Thursday Thirteen 96: Books to Movies 2

This is a similar topic to one I did a few weeks ago, except this time I have listed thirteen movies I’ve seen that are based on books I have not read (at least not yet). Naturally, this list could be at least ten times longer; these are just the first thirteen that popped into my head.

* Chocolat (One of my favorite movies ever!)
* Sense & Sensibility
* Pride & Prejudice
* Under the Tuscan Sun
* About a Boy
* The Notebook
* Harry Potter (1-5) (Nope, haven’t read any, but have all the movies.)
* Fried Green Tomatoes
* The Bourne Trilogy (Again, have the movies, have not read the books.)
* Beaches
* Romancing the Stone (Did YOU know it was based on a book?)
* The Devil Wears Prada
* Bridget Jones’ Diary

LINKS TO OTHER THURSDAY THIRTEENS:

Alice Audrey * Shelley Munro * Nicholas * Karen
Ms Menozzi * Thornesworld * CountryDew
Stephanie Adkins * Carmen Shirkey * Jennifer McKenzie
Tricia * RJ LeBeau * Mel * Paige Tyler * Claudia
Adelle Laudan * Colleen * Samulli * Jenn
Jenna Bayley-Burke * Jenn * Jehara

(leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others’ comments. It’s easy, and fun! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things.

Upcoming Workshop: From the Call to the Bookstore

From the Call to the Bookstore

February 25th-26th at Romance Divas


Featuring:

KRISTAN HIGGINS


Want to know what it takes to get from “the call” to the bookstore in New York publishing? Romance Divas is hosting a 2-day workshop with RITA award winning author Kristan Higgins, who can answer that question and many more! It will take place at the Romance Diva Forum. All are welcome. To get access to the forum you will need to register.

Still in Winter's Icy Grasp

Lest we forget that it is still winter, Mother Nature dumped another 6.4 inches of snow on us this weekend. As if that wasn't enough of a reminder, she sent along 30mph wind gusts. Any question why I spent most of the past two days holed up inside reading and watching old movies?

Souvenirs

Since I have absolutely nothing else to post today (unless you really want to here me bitch about the damn wrestle mania going on over my head last night), I thought I'd participate in this week's Friday 5, something I rarely do 'cause their questions are usually too darn hard. This week's...piece of cake, even if it has been eight years since I've had a vacation.


1. When you travel, what kinds of souvenirs do you like to bring home for yourself?
Post cards and a magnet or two from someplace visited. For example, I have an alligator that says Reptile Gardens, a covered bridge from a tour in Ohio, and a magnolia from visiting my sister when she lived in Louisiana. Friends occasionally add to the collection from places they've been as well.

2. Is there a certain kind of souvenir you always bring back for a particular someone?
Whenever my sister or a friend or I go anywhere new, we always bring a spoon back for my mom.

3. Of the souvenirs you’ve collected from your travels, what are some that have special meaning for you?
A soapstone gargoyle bought near Le Cathedral de Notre Dame, Paris; and a set of windchimes from the Petrified Forest, Black Hills, South Dakota. Other than that, I've never really bought anything for myself on trips other than what was mentioned in question number one.

4. What’s the silliest souvenir you’ve brought back for yourself, or what’s the silliest souvenir someone has brought back for you?
I guess that would be the gargoyle. *grin*

5. If you were going to send someone a souvenir from places you visited today, what might it be?
Depends on the individual and place visited. Definitely a spoon for Mom, probably a t-shirt for my youngest niece. Other than that, probably just a postcard to rub in the fact that I was there and they were not. *WEG*

Thursday Thirteen 95: Winter Fest

Last weekend was the annual Madison Winter Festival, with most events held on the Capitol Square. The festival includes skiing, snowshoe races, ice and snow sculpting, tubing, and snowboarding. This year also included a 5K run/walk, and ice skating on Lake Monona, in front of the Monona Terrace (though with the warm temps of the week before, I don't know how good the ice was). Snow for the track was made and trucked in by of local ski basins. Due to a prior engagement, I did not make it up to this year's event as hoped, but thought I would share thirteen pics from last year. Click on any photo for a larger view.


The highlight of the event are World qualifying cross-country ski races. Last year's track took up half ofg the Capitol Square, from Wisconsin Ave circling west to MLK Blvd. In previous years, the track circled the Capitol completely and included a bridge that allowed people access from one side of the street to the other for viewing. Participants compete from around the world, including the woman in the blue and yellow cap, a professional skier from Sweden.


