2012 Review Extravaganza: Part 4

Welcome to Part 4 of the 2012 Review Extravaganza!

Every Friday in December, I will be linking up for the 2012 Review Extravaganza with these lovely ladies: Emmy-Emmy Mom; Lourie-CA Girl; MiMi-Living in France; Nicole-Life's a Beach; Mrs. Match-Date Girl Diaries; Janette-Johanson Journey.

Part 1 can be found here.

Part 2 can be found here.

Part 3 can be found here.

***

With the beginning of October came a confession that I’ve killed off my drunken alter-ego, Sadie.  (For real this time.)  Some of you may not have believed me, though, because only a few short days later, I was already anxiously anticipating another of my favourite parties:  Tub Rave!

I lamented over how badly I need a PVR (still don’t have one), I partied like a 7-year-old in honour of my nephew’s birthday, I shared a “Jill, Currently…” post, and then I pretended I was going to the Springsteen concert by sharing some of my favourite songs from the Boss.

After spending almost a month without my camera (I had lost it at a wedding in September), I got it back and had a bit of a photo dump!

And then I closed out the month by sharing one of my most horrible Halloween memories – and I advised you all to be nice to the fat kids!

Into November… with Halloween over, I declared it officially the Christmas season.

The beginning of November also introduced me to my latest boyfriend:  Dallas Smith.  I absolutely fell in love with him after going to the Boys of Fall Tour at the Crazy Horse in Kanata, which saw Dallas and Chad Brownlee putting on an amazing show!

I received another Liebster nomination from Jo at Will the kids turn out ok? and had some fun with that.  And then it was Twilight Day!  I celebrated by sharing more snaps of some of my favourite hot boys, including RPattz of course!

My post-Twilight musings came a few days later, and I just had so much to say!   I also wrote about how I think decorating too early for Christmas is A-OK in my books, I shared my Top 10 Favourite Holiday movies,  and I took a Single Girl Files post all the way back, to my very first boy.

And then… December.  Already?  Seriously??

I was loving the Festive Tuesday 10’s, as I offered up my Top 10 Favourite Holiday Tunes as well as my Christmas Wish List.  In keeping with the giving spirit of the Christmas season, I hosted an eos giveaway and was delighted to give away five sets of Alice In Wonderland-inspired eos lip spheres.

With the holidays looming, I told you all about how much I wanted to spend time at the movie theatre, and posted the list of movies I hope to see.

On December 14th, we were all shaken and disturbed by the news of the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, CT.  Like so many others in the blogging community, I offered up my prayers to the people who had their lives torn apart by the senseless act of violence.

And then, despite the heaviness in our hearts, it was time to gear up for Christmas.  One of my biggest worries was not having snow in time for the holidays.  Thankfully, we got a snowstorm, just in the nick of time!

I gave myself one very big Christmas present – and I’m also considering it a birthday present to myself – when I was able to score Bieber tickets to his July 23rd show in Ottawa.  Woo hoo!!

And THEN… it was Christmas.

I have yet to get my holiday recap up yet, but I promise that’s coming in the next few days.

Let’s just say, it’s been a wonderfully memorable holiday season and I’m so sad that it’s over already.

I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas and be safe ringing in 2013!  See you all next year!!

2012 Review Extravaganza: Part 3

Welcome to Part 3 of the 2012 Review Extravaganza!

Every Friday in December, I will be linking up for the 2012 Review Extravaganza with these lovely ladies:  Emmy-Emmy Mom; Lourie-CA Girl; MiMi-Living in France; Nicole-Life's a Beach; Mrs. Match-Date Girl Diaries; Janette-Johanson Journey.

Part 1 can be found here.

Part 2 can be found here.

***

I kicked off the month of July in my usual way – recapping the legendary Canada Day festivities in my small town.

After our Canada Day Committee wrap party the following weekend, I also shared a video of two of my favourite synchronized back-flippers…and wondered if I could sign them up for the Olympics!

It was in July that I received the Liebster Award from both Beth at Living a Goddess Life & Nathan at Life & Everything Else In Between!  I also wrote about one of the most perfect summer weekends ever, and shared a post of random facts that you would know IF you really knew me…

My momma and I roadtripped to Belleville for the wedding of a family friend, Andrea.

