REVIEW: "Sex and the City - The Movie"

I must admit, when "Sex and the City" was a hot commodity, I hardly watched it. You can mostly blame that on me not having HBO. Sure, I'd watch a few episodes if the opportunity presented itself, but I did not get Carrie Bradshaw's fashion sense (still don't get it) and the show only appealed to me in terms of the relationships - which is huge for that show.

So the fact that I attend the first daytime showing on Friday - 11:30 a.m., says a lot.

I enjoyed the two and a half hour movie. There was enough twists and turns - enough to get me to cry twice. Though there did seem to be a lull in the movie and I guess you get that when you unnecessarily go beyond the two hour mark.

Was there gratuitous sex? Yes, but isn't that a part of the "Sex and the City" legacy? Speaking of legacy, all of the characters were true to their previous TV counterparts - both male and female. And for the record, I don't think that it is just a chick flick. Again, relationships is the focus throughout - friends and lovers.

You'll definitely want to know what happens to Carrie and Big? And how vampy Samantha gets ...

Economic Stimulus

Yes, I am waiting impatiently for my economic stimulus check. Crazy thing is, I filed for an extension to file my taxes. I know, but technology is on my side. I finally filed my taxes - electronically - this past weekend so I am hopeful that the additional dollars are on the way.

What about you all ... is the cash from the govt. flowing for you yet?

Twittering

• 21:03 i'm @ it again - working on the weekly CleveEvents list #
• 22:28 getting lots of traffic on my craft blog - blog hop time radiogirlcards.blogspot.com/ #

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• 12:20 about to go on a quick shopping trip #
• 15:36 reading #
• 20:51 just finished an nice evening walk through the neighborhood; about to craft #

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• 23:26 Back @ the ranch. #

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• 16:59 the 'rents have finally fired up the grill! #

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• 10:44 about to hit the road; crafting and hangin out this afternoon #
• 23:02 chillin w/mom; showing her around the interweb. #

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• 13:25 Just finished lunch; just piddling around. #
• 14:27 running errands #
• 22:41 getting ready for the wknd roadie! #

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• 11:39 Off to a slow start; still in bed though reading 3 days worth of USA Today. #
• 20:35 making cards and lists and there may be some ice cream on the agenda #

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My Life - A Pseudo Reality TV Show

Crazy thing happened last wknd, I volunteered to participate in a clinical study - it was a paid study. I'd never done one before, don't know if I'll do one again, but quick and easy money it was.

But it went from nearly all day Friday until about 1 p.m. on Sunday. Not much contact w/the outside world and thrown into scrubs and footies w/about 30 other women - i.e. pseudo reality TV show.

Of course there was a clash of personalities. Ghettoism ruled; young women freely slinging profanity and a brand of ebonics that was even unfamiliar to me.

And talk about nasty ... I can not go into detail about what happened in the women's restroom. I will only say that they had to phone in assistance for clean up because the staff on hand could not handle it.

Rude too; if you are walking by someone and you want to get by, but they can't see you, a proper 'excuse me' will do. But you should not just bump into them and keep walking. Rude and uncompromising. Playing dvd players w/no headphones loudly and then getting an attitude when someone asks for it to be turned down.

But some were reading books, which gives me hope; Oh, and we had a pretty wide movie selection. I sat down for "August Rush". It was beyond predictable, but not a total time waster. They also watched "Why Did I Get Married?" and some other mystical, prince/princess type movie and that I quietly made an exit from.

Oh, and there was another group that was stuck on Jerry Springer and what seemed like a Maury Povich "Daddy DNA Test" marathon; along w/reruns of Flavor of Love - season 1 (could that be what sent someone to the bathroom ...?).

The food was okay. Though there was a chef salad that was riddled w/ham. I passed on it and was told that I could pick the ham out. Thanks, but no thanks. Someone finally retrieved a tre lettuce salad from the previous night, which was fine by me.

Oh, the sleeping arrangements - you guessed it: bunk beds and lots of them. I did not bring blanket and I could have surely used one. But we weren't permitted to bring much. Actually, the list of what we could not bring was extensive. For example:

• no toiletries
• no lip stick, balm, gloss or other lip enhancing products
• no lotions
  

I did manage to conjure up a helluva headache, but it subsided soon after I arrived home and was able to take some medication for it.

Would I do it again, depends. I really had nothing else to do that weekend and it was better to make money than to spend it. the payout was $250 which came as a check as we left the facility. Yeah!

