The Social Network

We just finished watching "The Social Network".   We rented it before the Academy Awards last night.  I was surprised that Blockbuster had a copy of the shelves.  In fact, I put my name in the queue at the library...105 people are ahead of me.  I can now remove my name. 


I am glad I watched it.  I am trying to decide if I liked it. It left me feeling sad....I don't like "sad".  I just decided...I didn't like it.  In fact, while I was watching it I thought "this is making me want to get off Facebook".  Of course, I won't.  I like connecting with friends and family through Facebook.  It's a "good thing"!


The acting was good...Jesse Eisenberg didn't win an academy award, but he made me believe in his character.  He was the only one of the cast nominated  for an award, Best Actor. It won for Best Original Score and Best Writing/Adapted Screenplay.


Justin Timberlake was good as Shaun Parker. 

I wasn't really impressed by Andrew Garfield as Eduardo. If the "real" Eduardo, was naive, then he did a great job.  Otherwise, his best scene was almost at the end, when he admitted he was naive in putting his blind trust in his friend.


Ah, it was just a movie.  We are never sure if the portrayal of real-life persons is how they really are...are we?  The portrayal of Mark Zuckerberg left me thinking him a pathetic jerk...even if, he is brilliant and one of the richest people in the world.  


Bottom line...I loved "The King's Speech"!

Where Did I Leave My Glasses?

Where Did I Leave My Glasses? by Martha Weinman Lear
The What, When, and Why of Normal Memory Loss
My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This book had a personal message for me as my Dad suffered from dementia the last ten years of his life as did one of his sisters and one of his brothers. Only my Mom's younger sister has a problem with dementia.  I think about the big "A" a lot when I can't find my glasses.  I can find my car keys...they are in a basket on the stairs leading into the garage. I put them there before I go upstairs.  If I find them in my hand at the top of the stairs, I walk back down and put them in their basket...my husband has bought into this scheme...it is working.  I am and have always been a list maker...nothing new for me.  I gave my husband and one daughter the disease early on in our marriage. The other daughter was also born with the "list-making disease"...my lists work, too! That is, if I "remember" to look at the list.


This book gave me some good and encouraging information.


Bottom line: I don't have Alzheimer's; it's all about getting old!  When I can't run my life like I always have because of faulty memory, it's time to get help.


My "aha" moment while reading this book came at the halfway point.  
Quote: (see p. 129):


"'You know, a lot of us have complaints about our memories.  I have complaints about mine. The key thing is, To what degree is it affecting your ability to do what you always do? Yes, a lot of us are forgetful because we have so much going on in our lives, and yes, our memories do get worse as we get older, and no, I don't feel my memory is as good as it was when I was twenty.  But if someone were to ask me, Well, does it get in the way of your work?  Can you still do what you want to do? Can you pay your bills? Can you do your job? Can you still run your life the way you're accustomed to running it?'


Author's reply: 'Yes, of course I can. So that's the demarcation.'"-!Aha!


Other tidbits of information that I may or may not remember:)
1.  Exercise in the morning will help jump start my brain for the day's activities.  Walking is the best exercise to improve multitasking, planning, scheduling, focusing on the matter at hand and aborting that perilous left-hand turn. (an aside from me...I am already saying: "I take a route where I don't have to make any left-hand turns.  So am I going in circles?")


2. We all tease about our memories from an early age. Around 20 I couldn't remember why I went to the kitchen...I had to return to the point of origin to remember...aha!  However, when I stop teasing or even hiding the fact I don't remember, it a sign..I need to get help.


3. Again a quote: "But the enormous discovery scientists have made in recent years is that the aging process can be regulated.  It is controlled by certain genes, and caloric restriction activates these genes."(p.168)  Guess who's been watching her calories and will continue to do so?


Disclaimer: "This review will not spoil your reading of this book. There will be a message in it for you.  It may be the same message as mine.  Then again, it may be your own personal message."


I recommend this book to you!



View all my reviews

The King's Speech

I just watched "60 Minutes"!  The segment included an interview Colin Firth and his nomination for the movie "The King's Speech".  I have to tell you...tears are still in my eyes and I have just blown my nose!  I have already blogged about this movie, but I was overwhelmed with the "60 Minutes" segment.  




Number 1: I was alive when this was happening...beyond thinking about!  


Number 2: Scott Pelley, CBS reporter was shown actual documents of the interaction between the King, George VI and his therapist/friend, Mr. Logue.  The documents are in possession of Mr. Logue's grandson.  I wish I was in Scott Pelley' place.  I could feel myself there when he held a letter from the King...it was beyond my comprehension...therefore, the tears!  


I can hardly wait for the Oscars.  I actually saw the movie! ....more tears to come...I promise!

Valentine's Day at Swan Lake

We took a day trip to celebrate St. Valentine's Day!  I had seen a post on a blog from a member of the Arkansas Women Bloggers .
I knew I had to go! 












I am a collector by nature. 

A Swan TV Lamp
from the 60's

Hull Pottery Planter

At one point I was 
an avid collector of 
ceramic swans.  
I out of my "swan" phase now...
but still had to see them.  

What a wonderful site! 
They come to Magness Lake, E&W Refuge outside Heber Springs, Arkansas, each year on their way North.  











