VMChick's Weblog

Life As A House

vmchick — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 22:40:05 +0000

I watched this movie again last night, and it had been years since I watched it. It is one of my favourite movies ever. It is so powerful and has such a stunning cast – Kevin Kline, Hayden Christensen, Kristin Scott Thomas, Mary Steenburgen. And this time I was surprised to see Ian Somerhalder is in it too…the last time I watched the movie, he hadn’t starred on Lost or The Vampire Diaries yet. The beauty of this film is the craziness of all its characters, the flawed, real rawness of their personalities. The way everyone grows, even the people who you think are beyond redemption, is what makes it so beautiful. Kevin Kline is just plain brilliant, as always. He has such a gift, and plays the flawed man looking for redemption so well. Hayden Christensen did this movie before the Star Wars trilogy, and is also brilliant in the role. He can really act, and alongside Kevin Kline and Kristin Scott Thomas to boot. Anyhow, if you haven’t seen it, watch it, and if you have, watch it again…with a box of Kleenex at the ready

This Is It

vmchick — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 23:36:58 +0000

As I mentioned in a previous post, I had tickets to see This Is It on Sunday. I was going with a friend who really wanted to see it. I wasn’t really seeing it with any expectations. Wow! This movie blew me away. I think over the years, all of the personal stuff that was broadcast about Michael Jackson just clouded my views about him as an artist. I am not going to even touch on the personal stuff, except to say that in this movie he is so thin and fragile looking that it made me sad. As an artist however, I had forgotten his brilliance. I really don’t think there is another musician out there with the gift that he had. I certainly am not his biggest fan, but I could watch this movie and appreciate him on a level that I think I knew about once way back when, but had forgotten. The way he carried a melody, even when he wasn’t trying, and hit those beautiful notes, and really felt the music. The way he danced…I mean seriously, the man was 50 years old and was moving like crazy. So innovative! Watching the young principle dancers all jump up and down with glee watching him perform when they weren’t on stage with him was so beautiful. What an amazing gift he gave them that they will cherish for the rest of their days. He was so humble, which I think I forgot. Whenever he had a criticism or suggestion for the way a song was being played, or lighting or anything, he very kindly asked for the change and said it was coming with love. How sweet. He could have been a total diva and no one would have cared. This movie reminded me how amazing MJ really was, and how much I would have loved to have seen his final concert be performed.

What to do re the flu?

vmchick — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 22:54:07 +0000

Sometimes being a parent and completely responsible for another person’s well being is very stressful! Okay most of the time it is very stressful! This H1N1 thing really has me confused. On the one hand, we never get the flu vaccine. My son has an egg allergy so he can’t get it, and the rest of us just don’t really think about it too much. We have never gotten the flu a lot and it just hasn’t occurred to us to ever get vaccinated. When I started hearing about H1N1 I adopted the same attitude. No need for a vaccination, as really, we will all be okay. But the media is very specifically telling me we will NOT be okay, in fact we are all going to die if we don’t vaccinate. As a parent, I really don’t feel like taking that kind of a chance, so I am considering the vaccination.

However, my son still can’t get it due to his allergy - apparently at some point he will be able to get it through his allergist, but the ETA on that service being available is unknown. At the same time, my daughter doesn’t qualify for the age group of kids getting vaccinated yet, so we have to wait for that too. So the media keeps telling us these horrific stories about perfectly healthy children dying – which is insane and sad and makes me really hysterical – and at the same time, we can’t get either of our children vaccinated yet. Sigh.

On the other hand I am plagued with doubts about this vaccination and what its side effects are, and its effectiveness against the virus. The media is also publishing lots of doubt filled stories about both the safety and research and testing for the vaccine. I am basically churning all of this stuff around my head all the time, and making my whole family bathe in anti-bacterial gel constantly. The fitting end to this story is that this morning on the bus, a woman sat beside me and essentially coughed and phlegmed the whole way to work – for about 30 minutes. I tried desperately to just not touch anything, or even breathe too much, and then seriously washed my hands when I got off the bus. But now, who knows what will happen?