Twittering

• 22:41 After a full day AND roadie, now working on the CleveEvents list. yea me! #

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• 09:24 washing my hair; Getting ready for a little roadie; very busy and lovin it! #
• 20:26 finally made it to my destination; seems google left off a nice portion of the directions and NO gps-great; good thing I had a map, eh? #
• 23:01 about to start watching "First Sunday"; then off to bed. #

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• 11:16 is up and at'em! Headache came back, so I'm just getting through email before I get to the good stuff #
• 12:50 It's lunch time - wings, then an appt @ 1:30p; then off to run some errands. #
• 19:28 having ice cream and soup - in that order! #
• 21:32 I'm getting through my list of things to do! yea! #

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• 20:10 recuperating from the study; headache downgrade to minor #

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• 20:06 participating in a study ... crazy! #
• 23:00 monster headache; no meds #

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• 22:48 no computer this wknd; lots of reading and writing #

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• 10:54 Cleaning house; listening to the telly. #
• 21:06 working on the weekly CleveEvents list. #
• 23:44 working late on the CleveEvents list #

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Aches and Pains

So I don't have to ask myself about the aches and pains because I know the true source of the issue. But I thought I'd share w/you so that you can learn a lesson or two and not suffer as much as I am suffering.

I promised myself that I would practice more Pilates this year. Well, I've certainly kept that promise to myself. Since February, I've been doing Pilates twice a week (unless I'm traveling). This is not your typical Pilates. No, this is machine Pilates. I love my gym. It's like a cute little boutique gym. There are no more that six members in a Pilates class at a time. But the machines are wonderful - it's does not seem like work or exercise at all; quite relaxing.

But Pilates is not the reason for my aches ... no, occasionally on Monday afternoons I talk a walk through the neighborhood w/some of the girls from the gym. The neighborhood, mind you, is a bit hilly, meaning, we usually begin our walk by asking "should we take the big hill or the big, big hill?" All of the hills are gargantuan! That is the cause of my aches and pains, well, that and after the 45 minute walk (this is not a stroll) I then went to the gym for a Pilates class.

No complaints, right - no pain, no gain - except I am not striving for a goal, just some consistency in my workout regime.

My advice to you ... get your workout on, just spread the workouts out evenly ...

BOOK REVIEW: "After the Dance" by Lori Johnson

Author Lori Johnson's debut novel "After the Dance" is a love story. It's a fun read and if the title reminds you of a song, then you know good music. Johnson confesses that she is a lover of all things music (especially old school music) and weaves lots of music and music titles throughout the book. The reference to "After the Dance" is related to a tune by the legendary Marvin Gaye.

But there is, indeed, alot of dancing in the book. The two main characters, Carl and Faye, dance around many issues and situations and they get their groove on too - in more ways than one.

There is also a focus on friends and family, especially the extended family. It's a good mix for the reader to see how Johnson includes a cousin, an uncle, an ex-wife, a best friend and a flurry of others into the plot of the story.

Couple that w/topics such as body image, infidelity, adoption, friendship, love and deceit and you'll be done flipping the pages in a day or two.

My reading group selected "After the Dance" to read because some of my reading group members used to be in a writing group w/Johnson. The book was a pleasure to read - and an easy read at that - it had a good flow to it. I kinda figured out how the book would end, but how it would get to that ending was quite interesting.

If you want a nice and easy read, "After the Dance" is a good one. Pick up a copy, share it w/a friend, enjoy the read. You can read an excerpt here.

Reviews:

• Urban Reviews
• RAWSISTAZ Literary Group
• Publishers Weekly (scroll to the fiction section)
  

Feeling like I'm making progress

So I've been a bit of a busy body lately.

For some reason, I've gotten into the bad habit of staying up late - like 2 a.m.; then I usually get up by 9 a.m. I need more sleep and as a result I usually end up taking a nap. But I've had a few napless days lately.

Here's what I've managed to accomplish:

• Went grocery shopping
  
• 30 minute walk through the neighborhood (lots and lots of hills; almost got bitten by a dog and almost got hit by a car-twice)
• awesome Pilates class on Tuesday morning (another class tomorrow afternoon)
• completing the semester; graded final projects; completed grading for one course
• made lots and lots of cards (for submission, of course)
• walked to the nearby shopping district to get some shopping done (very refreshing; just can't buy what you can't carry)
• started working on my next article for Craft Critique
• ran the sweeper
• finished reading "After the Dance"
• paid some outstanding bills (like the cable bill where I have not received a paper bill for months; I only know that it is overdue when I receive the overdue bill - crazy)

There is more, but some of it is just too personal and I am not going there.

A New Earth

You know that I am a member of the Oprah congregation ... I dvr the show regularly.

At any rate, I have not gotten beyond, say chapter 3 in "A New Earth". But that's because there are other things and people consuming my life right now - and that is okay.

I have, however, been peeking into the classes on Monday night. There is something that I like about them. I sometimes think that 90 minutes is just too much time; even though they tend to go into great deal when responding to emails and others via phone or Skype.

I like the classes because I can work on my crafting while listening to the discussion.

So although next Monday is supposed to be the last class, Oprah will continue the class as a part of her Soul Sessions Series on XM Radio. That is so cool. I think I will enjoy that since she has interviews with a variety of people. I like Eckhart Tolle, but again 90 minutes of him and O can be a bit much on some nights.

Meanwhile, when will I get through the book? I think I will set a goal to get through it in the next 6 weeks. Let's see how that goes...