laurieanichols

Sunday evening getaway and one heck of a movie

laurieanichols — Mon, 20 May 2013 01:01:34 +0000

I forget why my hubby and I stopped our Sunday evening getaways but we did. Today we decided to get back to spending Sunday night near Boston so that we could spend more time together. Jack and the babies will get me back tomorrow which is fine with them I’m sure, I think that Jack will probably miss me more, he’ll make do with either my son or my daughter.

My hubby and I did the pay per view in our room and we had been curious to see the Seven Psychopaths in the theater, I forget how we missed it but we did. So when we saw it available, we clicked on the order button without hesitation. I swear, it was one of the weirdest and more entertaining movies that we have both seen in a very long time. It was humorous, both light and very darkly humorous, it was extremely surprising, not in the sense of suspenseful but in the way that ordinary people don’t normally think. The cast of characters were unsurprisingly excellent given who was playing them; we had Christopher Walken, who at the end when he was striding out into the dessert, I couldn’t help but quip “There’s Christopher Walken walking”. There was Colin Ferrell, there was Tom Waite, there was Sam Rockwell, and Woody Harrelson, this is a who’s who of brilliant actors known for their devoted commitment to the role, it was fantastic. The entire movie was based on pure love an owner has for his dog. I can more or less safely say that most people would not go to the extremes that we see in the movie but any dog lover will tell you that often money is no object to save your beloved Pooch, Bonnie or Rex. The writer was genius in blending an innocent love between an owner and his dog and the world of Seven Psychopaths.

After this movie we are going to see if we can find something else as entertaining to watch. Sunday nights are different because our two series have gone away to hiatus land so actually, instead of zipping back and forth between two shows, we are going to focus on only one, Game of Thrones.

I’m happy that we got back to Sunday night getaways.

I want to know what love it

laurieanichols — Sun, 19 May 2013 15:14:15 +0000

Is there a single idea or definition that runs through all the varieties of “love”?

The word love is used for so many different things that sometimes I fear the meaning may well be lost at some point. You hear the phrases such as I love my iPod, I love those shoes, I love this and I love that, love, love, love. In some languages the word love retains its special place, for example Greek and French. I remember learning in one of my favorite courses of all time Greek Mythology and Anthropology that the word “love” was very special and not used lightly. I find the same thing in the French language; aimer or to love is used sparingly so that its impact still keeps its strength.

When you see the many different relationships that one associates with love; be it a place, an idea, people or animals, I suppose the common denominator is the level of importance to your happiness and well-being that the other carries in your estimation.

Does the overusage of a word diminish its meaning even if the word or the feeling that the word represents is so powerful? Can a word be immune to manipulation or better yet can a definition be kept safe? I know that language is very fluid and representational but at some point do our feelings and our communications suffer from such fluidity?

Star Trek : Into Darkness – a movie review

laurieanichols — Sun, 19 May 2013 00:00:24 +0000

I won’t waste anyone’s time, I loved it. I loved the chemistry between all of the actors, I loved the message, I loved the direction, I loved the special effects. I didn’t love the 3-D and that is the last movie that I will ever have to see as a 3-D. 3-D gives me horrendous headaches and I didn’t find that the 3-D contributed more than was necessary. Any how, it is available in 2-D for those who, like me, prefer their entertainment in two dimensional form.

There was tons of Star Trek historical references, J.J did an awesome job paying homage to the Star Trek fans, I really tip my hat off to him. I am a huge science fiction fan and J.J Abrams is one of the best science fiction directors out there. I really enjoyed the movie, I didn’t want it to end.

I am not going to comment on the story whatsoever because I don’t want to give anything away. Suffice it to say, I loved it.

I am giving a shout out to my friend Tilly. Tilly, I got to see the preview of Ender’s Game on the Big Screen, it was Awesome. Ben Kingsley with his tattooed face on the Big Screen Amazing! It never gets better than Harrison Ford and his gruff voice on the Big Screen. It’s coming out in November.
I know that you shared the video, but like all great science fiction movies and stories, it does so much better on the big screen. You are going to love it.:)

I am already looking forward to the next installment of Star Trek. I feel sorry for the next director, if J.J Abrams doesn’t do it, his act is a tough act to follow.

