things to do when you're sick and bored for a week

sleep, of course, if you can. but if you can't then i suggest...

read a lot. i quite enjoyed more of percy jackson's adventures in the heroes of olympus series. yes, it's juvenile fiction but i wanted something entertaining and light to read and this fit the bill. i read the first three books while i was sick and enjoyed them so much. i can't wait until next fall when the fourth book comes out.

watch a little online tv to get caught up. i really do like once upon a time, and i'm anxious to find out what's happened with some of my favorite characters. my latest guilty pleasure that is absolutely awful (it's like watching a train wreck in slow motion and i can't look away), last resort. oh, and my other guilty pleasure, go on (this one just makes me laugh and laugh). doctor who is always good on netflix.

movies to watch: i really enjoyed the best exotic marigold hotel; i highly recommend it. the cast is superb--judi dench, bill nighy, maggie smith, tom wilkinson, just to name a few. i also re-watched one of my favorites the other sister with juliette lewis and diane keaton. this movie leaves me in happy tears every time i watch it. so much joy and love.

eat a whole case of clementimes--i hear that vitamin c is good for you.
lots of chicken noodle soup--the warm broth feels really good on a sore throat.
toast and saltines.
apple cider--i heat it up in the microwave for a minute and it's absolutely divine. helps to cut phlegm too.
cranberry pomengranate juice. sooooooooooo good.
drink lots of water. lots and lots of water.
robitussin dm is good stuff. it worked the best out of everything i tried.
halls sugar-free blueberry cough drops.
a combination of tylenol and ibuprofen. oh and a little flexerol for stiff muscles can be really fun.

way too much time on facebook. i was really bored.
angry bird star wars--so much fun.
writing blog posts.
lots of phone calls to my mom and dad. they always make me feel better. thanks.
text with friends and siblings. words with friends. draw something.

i watched this a few times. the star just warmed my heart right up.


and then i found this... a fun interpretation. "brilliant! they won't be expecting that!"

things that will never be the same after watching doctor who

doctor who is brilliant, fantastic and creepy. after watching the series, i'm not sure that i can look at some of these things the same again...

* angel statues, especially weeping ones
* libraries and shadows
* gps systems in cars
* weight loss pills
* anti-aging anything
* christmas in london
* police call boxes of every kind, but especially blue ones
* captain jack is no longer a pirate
* screw drivers - i'm always going to be looking for a sonic version.
* traveling companions
* stars
* spiders
* reality television and game shows
* music
* titanic
* toilet plungers and egg beaters - "Exterminate!"
* agatha christie
* bumble bees
* dogs which bark at nothing
* watching television
* robotic dogs
* nuclear warheads
* the first female prime minister of england
* gas masks
* the darkness
* children's drawings
* the night before getting married and this is only season 4... oy!
* this man

via here

and there's so much more doctor to watch... yay!

what i'm watching: foyle's war

I'm absolutely captivated by the series, Foyle's War, starring Michael Kitchen as straight shooter Detective Chief Superintendent Christopher Foyle. Set on the south coast of England during the 1940s against the background of World War II. Crime doesn't stop for the war and neither does Inspector Foyle.

via here

Foyle is accompanied in his investigative pursuits by his spunky driver Samantha "Sam" Stewart played by Honeysuckle Weeks. (Seriously, with a name like Honeysuckle how can you go wrong?) Sam longs to help with the cases and be a bit more than a driver, and proves herself an indispensable part of the team. I love her character.

via here

Sergeant Paul Milner, played by Anthony Howel, is Foyle's right hand man. An amputee casualty of the war, Sergeant Milner is given a second chance at police work by Inspector Foyle, who asks for an extra set of eyes during a case. He's just as cunning and moral as his boss.

via here

These three make quite a formidable team. As the war progresses the stakes get higher and the cases more intriguing. The series is well written and acted, and the stories are captivating. I find myself surprised at how well the old adage "the more things change the more they stay the same" is presented in this series. The people and technology may change, but the issues are the same whether it's 1940 or 2012. Really good stuff!

The series originally aired on PBS as part of the Masterpiece Mystery programming. The good news is that all six seasons are on Netflix!

things that made me smile this week

it was a rough week, but there was plenty to smile about.

* a gorgeous spring-like day with birds singing, trees and flowers starting to bloom, sunshine and warmth all around. it was an absolutely gorgeous day.

* i recently bought this lovely jacket. it makes me smile whenever i wear it, and everywhere i go, i get the loveliest compliments on it. it's so much fun to wear.