The event also includes open skiing, including an early morning "Fit City Kids" event. Here, one of the competitors who volunteered to teach kids the basics pulls two young ladies behind him, while another tries to keep pace.


On the State Street corner of the Capitol Square, one gentleman entertained the crowd with amazing ice sculptures. Here are three of his creations. (Guess which one is my favorite!)




Snow sculptures--according to one of the artists, the snow and cold wasn't ideal for sculpting, but they managed to do pretty well with what they had.




To the delight of the younger attendees, a hill was erected on MLK Blvd that had snowboarding on one side...


...and tubing on the other.


LINKS TO OTHER THURSDAY THIRTEENS:

Adelle Laudan * Alice Audrey * Marcia * Betty
Thornesworld * Ms Menozzi * Stephanie Adkins * Mel
Jennifer McKenzie * Carmen * Brenda ND
Karen * Debbie * Paige Tyler * Shelley Munro
RJ LeBeau * Claudia * MyExpressions


(leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others’ comments. It’s easy, and fun! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things.


Gallery of 2009 photos (not mine)

Froggy

Another card made last week using the layout from SC193. I love how bright and cheerful this card is, and the stamp set (one I earned from SU) is proving to be quite versatile. This was originally designed as a get-well card for a friend. Then I decided to go pink for her and set this one aside for one of the ten million birthdays I have coming up in March. Okay, so maybe not quite that many, but it sure does feel like it. I know at least a dozen people with birthdays just in the first week of March--not including my own, of course.

Stamps: A Flower for All Seasons (Stampin' Up)
Paper: DCWV
Ink: Basic Black
Accessories: Colored Pencils and Blender Pen, Green Polka Dot Gosgrain Ribbon

Ladies' Night

Oh yes it's ladies night
And the feeling's right
Oh yes it's ladies night
Oh what a night (oh what a night)
Girls, y'all got one
A night that's special everywhere
From New York to Hollywood
It's ladies night and girl
The feeling's good

Despite last night's post, my weekend was actually pretty good. I didn't make it uptown for this year's Winter Festival, due mostly to having a full agenda for the weekend. We had some snow Friday night, the best part of which was that it meant Woodman's was practically deserted when a friend and I made a late trek over to pick up last-minute items needed for Saturday, and then part of Saturday was spent prepping stuff for that night.

For several years now, friends and I have held Ladies' Night on or near Valentine's Day. It started one year when three of us were single and our married friends all busy that weekend. Rather than wallow alone in self pity, we decided to celebrate our singleness together. A few good movies, fondue, and a little alcohol and we were good to go. Since then, the annual event has expanded to welcome our married friends and offer them a night off from being Mom and Wife. The only rules are no men and no kids. Some years there are as few as four of us, other years twice that many, depending on peoples' plans. I went over to K's house early to help finish cleaning and preparing some of the food.

This year we were on the small end, but still had a good time catching up while pigging out and watching a few movies [Definitely, Maybe (romantic comedy), Mamma Mia (I still have Abba songs playing in my head), and Untraceable (kind of creepy and naturally it was the one we watched last).]

I wish I had a pic of the spread, but that would probably just make you hate me. Seriously. No one starves on ladies' night. In fact, "diet" is considered a four-letter word of the naughty variety. This year's buffet consisted of: warm cheese fondue (Italian herb bread, broccoli, cubed turkey, and baby carrots for dipping), both a cold and a hot chocolate fondue (grapes, apples, oranges, bananas, fresh pineapple, strawberries, marshmallows, and some kind of cake for dipping), fruit pizza (mandarin oranges, raspberries, kiwi, grapes, strawberries), pigs in blankets ('cause you gotta have protein when drinking), and the pièce de résistance, a chocolate raspberry trifle. Hey, at least we had some healthy food in there with the fruit and broccoli--not that eating healthy is a priority on ladies' night, hehe. My only complaint is that I can't gorge on the pineapple the way I'd like to. Sadly, it does not love my mouth as much as I love it, and even though I was good and only had a couple small pieces, I still had a canker sore yesterday. *Sniffle*

(And see? You hate me now, even without the benefit of visual aids of the buffet, don't you?)

Since we were up so late the night before (I think I went to bed about 3am), Sunday was for sleeping in and being lazy. I got up around 10am, though I could have easily slept another couple of hours. Breakfast was, of course, quite nutritious: leftover trifle and fruit pizza. Hehe... That is also a ladies' night ritual--eating up leftovers the next day. No one goes home hungry or empty handed. Thankfully, the Twit and friends were not home yesterday afternoon or evening, allowing me some much needed peace and quiet in which to be lazy and recharge from the night before. Which meant being able to watch the programs I taped last week when run out of the living room. Definitely a good weekend overall!

