011 and starring Jake Gyllenhaal, this sci-fi, action/adventure, thriller, mystery is a good movie. Colter Stevens {played by Gyllenhaal} wakes up on a moving train with no memory of how he got there; to further complicate his bewilderment is a lovely young woman in the seat across from him who obviously knows him. Eight minutes later the train blows up and Colter finds himself in a capsule of some sort talking to a woman via computer screen and camera. She explains that he has to find the bomb and the bomber who blew up the train before the next attack happens, and sends him back. I shan't tell you anymore though for I plan to write {or at least consider writing} a review on this movie. But it is pretty good, not quite as good as Inception or Prince of Persia but still enjoyable.

On Sunday after church we watched the NASCAR race {we'd also watched the one on Saturday of course} and then, when my Dad got tired of trying to find something interesting to watch and took a nap, my mom and I put Penelope on. Made in 2006 and starring Christina Ricci as Penelope and James McAvory as the hero, this fun comedy/romance is one of my favorite movies! I hadn't seen it in awhile so I'd forgotten how much I like it. Anyway, it's about a young wealthy heiress who is cursed with the snort and ears of a pig. Having been locked up in her own house for her whole life, Penelope is tired of waiting for her mother and matchmaker Wendy to find her a suitable husband. When Max comes along she grows hopeful that he will be the one yet when he tells her he can't marry her, Penelope's heart breaks and she runs away. Her parents, of course, freak out but Penelope has a fine time making two best friends and experiencing new things. It is such a good movie!

And in the evening we watched an enjoyable re-run of Sherlock: a Study in Pink on PBS. Starring Benedict Cumberbatch as the 21st Century Sherlock Holmes and Martin Freeman as Dr. John Watson, this is an entertaining and wonderful version of the world's greatest detective and his lovable side-kick. In this debut episode Watson is back from serving in the war in Afghan and is looking for someone to share a flat with. Enter Sherlock Holmes who is introduced, much along the lines of the book, in a morgue beating the bodies to study post-death bruising. A series of "suicides" have been occurring and when one victim actually leaves a message, Inspector Lestrade calls in Holmes who drags Watson into the adventure. Very well made, sticking wonderfully well to the book yet throwing in their own twists, and quite simply delightful, I highly recommend this show and can't wait for the second season!

And that sums up {more or less} my weekend. Catch ya later!

Matthew 6:25-34. NKJV

"Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?

Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?

Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?

So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin;

And yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'

For all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."

The Golden One Book Review.

Title: The Golden One.

Author: Elizabeth Peters.

Genre: Mystery, Action/Adventure, Historical Fiction, War Thriller, Egyptology, Romance, Humorous, Sequel.

Plot: Amelia Peabody Emerson and her husband Radcliff Emerson bring in the new year of 1917 on board ship heading for Egypt at the start of a prolonged stay in that country. It’s the beginning of another excavation season and Emerson is keen to get back to work. Also in their party are the Emerson’s grown son Ramses, his wife Nefret and Amelia’s energetic great-niece Sennia, along with her cat Horus. The usual bustle and confusion ensues as they get from one point to the next but they finally arrive at their house in Luxor in one piece and all eager to settle down for the long stay of productive work. However trouble seems to follow the Emersons everywhere they go and this time is no different.

Juggling rumors of a rich find by a wild young tomb robber with whom they have had trouble before, and the standard difficulties of getting Sennia off to private lessons and keeping Emerson and Ramses out of trouble, Amelia has her hands full. Things get even more hectic when Ramses’ unique assistance is required in a secret operation of various military branches stationed in the Middle East. Amelia, being very independent and strong willed, insists on bringing the family {except Sennia of course} along and they settle in a friend’s house to wait while Ramses carries out his mission. While doing so he encounters an old foe and his life is suddenly on the line; Ramses receives timely aid in the most unanticipated form and rushes to get his family out of harm’s way.

Surviving this adventure the family returns to Luxor a little the worse for wear and bring the tri-fold mystery and adventure to a grand finish. But are they really out of the woods or is something more deadly waiting in the shadows to pounce?