* a friend and i took josiah out for a walk and watched him play at the dog park. he's so funny and the other dogs are fun to watch as well. some are so friendly and while others are so skittish. plus, it was nice to stand with my friend and chat as we watched the stars come out as the sun went down. venus and jupiter are so bright this time of year in the western sky.

* i worked from home one day because i was sick, and in between emails and phone calls on my dreaded blackberry, i also planned out my front garden for this year. i can't wait to get started. it's going to be an explosion of color.

* oh, and josiah is really great at warming up my feet too.

* an early birthday present from a friend, who knows and appreciates my love of star trek. yes, it's a star trek door chime with a motion sensor that sets off a klaxon. this will be great fun in the office! oh, and the hat fit him.

* on friday my roommate left close to midnight to drive up to new york because her baby sister was in labor and she was about to become an auntie again. this meant i got josiah all to myself this weekend. woohoo! while on a walk sunday morning, there was this cute little boy, probably about 18 months old, with blond hair, blue eyes and a brilliant smile who turned the corner in front of us, saw josiah and fell in love. he was soooo cute and excited to meet him. he wanted to pet josiah and instead of reaching out to pet his face, he knew just what to do. he walked over so that he was standing behind josiah's face, and reached out and tentatively touched him with his fingertips. he had the biggest smile on his face as he looked up at his dad. i loved that little kid.

* shakespeare is always fun, and the production of two gentleman of verona i saw on saturday night with some great friends was certainly entertaining.

* i watched this documentary on Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey. it's the loveliest film about following your passion and being supported by family and colleagues. i laughed and cried. when i grow up, i want to be like elmo.

talk nerdy to me

Nerd is a term that refers to an intelligent but single-minded person obsessed with a nonsocial hobby or pursuit. Nerds are generally considered to be awkward, shy and/or unattractive by most, although this is not always true. Thus, a nerd is often excluded from physical activity and considered a loner by others, or will tend to associate with a small group of like-minded people, although again, this is not always the case.

Geek is a slang term, with different meanings ranging from "a computer expert or enthusiast" to "a carnival performer who performs sensationally morbid or disgusting acts", with a general pejorative meaning of "a peculiar or otherwise dislikable person, esp[ecially] one who is perceived to be overly intellectual".

Which am I? Not sure...

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I am in awe of the particular individual passions on display this weekend at Shore Leave 33, a fan-based Star Ttrek convention, which has now branched out into the other realms, or universes, of science fiction. There was something for everybody - Star Trek, Battlestar Galactica, Star Gate, Firefly (love this one!),  steam punk, and even Honorverse (Dad, you like this series)--just to name a few.

The best part was getting to listen to experts from NASA, Johns-Hopkins and other institutions talk about REAL science. My friend TS and I really enjoyed learning about these projects and at one point I leaned over to her and said, "We really must find jobs at NASA." She summarized the science perfectly on her blog:

There was one by a NASA scientist who worked on the Hayabusa project, and it was absolutely fascinating. Another about the history of NASA human flight, presented by a guy who works at Kennedy, was also great. Another awesome presentation was about Zooniverse, where you can volunteer to help out with various science projects (click the link, pick a project, and volunteer!). There was also another great one about upcoming solar system exploration. He talked a lot about the upcoming Mars Science Laboratory mission. Click this link to watch an animation of how they plan to land the thing on Mars (the video goes beyond the landing, but the speaker was focused on how they were landing). 

It was fascinating stuff and makes me want to learn and do more.

NASA dude explaining science stuff about the Hayabusa project.

There were actors from several different shows who took questions from us, the fans. The actors genuinely loved being there to talk about their work and share in their fans' enthusiasm for the shows and the characters. I was impressed with their sincerity as they met fans and shared a few moments with them. My favorites were these two guys:

John de Lancie who played Q
on Star Trek : The Next Generation

Christopher Judge who played Teal'c
on Stargate: SG-1
And he's a fan of Big Bang Theory!

Gary Lockwood and Sally Kellerman from
Star Trek: TOS pilot episode

The people at the convention were all really nice and cool. They definitely had their own groups and ideas going, because very few actually reached out to talk to anyone new, so I didn't leave with a new group of friends. I did meet some cool people from West Virginia with whom I hung out for a while, but that was it.

B from WVa made her hairpiece over one week.

The Masquerade or costume contest was really neat. I loved seeing all the costumes and how the contestants presented themselves. There were some really amazingly talented people who made some gorgeous costumes. I wish I had been able to get some close-up photos of more costumes, because they were some really cool ones there.

The Royal Manticoran Navy in uniform.

This dress was amazing. The velvet was hand imprinted.
21 hours on the dragon and 36 hours on the dress.

A steam punk engineer. Awesome leather work
and creative use of a caulking gun.