And of course, I’ll take any excuse to post pictures of hot celebrities!

Moving in to August, I took a week’s vacation, then had a photo dump to share all the happy memories from my week off, including time spent at one of my favourite places on Earth – the Draper Camp.

I played along with a “Would You Rather?” edition of We Want to Know Wednesday, and then recapped my trip to Toronto with a great group of friends.

I had fun doing a Tuesday 10 which had me listing my favourite TV boyfriends.

*sigh* I heart Chachi.

As the summer started winding down, I shared my bittersweet feelings on saying good-bye to the fun & the sun that was Summer 2012, and then geared up for the big ride that is Shawville Fair with my Friday Fair Confessions.

By the time September rolled around, I was suffering from the now-infamous Shawville Fair sickness after an awesome weekend spent in the beer tent (aka, breeding grounds for germs, apparently).

I wrote a Single Girl Files post about how frustrated I was by people who have already had a turn at love jumping back in line in front of me before I get a chance.

I also wished my brother the Superstar a very happy 27th birthday, and marveled at all he had done and accomplished in just one year.

I did “My Top 3” post, talked about how I need to start playing guitar more (which I have), and took part in my very first Music Monday, where I shared a video from one of my new favourite artists, Chad Brownlee.

For the second time in 2012, I posted about baby names.  One of my favourite subjects.  So sue me.  I also wrote about how maybe I’m not so scared of ghosts anymore.  And yet another Music Monday rolled around, and I told you guys about one of my all-time favourite songs, Wheat Kings by the Tragically Hip, and why it means so much to me.

I shared some more random facts about myself, and asked you guys to do the same in a “getting to know you” type of post.  And then I closed out the month with some Friday Confessions as I prepared for a busy & fun final weekend in September!

So that’s all she wrote for July, August and September!  Come back next Friday, when I will be posting the final quarter of the year!  CRAZY!!!

Merry Christmas to me. And a Happy Birthday too.

Good news, kids.

I’m finally – FINALLY – going to get to see Justin Bieber, live in concert.

It has only been my dream for, like, a year and a half. 

!!!!!

I had the sads big-time when I missed out on tickets earlier this year.  He brought his Believe Tour to Ottawa in November, and when I tried to order tickets on-line way back when, I got stuck in this on-line ticket buying queue that really made me mad and caused me to say curse words at my computer screen a lot.  For like an hour.  When it finally let me in, it said, “Oh, gee whilickers, sorry, but we’re right out of tickets now.  Poor you.”

I was rather cranky about it all.  And really quite pissed off at his rabid teenage girl fans and their mothers and fathers who beat me to the punch.  Assholes.

Then, miracle of miracles.  It was announced last week that HE’S COMING BACK.  ON JULY 23RD.  JUST IN TIME FOR MY BIRTHDAY.

OK, so it’s a few days before my birthday.  Whatever.  I like to celebrate for at least a week, so this would be the kick off to thirty.

And, then.  Miracle of miracle of miracles, they announced that there was actually a presale this time.  YES!!!!  I’m a SBP Insider, so I got my handy-dandy promo code via email, and I was all, “Dude.  This time it’s gonna happen.  I’m going to see Bieber if it’s the last thing I do.”

I was a little worried this morning.  For many reasons. 

A) At just the precise moment the presale opened, this office turned into a wild and crazy zoo.  At least, compared to the quiet, sleepy place it has been for the past few weeks.  Phones were ringing.  People were coming in the door, looking for fertilizer spreaders.  (I know.  Dec. 20th.  Snowstorm on the horizon. Dudes, the fertilizer can wait.)  People wanted eggs.  And I just wanted to stand on my desk and shout, “WOULD YOU ALL LEAVE ME ALONE PLEASE, I’M KIND OF BUSY RIGHT NOW TRYING TO ORDER JUSTIN BIEBER TICKETS FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!!!!!!”

B) The first 26 times I entered me pre-sale code, it gave me an error message. “Sorry, we don’t have the number of tickets you are looking for.  Please try again later.”   Like as if I was asking for a zillion tickets or something.  I wanted 2. TWO DAMN TICKETS.  Seriously.  Like, c’mon.