Likes/Dislikes: From the first page I was hooked; the writing style is fun, engaging and descriptive without being tedious. In short, it’s the kind of writing style I adore! The characters were all beautifully drawn and wonderfully easy to become acquainted with. Their struggles and thought processes were also highly entertaining. About the only thing objectable I found was a brief scene in which Nefret and Ramses are described as hastily dressing and dashing outside at the dead of night to catch somebody {yeah, I won’t go into any other detail than that for fear of spoiling it} and the language. Emerson is called the Father of Curses by the Egyptians and this title is rightly earned. I didn’t mind most of his British language but I really would have liked if God’s name hadn’t been used as a swearword so often. Btw, this is not a Christian book and the characters are not Christian either, although Amelia does quote Scripture once in a while. This is the fourteenth Amelia Peabody mystery {I always start series in the middle} and I’m looking forward to reading more of them in the near future.

Rating: PG-15 and up for language and violence.

Date Report Written: August 4, 2011.

The Golden One Excerpt.

Musa was nowhere to be found, so Ramses spent a few hours wandering through the green groves of the Ezbekieh Gardens, to get the smells of el-Wasa out of his system. It was a little after midday when he returned to the hotel. Nefret was not there, so he went to see what his parents were doing. He found his mother alone in the sitting room, placidly working at a piece of embroider. Wondering what had prompted this unusual exercise – she hated sewing and did it very badly – he joined her on the sofa.

“Where is Father?” he asked.

“He took Sennia for a walk, in order to work off some of her energy. Have you finished packing?”

“No,” Ramses admitted. “Nefret told me I mustn’t, she says I always make a mess of it.”

“Just like your father. His notion of packing is to dump the entire contents of a drawer into a suitcase and then throw his boots on top.”

“What’s wrong with that?” Ramses asked, and got a smile in return.

And because I’m killing time and in a good mood, ya get a second excerpt! ;)

“You’re almost as suspicious-minded as your mother,” said Cyrus.

“My ma,” Ramses corrected. “That’s how Mr. Albion referred to her the other evening. Father, how would you like being addresses as Pa?”

“Not very much,” Emerson grunted.

“You are taking them too seriously,” I insisted. “They are rather silly and somewhat annoying, and we will have as little to do with them as possible. Have you decided what needs to be done here, Emerson?”

“What needs to be done,” said Emerson grumpily, “is lock the whole place up and shoot any damned tourist who tries to get in. Yes, yes, Peabody, I know, it is an impractical suggestion. You made plans of the brickwork you found west of the chapel, Vandergelt? The men had better cover it up again, otherwise the bloody tourists will climb all over it and destroy what little is left.”

“What about repairing the floor?” Cyrus asked. He was not anxious to waste time on that chore, but he was a conscientious individual.

“Leave it,” Emerson said. “One of the damned tourists may fall in.”

                                            ~ Excerpt from The Golden One by Elizabeth Peters.

A Round of Interesting Blog Posts 11.

Yes, yes, I was supposed to have posted this yesterday but I was having computer problems {unrelated to why I didn't post on Monday} and didn't get online at all! But anyway, here are the links to the posts that caught my eye this past week.

Charles over at Strictly Speaking starts us off with a good, healthy dose of humor:

http://charles-thorell.blogspot.com/2011/07/oil-crisis.html

Ruth over at Booktalk and More has the coolest movie review on the block:

http://booktalkandmore.blogspot.com/2011/07/cowboys-aliens.html

The gals over at Young Ladies Christian Fellowship have an interesting post on Biblical character in women:

http://ylcf.org/2011/08/gods-best-dressed-woman/

Casey over at Writing for Christ ~ The Audience of One has a cool book review:

http://enjoyingthewritingcraft.blogspot.com/2011/08/review-out-of-control-by-mary-connealy.html

Amber over at Seasons of Humility has a good book review:

http://seasonsofhumility.blogspot.com/2011/08/my-review-of-surrender-dawn.html

Meredith over at Austenesque Reviews also has a grand book review for us:

http://janeaustenreviews.blogspot.com/2011/07/sylvester-or-wicked-uncle-georgette.html