(And yes, as a matter of fact I did quote Kool & the Gang above. Deal with it. )

Riled Up

You're feeling a bit riled up over some recent trouble at work or at home and that might carry over into other parts of your life. Try not to inflict too much torment on those who don't deserve it!

Some days the horoscope hits right on. This is one of those days, although "riled up" may be putting it a bit mildly. Pissed off may be closer to the mark. Have I mentioned lately how much I loathe some of my neighbors? The narcissistic twit above me, the one who recently moved back in, would be one of them, along with her rude-ass friends.

I was run out of my living room Friday night and again this evening by them. These people have absolutely NO consideration for other people in the building, or for the rules they agreed to abide by when they signed their lease. They are constantly cranking the stereo or stupid Guitar Hero game up as loud as it will go, then talking over it, loud enough that I am either forced to listen to their conversation (every other word of which begins with the letter F), or vacate to the bedroom. In addition to which, the Twit likes to antagonize people, intentionally dropping large objects or drumming/stomping on the walls or floor to try to tick off the people around them. And if you tell them to knock it off, or give a little of your own, you're the one in the wrong because she, of course, is a virtuous angel (NOT). It's beyond ridiculous.

And then there was an incident with the chick next door two weeks ago. Way back in December, we asked a few people if they could please not stomp the way they were upon entering the building, to please have a bit of courtesy for those living next to the exits (six apartments total). Didn't raise my voice, didn't use profanity, just asked if they could please have consideration for others and stop stomping so hard. We're not talking about a little tap to knock the snow off their boots. People coming in were stomping their feet as hard as they could, often for several minutes at a time, with no consideration for time of day, or other people in the building. Not only was it completely unnecessary and rude, but stomping the feet doesn't remove the salt and crud from the bottom of one's shoes, it only compacts it into the soles. Wiping one's feet is far more affective--not to mention quieter.

Anyway, it seemed to work for a while, but a few people (ie: the Twit and friends who do it intentionally--seriously, they stop inside the door, and do it en masse, trying to best each other) have started up again. Yes, I've complained about it, but haven't said a word to anyone directly since December, so you can imagine my surprise when, a couple weeks ago, we received a letter from the office saying they had complaints we were yelling at people about the stomping. What?! Excuse me??

Come to find out, chick next door was apparently listening outside our door one day as I was talking to someone on the phone. Now see, you know the stomping is loud when people on the other end of the phone ask what the noise is. As was the case here, to which I replied it was one of my rude neighbors, and that I wished people would learn how to wipe their feet instead of stomping like uneducated rubes. So chick next door is apparently standing outside our doors and hears this, and runs crying to the office that I'm yelling at her.

First of all, if you're going to eavesdrop outside other peoples' doors, you deserve to hear whatever bad things people say about you. Second, the fact that she took something I said to someone else so personally tells me someone has a guilty conscience, and maybe she should ask herself why it hit so close to home. Third, though he did send us a letter about it, he also suggested to her that maybe she should be a bit quieter when entering the building. (HA!)

The fact is, I have far more consideration for my neighbors than most of them have for me. I don't crank the TV or stereo up as loud as they will go, no matter what the hour or day of the week. I don't run loud appliances such as dishwashers, vacuums or washing machines after 10pm, in accordance to property regulations. I make sure guests understand that I do have neighbors, as well as rules to abide by regarding noise and behavior. I have no qualms about asking people to quiet down a bit, or suggest that maybe it's time people leave if the kids won't behave. (IMO, far too many adults give control to the kids instead of being the one in control.)

My niece and other young guests know better than to race through the halls, or jump stairs. I don't have a dog, but if I did, I certainly wouldn't go racing through the building with it/them, so that it sounds like a thundering herd of elephants has just entered the premises (you are supposed to be the one in control, NOT the dog!), and I certainly wouldn't chase the animal around over other peoples' heads, especially not late at night, as does the Twit upstairs. Taking your pet for regular walks is part and parcel of being a dog owner, whether rain or shine, cold or hot. If you can't handle the responsibility, you shouldn't have the dog. Some people simply should not have pets; these are usually the same people who shouldn't be allowed to breed.

Me, riled up? Ha! I bet you couldn't tell from this post. What it really all comes down to is living by the "Golden Rule" -- do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Treat people the way you want to be treated. No one knows more than I how difficult this can be--hard not to, with neighbors such as mine. But if you want people to respect you, to have a modicum of consideration for you, try having some respect for them. Consider how your actions affect other people, because whether you like it or not, almost everything you do directly affects someone else. When you have complete disregard for others, when you treat them like garbage, you give people permission to treat you the same or worse--and you have no right to complain when they do so.