C)  After God only knows how long, they finally said, “Oh, hey, here’s two tickets.  In the nosebleeds, as far away from the Biebs as you could ever be.”  I was like, “Whatever, I’m taking them.”  And then, as the check-out process began, my screen froze.  IT FROZE FOR LIKE FIVE FRIGGING MINUTES.  And I was moaning at my desk, going, “I’m doomed.  Doomed!  I’m never going to see Justin Bieber, ever!!!”

It’s okay now.  I got through.  It worked.  And NOW I’M GOING TO SEE JUSTIN BIEBER ON JULY 23RD AND A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ME AND A HAPPY BIRTHDAY TOO!!!

Yes.  I’m pleased. :)

The other good news is that I’ve discovered I really DO have magical powers over the weather, and just because I asked nicely, we’re going to get a shit-ton of snow tomorrow.  *fingers crossed* (because I still don’t trust the weatherman).

Let’s all pray that the world doesn’t end tomorrow, so that I get to see Bieber and the snow, OK? 

OK.

Happy Thursday.

The Girl Who Wanted Snow for Christmas

I’m pretty sure I write about this every year around this time, but… dudes, it makes me sad to think of having a Green Christmas.

OK, so technically, if today was Christmas morning, it wouldn’t actually be green.  The ground is covered in a slushy, icy mess that is kinda white, but more ‘ick’ than ‘oooh!’.  Y’know?

For as long as I can remember, one of my biggest December worries is whether or not we’re going to have snow for Christmas.  (It’s right up there with worrying about getting sick, or someone else in my family getting sick.) I mean, we live in Canada for crying out loud.  Half the world thinks we live in igloos and drive snowmobiles year-round.  Is it really too much to ask for a little of the white stuff to wake up to on Christmas morning?

As I’ve gotten older (wiser?), I don’t let it bother me as much as I used to.  When I was a kid, though?  I’d watch the news every night in December to see what JJ was reporting for local weather.  I could work myself into tears if he was chuckling over the possibility of no snow for the holiday season.  Seriously. 

I recall one of my elementary school teachers laughing at my laments one year, saying, “You’re ridiculous!  What is the true meaning of Christmas?  It’s the celebration of Jesus’ birth.  Do you think there was any snow in Bethlehem the night He was born?!  OF COURSE NOT!!!  Baby Jesus didn’t need snow, and neither do you!!!!”

Yes.  I know.  It’s silly.  And I get it.

But it’s still one of my biggest wishes for the Christmas season.  A nice blanket of sparkling white is all I ask for.  It doesn’t need to be super deep – just enough to cover the brown, ugly ground.  Just enough for Santa to land his sled in…

It just doesn’t feel like Christmas without it.

Now, as I’ve mentioned many times before, I work in a place where uttering the word “s-n-o-w” can be met with snarls and growls.  It’s pretty much the worst curse word ever to these people.  We’re in the snow business, and it really really sucks for the guys who have to leave their cozy, comfy homes and families to plow and shovel, especially on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.

I totally understand.  But I’ve learned that they can be reasoned with.  I’m swinging deals left and right around here!

Last week, my co-worker Pat (who is one of the snow removal guys) told me he would be fine if it dumped snow on us all week this week.  He said he’d even be OK with working on Boxing Day, if I could guarantee him that it wouldn’t snow on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, or the 28th (that’s his birthday).  I said, “OK!! DEAL!!” 

This morning, Lindsay was also making deals with me.  Usually I chirp about how much I love a nice, lazy snowfall on Christmas Eve (especially around church time), but I agreed this morning that if it snowed from now until the Eve of Christmas Eve, I would call for a “snow-cease-fire” for the rest of the holiday season for her.  (So that her hubby doesn’t have to work, of course.) 

That’s right.  I would be willing to give up my perfect snowglobe snowfall on Christmas Eve if it meant that there was already enough snow to make it a White Christmas.

Like as if I have some magical powers over the weather.  Right.  (Seriously, who do these guys think I am??)

Anyway.  Last night I was lying in bed, saying my prayers in my head like I always do, when I found myself asking God for snow for Christmas.  And then I stopped myself, and shook my head, and gave myself a little inner lecture. 

Dude, that is a stupid prayer.  There are so many people who are sad and hurting right now, and you’re praying for frigging snow.  Don’t be so silly.  Dear God, please erase that last request from the record books.  Thank you, and Amen.