Morphing

laurieanichols — Sat, 18 May 2013 14:08:29 +0000

Language evolves. The meaning of a word can shift over time as we use it differently – think of "cool", "heavy", or even "literally". Today, give a word an evolutionary push> give a common word a new meaning.

I am cheating with this one. I was watching David Lettermen and he had Chris Pine on promoting Star Trek, Into Darkness. Chris Pine had a cute story about a common word that was pushed into a new meaning, "pine". Apparently our dear Chris Pine still needs the use of a bib when eating; J.J Abrams had Chris Pine putting on weight and in between takes when he would be feeding his face and body, he would invariably spill something on his costume. The costume crew immediately took his name Pine and gave it new meaning, every time his shirt got stained, the costume crew would say that it got "pined". So the next time you spill something on your shirt, you have just "pined" yourself. Thanks Chris Pine! I'm seeing your movie today!

The divergent nature of my garden

laurieanichols — Fri, 17 May 2013 23:51:55 +0000

My garden is getting more springlike by the day which puts a smile on my face because every day I see some new color, a new blossom or a surprise self-seeder cropping up where I didn’t expect. On the other hand, there are a few of my plants that are perplexing me and giving me pause as to which measures to take to make them healthier and stronger. It makes me sad that my azaleas and my clematis aren’t as happy as they ought to be, when I researched I found the solution to be relatively simple, applying pine mulch to adjust the ph balance of the soil. My clematis on the other hand, I am just grateful that it came back because it seemed to be a goner last fall. I am still trying to figure out how to get it in a healthier state, it has sprung buds from the old vine so those need to stay, but I am not sure if there are any new shoots because it is a tangle of old and new. That’s fine, my plants just need to be nurtured and babysat for a little while. I have two russian sage plants that have just sprouted new growth on their winter stems, they are still new additions so they haven’t, I suppose, developed the tolerance for our harsh winters. Hopefully, this summer will give my two russian sage plants the chance to get bigger and stronger.
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So far my garden, in various places, is all awash in purples and blues with a splash of yellow and pink. It constantly amazes me just how much I love color. I have been thinking of what to get to put in the back near the pool to replace the bamboo “grove” that I dug up last week and I am leaning towards a rhododendron. I originally wanted a rose of Sharon but I’m having a hard time finding one, so that is why I thought rhododendron. In the front, my baby girl kindly posed near one of my favorite bushes of all, my lilac. It is one of a few that I have and I make it a point to take a whiff, every time I walk past anyone of them. The odor lingers in my nose for several minutes and it is heavenly.

I think that what I love most about taking pictures of flowers and plants is the intimate nature the lenses affords with the plant. I find that I see the unique traits of each part of the flower much more clearly through the camera even if it only my cell phone. Those who have the gift for photography are truly gifted with an eye for beauty in areas that most of us don’t get to envision. I tinker about and who knows maybe my eye will get better and see more clearly, beyond the easy and obvious.

Landscape

laurieanichols — Fri, 17 May 2013 18:53:45 +0000

When you gaze out your window – real or figurative – do you see the forest first, or the trees?

It most surely depends on my mood and my level of focus. When I am preoccupied, all I see is forest, forget the trees. When the reflective mood is with me, I see each tree for its individuality and its place within the forest. I much prefer it, when I am calm and centered and can spend time seeing each unique tree and its importance within the greater community of nature.

