Top Ten Movies: The Princess Bride

Saturday is Movie Day!   Here is the Top Ten Movie list so far (in no particular order):

Coming To America

The Fifth Element

Lady Hawke

Joe Versus The Volcano

Next up:

The Princess Bride

Film

en.wikipedia.org

The Princess Bride is a 1987 American romantic comedy adventure film based on the 1973 novel of the same name by William Goldman, combining comedy, adventure, romance, and fantasy. The film was directed by Rob Reiner from a screenplay by Goldman. Wikipedia

Release date: September 25, 1987 (USA) Director: Rob Reiner MPAA rating: PG Music: Mark Knopfler Screenplay: William Goldman

Cast

Cary Elwes

Westley

André the Giant

Fezzik

Robin Wright

Buttercup

Mandy Patinkin

Inigo Montoya

Fred Savage

The Grandson

Don't squeeze his cheek Grandpa.
Photo Courtesy:   http://www.alicia-logic.com/

"I will never love again."  And she never did.
Photo Courtesy:  fanpop.com 

I love this movie for so many reasons.  One of the reasons is purely sentimental because of when it was released.
It came out when I was a sophmore in high school and it was THE movie for the geeky cool group I was a part of.  My Dad was in the Air Force when I was growing up and in my senior year we moved to Germany.  The Princess Bride was one of the videos that came with us.  With no tv options, we watched our favorite videos over and over.  My brother and I can run most of the lines in the movie.
I even read the book by William Goldman.  The book was good, but the movie was pure goofy magic to me.

Are you prepared?
Photo Courtesy:  newly-impassioned-soul.blogspot.com

I also love the movie for the great performances that brought the story to life.  My favorite is Mandy Patinkin as Inigo Montoya.  I actually have a t-shirt with Inigo and his best line.  Carey Elwes was outstanding, his best movie as far as I'm concerned.  Robin Wright was THE Princess Bride, I cannot imagine anyone else playing that part.  Andre the Giant, Peter Falk, Billy Crystal, Fred Savage-all amazing.

Stealing the Princess.
Photo Courtesy:  collider.com

I also love The Princess Bride for it's unforgettable dialogue.

Here are a few lines:

"When I was your age, television was called books."

"His eyes are like the sea after a storm."

"As you wish."

"Death cannot stop true love. All it can do is delay it for a while."

"Anybody want a peanut?"

"You seem a decent fellow... I hate to kill you."

"You seem a decent fellow... I hate to die."

"All right. Where is the poison? The battle of wits has begun. It ends when you decide and we both drink, and find out who is right... and who is dead. "

"Get used to disappointment."

"You only think I guessed wrong! That's what's so funny! I switched glasses when your back was turned! Ha ha! You fool! You fell victim to one of the classic blunders - The most famous of which is "never get involved in a land war in Asia" - but only slightly less well-known is this: "Never go against a Sicilian when death is on the line"! Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! Ha ha ha.."

"Life is pain, Highness. Anyone who says differently is selling something. "

"Inconceivable!"

"It would take a miracle. "

"Mawage. Mawage is wot bwings us togeder tooday. Mawage, that bwessed awangment, that dweam wifin a dweam..."

"Well, I'm not saying I'd like to build a summer home here, but the trees are actually quite lovely."

" I want my father back, you son of a bitch!"

"Let me explain. No, there is too much. Let me sum up. Buttercup is marry Humperdink in little less then half an hour so all we have to do is get in, break up the wedding, steal the princess, make our escape, after I kill count Rugen. "

"Since the invention of the kiss, there have been five kisses rated the most passionate, the most pure. This one left them all behind. The end. "

The inconceivable Sicilian.
Photo Courtesy:  federalbaseball.com

He built up a tolerance for Iocane powder.
Photo Courtesy:  swotti.starmedia.com

If you have never seen it, you must, I beg you.  If you have not seen The Princess Bride in a long time, please see it again soon.

"It would take a miracle."
Photo Courtesy:  poietes.wordpress.com

The perfect kiss.
Photo Courtesy:  eddieonfilm.blogspot.com

I absolutely love movie day.  Thanks for taking a look.  Have a great rest of the weekend.

Fun Family Facts-Food Edition

I am going to share the foods that the children love the most.  Warning, the majority of foods mentioned in this post are not healthy-they are favorites and are not eaten every day.

Every once in a while we do a mock Christmas feast with a ham, green bean and sweet potato casseroles and Hawaiian bread rolls.  It is hands down the favorite home made meal for all of us.

For me, the secret to a moist ham is cooking it in a roasting bag to seal in the moisture.  I also make a killer brown sugar and butter glaze for the ham, but that is for another post.  For the sweet potato casserole the magic is in boiling your potatoes with a little sugar (no canned sweet potatoes); then mashing them with butter, a bit of brown sugar and a sprinkle of cinnamon.  Of course we add mini marshmallows on top and bake it in the oven.  It goes beyond side dish and almost becomes a hearty dessert.  I am so hungry now.