Before drifting off, I checked The Weather Network app on my phone (as I obsessively do this time of year), and saw the forecast for Friday was mixed precipitation, with a forecasted 1-3 cm of snow, and 15-20 mm of rain, and then no snow after that for a week.  Blech.  Green Christmas.

When I woke up this morning, it had changed.  It’s now saying snow for Friday, 15-20 cm.

Hmm.

I’m still not going to hold my breath – the weatherman is a fickle, fickle fellow, and this can still all change at the drop of a hat – but maybe…

just maybe…

I’ll get my White Christmas.

Fingers crossed.

Reflecting: Prayers for Newtown

I feel torn today, as I sit here before my keyboard and computer screen, trying to figure out just exactly what to say - how to say it - or wondering if I should say anything at all.

I know many of my friends in the blogging community are holding a Day of Silence in honour of the victims in the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting in Newtown, Connecticut.  I feel like I have too much to say to join the day of silence… And yet, what can I say that hasn’t already been said?

On Friday December 14th, an entire community was torn apart.  Lives were shattered.  Innocence was lost.  And 26 human lives were ended in a senseless act of violence – 20 of them little children.

It’s one of those things.  Impossible to wrap our heads around it.  Impossible to understand.  Impossible to even grasp the magnitude of the horror those people are feeling.

On Friday afternoon, as the news started trickling through on my Twitter feed, I recall shaking my head and sighing.  Another school shooting in the States.  At least one student dead.  Here we go again.

With each new report, new horror was born.  It was an elementary school.  The principal was shot.  Kids were hiding in cupboards and toilet stalls.  Twenty children dead.  All Kindergarteners.

The ache that I felt in my chest was indescribable.

I don’t have children.  But I have two nieces and a nephew, and I have many friends with children; I love them all dearly.  To think of what those families were going through in Newtown was shattering.  Absolutely shattering.

I left work Friday afternoon, and went with my mom to pick up my sister’s kids from school and daycare.  I tried to force the sadness from my mind.  I tried to soak up their bubbly excitement – Caden’s from a fun Christmassy day at school; Danica’s from her monkey-themed birthday party at daycare.  When Danica had a little meltdown in the mall, I couldn’t even muster up any real scoldings for her.  I was treasuring them, more now than ever.

That night, I had sort of planned on going to a party, but the heaviness in my heart held me back.  Being out at a loud & crowded bar might have been exactly what the doctor ordered, but I couldn’t muster any enthusiasm for it.  I opted instead for pj’s, couch, quilt, and a Christmas movie.  After that, I turned on the 11 o’clock news, and for the first time that day, I saw the images.  I heard the heart-wrenching stories.  I watched President Obama struggle to compose himself. 

And then my tears fell.

The people of Newtown were never far from my thoughts all weekend.  The days were filled with happy times of celebration with family – Danica’s birthday party on Saturday, Schock family Christmas on Sunday – and while the tragedy certainly made me hold dearly to those moments all the more, it also amplified the feeling of ‘This is not fair’.

It almost didn’t feel right to be making merry when I knew so many lives were completely torn apart in a not-so-far-off place.

I’ve spent so much time reflecting – wondering, hating, hurting, and praying. 

I don’t know what else there is to do at a time like this.

We’re all hugging our loved ones closer.  We’re all trying to make sense of why things like this happen.  We’re strapped with the fear that something like this could happen to any one of us.  We’re arguing over gun control.  We’re discussing mental illness.

At the end of the day, I know nothing we say or do will make things better for those people;  for those mothers and fathers who lost their sweet babies.

All I can hope is that they’re feeling the love and support from around the world, from the people who can’t erase their pain or make any of this better, but who are praying for them anyway. 

Sending them all the light and love that we possibly can.

Lord, listen to your children praying,
Lord, send your Spirit in this place;
Lord, listen to your children praying.
Send us love, send us pow’r, send us grace.

***

Linking up with Impulsive Addict and Shawn for Talk To Us Tuesday.

2012 Review Extravaganza: Part 2

Welcome to Part 2 of the 2012 Review Extravaganza!

Every Friday in December, I will be linking up for the 2012 Review Extravaganza with these lovely ladies:  Emmy-Emmy Mom; Lourie-CA Girl; MiMi-Living in France; Nicole-Life's a Beach; Mrs. Match-Date Girl Diaries; Janette-Johanson Journey.