A look back at Blandford’s Scottish Festival

laurieanichols — Fri, 17 May 2013 02:31:08 +0000

Tonight’s Historical Society program was really informative and enjoyable. It was held at the Blandford White Church which was built in the 1820′s and restored starting in 1994 and finished being restored in 1999. The committee members in charge of the White Church were compelled to inform the town in 1990, that steps needed to be taken to do something with the White Church because as of 1990, it was becoming a liability. Through a small donation they were able to restore the foundation. but that was as far as it went and so for four years, the White Church stood on cinder blocks. In 1994, Blandford found an extremely capable and energetic woman in the name of Mrs. Southworth who decided between parking cars for the Blandford Fair and organizing a Scottish Festival honoring the Scottish roots of our small town, that it would be the shot in the arm needed in terms of generating monies. Believe it or not, there was even more, in terms of good will, one of our residents is an accomplished opera conductor who proposed holding an opera that was such a hit, that it became an annual event. So between these three events, our White Church has been fully restored and we are very proud of it.

My hazelnut shortbread cookies were a hit, the other shortbread cookies were store bought, but still good. It always makes me happy to see others delight in my baked goodies. I had a lot of fun and I am so happy that I went. I am tired and ready for bed, in the immortal lyrics of the Sound of Music “so long, farewell, a vie de zein, good night, to you and you and you Good Night” Love that movie.

Success!

laurieanichols — Thu, 16 May 2013 18:54:58 +0000

Tell us about a time where everything you'd hoped would happen actually did.

This past summer's trip to France is a wonderful example. I had planned it in advance as much as I could and then whatever else was left such as supplemental side trips, I would do it on the road. This trip wasn't only for myself but also for my 18 year old daughter so the pressure was on. On the whole I think that our entire trip was a success, it was 36 days of French countryside and good eating. Many things that could have gone wrong, didn't. There was not a single strike which for France was pretty good, the trains were for the most part on time, the hotels were nice, the food was delicious and my family was wonderful. Our trip was indeed everything that I had hoped for and then some. We were extraordinarily blessed.

Kitchen Aid: a baker’s best friend

laurieanichols — Wed, 15 May 2013 23:56:53 +0000

My Kitchen Aid standup mixer is one of my best friend’s in the kitchen. If I ever need to make cookies and I’m not feeling energetic, I never worry because the Kitchen Aid does all of the work. Any great cookie requires creamed butter and in the past, I would work up a sweat beating the butter with a spoon and then a whisk, now I stand back and let the Kitchen Aid do its magic. I have had my Kitchen Aid for at least twenty years and I wouldn’t give it up for anything else on the market. I make my pizza dough with it, I make my pastry creams with it, I grind meat for pates with it, it is one of the most versatile tools you can have in the kitchen.

Two weeks ago I had promised my friend at the Historical Society a batch of hazelnut shortbread cookies or as they are called in French, sablees aux noisettes, for tomorrow evening. She is presenting a program describing the history of Blandford’s Scottish Festival. So even though I still felt a little tired, the cookie dough was so easy to make because all the ingredients got beaten together with the Kitchen Aid, all I needed to do was scoop it out onto plastic wrap and roll it into a log and put it into the refrigerator to set up for tomorrow morning, when I will cut the log into slices and bake them in the oven at 325 F.

I hope that they will be a hit with the Historical Society crowd. I don’t see why not, whenever you have butter and sugar together, you are going to get something yummy.

Evasive action

laurieanichols — Wed, 15 May 2013 21:21:53 +0000

What's the most significant secret you've ever kept? Did the truth ever come out?

I have been a keeper of multiple secrets for my closest friends and the truth has never come out at least from my lips. Once someone has asked me to keep a confidence, I keep that confidence no matter what and trust me I have never had to keep any crime secret, I would never go that far. I strongly believe that it has never been my place to speak someone else's truth to anyone else. That would be a betrayal and taking their secret and swearing someone else to keep it secret does not count as keeping a secret. If more than two people know something than it isn't a secret.

Actually lately my memory has gotten so bad that if anyone confided anything to me, I would most probably forget it and then your secret is definitely safe with me, I have just forgotten how to access it fro my memory banks. I'm just as safe as a confessional these days.

Moreover I hold no judgement and my friends who confide in me know that, I don't judge and I hold my tongue, that is how I roll.