Steam Punk Crypto-Zoologists. Very authentic and Victorian-esque.

So all in all a very good weekend. Lots of fun and learning. I'm glad I went and I'll probably head back again next year for some more fun.

More photos here. Some more photos here. Soon to be photos here. Enjoy!

what i watch - gentleman's agreement

I love Gregory Peck. If only I could find a man like him... But I digress.

He is brilliant in the 1947 film Gentleman's Agreement as recently widowed reporter, Phil Green, who moves to New York City with his son and decides to go undercover as Phil Greenburg to explore the effects of anti-Semitism for an article. Little does he know how much of an effect his decision will have on his personal life.

While the exploration of anti-Semitism in the film is confined mainly to the upper class, the film still resonates. Interestingly, this film didn't set too well with House Un-American Activities Committee and several people involved in production of the film were placed on the Hollywood black list. Still the film was well received by critics and public alike, and went on to receive Oscars for Best Picture and Director. 

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what i watch - born yesterday (1950)

Judy Holliday and William Holden are magic on the big screen in "Born Yesterday (1950)". Each time this movie plays on TMC I just have to watch it. In 1993, Melanie Griffith and Don Johnson starred in a re-make of this classic movie and it's just not as charming and great as the original.

Judy Holliday sparkles as Emma 'Billie' Dawn and shows her acting range. She won the Best Actress Oscar for this role. Her smile lights up the screen every time. It's filmed on location right here in Washington, DC and it's fun to go back in time on a tour of my new home town.

I love the wardrobe. I mean who wouldn't sleep in that get up?

The basic storyline is this: A corrupt tycoon goes to Washington to try to buy a Congressman, and brings his dizzy girlfriend along. He's worried that her lack education will embarrass him, so he hires a reporter to educate her. As she educates herself, she learns just how corrupt her boyfriend is, and she and the reporter become good friends.

I love watching Billie's transformation from ill educated innocent to self-educated, confident woman, and her excitement as she starts to understand the world around her and the workings of politics. She gains the confidence to stand up for herself and stop her corrupt boy friend in his tracks.

Isn't she adorable in those glasses? And her lounge wear is to die for.  

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what i watch - how to train your dragon

It's been years since I found a movie that could watch again and again, and not get bored. "How to Train Your Dragon" is the movie that I have watched three times in the past three weeks. (Yep, I like cartoons.) The imagination, creativity and talent in this movie is absolute genius with total heart. I dreamed of having my own dragon, ever since I read "The Dragonriders of Pern" series as young teenager. And this movie totally fed into that part of me. The part that wants to fly on a dragon's back and have a dragon-sized best friend who could help me with all my inner dragons.

This is a touching movie about being true to yourself, family and friendship, and overcoming loss with help. I highly recommend it.

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a muppet christmas carol

Michael Caine as Scrooge and the Muppets filling in for all the rest of the characters.  I smile just thinking of this movie, A Muppet Christmas Carol. Gonzo is fabulous as the narrator Charles Dickens. In spite of the fact that this is a musical, it's one of the more faithful version to the original written by Charles Dickens.

This story shows some of the greatest truths ever.  It's never too late to change for the better. And each person has the capacity for kindness and love.

Thank you KC for introducing me to this little gem of a movie.

Watch it here.

white christmas

I'm dreaming of a White Christmas.

It's Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Vera Allen and Rosemary Clooney with music and songs by Irving Berlin... Need I say more?  For the perfect evening all you need is a fire, falling snow and a cup of hot cocoa with a melting candy cane and Irving Berlin's White Christmas.

A brief preview here.

the fourth wiseman

The Fourth Wise Man is mostly shown at Easter, but its message should be remembered year round, plus this story starts with the first Christmas.

Artaban (Martin Sheen), sees a new star in the sky announcing the arrival of a King.  As agreed, begins his journey to meet his three friends who have also been watching the heavens. He is late in arriving, and spends the rest of his life searching for the King. The message of this beautiful movie is one of living life in the pursuit of becoming Christ-like, and having this be a way of life.

It's posted on YouTube here.

santa claus - the movie

This movie is a Boyer family favorite. It must be watched every year during Christmas.

Santa Claus: The Movie so completely captures the magic and spirit of the story of Santa Claus. I remember watching this as a child and thinking, "If this place really is real, then this is how it looks and feels."

An old Russian couple gets caught out in a brutal snowstorm on Christmas Eve as they drive from village to village delivering handmade toys to children, and find themselves lost. Their reindeer eventually collapse from exhaustion and the couple huddle together on the sleigh, eventually falling asleep.  When they awaken, they are in a beautiful winterscape and a very bright star is pointing to their final destination, where they arrive to take their rightful places as the king and queen of the Northpole. They learn all the duties and responsibilities from the elves and thus begins the story Santa Claus. The sets are beautiful and old fashioned in a German Christmas sort of way.

