Movie Review - Gravity

This weekend my sweet husband and I were able to escape away for a little impromptu "date night."  I was so excited to go to my favorite Chinese place in Bridgton, Maine.  If you are ever there you should really stop by Ruby Food.  But, I digress...the real reason for this post is to review the movie Gravity.  Sandra Bullock and George Clooney made the previews for the movie look somewhat interesting so we decided to give it a try.

I am a bit of sci-fi girl not over the top but some of my favorite shows and movies are sci-fi.  I say that so you don't think I only love the cutesy cutesy movies with just love a mush.  The effect for the movie are AWESOME.  Positively beautiful and some of the shots in the movie had to be all about the view...space...earth, a sunrise in space, a crash in space those were some awesome images I have to say.  If you go to see the movie keep the effects as the reason you pay money to see it. Because the rest of the movie was sadly predicable, and lacking in my opinion. 

At one point in the movie it is kind of a mushy teary eyed moment and my husband looked over at me to see if I am crying as I typically would be...if I had really felt the moment.  Nope, it was not believe able to me.  I didn't feel the moment, and let me tell ya I always cry or at least tear up when someone else does.  I cry at Hallmark commercials, I cry when I feel an overwhelming amount of pride someone has like for their school or community spirit like Firemen supporting a cancer patient.  Yeah I blubber at any touchy feely moment.  Not this one...why?  It was not done well, you didn't feel it or believe it. 

Sadly when the movie was over I felt let down.  I was like, is that it?   That is not a good feeling when you just spent $30 on tickets and popcorn and such.  So Meh on Gravity.  The effects in Gravity are awesome though.  It really is not worth our valuable Mommy time.  Save that get away moment for something better. 

Save the Children - Natural Disaster State Preparedness

This link shows how prepared each state is or isn't if a natural or other disaster happened. 

How does your state fare on this test?  

Some of the states that have had natural disasters in the news recently have green checks on all of their scores but I see this is just a knee jerk reaction because some of the states that have not been in the news as of late with natural disasters don't even have half of their boxes checked.  This means that they don't put the system in place until there is a failure!  Way to think ahead!  

Save the Children have a site where you can get involved.  Donate or send a letter to your state's representative to ensure the children in your state are safe.   Check it out. 

Then here is my opinion:

Prepare for yourself!   I always tell my children to never count on anyone, that they have to always count on themselves.  You should not wait around for someone else to save you.  One on my favorite sayings is "If your ship does not come in, swim out to it!"   It is good for a state to have plans in place and be prepared but it is better that each individual can fend for themselves and their family.  You should be able to care for your self if you have to.  

This is 40, Movie Review

   

My husband was gone for a night and that is my time to watch movies that he won't even consider when he glances at the title.   I went out to Redbox and rented two movies.   One of them was This is 40.   I wasted my money on this rental. 

The actors are: Paul Rudd, Leslie Mann, John Lithgow, Megan Fox, Maude Apatow. 

Like I said I wasted my money.  The movie is rated R, but it should have been rated vulgar, I don't know why they felt the need to go so far over the top with the disgusting, vulgarity.  I can handle some F bombs, and sex and violence but this was really unnecessary.  I was offended by the way the mom, dad and children talked in this movie.  Do not let your children watch it for sure!

It was supposed to be funny and I tried to watch it but I just hated almost every second of the movie.  It was not really funny.  I think they mistook offensive for comedy.  I am sad I wasted one of the few “Chic-Flic” nights on this movie. 

The dialog in some spots was so tasteless and offensive that I muted so I would not have to hear it.  The Mom and Dad were so selfish and self-centered it positively annoyed me.  I hope that people don’t actually talk this way.   I never go into the bathroom when my husband is in there and want to see what is under his butt in the bowl.  I would not even dare!  That is just gross.  I would not talk to a male personal trainer about my sex life.  

The whole film portrayed families as chaotic self-centered asses to be honest.  I try to avoid all of those types of people from my life completely and I am sad I paid to sit and watch the craziness in my living room.  Later I read another review to this movie and the reviewer was speaking of one of those moments I just don’t find funny and they said it was one of those movie jokes you know you shouldn't laugh at, but you do.  There is a reason that your first instinct is to turn away and shout no!  Because it should not be in the movie if you know you should not laugh at it.  Hollywood is trying to train you to find whatever they want funny.  Maybe they should just try to please their customers. 