We eat the initial feast and then are able to eat leftover ham sandwiches for a day or two.  We try to do it every month or so because we love it so much.  I will do a post in the future with the recipes for our holiday feast.

The favorite home made desert is the Reese cup peanut butter cookies, we usually make them during the holidays.  The favorite home made drink is sweet tea.  Isabel makes it (the student now the master) and everyone drinks it.

 Here are their other favorites, along with cool photos of them:

Sebastian  *  Age 19

His Favorites:
Overall-Pizza and Fried Chicken
Sweet Snack:  Chocolate covered peanuts or pretzels
Savory Snack:  Nachos or Chips
Fast Food:  Chick-Fil-A 12 count meal
Fast Food He Makes:  Chicken Taco
Drink/Soda:  Coke or Dr. Pepper
Fruit:  Peach
Veggie:  Green Beans and Sweet Potatoes

It may not seem like it with the list above, but Buddy has a sensitive stomach.  He doesn't like spicy food (no Chinese or Thai) and he doesn't like seafood at all (Funny that his school nickname was SeaBass).  He likes fruit and will choke down veggies on occasion to ensure he doesn't turn into a giant pizza.  He is a pretty new coffee drinker (about 6 months) and takes his black.

Isabel Sophia  *  Age 13  

Her favorites:
Overall-Pasta and Fried Chicken
Sweet Snack:  Chocolate truffles and Smoothies
Savory Snack:  Exotic Chips and Nachos
Fast Food:  Chick-Fil-A 8 count meal
Fast Food She Makes:  Ramen and Bread-less Sandwiches
Drink/Soda:  Mix of Sodas and Apple Juice
Fruit:  Plumbs and Peaches
Veggie:  Green Beans and Broccoli

Isabel is maturing and is now more open to trying new foods.  She likes Salmon and other fish, but they are not her favorites;).  She's tried sushi and likes some Chinese food.  Isabel likes certain veggies, loves fruit and LOVES a smoothie.  Isabel could drink a gallon of apple juice without blinking, so we have her ration it a bit.  Isabel thinks coffee is gross and will stunt her growth.

Luci Sophia  *  Age 3 or 21 in dog years?

Her Favorites:

Overall-Dog Chow (yellow bag)
Sweet Snack:  Peanut Butter (she loves it and it is so funny to watch her eat-everyone wins)
Savory Snack:  All beef hot dog
Fast Food:  Burger
Drink:  Coffee
Fruit:  Apple Sauce
Veggie:  she will chew a bit on a Carrot

Ok, clearly we spoil Luci but we do not endanger her health.  If we give her people food it is in tiny treat size amounts.  We want to have her with us for a long time plus she is watching her figure;).  I have to explain the coffee, the incident happened about two years ago.  I stepped away and left my coffee on a side table and walked in on her sampling my mug.  Since then, I have to be very careful because she will sneak a lick of my coffee at every opportunity.  When she smells it, her eyes get big and she gives me that oh pretty please look.  Luci once sampled (without my permission) a cup of all natural apple sauce I was holding, she really liked it and follows me around every time I have it now.


There you have it, their current favorites.  I think they are pretty average American teens.


Have a fantastic Friday!

Tree Day with Other Wire Fun

I love tree day because it is the day I share new trees I've made during the week.
I have not been as tree productive, there is only one ready to share.  I have several almost ready, so next week is going to be a fantastic tree day.
Because there is only one tree, I am going to share a few other things I have been trying out.
Let's start with the fun stuff first.

My newest tree:

It is made of Unakite stone chips, they have a great green and pink color.  The trunk is not quite so spring shaped as in the photo.

Yesterday I started bending a tiny wire fairy.  It's not complete, but I like how it is coming together.

Lately I've been interested in macrame.  I want to see what knots I can work out in wire, so I have been practicing with my wire scraps.

Here are two tries at a sailor knot:

The pink wire is a bumpy scrap that I got into a sailor pretty easily.  The silver one is a scrap I was able to make into a ring, I like the way the sailor's knot is slanted sideways.  I almost have it down.

Ok, I have to share one of my trees that did not work out.

I completed a prototype of a bigger tree, about five inches tall and it just does not look good.  I am actually taking the stones off to use on the next prototype.  The branches on this one are too thin and there aren't enough of them.  I tried shaping it into a weeping willow, still no good.  After I take the stones off I will see what I can do with the trunk, I think that part looks pretty good.  I will share it next week if I am able to turn it into something.

Luci says hello.

I hope you have an awesome Thursday.

