The Tudors

I rented the first season of "The Tudors" this weekend. The first episode I wasn't too thrilled with but the next couple have grabbed my attention. While it isn't my favourite show, maybe I'll also pick up the second season once I am finished with this one.

We went over to Katie & Chris' place friday night and I saw Katie had the DVDs and we started talking about them, which peaked me interest. We had a great time having dinner and playing games. They have a great new house with the most amazing kitchen I am totally covetting the kitchen right now!!

Bride Wars

I saw this movie a couple weekends ago...

It's a cute movie about 2 best friends who end up getting engaged and through an error of the wedding planner the weddings are booked for the same day at the same venue. It is truly heinous yet at the same time hilarious the things these girls do to eachother. You can tell that they are best friends because I don't think that anyone else would be able to hurt you like that since they wouldn't know you well enough. It's not the next great drama or anything but it is a great, light hearted romantic comedy. Good for a girls night out, but it's a rental -- not a theatre must in my book!

2009 Book Reviews

I've decided that for 2009 I'm going to keep a log of the books I read and my reviews on my blog as well as Good reads. So these are the ones I've finished already, I will add posts under the label as I finish them with my comments and a rating out of 5 stars at the end.

1. The Wise Woman by Phillipa Gregory

This is the author of The Other Boleyn Girl and I have read a number of others by her as well. I can say that she needs an outline (ie. real person's life) to base her story around or else things fall off the rails and become smutty fast!! The main problem I had with this book though is it's complete lack of a coherent storyline.

2 Stars

2. Her Last Death: A Memoir by Susanna Sonnenberg

I had high expectations for this book and I'm not sure why. It's like when see a commercial for a movie and all the good parts are in the commercial. I feel the same way. Almost cheated.

The child of a famous person bragging about how horrible her childhood was and what a trainwreck her mother is. Yeah no thanks. It was still a somewhat entertaining read, likely because it was mercifully short and it didn't seem too whiney until about 2/3 in.

2 Stars

3. Prisoner of Tehran by Marina Nehmat

Wow! I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I was expecting a straightforward retelling of the harrowing events. This story is much more. It is heartbreaking, uplifting and really makes you feel for Marina. I don't feel like she sensationalised her experience as happens with many memoirs. This was one of the best books I have read in a long time. It is definitly one that makes you think about real life issues.

I feel like I have a much better understanding of some of the issues after having read this book. I have a renewed appreciation for the desperation that people feel to escape these situations and their home countries during politcal turmoil and religious persecution.

5 Stars

4. I Am Hutterite by Mary-Ann Kirkby

An amazing story! The book is educational in the descriptions and stories of life on the colony and then adjusting to "English" life after. It's a great story of how a family can overcome adversity amd really stick together when times get tough. I know way more about the Hutterite lifestyle than I ever did before and I have a much better appreciation for them now.

Growing up in Southern Alberta you see/hear alot about the Hutterite colonies but I can't say I ever actually knew anything about them other than you can recognize them by their clothes. I found this to be a very powerful story!

4 Stars

New for 2009

I'm not much on New Years' Resolutions. I'm pretty sure I made some last year but I have no idea what they were now! 2008 was a good year though! My wedding, Tara's wedding, Chicago, Vegas, Cruise, a new niece...

For 2009 I am trying a bit of a different challenge. I am going to read at least one book by an author whose name begins with each letter of the alphabet. I have a huge TBR pile and I thought getting through that alone would take care of most of it but as it turns out I read alot of "m" and "s" authors. I already have an "x" and a "z" lined up and that take care of the really tough ones. I'll be tracking my reading over at goodreads (I actually cheated and started with my end of December books for the challenge though).

My other major passion is travel and we have some of that on the go for this year too. Looks like Italy in September and somewhere hot and beachy in March (booking a last minute all inclusive). Now that I have 5 weeks of vacation plus 8 flex days to be used every year I don't have to worry about taking time off. Pretty much I can do whatever I want so it's great!

My latest obsession

I am hooked on the website GoodReads! I have joined a few groups and plan on partaking in a few challenges and games as well. But mostly I love having a place where I can read reviews or discuss ANYTHING I have read/am reading/am thinking about reading. It's great!!

Yes that is my truly shameless website plug for the day. I'm done now.

I am taking most of the afternoon off to volunteer at the foodbank with a group from work. Should be lots of fun, those things usually are. :)

10 More shopping days!

Yikes! I am nowhere near ready for the Christmas. Thank goodness I have most of it over and done with (Ian's side and my dad's side) so I'm not completly that far behind. I really need to get moving on that stuff! Thursday I am going shopping among throngs and throngs that I am sure will be out. But I have a busy week coming up so that's about the best I can do.

This weekend was a very cold one! My brother and sister-in-law were here for the (extended) weekend and I'm sure they'll be glad to go back home where it's about -9. Much warmer than our -26!! At any rate I spent the day saturday hibernating at home, doing some baking and watching some Gilmore Girls. Sunday we ventured out of the house to go to the mall, where Ian bought his long awaited XBOX 360. Woo hoo! So I won't be seeing much opf him in the next little bit I'm sure!

Last night my mom had my dad's side of the family over for dinner which was great to see everyone and it was nice and laid back. My 8 week old neice and my cousin's 17 month old son were there and were great fun. But no I don't feel any maternal feelings springing from this. I am perfectly happy to be the aunt/cousin or whatever. Giving a screaming baby/poopy diaper to someone else who has to deal with it is still a far better way to go. Maybe I'll change my mind around 30 or so. I have spread the word that I'll reconsider at 30 so hopefully that gets the constant question askers off my back for awhile!

Anyways I should go back to work but I really really don't feel like it today. I just can't get into it. Blah!

Christmas Madness

For the first time, the commercialism of the season is really wearing on me. It should be spending time with friends and family, not running around buying meaningless junk! I think giving a gift for the sake of giving a gift is ridiculous. No I don't need or want another pair of scissors (now 5) or another couple baking sheets. If you knew me, you would know I don't bake. No these gifts do not elevate your status in my mind, quite the opposite. Christmas is not a competition and news flash you are the only one competing!!

We were supposed to go over to my inlaws yesterday afternoon but the roads were worse than crap with accidents all over the place. We called and cancelled and will reschedule soon since this was supposed to be our Christmas with them before they go away. But it's probably a good thing because I just so need a break for fake family togetherness. Blech! Yeah that's another pet peeve, false people.