Part 1 can be found here.

***

The month of April kicked off with me gearing up for Easter by answering the questions in an Easter-themed edition of “We Want to Know Wednesday”.  (Oh, how I miss “We Want to know Wednesdays”!)

I recapped Easter weekend and shared some fun pictures from our family get-together, including one of my adorable little cousin Dillon in his bunny ears.

I got very excited about the Ottawa Senators entering the first round of the playoffs, wished my mom a happy Friday the 13th birthday, and then shared the embarrassing (but kind of hilarious) story of how my brother and I lost my car in the Scotiabank Place parking lot.  (Seriously had a meltdown that night, dudes!!!)

I started the month of May by sharing a newsy random post that had me feeling a little tired and stressed out after reading it, even now!

I wrote a Single Girl Files post about how badly I needed a husband after finding THIS in my house…

(Thank God my friend Brenda came over to kill him for me!!!  Gives me the heebie jeebies just looking at it!!)

I recapped a very busy, eventful and memorable May weekend, which saw me celebrating my Aunt Marion’s 60th birthday, and also standing up as Maid of Honour at one of my best friend’s weddings!  A few days later, I jumped in for Lindsay while she was away on her honeymoon and took over for her weekly Wedding Wednesday post, sharing pictures from her & Ryan’s big day.

I was in super-contradictory mode as I wrote a post about how I didn’t actually NEED a man, and then a few days later confessed to falling in love with Christian Grey.

(And yes, I still need Ian Somerhalder to play Grey in the movies.  Please.)

I closed out the month of May by sharing my summer plans!

In June, I took part in the Relay For Life for the first time, and it was an amazing & emotional experience, walking in memory of my Dad.

With my brother and his wife expecting a baby in early July, and having trouble coming up with names, especially for a boy, I put the call out to my readers to share their favourite boy names.   I also contemplated getting a tattoo.  (Still haven’t done it… still thinking about it…)

One of my favourite posts in May was when I took part in the Tuesday 10 link-up and shared my favourite things about the ‘90’s!

We were all surprised and thrilled when the newest addition to our family arrived a few weeks early!  My beautiful new niece, Neve, was born on June 21st – on her little cousin Ryla’s first birthday. :)

With a new babe in our midst, I once again yearned for one of my own – but posted about how you’re not allowed to tell the boys you want a baby.  Scares ‘em right off.  Trust me, I know.

Another “We Want to Know Wednesday” had me sharing a lot of pictures of handsome dudes.  Ah, one of my favourite things to do. ;)

And then I closed out the month by looking ahead to our legendary Canada Day celebrations in Q-town!

And that’s a wrap for Part 2 of the 2012 Review Extravaganza! 

Come back next Friday to see what I was up to in July, August & September!! :)

Thoughts on Thursday

It’s Thursday.  The day of the week that starts with “Th”.  Which works nicely with my need to alliterate.  (and any excuse to be random.)

Hence… Thoughts on Thursday.

• Talking about all the movies I want to see over the holiday season yesterday has me just dying to go to the movies.  Have I mentioned lately that the theatre is one of my favourite places to be?  It’s my Happy Place.
• Have I ever told you the story about the time I got a massage, and the lady told me to relax and go to my Happy Place?  Talk about not relaxing.  I spent the first half-hour of the massage trying to figure out where my Happy Place was.  And I spent the last half hour of the massage suppressing a desperate need to go pee.  Worst.massage.ever.
• Point of the story is… If I was told now to go to my Happy Place, I think I’d automatically go to a comfy theatre seat, popcorn in hand, in the dark, watching the big screen.  I love it.

• Speaking of movies.  I placed another Amazon order this morning.  Paid off the last bill, placed a new order.  *sigh*  What a vicious cycle.  I decided that I had to get Season 5 of LOST in time for the Christmas holidays.  I finished Season 4 last week, and I was holding off on getting the next one until I whittled away my credit card debt, but I just couldn’t wait any longer.
• To go along with LOST (and to get me to the minimum for free shipping), I added the Christmas Classics collection and How The Grinch Stole Christmas on DVD (because I can’t find my VHS tapes with The Grinch, Frosty, Rudolph, and Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town), and I also ordered Halloween: H20 and The Sixth Sense on DVD.  Yes, I know.  Those are kinda out of season.  But I realized at Halloween that I really wanted them, and they were cheap.  So sue me.