The movie was supposed to be a semi-sequel to Knocked Up.  But I really have to say that I hated this movie and I would never recommend it to anyone.  If you enjoy crude humor about a completely self-centered, mean, rich, and dysfunctional family then it might be for you.  You can rent it on Amazon Instantly HERE.

Great Speach By Ashton Kutcher at Teen Choice Awards!

I really think that most times Stars should not give too much advice because they really live in a dream world.  But I was shocked about how awesome this speech was.  So I thought I would share it.  It was really shocking to hear from a big star.  

Here you should listen. 

Mass Shootings and Gun Control

I am a Mommy, so I want my kids safe at school.   I was raised around guns so they don't terrify me, and I feel like it is my duty as a parent to raise my children with the same respect for life and guns.  

I have red hair.  I was bullied.  I was an only child, and my mom and dad were divorced.  We moved A LOT so I rarely felt like I belonged.  I always knew there was a loaded shot gun behind my mom's bedroom door.  I always knew there was a loaded shot gun over my grandpa's bedroom door and a pistol in his glove box of his truck.  I never once thought that I should go and kill anyone with those guns.  I had really bad days at school when I came home crying because someone teased me for having red hair.  The bullies used physical violence and even a grown-up shamed me and humiliated me in front of my peers.  The thought of using a gun to kill a bunch of innocent people or children never once crossed my mind!   Know why I was not raised that way. 

I was a latch key child for awhile.  I would use my key that was tied around my neck with a shoestring to get in the house after school and watch TV and eat snacks until my single working mom came home from work.  I think I was six or seven years old.   We had two channels on our TV.  I always watched Mr. Rogers, Little House on the Prairie, The Lone Ranger, and Andy Griffin.   My mom would not allow me to go see any other movie besides a Disney Movie until after 5th grade.  So my aunt snuck me out to see Star Wars.  

My Mom was raised going to church every Sunday and she must have hated it because we never went.  But when we lived with my Granny and Grandpa for awhile between husbands I went every Sunday, and was enrolled in the churches version of Girl Scouts and the Vacation Bible School every summer.   So God was around.  

My mom never talked with me about issues or stuff at all, and to be honest I think I got most of my right from wrong from what little Bible School I had and Little House on the Prairie.  Yes basically I was raised by Ma and Pa Ingles.   That is a million times better than what my children may see on TV today.  So a parent has to be ever more active in our child's life to ensure they get that good role modeling from other sources.  

I told you all that to tell you this:  I believe that gun control is not the answer to the mass shooting issue.  I think that the way we raise are children is the answer. Sadly that means Mom's and Dad's need to step up right now and be Ma and Pa Ingles in their children's life RIGHT NOW!  It means that you cannot  let your child have control of the remote until they are a teen and you have already gave them a good foundation to make solid decisions.   I have two children that are no longer children they are 20 and 22 right now and I know that they have what they need to make the right choice.  They prove it to me everyday.  

I had to make hard choices when they were growing up though.  I had to make them #1 always.   That meant that me working full time when their Dad already had a full time job was not an option.  I always wanted to be there for them, so I only worked part time when I had to.  We got by, but we were never rich.  When their dad and I were divorced I had to go to full time, and I regret it to this very day.  I wished there was another way for me to stay at home and be there when they needed me.  But at the time there was not. 

But that is where we make a mistake in America today.  It is PC for both parents to work 40 or more hours a day.  It is PC for they internet and TV raise our children.  Have to seen what is on those things?   The TV alone discusses me to no end.  We have to be there for them, and that means one parent at home with the kids.  If you are single mom or dad you need help and that means the church or community you live in should step up.  Ma and Pa Ingles took in an orphan and so should you.  

Here is an example of how we fail with what we think is PC now.  When I was a single mom about 1 year into it I was really failing.  I was so tired, I had two kids no help and a dog that was used to me being home most of the time to care for it.  Now the dog was tied up outside and would get loose and get into the neighbor's trash while I was at work.  One of my nice neighbors left me a note  threat in my mail box that I have to do something about my wild dog or they would call the pound and the cops on me or kill my dog themselves.  Nice!  

