My Posts, My Post, Where for art thou my Posts!?

Well I guess my posts for yesterday and today are unrecoverable. Good thing they weren't long and/or important posts.  *sigh* But I did like my movie review*, but Oh well -- Maybe it will come back.

* The post is back minus the comments.  Oh well.

 I'm joining the Crochet Flower Crochet Along. This is based on a throw from Anthropologie.  I've joined this on Ravelry.com. I will simultaniously be working on my granny square afghan.


Thanks to all for your audiobook suggestions. I've decide on THE HELP. I have the hardcopy, but I hear the audiobook is fantastic, so I will be listening to 18 hours of that.

TV
American Idol:  Shock and Sadness to see James leave the show.  I was sure he'd be one of the final two.

The Voice:  I did like the blind audtions but I don't know about the battle rounds, I'm giving it more time.

The Borgias:  I had higher hopes for this show, it isn't as good The Tudors, but it isn't bad. I hope it comes back next season.

Game of Thrones:  This is the best of the new series.  I am also reading the book, so it is interesting to follow along that way.  This will be back next season. I think they will do one book a season.

Camelot:  I didn't think I was going to like this, but it is turning out to be a pretty good show.  Not much you can do with King Authur, but I like it.

Progress

It is May and I've read 26 books. That would put me ahead of target if I was going for 50 books, but I want to go for 75, so I am behind.  So I am aiming for 50-75 books for this year.

I've watched 117 movies so far this year.  I should be in the 110-120 in May so I'm on target.

I've crocheted 28 granny squares so far.  I plan to crochet a total of 144.  I'm attaching them as I go, row by row.

Audiobook Suggestions and a Rant

I am also looking for a good fiction book in audio format. So when I am crocheting I can listen.  It has to have a good narrator and of course be good.

Books that I have or have read are:  Room, The Help and Game of Thrones, so cross those off of the list, but anything else please feel free to throw out there. I'm open to genre.

* * *

I have no problem with anyone wanting to be whatever religion they choose, I have no problems with Atheists either.  Live and let Live is my motto. I'm not going to drag you to my church, but if you ask a question about my church or religion, I will be happy to answer to the best of my knowledge.  First I had to worry about the JWs proselytizing, knocking on my door on Easter or Christmas morning, almost running me down in the street shoving their magazine in  my face.  For years and years I've had to deal with this.  I finally learned a few 'funny' things to do.

1. I cross myself and mumble 'Ave Maria, Sancta Maria'.
2. When they ask "May I interest you..."  I reply "No you may not..."
3. Start singing some obscure Catholic Hymn (preferably in Latin).

 One thing I want to do but don't have the guts is to pull out some Holy Water and scream "The power of Christ compels you!"


I like Mormons, my ex-father in law is a Mormon.  I actually went to an LDS service once. Wasn't my cup of tea, but they were always very polite.  Lately this hasn't been the case, and I think it has to do with the type of Mormon missionary.  Now, I know that sounds strange, but here is what I've noticed over the years.


The Mormons from Utah are white.  They are always polite. If you tell them that you are not interested or that you already go to XYZ church, they smile and leave you alone.


Now I've noticed (in my neck of the woods) they are no longer always white.  I've come across only 2 non-white young missionaries.  One male and one female.  The male one came to my door with a Utah Mormon.  I politely told them that I was Catholic (I also had a religious sign on my door that was in Spanish). They wanted to leave me the Book of Mormon, I told them that I already have it.  The Latino Mormon put his foot in my door so I couldn't close it.  WTF!  I looked at him like he was out of his mind.


The other day I'm walking in the street and a Latina Mormon smiled at me and asked me if she can talk to me about the church of LDS. I told her "No thanks."  I kept walking, she said "Can I give you a card with some information?"...No lady you cannot. I already said I was not interested.  But I didn't say that, I just said "I'm Catholic."  She still hesitated some like she was going to say more but didn't.


Everyone that walks the street isn't a lost soul.

I notice the only time they don't bother us (either JW or Mormons) is when my daughter is in her school uniform.  One piratically has to wear a giant crucifix around their neck in order to be left alone.