Two Movies and a Book

vmchick — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 22:23:01 +0000

I got tickets to go see the Michael Jackson movie, This Is It, on Sunday afternoon. I would not classify myself as a HUGE Michael Jackson fan, but I always enjoyed his music and look forward to seeing what the movie is like. I actually don’t even know very much about what the actual movie is about so it will be a bit of a surprise as well.

I also just got tickets to go see the double bill of Twilight and New Moon on November 19. I am so happy because Twilight is showing at 7pm and New Moon at 10pm. Last year when we went to see Twilight we went at midnight, and then afterwards found out we could have gone at 10pm…so, very amazing that this year we get to see the earlier showings. I am also really hoping that New Moon is good. I am a little anxious because the book was my least favourite of the series and had the least Edward in it, and really – he is my favourite. Hopefully they do a good job and it is as good as Twilight.

Lastly, the latest book in the House of Night series came out yesterday, Tempted. My wonderful friend picked it up for me and I cannot wait to start it! I haven’t had a chance yet, but hopefully tonight I can curl up with it. It is such a fun series, and I can’t wait to see what happens next…

Potty talk ;-)

vmchick — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 21:01:00 +0000

Can we talk just for a brief minute about automatic flushing toilets? I am in an office these days that is equipped with the latest bathroom technology. Touchless taps and soap dispensers (yea!) and automatic flushing toilets…which was a yea! but has some serious drawbacks. At first I was thrilled as it is nice to not have to really touch anything and have it all flush automatically. But then, what happens when it doesn’t flush when you want it to? You have to find the little button thing to make it flush which seems to be different on every single toilet. And the latest problem I have discovered is unwanted, random flushing. Which means, there I am, happily doing my thing, when suddenly, BOOM! an unwarranted flush! And sometimes 3 or 4 in a row. It freaks me right out! It only takes me seconds to pee but sometimes that darn toilet is flushing the whole time. Anyway, I digress…just had to get it off my chest.

Curly hair

vmchick — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 21:11:20 +0000

A blog that I read regularly by a woman that I think is wonderfully insightful and witty and lovely to read, posted today about her hair, and how she occasionally gets sick of it being straight and wishes for another style. After talking to loads of women she was saying that most women think the grass is greener – meaning if you have curly hair you wish it was straight, if you have long hair you wish it was short, if you have blond hair you wish it was dark etc. I have to say I don’t fall into that category. I love my curly hair. LOVE IT. It is so ridiculously easy to care for. I wash it. That is it. I don’t even use any product unless I am going somewhere special. I straighten it about 5 times a year, for a different look, but most of the time it is just flowing in its natural curl. I grew up with wavy hair until I was about 14. That is when the big ’80s poodle perms became the look du jour. Of course I ran out and spent $20 to get one. What ended up happening to my hair is bizarre. I had the poodle look for a month or two until the perm started to grow out. And then, as it grew out, it continued to be lovely and curly. It has been curly ever since, and actually has become a lot curlier over the years, to the point where I have corkscrew curls in places. I love it! I wonder if because I grew up with straight-ish hair, and now it is curly, if that is why I am okay with the curly thing, because I got to experience both styles. Anyhow, I guess it seems weird, but I do love my curly hair .

Yoga

vmchick — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 01:06:56 +0000

I have just started taking yoga classes once a week. I have periodically done yoga over the years, but nothing in the last 5 years. I have always liked it, but I find that now that I am running, it feels great! It is just so good to stretch out all the muscles that seem to be so tight from all of this running. I feel very invigorated after each class (I have been to two so far). The specific yoga I am taking is Hatha Yoga. In the past I have done Ashtanga, Hatha and yoga for pregnant women. The poses are great because you really can do them at any level. I am usually struggling to hold the simplest form of each pose, while the people on either side of me twist their bodies into perfect pretzel-like forms. I laugh a lot in class which is also quite therapeutic. I even find the last few minutes of relaxation/meditation lovely, and I used to hate that part. Now I find it nice and peaceful to just lie there letting my body relax and recover from all the work it has just done. I don’t have a favourite pose yet, but I am sure I will soon…I even like the sun salutations which everyone else in the class groans about. Last night, we did most of the class from our mat with pillows – comfortable exercising – I love it!