• It’s been a long time since I’ve read a book that I was really excited about.  Like, months.  I haven’t been wowed by anything since… well, I guess it was The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, which I read in the summer.  It took me a super long time to get into it, but when it hooked me, I couldn’t put it down.  So I suppose it shouldn’t surprise me that the book I’m reading now is one that has finally got me excited about reading again; of course, it’s the second book in the Millennium Trilogy, The Girl Who Played With Fire.  Why has it taken me so long to continue on with Mikael Blomqvist and Lisbeth Salander???  I have no idea, but I’m glad I finally did!
• Good news to anyone who has been to my place lately and felt deep concern over the lack of compassion I’ve been showing to my goldfish:  I finally cleaned the tank last night.

• I was embarrassed to have my friends in Saturday and know that the slime had built up so badly that it left one of them asking, “Is there even a fish in there?”  I joked that I was doing it for everyone’s protection, to save them from seeing his grotesque lump that is protruding from one side of him.  (For the record, the growth started before the slime build-up, so I don’t think it’s related to the unclean tank.)  My mom was not impressed, though.  She told me I was being cruel, and that I shouldn’t even be allowed to own a fish if that’s what I was going to do to it.  Who knew my mom was such a fish activist… Regardless, she was happy when I showed her this picture this morning.
• This story would probably be better if I’d taken a “before” shot to show you just how bad it had gotten, but… those of you who saw it in person can vouch for how horrible it was.  I promise to never let it get that bad again!!
• Today is the first day I’ve truly let myself get excited about Christmas holidays.  It kind of just dawned on me that there’s only one more week left of work and then I’m off until January 3rd.  *squeeeeeee!!!*

I think that’s all I’ve got for today, folks.  Only one more day until the weekend… :)

All I Want for Christmas is… gift cards for the movie theatre!

OK.  That’s  a bit of a lie.  Yesterday’s Wish List will indicate that I didn’t even ask for gift cards to the movie theatre when I was thinking of all the things I want the big lad to bring me.

But y’all know going to the movies is one of my most absolute favourite things to do.  And lately, all the commercials on TV advertising upcoming movies hitting theatres in time for the holidays…well, they have me really wanting to see them.  ALL of them.

Here’s what I’m hoping to catch on the big screen this Christmas season:

Playing for Keeps - Starring Gerard Butler, Jessica Biel, and Randy Quaid - A former sports star who's fallen on hard times starts coaching his son's soccer team as a way to get his life together. His attempts to become an adult are met with challenges from the attractive soccer moms who pursue him at every turn. (via)

It has Gerard Butler in it.  I mean, really.  Do I need another reason to go see it?  Plus, I think it sounds like a cute little premise for a movie.  Gerard Butler, battling soccer moms.  I’m in.

Lay the Favorite – Starring Bruce Willis, Rebecca Hall, Vince Vaughn, and Catherine Zeta-Jones - Beth, a Las Vegas cocktail waitress, falls in with Dink, a sports gambler who swoons for her as she proves to be something of a gambling prodigy, earning the initial ire of Dink's wife, Tulip. (via)

MOM!  Bruce Willis is in this!!  We should go see it!!  (For the record, I think my mom has a little crush on Bruce Willis.  She doesn’t really like going to the movies, but I can usually lure her in by tossing Bruce Willis into the mix.  Like when I got her to go see Armageddon.  And The Whole 9 Yards.  And The Sixth Sense.)

This is 40 – Starring Paul Rudd, Leslie Mann, and Jason Segal - A look at the lives of Pete and Debbie a few years after the events of Knocked Up.  (via)

I loved Knocked Up.  And I particularly liked Pete and Debbie.  Paul Rudd is one of my faves, and Leslie Mann cracks me up.  So yes.  I definitely need to catch the sort-of-sequel to Knocked Up and see what these crazy kids are up to now.  At 40.

Jack Reacher – Starring Tom Cruise, Rosamund Pike, and Richard Jenkins - A homicide investigator digs deeper into a case involving a trained military sniper who shot five random victims. (via)

No, this is not a typical pick for your ol’ pal Jill here.  But it’s Tom Cruise.  And he’s lookin’ all old-school Mission Impossible-y.  I like Tommy with short hair and dirt on his face.