Proms, Chrochet and a Movie Review

I have to start today with a post that made me smile early in the morning. Go Retro!: Proms: Then and Now. Looking at some of those pictures posted brought back memories. The good ole days!

As you can see, my friends and I were pretty low key. We had our yellow and/or white dresses. Our hair was not so teased. Our make-up was light. This was 1986.

The girls cringe when they see this picture, but I like it, ain't so bad.

* * * *

I am currently working on a granny square afghan.  I haven't worked on anything in a while. I'm using mostly scraps.  I want to make it the queen size so I can spread it over my bed.  It has been years since I made a granny square, I actually had to review how to do it. Pretty sad I know.

* * * *

I am still working through my Christopher Walken movies.  I watched "The Mind Snatchers" also known as "The Happiness Cage".  This movie is based on a play by  Dennis Reardon.  This is a drama about medical experimentation in the U.S. military. The experiment is a brain operation which removes pain, replacing it either with bliss or sensual satisfaction. It is at first attempted on terminal cancer patients, but finally the doctors receive permission to test the procedure on a healthy but thoroughly obnoxious subject played by Walken.

This film was shot in Germany in 1972.  This was Walken's first film.  The film is very dated, and not that well acted by most, however, I have to say that Walken's performance was fantastic.  Not much different at all than the characters he plays now. Same pattern of speech, same facial expressions, same walk.  He hasn't changed in 40 years.

Most places I've seen did not give this film a very high rating, and it isn't the best thing out there.  It is an interesting film, based on scientific experiements from 1954.  It is thought provoking if nothing else.

(O) Other Hobbies

I've talked about my major hobbies during this challenge: Reading, Movies, Writing, Music and Guitars. However, occasionally I do get to do some other stuff. I so have Adult ADHD. Here are just some of my OTHER hobbies.
JEWELRY MAKING - I don't get to do this too much anymore because of room constraints. However, I can make jewelry. Necklaces, bracelets, earrings, broaches, watch bands...etc.

PHOTOGRAPHY - I've been taking pictures since I was 10. This is one of my recent favorites. View from my livingroom.
JEWELED NON-GROUT MOSAIC - This is the last thing I made. I made this in the fall 2010. It is a mirror with various beads/jewels attached. No grout, so it is rather delecate.

SEWING - Again, space in my apartment plays a factor. I sew. I made this patchwork skirt for my daughter in 2009. REFASHION - Why throw out things if you don't have to. Obviously, this donated skirt was too big for my daughter. Well I fixed that. I refasion/repurpose clothes and objects.

REPURPOSE - This used to be a Blue Diamond Almond container. Now it is a Mini Mary Shrine.

SING - Oh yeah, I sing in my church choir. That is me, the tall one in the back. My daughter is in the front with the silver head band. My son took this picture, so it isn't the best, oh well.

DRAW/PAINT - A talent I get from my father I suppose. Haven't drawn or painted anything in quite some time though. DECOPAUGE/MIXED MEDIA - Sometimes I have the urge to glue things.
  MOSAIC - I was a mad mosaic lady at one time (when I had lots of room). I loved working with tiles, stained glass and grout. Made some awesome stuff in the process. This is a candy dish, a Christmas gift I made for my mom. KNIT - I made this afghan for my daughter some years ago. I still do pull out the yarn occasionally.

CROCHET - I crochet too. I do traditional crochet and Tunisian chrochet. The above is the latter. This was a scarf for charity.

Projects

The bookcase is looking better than it did, but still needs some work. Since I have time now, I will be working on this, this is an ongoing project and the books just keep coming in.

Also will be working on my friends baby blanket. She is due in November, and I found it hard to find time to work on it. It is crocheted, so it isn't that difficult.

And now on to books. I was planning to read "War and Peace" next year, but since I'm home, I think I'll start tackling this soon. I also have "Crime & Punishment" waiting in the wings. I started that one a few yeras ago, but never finished. Luckily both of these are on my Kindle so no heavy books to carry around. Nothing like reading the Russians when there is nothing else to do.

I am way behind on my book reading this year. I had planned 100 but I'm only at 32 books for the year. I'll be lucky if I make it to 75.