Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Book vs. Movie

I love to read. Reading to me becomes a magical experience. When I pick up a good book it is like a tiny movie screen pops up into my head. If it is a REALLY good book it almost seems as if I am teleported into the book. I feel the air, smell the scents, become one with the book. I can become so intertwined with the characters that I can physically feel their pain.

Movies I love too. I love to watch a good movie. My favorite are the kinds that make you laugh until you cry and cry until you laugh. Movies that pull out those strong emotions in me. I remember watching War of the Worlds at the drive inn theater (the one with Tom Cruise) and having my stomach muscles ache for days afterward. What I hate are movies that don't do books justice.

After reading the Twilight series of books in January, and loving every page of them, my girls and I eagerly awaited the DVD release this past weekend. I knew just how every scene should be filmed, how each character should look, how they should sound and move. In my mind I had already seen the movie, the one that my mind had created while reading the books. I had become one with those books.

Last night Kimberly and I watched the movie. To say that I was unimpressed would be a huge understatement. I was furious! The characters were all wrong, the acting was less then "b" rated, the interaction between the characters was laughable. The filming was less then average. I have seen Jr high plays that were put together better. I had really hoped for something better.

Now I am not sure if I am going to waste my time with the next movie in the series. They reportedly just started filming it. The only thing that might tempt me into it is that they have a new director. Maybe I will let my girls go first and see if it is worth my time and disappointment.

For those who thought the movie was right on target, I am sorry that my opinion differs. For those that agree with me, lets keep our fingers crossed that this new director gets it right this time.

~Just Me

Sunday, March 15, 2009

Add 4 please






Welcome to the twilight zone - or at least my version of it. Every since I met my husband we have fallen into this unknown zone whenever we do any kind of home project. It never fails, every project, every time!

Laying a new carpet in our playroom which was to take around 3 hours turned into a 3 day affair when we found that the flooring under the carpet also needed replacing.

The new toilet for the powder room which I was to take an hour, turned into a week long project when the pipe cracked and needed to be replaced.

The chicken coop that was scheduled for two weekends has been under construction now since last October!

Our latest project, which I honestly thought would take all of 45 minutes has now been lasting 4 days. I having a feeling it is going to be going on for 4 more weeks at this rate!

My kitchen sink started draining slowly a few weeks ago and then stopped flowing all together last week. After my husband tried every known drain cleaner on the market I finally called a plumber. He came out on Thursday and after 3 hours and $250 later determined that the pipe that leads out of the house to the drain field was either severely clogged or collapsed.

We hired a friend to come over and dig up the pipe on Friday. He worked 5 hours and then his son came and worked another 5 hours undigging this pipe. Part of the problem was that we weren't sure exactly were this pipe ran.

Yesterday they finally got the entire pipe dug up and it was determined that it was so clogged with 50 years worth of debris that it would need to be replaced. Ray went out and got new, larger pipe and they started to remove the old and put in the new.

NOT SO FAST!

We live in a VERY old farm house. Our kitchen sink, on it's on drain line, has a single pipe that drained right into the creek on our property. Our neighbor across the way came over and was quiet upset. He never knew that for the last 50 years it was already doing this. The creek runs along his property and into his pond.

SOOOOO now we have to add a drain field so it will be filter before reaching the creek. More time, more money.

My wonderful husband has been out for the last 3 hours picking up the needed supplies to accomplish this while I have 3 teenagers digging a larger drainage area. Oh and did I mention that the ground water level around here is VERY high and that every ten minutes they are coming into the house, through my kitchen with those muddy shoes??

So what I honestly thought was going to be a 45 minute plumbing job has already turned into a 4 day affair with no end in site!

Next house, brand spanking new and we will have a live in handy man!

~Just Me!