The Guilt Trip – Starring Barbara Streisand, Seth Rogan, and Kathy Najimy - As inventor Andy Brewster is about to embark on the road trip of a lifetime, a quick stop at his mom's house turns into an unexpected cross-country voyage with her along for the ride. (via)

It looks funny.  That is all.

The Impossible – Starring Naomi Watts, Ewan MacGregor, and Tom Holland -  An account of a family caught, with tens of thousands of strangers, in the mayhem of one of the worst natural catastrophes of our time.  (via)

I saw Ellen talking about this one with Naomi Watts one day this week on her show, and she said it’s “difficult to watch” – yet a fascinating, true storyline about a family on vacation that get caught in the tsunami and fight for their lives.

On the Road  - Starring Garrett Hedlund, Sam Riley, and Kristen Stewart - Young writer Sal Paradise has his life shaken by the arrival of free-spirited Dean Moriarty and his girl, Marylou. As they travel across the country, they encounter a mix of people who each impact their journey indelibly.  (via)

GARRETT HEDLUND!!!  Dude, I’m so down!!!  I kind of didn’t even read the description before putting this on my “must see” list.   All for Garrett Hedlund.

Les Misérables – Starring Hugh Jackman, Russell Crow, and Anne Hathaway - In 19th-century France, Jean Valjean, who for decades has been hunted by the ruthless policeman Javert after he breaks parole, agrees to care for factory worker Fantine's daughter, Cosette. The fateful decision changes their lives forever.  (via)

I love musicals, yet I have never seen Les Mis.  I keep seeing the previews and thinking it looks amazeballs.  I think this might be one I could get my mom to come see (even with the lack of Bruce Willis).  Maybe my sister would like to come too.  Family trip to the movies?  I think so!

Parental Guidance – Starring Billy Crystal, Bette Midler, Marisa Tomei, and Tom Everett Scott - Artie and Diane agree to look after their three grandkids when their type-A helicopter parents need to leave town for work. Problems arise when the kids' 21st-century behaviors collide with Artie and Diane's old-school methods. (via)

Another one that looks funny, and there’s nothing like going to the theatre for some laughs.  I’ve got a soft spot for the likes of Billy Crystal and Bette Midler.  I can only imagine what hijinx there will be!

Promised Land – Starring Matt Damon, Frances McDormand, and John Krasinski -  A salesman for a natural gas company experiences life-changing events after arriving in a small town, where his corporation wants to tap into the available resources.  (via)

This one sounds interesting to me.  Oh, and yes, there’s also the Matt Damon factor.  I kind of adore Matt Damon.  I hear this is directed by the same guy that did Good Will Hunting, which is my all-time favourite Matt Damon movie.  Matt Damon will make it on my list.  Every time.

 

So… will I get to see all of these movies over the holidays?  Not likely.  That’s a lot of flicks.  But I really do hope to catch a couple of them.

Theatre gift cards or not.

What movies are on your must-see holiday viewing list?  And can I please have volunteers who want to come see some of these with me??

Thanks :)

Tuesday 10: The Wish List

When I saw the prompt for this week’s Tuesday 10 over at Lena B, Actually, I was on that shizz, like, STAT.

That’s right, folks.  It’s that time of year again.

It’s time for THE WISH LIST.

I made a wild & pricey just-kidding Wish List last year, to emphasize the fact that I needed stuff as I faced the crazy possibility that my family might actually abolish Christmas.  (or at least the gift-giving part). 

I won last year; it was Present City at our house, and I actually did get a few of the items off my outlandish Wish List, believe it or not.

This year, I finally had to give in to the demands of the rest of the Young clan.  I had to bend, agreeing to drawing names and capitulating to the spending limit.

I know.  The horrors.

But I’ve actually come around on it, and I’m quite interested to see how it all pans out this year.   (See how I can act like a grown-up when I have to?)

I submitted my actual Wish List for our family “Secret Santa” name-draw a long time ago and kind of can’t even remember what all I put on there, so I’m looking forward to doing this one.  It'll probably be a little more “shoot for the moon”-ish than my actual Wish List, so please don’t panic, family member who has my name that may be reading this.  You just stick to that list I already gave you, and we’ll all be fine. ;)

10.