Ellie over at The Beggar Who Gives Alms has a fun post on nail polish:

http://thebeggarsalms.blogspot.com/2011/08/nail-polish-and-sticky-notes.html

The Authoress has a fine post poking fun at writers {herself included}:

http://inkpenauthoress.blogspot.com/2011/07/you-know-youre-writer-if.html

Noah over at Books I Recommend shares his recent experience at a Rebelution Conference:

http://noahsreads.blogspot.com/2011/08/rebelution-conference.html

Jane over at Reviews by Jane shares a fun book with us she recently came across:

http://reviewsbyjane.blogspot.com/2011/08/tantalizing-title-tuesday.html

Holly over at The Bookshelf has a fun book review to share:

http://bookshelfreviews-holly.blogspot.com/2011/08/rivers-song.html

Ruth over at Booktalk and More has a humorous look on the final episode of Zen:

http://booktalkandmore.blogspot.com/2011/08/zen-ratking.html

My darling friend Gabrielle over at her blog Legend of a Seamstress has got a new camera!

http://legendofaseamstress.blogspot.com/2011/07/new-camera.html

Keep blogging folks! :)

Monday Blurbs ~ Third Edition

Yeah, I know I was suppose to have written and posted this on Monday. My bad. Anyway, let's see what my family and I watched over the weekend!

On Friday we didn't watch anything. Well, the news of course but that doesn't count. ;) On Saturday I watched Dragon Sword. Made in 2004 and apparently also titled George and The Dragon, this is an awesome movie! A handsome English knight named George returns from the Crusades tired from all the battles he's been through. Just wanting to settle down George goes to visit a kindly king whose daughter has recently disappeared. In exchange for a small plot of land George agrees to help look for the wayward girl and teams up with her betrothed Lord Garth. George finds himself in over his head when he finally meets the "sweet little lamb" of a princess and the dragon's egg she's protecting. I love this movie! I watch it every time it comes on, mainly because I haven't purchased it yet. I shall soon remedy that. *winks* Oh, a note on the poster to the left: I seriously have no idea why the girl's hair is brown when in the movie it's red. *shrugs*

When the movie was over I watched the NASCAR Nationwide race of course {uh, I can't remember who won} and all day long there was a Psych marathon on the Sleuth channel so, needless to say, I watched that for the majority of the day while bouncing around online during the awful commercials. Shawn Spencer has been raised by his policeman father to notice the tiniest details. Once "grown up" he has difficulty getting a job but likes to send the police anonymous tips. One day he gets the bright idea to masquerade as a psychic. He ropes his childhood friend Gus into the mix and the two make quite the team solving baffling cases, sometimes with Shawn's dad's help. The antics of Shawn and Gus are hilarious! Even if they do act a bit immaturely for grown men and sometimes the episodes of the show could be better but all in all it's really very entertaining. *wink*

We also watched an episode of MI5 which turned out to be a re-run though we hadn't seen it before of course. It introduced one of the main characters. On Sunday we had a barbecue so not much time to watch too much television or movies. We did watch the end of the NASCAR Sprint Cup race {the Brickyard 400 to be exact} which Paul Menard won; his family has been trying to win it for thirty years and he finally did it! In the evening we watched I Am Number Four with a friend of ours who hadn't seen it yet {my Dad hadn't seen it yet either}. Made in 2011 {wait, we're still in that year *facepalm*} and starring Alex Pettyfer {a.k.a. Alex Rider *wink*}, this sci-fi/action thriller is about a teenage refugee alien who is disguising himself as a regular teenager and trying to get through high school while these nasty bad alien dudes track him down with intent to kill. Somebody else is also tracking him down but that's a plot twist. Anyway, this movie had so much potential! I liked John err, Alex Rider, and his new friends at the high school and his guardian was so awesome! The fight scenes were really cool but why couldn't they have taken place during the day or in better lit rooms so we could actually see the cool stunts? Oh and those alien guys, the bad ones, are just so ugly and awful. No wonder they're the villains! *rolls eyes* I liked this movie but I liked Jumper way better.

And in the evening we watched the final episode of Zen. This whole three-parter show was really very interesting and unique in some ways yet not in many others. And the viewing experience was also quite interesting. The first episode we were all into it, the second my mom and I watched together and talked during all the cool dramatic conversation scenes so I don't honestly remember what that one was about, and this third episode I watched with my Dad {my brothers coming in and out of the room don't really count} and my Dad had the remote so he kept changing the channel at unexpected intervals. This was a little frustrating but a couple of times I was glad he changed it because there were at least three inappropriate bedroom/kissing scenes! Why, oh why do they have to put all those awful unwanted unnecessary scenes in perfectly fine shows and movie?! Ugh. Still, I guess for a final episode it was all right.

And that sums up my weekend. At least as far as movies and television are concerned. *wink* Catch ya later!