Even the modern day (at least it was in 1985) twist is fun with Patch, the head elf (Dudley Moore) unwittingly teaming up with B.Z. (John Lithgow) to destroy Christmas as we know it.  David Huddleston is the epitome of Santa and comes into the save the day, of course.  This story is just plain magic.

Start watching it here. The whole is posted on YouTube.

notting hill

i lived in london for a year and a half. i've walked most of the streets, and lived very near to the neighborhood where this movie was filmed. i love this movie, because it takes me home to london every time i watch it. it's also a great story and well acted.

video link 

heart & souls

I love this movie!  It's on my top 10 favorite movies of all time list.

It's cheesy, corny and sappy but with lots of heart, great moments of hilarity and a timeless message about seizing life by the horns and living every moment to the fullest.  Plus it's Robert Downey, Jr. and he's simply fantastic.
Heart and Souls will grab your heart and soul!



Yep, this is a post full of cliches...

i've loved you for so long

I've Loved You For So Long, in French, is a well done film with an excellent performance by Kristen Scott Thomas as Juliette, who spent 15 years in prision and has moved in with her sister and her family after fulfilling her debt to society.  It's interesting to watch as the entire family, including Juliette herself, struggles to reconcile Juliette's past with her present and to renew their relationships.

A beautiful movie.



The perfect movie for when you're feeling a bit serious
and just want a little intelligent, emotional conversation.

cat ballou

This movie just makes me laugh and sing along. Cat Ballou is a priceless little gem of a comedy.  It's full of great performances: a young Jane Fonda plays schoolmarm turned outlaw Cat Ballou; Lee Marvin's Oscar winning turn as Kid Shelleen a drunken gun fighter is priceless; and Nat King Cole's final performance with Stubby Kaye as a pair of narrating minstrels is a musical delight.

If you need a good laugh and want to watch some great talent then this is the movie to watch.

bella martha

Bella Martha, in German with English sub-titles, is a movie about letting go of the expectations for the perfect life, only to find that the life already in front of you is perfect even when it's so completely different than what you had so carefully planned.  Seems to be a theme I can totally appreciate in my life over the past few years.

Here's a glimpse of one of the funnier scenes from the movie.



I love the acting, the chemistry and the food which is its own character in this movie.  I do have to say that I'm in love with Mario who threatens Martha's well ordered world.  Even in German with English subtitles the tension between these two is is n-i-i-i-ce, especially in this scene.

A great movie for a quiet evening in for two.

Be sure to order yummy take-out from a favorite restaurant followed by a chocolate dessert.

(maybe keep a blindfold handy for later)

 Hollywood, of course, had to do their own version No Reservations, which I also like.  Catherine Zeta-Jones is always fun to watch and Abigail Breslin is one of the best young actors in the business and she definitely shows her talent in this movie.

north and south

Did I mention that I love BBC period dramas?

North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell is a beautifully written novel showing the hardships life in industrial England and the BBC did it justice in 2004 when they produced a four part series based on the novel.  I loved the novel and absolutely loved this adaptation.  It stays true to the spirit of the novel and does a beautiful job of showing life within the divided classes of northern England.  I do have to say that Richard Armitage as the brooding hero is quite enjoyable to watch.

lark rise to candleford

I am addicted to period dramas and mini series by BBC!

Lark Rise to Candleford is my new favorite series. It's based on a trio of semi-biographical novels by Flora Thompson first published in 1945. I've been watching episodes for several months now and escaping delightfully into mid 19th century English countryside of Oxfordshire. The characters are fun and fully formed, and the stories are interesting and compelling. The series all starts when young Laura leaves her family and moves from the small farm village of Lark Rise to the bustling town of Candleford only eight miles away. She begins work with her cousin in the post office where she begins to grow up and become a young woman. It's BBC at its finest.

There are several episodes available on YouTube for viewing pleasure.

coco avant chanel

Thought I would share some of my recent favorite movies with you all over the next while.  Hope you enjoy!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

This was an interesting film with beautifully shot scenes and a sparkling Audrey Tatou in Coco Before Chanel.  An interesting insight into the life and design philosophy of Chanel.  Beautiful cinematography, well acted characters and French, what more do you need?

There's also a bit of romance and mustached Alessandro Nivola is gorgeously dreamy.

A seriously perfect movie for snuggling on the couch

as the long shadows of a chilly autumn evening creep across the floorboards.