OK.  I actually pulled this directly from last year’s list.  I don’t know why I want a bread maker so badly, as it will likely just end up sitting in a cupboard collecting dust most of the time, but I really want to try making my own bread!!

9.

There’s nothing that brings me greater delight than Sheldon & the gang from The Big Bang Theory.  I need Season 5 on DVD.

8.

Another item that comes directly from last year’s list.  I still need my Sens Heritage jersey (with Chris Neil’s name and number on it) – maybe a silly choice considering there isn’t even any damned hockey to watch this year, but I’m a Sens fan through & through, and I will still be there to wear it when this stupid lockout is over!

7.

As we all know, I drive an ancient Rav 4, with a CD player that no longer works.  And I did have an adaptor to plug my iPod in with using the cassette deck (yes, my car also still has a cassette deck.  I told you it’s ancient.), but it broke earlier this fall. It makes me sad that I can’t listen to all my great music on my iPod whilst driving.  This is almost a necessity.

6.

It has taken all my strength and courage to not rush out and buy this DVD, like, as soon as it hit the Wal-Mart shelves.  They even tried to lure me in by putting a big display of Magic Mikes in my face earlier this fall.  But I resisted.  I told myself to put it on my Wish List.  And so… there it is.  Come to me, Channing.

5.

I put a whole bunch of books on my Wish List, but this is the one I’m hoping for the most.  It’s the debut novel by local author Luke Murphy, and it’s also one of the selections for our Book Club in 2013.  I really want to read it and just be all like, “Dude, I know this guy!”
Also, I’m hoping Luke can someday give me tips on how to get a book published.  You know.  For when I write my own best-seller.

(If you’d like to buy Luke’s book, you can do so here.)

4.

Back when I used to get the Luxebox, they often sent perfume samples.  My favourite was CK One Shock For Her.  I actually had a nice sized sample bottle, and ended up dropping it and cracking it one morning.  I really would like to replace it!

3.

Yes, another repeat from last year.  I’d love an area rug for my living room.  The floor just seems too bare.

2.

I saw this necklace on etsy, and I love it.  I want it.  I think it’s pretty much perfect for me.

1.

+

I know.  It’s never gonna happen.  At least not as a Christmas gift.  (Kind of blows the “spending cap” all to shit.)  But for someone who spends as much time as I do watching TV and movies, I’m in serious need of a home entertainment system upgrade.  This is what I’ll be saving my pennies for in 2013.

Oh, and for a new car too.  Crap.  I keep forgetting about that…

So there we have it.  Jill’s Wish List for this Christmas.  I think it might be a little more realistic than last year’s.  We’ll see…

Oh, and in keeping with the Wish List theme, I *must* share my favourite story from the weekend… (some of you may have already read this on my friend Stacy’s blog)…

On Saturday, I had a gang of friends and their families in for our annual Christmas Potluck & Gift Exchange.  It also happened to be Parade night in our town, so after dinner and exchanging gifts, we bundled up and went out to watch the Parade of Lights (which was spectacular this year, by the way!)

Afterwards, Stacy and Ricky were heading down to the hall with their kiddos to see Santa, and before they left, I made a special request with their 5-year-old Maddy:  “Bird, can you do me a big favour?”  She said, “Yep, sure.”  So I asked,  “When you see Santa, can you please ask him to bring Jilly a boyfriend for Christmas??”  Maddy gave a resolute nod, and said, “Yep, I will.”

I figured it went in one ear and out the other, but Stacy let me know later that night that Maddy DID, in fact, put in my request – or my “wish”, as she called it.  Then Stace said she realized afterwards she didn’t ask for anything for herself, and was upset that she wasted her only wish on me.  LOL!  Oh, how I love that kid!

I made sure to thank her big-time on Sunday when I saw her at church, and she told me Santa said “the wish would come true”… so let’s all hope, OK?  I mean, when I have my friends’ kids asking Santa for it, you know we’ve reached desperate times…

What’s on YOUR Christmas Wish List this year?  Go visit Lena B. and link up!!

I’m also linking up today with Impulsive Addict and Shawn for Talk To Us Tuesday!!

Happy Tuesday!! :)