SC193 - Get Well

This is a card made for a friend who had surgery Wednesday. I chose a pink palette as that is her favorite color, and I thought the bright pink floral pattern might cheer her up. I used the layout from an older sketch challenge (SC193) that I never got around to doing last fall.

Stamps: Mini Mates (Stampin' Up)
Paper: DCWV
Ink: Basic Black
Accessories: Pink Polka Dot Grosgrain Ribbon (Michael's), Circle Punches

Thursday Thirteen 94: Creative Ways to Say I Love You

In honor of Valentine's Day, Thirteen creative ways to say, "I love you."...


1. Write a romantic love letter to mail and decorate with stickers or stamps.
2. Write it on a driveway or sidewalk using chalks.
3. Write it with icing on a heart shaped cake or cookie.
4. Say it in Post-it-notes hidden around the house.
5. Create a keepsake bookmark to tuck in a new book by their favorite author.
6. Engrave it on a locket or inside a ring.
7. Paint words of love on a stone to use as a paper weight, or to decorate a planter or garden path.
8. Write a note to tuck inside someone’s lunch or pocket.
9. Create a journal or scrapbook to record a message, special memories, photos and memorabilia.
10. Write it on a beach in the sand with a stick, or spell it out in small rocks.
11. Stamp, stitch or paint it on a special keepsake like a pillow or quilt.
12. Write your own love song or poem.
13. Write a message with 'glow in the dark' pens or paints. Little kids would love this glowing reminder of love above their bed.


LINKS TO OTHER THURSDAY THIRTEENS:

Adelle Laudan * Alice Audrey * Shelley Munro
Inez Kelley * Ms Menozzi * Stephanie Adkins
Paige Tyler * Jennifer McKenzie * Janice Seagraves
Mel * RJ LeBeau

(leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others’ comments. It’s easy, and fun! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things.

YIELD -- It's not just a suggestion

It's amazing how few people refuse to obey these signs, which are posted all around the mall parking lot. Whether a crosswalk is posted or not, state law mandates that motorists stop to allow pedestrians to cross safely to the other side--regardless of whether or not the crosswalk is at a corner or middle of the block. Usually, cars fly by with no regard to speed limit or pedestrians. That's why I was shocked when, after deboarding the bus near my home one afternoon and waiting to cross at the midstreet crosswalk, someone actually obeyed the pedestrian sign and stopped to allow myself and another passenger across. Guess miracles do occasionally happen!

LSC205 (CAS) -- Baby Cards

Our neighbors had twin girls this week, quite a surprise to them as they were not expecting a duo. I decided to use last week's Limited Supply Challenge (Clean and Simple designs) to make a card for them. I made the card at right first, using the retired SU set, Buggies & Booties. I love this set but, alas, have not had much chance to use it. I made the first card, then thought, "Wait...since they had twins, what if I used the shoes stamped twice?" And then it got even more perfect when I was digging through various sets to find an appropriate sentiment and came across the one I used from my Life Cycles set (card below). So, that is the one they will be receiving. The other I will set aside until it is needed.

(Sentiment on top card says, "Babies are bits of stardust blown from the hand of God. ~Larry Barretto" and bottom card says, "Eveything's better with two.")

Stamps: Buggies & Booties, Life Cycles (Stampin' Up)
Paper: White (Xerox Cardstock), Pinks (DCWV)
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Pixie Pink (SU)
Accessories: Grosgrain ribbon (JoAnn's), Corner Rounder Punch

Thursday Thirteen 93: Snow Leopard Totems

Last week I awoke from a dream, the only detail I could remember being a snow leopard. It seemed imperative that I remember that one detail. Since the hawk began appearing to me a year ago, I’ve tried to pay more attention to animal totems, to the messages they are purported to carry…the wisdom and lessons they impart. A totem is an animal spirit whose characteristics serve as a guide. You can have the same totem(s) your entire life; at other times a new one will appear to offer guidance during a crucial moment. Since the Snow Leopard seemed of such great significant in this dream, I naturally had to learn more about it.