They usually leave around February 14 so we were really lucky they were still there.  

We had a little trouble finding the lake. (Mainly because I forgot to bring my directions:)  We gave up and stopped for lunch.  A nice waitress at Mack's Fish House gave us good directions.   As I suspected, if we had just gone a little further down the road, we would have been more successful.

Sugar Loaf Mountain, Heber Spring, Arkansas

We were actually only a couple of miles away when we took this picture of Sugar Loaf Mountain.  

All's well that ends well!
We had a nice lunch, met a nice lady and saw the swans.  It was a great Valentine's Day.  Hope your day was as lovely as ours!

The Celestine Prophecy

The Celestine Prophecy by James Redfield
                                                                   My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I am always interested in "New Age" ideas and thoughts. I read this book in 1994.  It took me a while to find my summary of it.  It was in a journal begun in 1974 to which I add books, quotes, events meaningful to me and my life at that particular time.  I may go years without an entry. In fact, my last entry was in April, 2008.  
After watching the DVD I was prompted to post this book to Goodreads.com  It was not great art, but a good pictorial presentation of the material.  I would suggest it might be used in conjunction with your reading the book...and I do recommend the book to you.


Seventeen years later, it is interesting to reflect on the lasting impact it had on how I interact to events and people who cross my path. The one thing that stands out: "I pay attention to coincidences.  Things happen to us and people come into our life for a reason.  I try to find that reason.  It may be something I have to give to them. It may be something they will give to me."
It is also interesting to note that the message that came to me from watching the DVD was on a higher plain.  "Peace will come to my personal relationships or even entire world if each of us gives positive support/energy to the other...it's reciprocal.  If only one gives, there is not a balance or peace in a relationship".

I also read the Tenth Insight, but found it lacking.  My opinion:  it was trying to capitalize on the success of the first book and fell short.  I will have to revisit it...maybe my memory is what is lacking???  I have the Guide, but never wanted to immerse myself into this activity...and as I was adding these links to Amazon, I found there is an 11th and also a 12th Insight...who knew? I didn't and don't think I will know!

Where Did I Leave My Glasses?

Where Did I Leave My Glasses? by Martha Weinman Lear
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book gave me some good and encouraging information.

Bottom line: I don't have Alzheimer's; it's all about getting old! When I can't run my life like I always have because of faulty memory, it's time to get help.

My "aha" moment while reading this book came at the halfway point.
Quote: (see p. 129):

"'You know, a lot of us have complaints about our memories. I have complaints about mine. The key thing is, To what degree is it affecting your ability to do what you always do? Yes, a lot of us are forgetful because we have so much going on in our lives, and yes, our memories do get worse as we get older, and no, I don't feel my memory is as good as it was when I was twenty. But if someone were to ask me, Well, does it get in the way of your work? Can you still do what you want to do? Can you pay your bills? Can you do your job? Can you still run your life the way you're accustomed to running it?'

Author's reply: 'Yes, of course I can. So that's the demarcation.'"-!Aha!

Other tidbits of information that I may or may not remember:)
1. Exercise in the morning will help jump start my brain for the day's activities. Walking is the best exercise to improve multitasking, planning, scheduling, focusing on the matter at hand and aborting that perilous left-hand turn. (an aside from me...I am already saying: "I take a route where I don't have to make any left-hand turns. So am I going in circles?")

2. We all tease about our memories from an early age. Around 20 I couldn't remember why I went to the kitchen...I had to return to the point of origin to remember...aha! However, when I stop teasing or even hiding the fact I don't remember, it a sign..I need to get help.

3. Again a quote: "But the enormous discovery scientists have made in recent years is that the aging process can be regulated. It is controlled by certain genes, and caloric restriction activates these genes."(p.168) Guess who's been watching her calories and will continue to do so?

Disclaimer: "This review will not spoil your reading of this book. There will be a message in it for you. It may be the same message as mine. Then again, it may be your own personal message."

I recommend this book to you!

On Vacation!

Every once in a while Chuck and I take a day off and pretend we are out of town on vacation.  When in actuality, we are not.  

7th Street between 8th and 9th

Wednesday was one of those days. We wanted to make a trip to Artist Outfitters downtown. With that in mind and it being close to lunch we went on vacation.  

Our stools were the ones on the right end of the bar.

We found the nicest out of the way pub to help us in our fantasy...Dugan's Pub on 3rd and Rock. What a great find! We got there about 11:30am to beat the lunch crowd, but didn't.  It was already crowded and all tables were taken.  No problem! Vacationers sit at the bar!.  We ordered Blue Moon beer on draft and were surprised at the generous serving.  We didn't have a designated driver so we didn't/couldn't finish them.  Never had Blue Moon before, but will have it again.


I got a Rueben...the best I have ever had!  I shared a bite with Chuck and he agrees.  He got fish and chips...why would you order anything else?...when in Ireland, do as the Irish do!  The cod was cod...not catfish, but good.  The fries were fresh and cooked just like we like them.  


We visited with Don Dugan, the owner, and immediately found a mutual friend connection.  We felt like we were in "Cheers", where everyone knows your name.We recommend Dugan's.  You will not be disappointed!


I also posted this on our blog: "Eating In and Out and About"