Monday (Movie) Musing

Yesterday afternoon I treated myself to a movie.  The one I chose was "The Blind Side" with Sandra Bullock.  What a GREAT movie!  Yes, the storyline is predictable, but so what?  It's still good.  Y'all need to go see it if you haven't already.

Sandra Bullock has dead-on nailed her character, Leigh Ann Tuohy.  The supporting actors are excellent, too.  As a matter of fact, I was very pleasantly surprised at Tim McGraw as the husband.  Now I can see what Faith Hill sees :)  But back to Miss Sandy.  It was so nice to see her portrayl of The Southern Sorority Girl all grown up.  She could have gone WAY over the top with that, but didn't.  She managed to show that yes indeed, Southern girls-now-women have more layers than just "Daddy's little rich girl" or "spoiled bitch" or "flighty twit".  Those elements are certainly there sometimes, but there are also qualities of caring about others and wanting to do the right thing.  Even if that means going it alone.  "Steel magnolias" isn't just the title of a play/movie.  Bossy?  Yes.  Flirty?  A little, but with a modicum of taste.  Mannerly?  Absolutely.  Iron will....temper......courageous?  Yes, yes and yes.

Maybe one of the reasons I liked this movie so much is because I know more than just a few of these very same women.  Grew up with them; had them for friends and relatives and role models.  Loved them to pieces.  As a matter of fact, I suppose there are people out there who would peg me for one my own self.  That's okay by me.  I was born and raised in the South.  Lived here my whole life (with a couple of years here and there away).  An alumnus of both the University of Tennessee and the University of Alabama.  Instructed in the football culture from junior high school on.  AND, an initiate of the Kappa Delta Sorority......just like Leigh Anne.  So, yeah......it was fun to see "myself" up on the big screen.  Just wish I looked a little more like Sandra Bullock!  But then I'd have to be younger and on a perpetual diet.  So, maybe I'll just be content to stay one of the unknown Southern Sisterhood. 

You Can Quote Me

Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better.  It's not.

                    The Once-Ler, from Dr. Seuss's eco-children's classic, The Lorax

Vivi's Thanksgiving Dinner

Apparently, Wellness Duck & Potato and/or Solid Gold Millennium just isn't good enough for Miss Prissy Britches.  She would much rather choose her own menu.  And not only choose it, but hunt it down as well.

Lots of little birds like to hang out in our very big Bradford pear tree in the backyard.  It's the only one we have, so if they want to be back there, they have little other choice -- gutters on the house or the roof maybe.  After the last couple of weeks, I think they better put their little bird brains in to overdrive and determine another place to congregrate.  Unless they want to die young.  This is the second bird Vivi has brought down in as many weeks.  I feel bad for the birds, but geez......they need stay OFF THE GROUND.  Viv is fast.  Very, very fast.  And obviously, "birdy".  I guess I really should get her entered in some earthdog events.  But I shudder to think what might be lying on the patio every day if she was encouraged to hunt.

(Graphic picture warning........don't eat breakfast and read this.)

Let the Decorating Begin

Why, what is this?  Boxes.  They don't look very Christmas-y.  Oh, but wait.  What they contain is the kickoff to the new look of Christmas at Dosido Farm.

They arrived on Saturday afternoon.  I have refrained from diving in until I can devote a whole day to beginning Operation Tinsel.  Last year I didn't do too much in the way of Christmas; the tree was about it.  I think I may be feeling a little more like Tiny Tim than Scrooge this year.  Stay tuned as the transformation unfolds!

Right now I have to consider Thanksgiving Day food........

Monday Musing

I just took a few minutes to watch Susan Boyle on the Today Show on NBC.  What a great talent and seemingly such a nice person.  I will be buying her CD.  Especially since I got a 40% off coupon from Barnes & Noble for it.....teehee.  But I probably would have bought it anyway.  I admire people who are able to push through their obstacles and/or fears to accomplish something important to them.

Now, I've heard that the critics aren't so enamored of Ms. Boyle.  They opine that she is (to use one of my favorite words from one of my favorite Christmas movies) "schmaltzy".  I say that a little schmaltz may be EXACTLY what the world needs about now.  We are full of cynics, critics and curmudgeons.  A shot of innocence sounds pretty damn refreshing to me.

So sing on, Susan........I'll be listening with an open heart.

You Can Quote Me

"Many small people, who in many small places do many small things, can alter the face of the world."

(Piece of graffiti from the Berlin Wall, which fell 20 years ago.)

Literary Dogs

Just received an email from the AKC about a cute little contest they've devised in conjunction with PawNation.com.  They're asking people to vote for their favorite dog character in literature.  As several people pointed out, they left out two icons:  Lassie and Lad.  But included Clifford The Big Red Dog.  Huh?  And CUJO!  At least they managed to include my second fav, Skip of My Dog Skip fame.

I've read lots of dog stories in my life, but probably the one that I would have to vote for is one I never read.  I was too young to know how at the time.  But my father read it to me -- a chapter every night before bed.  You'll recognize him:  Old Yeller.  I remember very well being taken to see the movie when it came out.  I think it was the first time (but definitely not the last) I ever cried at the movies. 

I guess I can thank that "old yeller dog" for being engulfed in dog hair and drool since then.