I'm a Mom playing nurse that missed Movie MOMS this month.

Colin wasn't feeling well enough today for us to attend the monthly Movie MOMS meeting. I was bummed for two reasons: 1) it was held at my friend Katie's pool, and in the 95+ degree weather that would have been sooo nice and 2) the movies we watched were ones that I would have liked to participate in the discussion of. (OK so that sentence doesn't make grammatical sense, but deal)

The movies that Katie picked for July were Revolutionary Road and The Business of Being Born. GREAT movies to spark a discussion of women's reproductive rights. Have you seen them? 

I loved Revolutionary Road for many reasons (LOVE Kate Winslet) and I was never so grateful that I don't live in the 1950's than at the end of the movie. I am so glad I don't have to deal with an overly male dominated society or a husband that stifles me and over-rules my vote in what happens to me and my body. (I could get more specific, but I don't want to give anything away in case you haven't seen it yet)

To be truthful, I didn't finish watching The Business of Being Born. It kind of pissed me off. Not because I don't believe in giving women the right to choose how and where they give birth, because I DO think women should have that right, but because it made me feel like less of a woman because I chose a doctor and hospital for my first pregnancy (in turn because of health issues I chose a doctor and hospital for my second pregnancy too). If a woman wants to give birth without intervention, she should be able to but those women should also respect the decision of any other woman that doesn't want to do it that way. I wanted to try to "go natural" with my second child but it wasn't in the cards. I know it was best for me and the baby that I was induced a little early and had an epidural during the birthing process. I shouldn't be made to feel guilty that I trusted my doctor. Before you go off on me, I know that is NOT what the filmmakers were trying to do when they made this film. I know they were trying to inform the women in the US that there are other options when it comes to giving birth.  I also know they were possibly trying to let people in the US know that there are a lot of women out there that would prefer midwives to doctors and home births to hospital ones despite what some state laws dictate but I can't help how the movie made me feel.

Those are my takes on the Movie MOM movies for July. What did you think of the movies?

I'm a Mom keeping my kids busy this summer.

And by keeping them busy, I'm having a hard time keeping up with my blogging. As you all can tell. We've had birthdays and Father's Day and water slide days and park days and....well you get the picture. Now it is July and I should get it together. Doesn't mean I will.

Do you want a short recap of the last month or so? Well, who cares....I'm gonna give you one anyway.

Lilly and I both got a year older. We celebrated Lilly's birthday with a Purplicious party at my sister's clubhouse, and I celebrated mine by having a girls night at the Roller Derby. Yes, I said Roller Derby. The Salt City Derby Girls had a double Bout the night of my birthday, and we had a blast. But NO we did NOT don roller skates and join them. Although I am tempted.

Father's Day came and Seth finally got his new grill. It is the coolest thing....a gas grill and a charcoal grill all in one. Needless to say, we've been grilling a lot since then. Gonna smoke some salmon on a cedar plank soon....YUM!

I've still been going to Zumba, a little. Things got hectic, but I'm going when I can. I'm still trying to eat healthier and grilling is helping with that, but some days it is SO hard to make sure fruits and veggies are a part of every meal. I'm gonna stick with it, and get better though, I promise.

We've had many days with friends, Movie MOMS, Book Club, Classic Fun Center days, and even a great lunch at an old friend's house (something I need to do more often.) I got to see a friend I hadn't seen for a while and I met an "imaginary friend" from FB. We saw Toy Story 3 (it is soo good, go see it!) and I saw Eclipse at an early fundraising showing (not a bad movie, but I went mostly for the time with friends). I finished a book I was supposed to read for April, read the book club book for June and started on the book for July. I wish I could find the time to read more, but as hard as I try there aren't enough hours in the day. I've recently joined Good Reads, and I put my bookshelf over on the right, if you are interested.

I know I should be using my camera more, but I haven't been feeling it. And with all the water things we've been doing, I don't dare bring my camera, in fear of breaking it. I have been happy, even though I haven't been participating in The Happiness Project and I've been trying to find some good You Capture shots and I know, I know, you'll have to take my word for it since there are no pictures to prove it.

So that is our month in a very large nutshell. I wish I had more to say, or could put into words what I think about some of the current events, but most of the time I can't even get my laundry done let alone wax intelligent about the goings on in the world. I know, boring life, but it is my life and right now I really AM just a Mom.

(Forgive the lack of links....I have most of them in posts somewhere. I just am too tired to link up.)

I'm the Mom that hosted Movie MOMS this month.

