Up

Who doesn't love the movie UP? And all the other Pixar movies (except Cars. I can't get behind that one) for that matter.

Pixar has a key to my heart! And last night Russ said something that made me have a deeper appreciation for the movie "UP".

We were at a baptism last night and Russ was welcoming the father and daughter to our little San Marcos congregation. Russ was explaining to the family that from here, they need to go up. That after baptism some of us feel that we're done trying and that baptism is the end. But that's not true, there's more. We need to keep going up, there are more moments like the "baptismal" moment that are ahead.

Ok... I'm sure you can't see the connection to "Up". But when Russ said this, I thought about Up and how the old man plateaus after his wife died. But throughout the movie, he ends up opening his heart again to the fat boy scout (who is also named Russ) and helping out a family in need. He goes UP.

It just made me happy. Does that make sense? If you're stuck, go UP.

Busy * Fun * Happy * Weekend

So this weekend was a good weekend. I know I just blogged about what I was going to do this weekend, and not I'm bloggin' 'bout it. But here's why it was good:

I found out I passed PC1.
And I did pretty good. Not going to lie, I cried a little. Because if I had failed this class I would have dropped out of law school. Because I'd done my best and I couldn't do it again.

Russ and I were adoptive parents this weekend to a 16 yr. old boy.
Our dear friends went to a wedding in Houston and their teen son, Brandon, did not want to go. So he came and stayed with us. On Friday he and Russ went camping. On Saturday he tagged along with me running some errands and the going to Mormon Prom (It's a huge prom dance in San Antonio for Mormon kids). I must admit, it was kind of fun picking him up after the dance and hearing about the girls, and how he almost kissed one of them, etc. Oh to be young!

Finally saw the latest Harry Potter.
It was pretty good too. I'm excited for the next one to come out. And yes, I cried when Dobby died.

Sunday Night Family Dinner.
Finally, we had Sunday dinner with our family in Lockhart. I just love having family nearby. MarJane is a great cook. After dinner Greg shared a academic paper he had written and it was fantastic! I found it so inspiring that he continues to study and write. One of my big fears of being out of school is to lose the study side of life that I find so fulfilling. To know Greg is still academically active gives me hope that I can continue to grow and learn.

Of course, I did my weekend plans as I had planned. Michelle's graduation was wonderful. It made me excited for next year and to graduate from law school. She's a great example to me of finishing!

Life is Good. This weekend was just about as lovely as it could be!

In case you haven't seen this...

I watched this movie one time about 5 weeks ago. But it won't get out of my head.

enjoy!

Documentary

On Sunday Russ suggested we watch this documentary. I was not in the mood for a documentary (On Sunday I like to take a break from the world- not watch some movie about how crazy it is). But tonight I was desperate to procrastinate studying. So I watched this movie:

. 

Japan Baby: That little girl cried a lot. She's in a room full of toys and refuses to be satiated. In the meantime the Mongolian baby is happy as a clam eating paper.

Mongolian Baby: This little dude got into a lot of trouble in his first year! It was like every time we saw him he was playing and happy and spills something. Next thing you know he's getting yelled at and spanked and it has no effect on him. Because he has NO CLUE that this is punishment. Oh, and it really sucked when he tipped his stroller.
Plus, what a jerk of a big brother! Hitting him with a scarf, driving the little dude out to the middle of a cow pasture in his stroller! Poor guy! If he makes it to adulthood he'll probably be a world leader.

Africa Baby: As far as rapid growth and motor skills, this kid ended up way ahead of the other babies. He was running when he turned 1 and had begun learning to balance pots on his head. What a champ! Although, he did spend a lot of time lying in dirt and muddy water. I think he even ate dirt at one point. But he could take care of himself pretty much by the time he turned 1. He could even speak in the click-clack language with his mom. I was very impressed.

US Baby: US Baby, you got the most parental attention of any of these babies. But what's with naked mom hot tubing? Is that a thing? And the chanting class? Huh?!? Who takes their baby to a chanting class? Other than that, this baby was the most boring. Probably because I've seen it a hundred times before, probably because the other babies had siblings that tortured them. All in all seems like US babies have it pretty good.

Well I've successfully procrastinated another night of study (it's only the second week into the quarter, so it's not too big of a deal). What can I watch tomorrow to procrastinate studying?

