hold me close and hold me fast
Goodness me, where did June go? I vaguely remember a few blissful days at the pool reading magazines and eating my grandparents' homemade cookies, but that seems as far away as The Eiffel Tower now. (And even France was only two months ago!) I've been frantically busy the last few weeks, waking up as early as 4:00 a.m. to write. Which, yeah, you're right, is practically not going to sleep. I found out two weeks ago that I'm a finalist in one of the many creative nonfiction contests I entered before I left for Europe. Hopefully I can tell you about it soon, even if I don't win.
Scout is officially off her heart treatments as of today, and that means we can start taking her for walks and runs and hikes to burn off some of that Beagle puppy energy. Hallelujah, says I. About damn time, says the cat.
Even as we've walked through the Shadow of Chaos over the last couple of months, Amy and I have made it to the theater almost every weekend, and I'll tell you like I told Abigail yesterday: this is the best summer for movies EVER. I haven't been disappointed in a single film. That is quite a different tune from last summer when I hated nearly everything we saw. So far it's been:
The Chronicles of Narnia: Price Caspian -- So much better than the book! These Walden Media Narnia movies are truly wonderful.
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull -- It was fun on nostalgia alone.
Sex and the City: The Movie -- Cute, even if it wasn't as good as the show. It's always nice to look in on old pals. I'd go see a Friends movie.
Kung Fu Panda -- Definitely Dreamworks Animation's best offering. It actually felt like a kung fu movie, and it had a lot of heart.
Get Smart -- Loved!
Wall-E -- Best love story ever told. And yep, I am including the Darcys in that equation.
The summer's television (via Blockbuster.com) includes The O.C., which Abigail has been begging me to watch for years, and also which I really, really love; Battlestar Galactica, which I've been meaning to watch for a long time; and Lost, which I am sure not to understand at all.
We saw the Atlanta Dream's home opener with some stellar courtside seats. We rooted for the LA Sparks because their team is chockablock with former Lady Vols.
There's talk that the New Year will be spent in Scotland; I hope I can work that out.
Things are really picking up over at The Collective. I hope you'll check us out over there. We have some really fun stuff planned for the rest of the summer.
And that's about all I know.
Happy Canada Day, y'all.
Comments
my life is truly worse for having seen that indiana jones movie. luckily the awesome you bring far outweighs it.
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I'm sorry. You're in good company, though: lots of people felt the disdain. Either way, you have a Wii now. You don't need no stinkin' movies.
Posted by: kat | July 1, 2008 12:55 PM
I didn't see Indiana Jones. I'm afraid to. I'm psyched to see Wall-E, though.
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Your excitement is correct.
Posted by: Jennie! | July 1, 2008 01:38 PM
Good luck on the contest. I can't imagine anyone beating you in a writing contest. It would be like someone beating you in a Harry Potter/England/beagle loving contest.
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You're right about one thing: if there was a Beagle-loving contest, I would toast every other contestant.
Posted by: churlita | July 1, 2008 02:58 PM
For what it's worth, Battlestar Galactica is simply the best show on television...and I haven't even seen the first half of season 4 that's aired. You will want it to be real. You will want to fly a viper.
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Oh, now you make me REALLY excited.
Posted by: Sarah | July 1, 2008 03:09 PM
Wow. You used 'chockablock' in a sentence. In public. This I will not do.
What I will do in public is admit to falling into The O.C. trap via peer pressure. The first and second seasons are, holy crap, awesome. Especially the first. The third you can pretty much shoot into outer space and be fine not seeing, but the first two are totally worthy.
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Knowing what you know now, knowing what I've GIVEN you today, what is your problem with 'chockablock?."
Posted by: You can call me, 'Sir' | July 1, 2008 04:38 PM
BATTLESTAR GALACTICA! BATTLESTAR GALACTICA!BATTLESTAR GALACTICA!BATTLESTAR GALACTICA!BATTLESTAR GALACTICA!BATTLESTAR GALACTICA!BATTLESTAR GALACTICA!BATTLESTAR GALACTICA!
B.A.T.T.L.E.S.T.A.R G.A.L.A.C.T.I.C.A.
WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE.
You have no idea how excited I get when people start watching it. Also, I probably don't even have to ask whether or not you will be reading Jacob's recaps on TWOP (his Battlestar ones are the best). Which episode are you on?
Posted by: Ashley | July 1, 2008 06:57 PM
Thank you Ashley for voicing my thoughts!
I love BSG! Charles got me hookedon SciFi a couple of years ago and I am so thankful for that. When you get a chance, watch Firefly (and then the movie Serenity). It got canceled before the first season was completed but it was amazing. I'm sure you'll love it.
Posted by: Jenn (the not-sister) | July 1, 2008 07:09 PM
Jenn -- Firefly!! Firefly!! You have really good taste, btw.
Posted by: Ashley | July 1, 2008 07:31 PM
Don't do the Lost thing...it will suck away your soul! And it sounds like you have gotten it back, btw...congrats on that. :)
Posted by: broke bertha | July 1, 2008 10:15 PM
I completely agree with you: Kung Fu Panda was excellent, I'm so in love with WALL-E, and Harrison Ford can totally take me on a 2-hour date anytime -- nostalgia alone makes it worth it.
New Year in Scotland?!?! I'm positively green with envy!!!! My passport is up to date... if I could just figure out something to do with this family of mine who, for some reason, want me to be home for the holidays. Spoilsports, the lot of 'em.
Posted by: shari | July 1, 2008 10:45 PM
Congrats on your finalist-ness. Also, I hope Scout gets out and enjoys the fresh air more soon. I have not been seeing movies at all this summer but I really want to get myself to Wall-E.
Posted by: Jill | July 2, 2008 08:47 AM
The problem with professional writers is that they always save their best stuff for trivial reasons, like livelihood. Hi Heather Anne. Happy Canada Day back at you!
Posted by: peefer | July 2, 2008 01:25 PM
Have you seen WANTED? Because....don't. Great plot, full of potential, like a man who just never delivers. It was a total waste of 9$.
Posted by: kelly | July 3, 2008 12:46 AM
Yyou'd go see a Friends movie? Good news for you:
http://www.tv.com/story/11448.html?om_act=convert&om_clk=news&tag=headlines;title;3
Probably for Abigail, too. I'd better post this on her blog, too.
Posted by: Ashley | July 3, 2008 03:36 PM
You'd go see a Friends movie? Good news for you:
http://www.tv.com/story/11448.html?om_act=convert&om_clk=news&tag=headlines;title;3
Probably for Abigail, too. I'd better post this on her blog, too.
Posted by: Ashley | July 3, 2008 03:37 PM