I am the one that got to choose the MOMS Club Movie MOMS movies for this month, and host the activity at my house. I am always tempted to host it at the Starbucks in Target, but I refrain (I spend too much time there anyway).


This month we watched Zombieland and Shaun of the Dead. I LOVED both of these zombie movies. Zombies aren't something that usually interest me, but I think because each of them were making light of the world being taken over by Zombies, they made for great Zombie movies.

Everyone else loved the movies too...there wasn't much of a discussion of plot line (other than a bit of talk about the "rules" in Zombieland) and there wasn't anyone that disapproved of my movie choices. In fact, someone new joined us, just because she loved the movies (Hi Mel!)

Anyway...hope you've seen them...if not go rent them, or steal them off the internet (I do NOT condone the stealing of movies off the internet...really I don't) but go watch them!!!

Next month's movies: The Adventures of Priscillia Queen of the Desert and Puccini for Beginners, in honor of Utah's Pride Month.

Oh, and just a note, if you want to know more about any of those movies...you can look them up at IMDB or Netflix. I'm too tired to link to all of them. Yeah, call me lazy. I don't mind.

I'm a blogger responding to a request.

You would think I could keep it together enough to blog about the things I say I'm gonna blog about. Sometimes it takes a gentle reminder or request from a reader to make me stay on top of it (thanks Holly!)

You would also think it would be easy for me to blog once a month about the movies we watch for my Movie MOMS group. Just stop thinking! As a Mom, I've found that what I think should be happening, and what actually happens are two completely opposite things. But I'll try harder....promise.

So as I said, Holly reminded me that I haven't given my views on the movies we watched for Movie MOMS in April. So here they are...and if you've seen them, feel free to give your own views in the comments.

The first movie I watched was Vicky Cristina Barcelona. I was looking forward to seeing it, since there was a lot of hype surrounding it and Penelope Cruz's performance as Maria Elena (she won an Oscar for the role). But to tell you the truth, I wasn't all that impressed with it. Maybe because of the hype, I was expecting more than what I saw, or maybe it was because I wasn't able to watch it uninterrupted (it wasn't the kids either, they were asleep). I liked Scarlet Johansson in her role as Cristina, she was very good portraying a more bohemian, free spirited, open minded individual. Even if she didn't know what she wanted out of life in the long run, she was good at living her life for the moment, and that is something we all need to learn how to do.  As for Vicky, Rebecca Hall was good at portraying her, but I'm not so sure I liked the kind of person Vicky is. She didn't seem open to change. She had her life all planned out, and she had an idea of how things were supposed to be, but when her feelings about life, and her fiancee' changed, she tossed them aside totally willing to live a life of unhappiness.  I know a lot of people liked this film, but it isn't in my top 10. I AM going to put it in my Netflix queue again, and see if I can watch it uninterrupted, and get a new perspective on it.

The second film I watched was Kolya. It is a foreign film, so we joked we needed to read the movie (subtitles), but it is the best movie I've ever had to read. Since many of you haven't heard of this movie let me give you the description from Netflix:

"In Soviet Czechoslovakia, middle-aged concert cellist and bachelor Frantisek Louka (Zdenek Sverak) is strapped for cash, reduced to playing funerals, when a chance relationship results in his caring for a 5-year-old Russian boy, Kolja (Andrei Chalimon). Political turmoil is imminent on the eve of the Velvet Revolution, while Louka's own emotional upheaval is just as unpredictable in this heartwarming, Oscar- and Golden Globe-winning tale."

Heartwarming, is one of the best words to describe this film. It is steeped in Czech history, and made me want to learn more about the Soviet occupation of Czechoslovakia (now the Czech Republic). Mostly because a lot of this was going on during my lifetime, and even though I was young, I find it interesting how much the world has changed just in the 30 some odd years I've been alive. Anyway.....this movie was so sweet, and loving, I admit I cried in a few spots. And I loved seeing how a person can change all because of a kid. The way Louka took responsibility for a child that wasn't even related to him, was heartfelt and sweet. The one thing I couldn't figure out though (and my discussion group agreed) is why so many women were so attracted to not so attractive older man that doesn't have a decent job (he was kicked out of the philharmonic) or a decent place to live. If you can figure it out, let me know. BUT I totally recommend you see this movie at least once.

May's movies for my Movie MOMS are Zombieland and Shaun of the Dead. They are my choices, and since there seems to be an influx of monster themed movies I thought it appropriate to see a couple of comedy based monster movies. I'll let you know what everyone thought of them, once we meet to discuss. I'm putting a reminder in my calendar NOW so I will actually follow through.