The Tutu Project

I don't watch television much, so I am not surprised that I am way behind in learning about The Tutu Project.  This is a great love story and also shows how one man can use his talents (and humor) to make a difference.

Photo Courtesy:   http://enpundit.com/have-tutu-will-travel-an-innovative-approach-to-kicking-cancers-butt/

I read about the story in an article on enpundit.com called "Have Tutu, Will Travel:  An Innovative Approach to Kicking Cancer's Butt" and on The Tutu Project website.  Bob Carey, a professional photographer, began experimenting years ago with funny self portraits.  Some that included him dressed in a pink tutu.  Six months after a big move to the east coast in 2003, Bob's wife Linda was diagnosed with breast cancer.  She fought and won, until a recurrence in 2006.  This is what Bob has to say:

"During these past nine years, I’ve been in awe of her power, her beauty, and her spirit. Oddly enough, her cancer has taught us that life is good, dealing with it can be hard, and sometimes the very best thing—no, the only thing—we can do to face another day is to laugh at ourselves, and share a laugh with others."

Since then, Bob has taken his funny portraits to the next level and now takes them to inspire others.  He has amassed a stunning collection, you can view some at The Tutu Project website.  Bob has been featured on the Today Show and in other programs and magazines; his tutu is all over the Internet.  

Bob has a great plan for his pictures:

"Enter Ballerina, the book. Not only is it a collection of my tutu images, it also shares many humorous stories about the adventures of a guy and his pink tulle. So far, there has been a tremendous response to the series of photos—people are particularly moved by the images. And their interest and enthusiasm have made us want to share that experience with as many people as possible in the form of a book, so that we can raise money to help other women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer.

This autumn, I will self-publish Ballerina. The net proceeds from the sale of the book will go directly to breast cancer organizations, including Cancercare.org and the Beth Israel Department of Integrative Medicine Fund, that make significant differences in the lives of women with breast cancer and in the people who love them. Our goal is to raise $75,000. But we need your help to seed the book project so it will take root and grow—and positively affect these families."

This is my favorite.  He must really love this project to brave the snow;).
Photo Courtesy:   http://enpundit.com/have-tutu-will-travel-an-innovative-approach-to-kicking-cancers-butt/

Check out The Tutu Project when you get a minute.  I guarantee that at the very least you will smile at some of the great tutu locations.

Have an outstanding Wednesday.

Better Tiny Tree Photos-Comparison

I am still goofing around with my light box.  I've been experimenting to figure out how to make it work best for my tiny trees.

Take a look at this first comparison.  I like the color of the stones in the top photo, but the background is so much better with the box.  I am excited by the results.

Without light box:

 With the Light Box:

Let's look at a few more.

Without the light box:

Notice the shadow on the right and the crease in the background papers.

With the Light Box: 

It's just Amazing right?!!  The pictures are cleaner so you notice the object and not the background stuff.  Take a look at the next one.  I love the cats eye stones, but the shadows and the creases in the background are distracting.

Without the light box:

With the Light Box:

Whoo Hoo!  The photo just looks so much better.

Ok, enough of the comparisons.  I will be using the light box from now on and figuring out the best way to use it for my crafts.

When I was testing the light box, I took a few photos of the trees that I really like.  I laid them out in rows together so you can see the similarities and the differences.  Like a butterfly study.   I think they look cool laid out like this.  What do you think?

It is almost like today is tree day;).  Thanks for taking a look at my photos.


Have a fantastic Tuesday!

Light Box Love

I love making things and sharing the things I make.  Lately, I've noticed that some of my photos are just not as good as I'd like.  I have just been pointing and clicking without much set up.  So I decided to use the internet to find some help.

I learned that my biggest challenge is lighting.  I had heard of a light box before, but figured I didn't need one because I am not a professional photographer.  I found out that a light box is very effective when photographing little things (like tiny trees!), it helps focus the light to get a more crisp and clear picture.

So I broke down and made a light box.  Or I should say I supervised a light box being made;).  Thanks to Isabel and Sebastian for their help.

A light box is designed to filter light so your object is well lit without shadows or spotlights.  I found a bunch of free tutorials online, like the one available from The Digital Photography School and we had all of the materials on hand (cardboard box, duct tape, tissue paper), so it was pretty easy.  I am using a piece of white fabric for my background.  The two side walls of the box have big holes that are covered with the tissue paper to filter light from lamps.  Any lamp will do, so I am using my bedside lamp and Isabel's lamp for the left and right sides.

Here is what my homemade light box looks like:

I use the Altoid Smalls tin like a tripod, I rest the camera on it to get close up tree shots.

I have it near the window so I can open the blinds and use the indirect sunlight through the top of the box.  We put the box on an old desk with wheels Sebastian wasn't using; it is perfect because we can easily move my little light box studio when ever we need to.  

The sun light comes in brightest in the mid mornings so I am going to go play with it as soon as I post this.