They could have offered to help somehow.  I went through five collars and chains before someone told me about a dog harness!   Neighborly is to let me know about a dog walker in the neighborhood or tell me about these harnesses or offer to help in some way.  Not my PC neighbors.   I am not saying it was my neighborhood's responsibility to raise my dog, I am saying that we get too wrapped up in job, money and being PC to remember what is important.  Shine your light! 

Around the same time that the shooting happened in CT the there was a stabbing in a gun free zone, in an elementary school in China.  He stabbed 23 people with a knife.  Do some history research and you will find that every time guns are removed from it's citizens there is only death and failure.  I don't want to give up my right to protect my family with my gun and no one should have to.  

A week after the last shooting I posted on several news media's Facebook accounts to stop showing this evil shooters face and name because I don't want to make him infamous for the evil he had done. Do stories about the victims only.  One story letting us know who he was and his picture once is enough.   I don't want to know his face or name.  That way other evil crazies out there will not feel like this is how people will finally pay attention to them too.   No.  So I am asking you to write your congressmen and the media and let them know what you believe.  I write them all the time. 

Stay home with your kids and loose a portion of your income.  Save in other ways to make up for it and build a family that can survive and thrive instead.  If you don't belong to a church search one out and find one.  Raise your children in the arms of the fellowship of your church and start making time to help others.  You don't have to volunteer 20 hours a week what about just be a good friend for someone.  Walk that single mom's dog, offer to help pick up her groceries, take her and her kids to your church so they can enjoy the fellowship of your church.  Surround your kids with love and good influences!   Be there to say no to that Zombie movie your five year old turned to.  It can be done but the way is to do it.  We have to be active and get back to the basics. 

The economy is so terrible it is possible that many people could use a little help these days.  Lets get back to being a good neighbor.  If you grow some green beans share, have a good ole fashioned 1950's block party, that will get it going!  You will surely meet at least one neighbor you can call friend. 

Today is Malala Day!

Malala Yousafzai was a 14 year old schoolgirl in Pakistan, who was brutally shot by the Taliban for promoting girls' education in her country.  Did know that girls in Pakistan may not get the same education as the boys do?  Not just in Pakistan either, all across the globe girls are denied the simple opportunity to go to school!  

So today we are spreading the word about Malala Day.  Celebrate with me as we stand together by signing a petition to urge Pakistan to deliver education to every child. The petition will be given to Pakistan's president by former UK Prime Minister, Gordon Brown. 

Click here to sign the petition.

TWEET: I am standing in solidarity for education for girls on #MalalaDay. You can, too. http://educationenvoy.org #socialgoodmoms, #iammalala

The Election is OVER!

I have to tell you that I am really happy the election is finally over.  No matter what candidate won I am happy to end the stress, and the political negative campaigns that were literally invading my life! 

Phone calls LATE at night just to "axe" me who I would be voting for.  (That really is a huge pet peeve of mine.  Please don't say axe when you mean ask!  UGH!)

Countless pieces of junk mail from both parties wanting my vote but using negative political ads that just waste paper because I toss them in the garbage.   Maybe next time I will have to figure some clever creative idea to recycle all that junk ad paper in to Christmas cards?????  

Then the TV and Radio campaign ads...ALL OF THEM NEGATIVE!    What a downer when I am driving my son to school or going to work.  No one wants to start their day with that junk I had to shut off the radio and we listened to Christian CDS for most of the last month.  It was just wearing me down. 

My personal Facebook was overwhelmed with everyone's opinion and some of them were also negative as well.  I really think you can engage in a political conversion with out being crass or so negative.  

I am not an Obama supporter.  I really don't like him at all.  But the reasons I don't like him are not the ones found on the negative campaign ads.  This is where I think we fail as voters.  Everyone that I spoke to that wanted to sway my vote could only quote the sound bites from the negative campaign ads.  This bothers me.  Are we as Americans SO lazy that we cannot do a bit of research on the candidates before we cast our vote?   I teach my son not to believe any commercial on TV.  You really cannot.  They don't always give you the whole truth, especially political campaign ads.  Those have a tendency to REALLY twist the truth to a GIANT extreme. 

I hope that in the elections that are in our future we can stop the media bias and select a candidate with a good honest choice that we have really researched in a number of places.