I'm a person that has a hard time following through.....sometimes.

I know I shouldn't be like that. I don't WANT to be that person, but sometimes, things, LIFE gets in the way. I don't blog as often as I'd like to, but that is mostly because I don't have much to say. Or at least not much that anyone would like to hear. That and not a lot of people comment on my blog (notice I didn't say "nobody comments") and it gets a little discouraging writing to few people. BUT I did remember that I was supposed to follow up on my post about movies. I had one person comment on that post with a list of their favorite movies (Thanks Brenda!) and just in case you didn't read her comment I'm re posting it: "Ummm. Fave movies. Easy peasy. 1. Cinema Paradiso. Greatest film ever. IMO. 2. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. I have a thing for Jim Carrey. Ahem. 3. Crash. Ohmygod, that scene where the little girl was shot. Bawled my eyes out. 4. Pan's Labyrinth. Again, when the little died at the end. Waterworks galore! 5. Finding Nemo. Obviously. Hehe. Loads more but too lazy to tap on my iPhone now. Sowee." Sooooo...I have only seen 2 of those movies. I can let you guess which ones, but I am sure you already know. I feel so, well, lame. It's not that I have different tastes in movies (well, I'm almost positive that my favorite director is not Brenda's favorite director...I'm a bit sick and twisted having Kevin Smith as my fave) it is just that I never get a chance to see movies in the theater, and by the time I get to Netflix them, I forget which ones I've wanted to see. Added the 3 I haven't seen to Netflix cue. Promise. I guess I should share my favorite movies with you, huh? OK...just don't laugh at me for my choices. Or if you DO laugh, don't let me know you did. I love anything by Kevin Smith (Yes, even Zack and Miri Make a Porno) but I think Chasing Amy is my favorite by him. I don't know if it is because Ben Affleck was so damn young, or if it is because I LOVE Joey Lauren Adams. She's The One. Not to be confused with the teenage cheese fest that is She's All That. Sixteen Candles The Breakfast Club Pretty in Pink See a trend? Midnight In the Garden of Good and Evil- I LOVE John Cusack (He's #1 on my laminated/doorbell list) and the story is just a good one. I have yet to read the book, but this movie is what first made want to visit Savannah (I have yet to do that either) I'm sure I have a few more, but these are my all time favorites. We've watched a few good ones for Movie MOMS the last few months, and after we discuss the two for April, I'll let you know what they are, and how I felt about them. Whew! I've now crossed another thing off of my list, so I'm NOT that person that doesn't follow through...at least for now.

I'm a woman that loves watching movies too.

Although, I'm not alone. I haven't met a person that doesn't like watching at least some kind of film. Whether it be animation (or even anime) or drama, or adventure or foreign film, almost everyone has a favorite movie (I say almost because I know there is going to be someone out there that will contradict that statement). The MOMS Club Chapter I belong to has a Movie MOMS club of sorts that meets each month to review and discuss 2 movies another MOMS Club member has chosen. It has been so much fun being able to watch movies that either a) someone else loves or b) someone else has wanted to see, but hasn't. I have seen a few movies I would never known existed if someone hadn't suggested it. We got Netflix mostly because getting the movies I wanted to watch was easier that way (LOVE Netflix by the way...LOVE it!) My turn to choose movies will come around again soon (there are only 5 or 6 people that attend Movie MOMS on a regular basis) and I'm wondering what some of YOUR favorite movies are. I was thinking of choosing movies with Luke Wilson in them (I like him as an actor) or finding some kind of theme to follow (it is find of fun to think one up) but it might be even more fun to choose movies that some of my readers enjoy (like I have very many readers). Just leave me a comment, and if there are enough responses, I'll let you know what they are, and possibly share some of my favorite movies with you.

Movies

OK....so it has been almost a week since I wrote about some of the music I am listening to....now I think we should "talk" about movies. I am not one to watch movies that are too thought provoking, or send a message. I am not really into documentaries (mockumentaries are more my style). I prefer movies that are a bit unbelievable, movies that take me away from the real world for a while (kinda how I like my books, but that is a different post). In a way I am a little childish in my likes (KEVIN SMITH ROCKS!!) and also a bit of a romantic (we watched August Rush tonight, and I LOVED that the ending was all tied up with a nice little bow). What kind of stuff do you like? Do you like going to the movie theater, or do you prefer the comforts of your own home (ie. being able to pause while you use the restroom)? I prefer the comforts of home, a drink (alcoholic of course) in one hand Thai food (or McDonald's) in the other, and a warm blanket to snuggle into.