I was practicing with it before the sunlight was there, here are a few of the shots:

 Here is that cool black and white turban that I made and LOVE.  I wear it in the mornings so the AC doesn't make my head cold.

I made this funny wire person yesterday as an experiment.  I am working on another prototype, so be prepared to see more tiny wire people;).

It looks like he is dancing or waving, pretty funny.

I think the photos came out great.  The white fabric is puckering and bunching a bit, so I will have to figure out a better background, like white construction paper.  Other than that, I think the light box definitely improved the lighting in my photos.

That is what I am up to on this bright and shiny Monday morning.  

 I hope your day is off to a great start.

Top Ten Movies: Joe Versus The Volcano

Top ten movie day is here! 

Top Ten Movies so far and in no particular order:

Coming to America

The Fifth Element

Ladyhawke

This week's movie is:  Joe Versus the Volcano

It's hard to forget that moon!
Photo Courtesy:  smilepolitely.com

Joe Versus the Volcano

en.wikipedia.org

Joe Versus the Volcano is a 1990 romantic comedy film written and directed by John Patrick Shanley and starring Tom Hanks and—in three roles—Meg Ryan. Wikipedia

Release date: March 9, 1990 (initial release) Director: John Patrick Shanley DVD release date: April 2, 2002 MPAA rating: PG Music: Georges Delerue

Cast

Meg Ryan

Tom Hanks

Joe

Abe Vigoda

Ossie Davis

Dan Hedaya

I know there are some that do not appreciate this movie; it has goofy humor and a far out story line.    Joe Vs. The Volcano also has a few unforgettable moments.  Moments I keep close to my heart twelve years after the movie was released.  Also, I think I might be a flibbertigibbet. 

The first part of the movie has a dark stylized overtone.  We see Joe go to work at a interestingly creepy prosthetic limb manufacturer.  Moving from funny to sad and back again, Joe is being pushed to the edge by his job and terrible boss.  He treasures a hula lamp.

Life where none should be.
Photo Courtesy:  celladore.blogspot.com

Joe does not feel good.
Photo Courtesy:  awesomebmovies.com

Meg's first part (she has three) is De De the Receptionist.
Photo Courtesy:  deeperintomovies.net

That lamp!<3
Photo Courtesy:  bigtinypig.blogspot.com

Joe goes to the doctor and is diagnosed with an unusual illness.  His adventure begins after a visit from a very rich man with a job offer.

Notice how the sign matches her jacket.
Photo Courtesy:  livingincinema.com


Part two for Meg-Angelica Graynamore.  Well played-so sad and lost.
Photo Courtesy:  threemoviebuffs.com

Patricia Graynamore is Meg's third part and Joe's love interest.
Photo Courtesy:  pfeifferpfilmsandmegmovies.blogspot.com

Don't you just love those fabulous trunks?
Photo Courtesy:  blackjacket.com

 A bolt of lightning causes the boat he is on, the SS Tweedle Dum to sink.  Eventually Joe and his love interest Patricia Graynamore (Meg in her third role), make their way to the Island of Waponi Wu.  

I don't want to give away anything important, so you will have to see or re-see the movie to learn more about this charming story.  It has slow talky parts, and an offbeat look overall; but there are genuinely funny moments and a feeling you take away that is, in part, hopeful.  Hopeful that the volcano you are about to jump into will spit you out too.

The Chief of the Waponi Wu.
 Photo Courtesy:  stlouisgametime.com

A few Quotes:

"Not that anyone could look good under these zombie lights. I, I, I, I can feel them sucking the juice out of my eyeball. Suck, suck, suck, SUCK..."

"Don't you think I know that, Frank? Don't you think I am aware there is a woman here? I can smell her, like, like a flower. I can taste her, like sugar on my tongue. When I'm 20 feet away I can hear the fabric of her dress when she moves in her chair!"

"Clothes make the man. I believe that."

"It's taken me my whole life to find out who I am, and I'm tired now, you hear what I'm saying?"

"This is our premier steamer trunk, it's all handmade, only the finest materials. It's even watertight, tight as a drum. If I had the need, and the wherewithal, Mr. Banks, this would be my trunk of choice."

"My father says that almost the whole world is asleep. Everybody you know. Everybody you see. Everybody you talk to. He says that only a few people are awake and they live in a state of constant total amazement."

" I'm soul sick."

"Take me to the Volcano!"

"I have no response to that." 

"Nobody knows anything, Joe. We'll take this leap, and we'll see. We'll jump, and we'll see. That's life, right?"

 An island celebration.
Photo Courtesy:  entertainment.ca.msn.com

The Big Wu and True Love.
Photo Courtesy:  dbcovers.com

Another magical and funny movie.  Thanks for stopping by.  Have a great rest of the weekend.