Monday Musings

ate another piece for this pic

My intention was to update my blog daily or at least weekly for the month of October. I write all the time for work, so my blog is just for me to ramble and share things and be creative. It has been over a week since my last post, so you can see how well that's working out. I think of this discipline as November nears and I am going to try once again to write a novel for NaNoMo. 

I think if I really wanted to write a book, wouldn't I have already done it? But I don't want to just zip something out that I'll hate six months later and want to redo. I want to be proud of it because should that day comes when it is finished, that might be my last novel effort. I don't want my book to be a one-hit wonder bomb.

Peanut butter on banana bread. A revelation. I didn't think of it. The Patio on Goldfinch has it as part of their dessert menu and as soon as I ate it, I thought, why couldn't I be this brilliant?!

Do you ever hear a witty comeback and hold on to it waiting for just the right moment to say it? I have two of them that I'm dying to say, but don't want to waste them on the wrong person. 

I love TV. I've said it before, I'll say it again. I am a busy person. I do have better things to do, but I CHOOSE to watch TV. To add to this lazy habit, I just began Season One of The Good Wife and I am hooked. My fiance rigged up his computer with Google Chromecast, so that we can watch it stream on our TV. I'm so glad he's tech-savvy and appreciates television as much as me.

I like staying calm when I know it will make someone else madder. If this is wrong, I don't want to be right.

If you haven't heard, the Kansas City Royals are headed to the World Series, which is awesome news! I'm from Kansas City, so it's easy to be excited, but I think it's odd how people not cheering for Kansas City nor San Francisco hate the Royals so much. Can't you just let them have their moment? They've waited long enough for the love!

I've noticed I always try to work talking about food into every conversation. I think it's a better gauge of if you're going to get along with someone rather than asking them what they do. 

This song continues to be on repeat for me for the rest of the week. Chris Messina, you dirty, cutie dog.

"You say I'm crazy 'cause you don't think I know what you've done."

50/50 Challenge Update: Cheesecake Motivation

How can it be that I neglected my 50/50 Challenge Update for the whole month of September? Maybe it's because I spent most of the month celebrating and toasting to the awesomeness of my birth or maybe it's because it was so darn hot that even the thought of typing on my laptop seemed too sweat-inducing to endure. Whatever the excuse, I have updates for you.

Movies

Movie-wise I have reached 40 movies and since there has been a solid scheduling of movies I am looking forward to seeing, I think reaching 50 by the end of December is in the bag. 

34. This Is Where I Leave You
Jason. Bateman. I love him and his dark humor ways, his stoic facial expression. Also, I enjoyed when Tina Fey's character decked Dax Shepard's douchebag one. The book, of course, is better.

35. Bad Country

I had the opportunity to see this one at the San Diego Film Festival with a few of my fellow movie bloggers. Tom Berenger was in the audience as well for a Q&A afterwards with film critic Jeffrey Lyons. If you didn't get the chance to attend the Film Festival, I recommend going next year. Each year is getting better.

36. Gone Girl

The most anticipated movie for me this fall as I loved the book and the writing of Gillian Flynn. She also penned the screenplay and David Fincher made sure it was extra dark and provocative. You can read my full review on Examiner.com here. 

37. The Godfather

Yes, I admit it, I had never seen "The Godfather" before. The fiance and I made it a weekday date night and went to Cinema Under the Stars to take in this classic (one of his favorites). I was entertained, as I thought I would be, but also was more impressed with how good-looking Al Pacino once was. Also, I just kept thinking of "You've Got Mail" where Tom Hanks is IM'ing Meg Ryan quotes from the movie.

38. Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

Based off a children's book, this movie actually made me giggle. It's good for young families and awesome in length: a short 82 minutes.

39. The Judge

My pick of the week, maybe the whole year. The acting is fantastic, the story compelling. I cried. Robert Downey, Jr. and his slick-talking ways, I enjoy him thoroughly. 

40. Men, Women, and Children

People left during this screening. I don't blame them. 

BOOKS

Since the start of fall TV, I may or may not have been slacking on my reading. I love to read, but I also really love television. A lot. My fiance and I watch a lot of shows together, most of them crime-driven ones, and by the time they're over, I'm too tired to read. 

I still think I can make my ultimate goal and have these to add to the list:

31. Me Before You by JoJo Moyes

I thought I was going to get away without crying. I made all the way until about the last five pages, then cried one of those ugly, blubbering cries. 

32. One Plus One by JoJo Moyes

This was also a strong writing effort. Not as good as Me Before You, but I would still recommend it.

33. All Fall Down - Jennifer Weiner

She is one of my favorite chick-lit writers. I read her books so quickly. 

34. David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants: Malcolm Gladwell

My first of his books. I recommend reading in chunks, reading all at once seemed to drag for me. There are some interesting stories though, especially the one about the "three strikes rule."

If you're curious as to what TV is pulling me away from reading, shows to blame are:

• The Blacklist
• The Voice
• Stalker
• Scandal
• How to Get Away with Murder
• Grey's Anatomy (I'm back to watching after taking several seasons off)

Soon to be added: Marry Me and American Horror Story. Oh, and I am going to start watching The Good Wife starting with Season One. Too much TV? Nah.

Only about two and a half months left of the challenge. Wish me luck! If I win, I am going to allow myself to eat a whole cheesecake in one sitting...semi-kidding.