1. Snow Leopards tend to be loners, quite comfortable with themselves, though often drawn to other solitary people. (Um...yep, that would be me.)
2. Snow Leopard Souls are here in part to learn the lesson of Self Reliance. Like the animal that has a mostly solitary life, the person with this totem will encounter many situations in life which develop the ability to rely upon and trust the inner Self. (Often more than one would like)
3. This does not mean that they are undesirous of finding a mate/companionship, merely that they often do their best thinking and problem solving alone. They require frequent time alone with their own thoughts and feelings. Lack of alone time may leave them out of sorts. (Again, definitely me--I have to have my alone time or I get snarly.)
4. It is believed that the Leopard Spirit walks between the Physical World and the Spirit Realm, making them highly intuitive or possessive of psychic ability.
5. They can develop clairaudience, the ability to hear communications from other forms of life or dimensions. Thoughts and inner visions should be trusted as they are based in reality.
6. Snow Leopards’ keen powers of observation make it difficult for others to keep secrets from them, though they are excellent repositories of untold secrets themselves. (Yep, that's also me--everyone's confidant.)
7. Snow Leopards are silent and inconspicuous hunters, moving in and out of situations without being seen. This invisibility allows them to observe situations they encounter with clarity. Those with this totem have strong intuitive abilities. They are highly sensitive people who need to pay attention to how they feel and react accordingly.
8. Because leopards kill by biting the back of the neck and do not attack their prey from the front, those with Leopard energy may have difficulty confronting conflict head on. This can be both beneficial and harmful. Part of the Leopard’s teaching is how to conquer conflict in a balanced way. (Have I mentioned how much I hate conflict?)
9. People with this totem are capable of doing a variety of tasks at one time, but must learn to pace themselves, and not push too hard. (I am indeed a great multitasker.)
10. Snow Leopard people have strong bodies but must remember to release pent up anger, frustrations and other emotions or physical health issues related to the limbs and the skeleton can occur (example: stress felt in neck or shoulders, or arthritis).
11. The Snow Leopard calls for the integration between Personality and Soul, Shadow and Light, Unconsciousness and Conscious Awareness. It calls for introspection, for absorbing and acknowledging a lesson learned.
12. Leopards have a great inner strength and determination, as well as an awareness of the Shadow Self, which they face with quiet determination and perseverance. They are also able to see both the shadow and the light of others, a skill that can assist those who are not offended by their penetrating insight. Of course, their ability to see others for who they really are can also make many enemies.
13. Truth, honesty and integrity are cornerstones of the fundamental being of a Snow Leopard. People with this totem are highly responsible beings, sometimes to a fault.


LINKS TO OTHER THURSDAY THIRTEENS:

Stephanie Adkins * Mel * Adelle Laudan
Jenna Allen * Alice Audrey * Tempest Knight
Shelley Munro * Gattina * Thornesworld * Colleen
Ms Menozzi * Inez Kelley * Karen * Jenn
Kandyblossom * Paige Tyler * My Expressions
Jana * Janice Seagraves * Nicholas * Mary

(leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others’ comments. It’s easy, and fun! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things.

Sources:
Self Reliance
The Leopard
Power Animals and Their Sources

LSC205 (CAS) -- Shamrock

Last week's Limited Supply Challenge (LSC205) at SCS was to make cards that were "clean and simple" -- cards that did not feature tons of layers or embellishments or fancy techniques. In other words, a challenge right up my alley. I know St. Patrick's Day is more than a month away, but these were the materials lying on my desk this past weekend, so that is what I used.

Stamps: Shamrock (Inkadinkado)
Paper: White (Xerox Cardstock), Scrap of Green (DCWV)
Ink: Green Galore
Accessories: Ribbon (JoAnn's), Corner Rounder Punch

The Bikini Diaries

The Bikini Diaries
by Lacey Alexander
Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)
Pub. Date: February 3, 2009
ISBN-13: 9780451225900

While vacationing on Florida’s Emerald Coast, shy Wendy Carnes spots a woman who personifies sex, a woman clearly ready for action. Inspired, Wendy gets a sexy new bikini and a new attitude. But if she does seduce a hot beach guy, what then? At what point does the fantasy become a reality? Can she really indulge in casual sex for the mere sport of it? When does the person you pretend to be become the person you are?

Read an excerpt

Order it now:
Barnes & Noble
Amazon

Six More Weeks of Winter

Jimmy the Groundhog stuck his head out at dawn this morning, saw the bright sun up above and said, "Screw this, I'm going back to bed for six more weeks." So much for hoping we'd see an early spring!

You Know You're From Wisconsin When...

It's 36F and you're driving around with the sun roof open. Seriously, that was me and a friend while out shopping Saturday afternoon. It might have been a blustery day, the windchill dropping the temp to 28, but the actual temp was above freezing for the first time in about a month, with plenty of bright sun. We reveled in it.