Education: Let's not leave it up to chance

Russ and I recently went to the Alamo Drafthouse and watched Waiting for "Superman". Here are some bullet point thought about the movie, without ruining it. Because you should go and see it!

• Education is over-regulated by the government
• Teachers have their hands tied. If your a good teacher, then you're a miracle.
• Good teachers are patient, very patient.
• America has become an elitist system, the opportunity to go beyond the class and education level you've been born into is an exceptional lucky situation.
• We need to change this, and I think we can.

Okay, okay, so nothing revolutionary. Nothing new. But I don't want to give away the end of the movie. Actually, the director made us promise not to spoil it. Please go and see it. And lets start fixing our schools.

Watch the trailer here.

A Year of Free Movies Comes to an End

Last May Russ and I attended the Cattle Baron's Ball for Hays County. Basically those with money in Hays County get together at Texas Old Town

We get in because Russ's Work (Time Warner) sponsors the event.

Anyway last year we bid in the silent auction and WON!

Free Movies for Year.

It's been fun. We were able to see all the 3-D movies for free.

We saw some duds:

And Some Winners:

It's been a fun year. Now to do all those home improvement projects we were working on a year ago...

The Proposal: Pretty Good

I warned you! We went and saw The Proposal tonight and it was pretty good.

Here's why:

1. We were with the right crowd. Mostly girls or couples on dates, everybody was in the mood for a romantic comedy. I even had extra giggles at hearing the audience saw "aww" in all the right places. It's just funny how people make those noises spontaneously and yet in unison.

2. It paced well. When a scene was building to a climax, it clicked along well, minus a grandma scene at the end. You knew what was coming but it was happening so fast, you got caught up in the moment and laughed about it anyway instead of shaking your head.

3. Ryan Reynolds was surprisingly funny. I've seen a lot of his earlier stuff and all were unsatisfying. He pulls it off. Bullock was just okay.

4. Okay here's really why I like it and I'll be honest it's a bit cheesy and may ruin the film for you, so consider this your SPOILER ALERT : It reminds me of why I fell in love with Russ. There's the big dreamer character (much like me) longing for bigger dreams than any of their loved ones has planned. They chase the dream, love those that would keep them where they're at, but then fall in love with the one that shares the big dream (that's Russ). Warned you it was a cheese!

You always want to walk away from a romantic comedy reminiscent of young love and feeling that same fondness for the love of your life the second you fell in love with them.

This did it. Maybe it was crowd, or the date night, but I liked it. Not an Academy winner, but a good feel.

The Bullet Points of Life

• Today I initiated a confrontation at church. I don't recommend it, even if you have a good point.
• I took a Spanish class this week and learned a TON! But I walked away longing for French. I love the French language. It is so beautiful.
• Russ and I have a year pass to the local movie cinema, so you'll probably hear us talk a lot about movies we see.
• We are going to Waco, TX June 22nd to check out Baylor & go to the Dr. Pepper Museum.

Quick Summary: Life is good.

No Russ= Studying/Movie Marathon

Here is what I've watched while Russ has been out (in-between study sessions). All were on tv, on the A & E Channel.

Erin Brokovich 

My Cousin Vinny

Working Girl

So life is pretty ho hum without the man of adventure around.

Toodles,

Chow

Fitting

Between work, water mains, and the lumber store when I got home
tonight it just seemed right that Chow was watching "Scream".

Dark Knight in less that 24 hours...

So I really don't have anything to say but I got tired of seeing Mr. Cage at the top of my blog. Sometimes you think some things are so funny but then you go back and look at it and it seems crazy.

This week is good! We can't wait to see the Dark Knight tomorrow!!!

Con Air.

So I got off work today and worked on our yard a bit. When I came inside to eat some grub, I put on a little tv to drawl out the silence in the house... what came on was Con Air.

 Con Air is an interesting show. It pretty much glorifies red neckness. Nicolas Cage is scene riding a tractor to save the day, sporting a mullet, and a white tank with jeans. 

With that funny factor aside, John Malkovich is a great villian. 

Well anyway, just so I didn't feel like I wasted the last two hours, I felt the need to blog about a classic movie. Classic and cliche.

Living here in Texas, I watched Con Air and felt the urge to move into a trailer. Okay, maybe not. But Russ and I are going to a honky tonk tonight. Not just any honky tonk (I don't even know what that means) but the very one that George Strait got his start at. 

So, if that doesn't make you want to move to Texas....