She

vmchick — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 23:24:41 +0000

Inspired by last night, here is just something I felt like putting out there…

She walked into the warm coffee house, happy to be coming in from the blistering cold that only a Canadian winter can deliver. Her glasses immediately fogged up and left her a little blind, but mostly just blurred everything around the edges in a way that made the world seem softer, kinder. As she waited for the fog to clear, she took a few tentative steps toward the counter to order, deciding en route what she felt like drinking today. In the end, warmth won out over nutrition and she settled on a grande hot chocolate with whipped cream. As she paid and picked up her drink from the counter, she sighed with relief as the warmth of the liquid seeped through the cardboard and warmed the tips of her fingers. Looking around the shop, she settled on the perfect table. Hidden in the corner, with a comfy overstuffed armchair, but with a clear view of the rest of the shop for people watching, she settled in to relax for a few stolen moments.

She picked up her book and opened to her bookmark, already anticipating being swept away by the author’s wry humour, when suddenly it hit her. She was overwhelmed by him. The scent of his cologne and the unique blend of sweat, masculinity and virility that distinguished him immediately to her olfactory senses. Afraid to look up, and see him after all these years of denying herself contact, she kept her gaze steadfastly on her book, willing him to leave without seeing her. Now that she was aware of his presence, she could pick out his voice, all rough and sensual, evoking bittersweet memories of late nights and long afternoons. It was secretly thrilling, knowing that five years later she could still pick him out by his scent and voice and be certain. She was so in tune to him in the coffee shop by now, that she could pick out his footstep and know that he had seen her and was coming tentatively toward her. At the very last moment, she raised her gaze and met him squarely in the eye. “Hello,” she half breathed, half spoke.

Diana Gabaldon

vmchick — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 21:22:04 +0000

I am beyond excited. One of my favourite authors ever, Diana Gabaldon, author of the Outlander Series, is in town tonight. And I have tickets to see her!! She is in town to promote her new book, the latest one in the series, An Echo in the Bone. I have not yet read the book. It came out in September and I was going to read it before tonight, but as it is really long and one of my favourites I decided to wait a bit and then read it slowly, savouring each page. I am so very excited to hear her read from it tonight. I am dying to know which part she chooses to read, and find out why she chose it. I am also excited to hear the words in her own voice as I am sure it will add even more meaning to the passage. I am hoping there is a Q&A as well so I get to hear her thoughts on all the characters and plot developments and upcoming ideas/books. I truly love her books, and think she is an amazing writer, and I am feel like I am going to meet a rock star!

Update on yesterday – She was so fabulous! She was everything I expected and so much more. She is incredibly funny and has a very dry humour which I guess I should have figured out from the dry humour in the books. She read a great passage about Jamie and Claire. There was a question and answer period as well, which was mostly filled with questions I already knew the answers to from reading her webpage occasionally, but was still fun to hear her answer in person. And then the woman signed books for over an hour. I am not sure how long she was signing for because I waited in line for an hour and 15 minutes, got my books signed and left, but there was still a really long line of people waiting when I left. I am sure she was there for another hour at least. Some people brought gigantic bins of books! Craziness…but wow I love her even more now that I have met her. And boy I really need to start writing that best selling novel I always planned on publishing .

Thanksgiving

vmchick — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 21:27:25 +0000

In honour of this past weekend being Canadian Thanksgiving, I am devoting today to a list of things that I am thankful for. As I gorged on turkey, mashed potatoes and pie this weekend, my thoughts also drifted to the many joys in my life.

the swiftness with which I met my husband, who also happens to be the nicest man on earth, and one true love of my life.
the joy and gift that each of my two children are to me. The smile they each bring to my face daily, and the warmth they bring into my life.
the support system of wonderful friends and family I have been blessed enough to collect over the years. Without them, life would be harder.
even the dog makes it onto this list, as his unconditional love and joy lift my spirits when they need it most.
the many other things that make my life a little better each day, my favourite authors, movies, tv shows, for entertaining me and allowing me to escape a little when everything else seeks to overwhelm.
and of course to my readers out there, wherever you are, thank you for reading.