In memorium

Classy, tough, and so easy on the eyes. Paul Newman has to be one of my all-time favorite actors. I'm sad to hear about his passing. Maybe in remembrance I'll watch "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" (best movie ending ever in my opinion) or "The Long, Hot Summer." If you've never seen any of his work, I suggest you do the same.

Safety first

Those of you who know me well will recognize the complete Marie-ness of this story.

Yesterday I got a call from the Gallup Poll people. I agreed to answer their survey questions because I'm always hearing their results used in news stories. The lady I spoke with wanted to verify that I was on a cell phone because those were the kind of people they were specifically looking for. Then she wanted to verify, for my and others' safety, that I wasn't driving. I confirmed I wasn't (I was at home).

She started to ask the questions, and I went around the house doing some things that needed to be done. I had to go upstairs, and, as I was going up the stairs, I slipped and fell down hard on my right knee and elbow. My first thought was that the lady had heard me fall down (I have wood floors) and would laugh at me. Thankfully, she didn't laugh. Or least not that I could hear.

My second thought was that apparently safety is an issue for me in the car, in my house, in a box, with a fox. It doesn't really matter. Sheesh.

How perfectly awful

When I was just out of high school and going into college, a film came out that I thought was just wonderful. It had action, romance, humor and Luke Perry. It was, of course, "8 Seconds." I remember thinking it was such a great movie. One of my roommates owned it, and we would watch it whenever we got a bull-riding Luke craving, fawning over his spot-on cowboy accent. We loved the romance between Lane and Kelly, the reality of the bull rides, and the tough coolness of the cowboys.

Fast forward a few years--actually to a few days ago. I'm flipping through the channels and what should be on but my favorite Luke Perry movie. So, of course, I stop to watch it. Bad idea. The more I watched, the more I wondered how I could have ever thought it was such a great movie. Yes, Luke is nice to look at in his butt-hugging Wranglers, but other than that . . . meh. Not so great. The acting is sub-par (with the exception of Mr. Perry--nothing can mar his performance for me), the CG-animated bulls look pretty fake and Stephen Baldwin's every scene is cringe-worthy. It was actually fairly painful to watch.

And so now this movie has been ruined. I will never remember it with fondness. Such a sad day for me.

Has this happened to you? Any movies you used to love as a younger you that have now realized are awful? Please, share.

Oh, Mr. Darcy

D'you want to wish Colin a most very happy birthday?

Oh, yes course.

I've been Yearbooked

I learned a couple of things during my time as a teacher. One is that if someone comes up with a good idea, borrow it (ie - don't reinvent the wheel). The other thing is that hardly anyone has a great yearbook picture.

With that in mind, may I share a fabulous thing I came across on my friend Em's blog? These pictures were created on Yearbook Yourself. It's a fun site where you can put in a picture of yourself and see what you would have looked like in 1956 or 1978 and so on. Oh what fun.

2000 - Am I having more fun as a blond? Are my bangs big enough?

1954 - I think I look like my mom.
1956 - I think I look like my mom's sister (and my sister for that matter).
1968 - I'm going to make it after all.
1976 - Channelling Barbara Mandrell?
1978 - Probably the only time I will be able to sport an afro.

1990 - Oh my awesomeness.
And quite possibly my favorite - 1968, as a guy.