Sex Education 2012: July 2011

AAQR: Star Chart ($3.23)

Image via WikipediaSorta like Google Sky Map but with a lot more visual flair, Star Chart lets you explore the constellations in the sky and find out details about them.

In AR (augmented reality) mode, just start the app, then point the device up at the sky and look for matching things. It will highlight the constellations (complete with illustration and lines), as well as any significant astronomical objects such as galaxies, planets, and nearby stars. Pan the phone and let it act as a virtual portal. You can even engaged the red-tinted "night mode" to preserve your night vision.

In normal mode, just swipe / drag the view to desired spot. You can choose to hide or show lines, illustrations, and such.

Good app if you are an amateur star watcher, or have interest in the field. Good companion to a decent telescope. My only complaint? Size. Just over 2 MB download expanded to over 14MB app (according to Titanium Backup). Still, it's nice.

http://www.appbrain.com/app/star-chart/com.escapistgames.starchart

AAQR: Jamie's 20 Minute Meals ($8.11)

NOTE: This app was given away free for one day on Amazon Appstore

Jame's 20 Minute Meals is a series of lessons on cooking basics from Jamie Oliver, celebrity chef, that also teaches cooking basics and prep basics. It has video, pictures, and descriptions, as well as recipes that scales from 2 to 4 people, and even creates a shopping list for you. It is a well polished app, though the price seems to be a bit high.

App itself is almost 3MB. When you run it, it needs to download ANOTHER 80MB worth of data (photos and such), and even then, the videos are pulled / streamed separately.

The photos are nicely done, as are the instructions, which seem to be out of the cookbook. Videos are nicely done as well, clear instructions. Should produce some decent results.

I just don't know about having a phone or tablet in the kitchen with all that oil and smoke and all that. :D

http://www.appbrain.com/app/jamies-20-minute-meals/com.zolmo.twentymm

AAQR: GRave Defense HD (free, $1.99)

GRave Defense is a "fixed path" tower defense game. It has a cute story, and it has a few interesting features such as multiple entrances and exits, and some of the weapons are interesting, but that's about it.

(To clarifiy, I classify tower defense games into "grid" vs. "fixed path". This one is fixed path variant: multiple entrances and exits. )

The story is typical nuclear apocalypse, humanity survived by hiding in vaults. Outside, the landscape has recovered... except for all these nasties mutated into unknown forms. Your job is to build defenses to block the incoming hordes. Blah blah blah. There's X number of lives in the city and there are some militia as final defense. Your job is to make sure as little as possible (preferably none) reach the city/village/whatever.

The fun part about this game is there are usually multiple entrances for the nasties, and multiple exits, so you can't rely on just a few turrets, but have to space yourself out because you don't know which path the nasties will be using.

Your turrets are air only, ground only, or both. A ground-only turret won't engage air targets. Each turret can be upgraded several times (usually 5) and gets vastly improved firepower, and the upgrades are relatively cheap compared to the turret cost. Typical gatling is about $250, and each upgrade is like $25-30. Some of the more expensive towers can cost a LOT of money. A freeze tower is like $2500.

Later you see nasties that can damage your turrets, but you can place mines to block them.

Graphics are quite good. The sprites are detailed enough though not that animated. The scenery is cute, but the scale seem to be a bit off.

Music and sound... average. Techno track is boring, and sound doesn't mix so turrets all shooting just makes a cacophony of sounds any way. Turn it all off.

Hardware wise, it runs fine on my OG Droid, which is saying a LOT, as most HD games often don't run on OG Droid with only 256MB of RAM.

All in all, GRave Defense brings a few new wrinkles to the Tower Defense genre, and is a well polished game, and should satisfy your thrist for "another round" of tower defense.

8 out of 10

http://www.appbrain.com/app/grave-defense-hd-free/com.artofbytes.gravedefence.hd.free

Soundtrack Saturday - Holding Out For A Hero

Soundtrack Saturday is back. This week, we've got an old favourite of mine. Every good protagonist should have at least one moment when this song is appropriate:

Lyrics

Where have all the good men gone
And where are all the gods?
Where's the street-wise Hercules
To fight the rising odds?
Isn't there a white knight upon a fiery steed?
Late at night I toss and turn and dream
of what I need

[Chorus]

I need a hero
I'm holding out for a hero 'til the end of the night
He's gotta be strong
And he's gotta be fast
And he's gotta be fresh from the fight
I need a hero
I'm holding out for a hero 'til the morning light
He's gotta be sure
And it's gotta be soon
And he's gotta be larger than life

Somewhere after midnight
In my wildest fantasy
Somewhere just beyond my reach
There's someone reaching back for me
Racing on the thunder end rising with the heat
It's gonna take a superman to sweep me off my feet

[Chorus]

Up where the mountains meet the heavens above
Out where the lightning splits the sea
I would swear that there's someone somewhere
Watching me

Through the wind end the chill and the rain
And the storm and the flood
I can feel his approach
Like the fire in my blood

AAQR: Nemus Launcher (home launcher)

Nemus Launcher, from the folks who brought you the VERY eye-candy-ish Regina 3D launcher, is sort of the opposite of Regina. It's light weight (just over 1 MB), yet quite nicely featured. However, its various limitations makes this a very niche choice.

Nemus Launcher gave a very good impression: it feels quite snappy with very smooth scrolling. It has a good looking "dock", which can be configured by simple drag and drop. Just drop an icon onto the dock and voila, that's it. The icons are also full sized, not shrunken version like in other launchers.

It also let you know the app drawer is getting refreshed with a the spinning circle behind it. The app drawer is also improved: it can be used to manage running apps and a shortcut to "Manage Apps" choice under settings / applications. The app drawer can be shown in two styles, the normal vertical list and the Samsung style horizontal "paged" style.

The "screens" (panels) on the desktop can number from 3 to 9. There's an edit screen that lets you easily adjust the order, add more panels, remove panels, and so on.

Its folder support is impressive... Basically stealing the iOS style folder management. Just drag one shortcut onto another to make a folder. It doesn't have sorting or "starred / favorite" tagging.

However, there's a few problems. First of all, this app is portrait layout ONLY. It will NOT go into landscape mode EVER. It does NOT react to orientation sensor. Second, it is somewhat crash happy, at least on my OG Droid. I've seen it FC numerous times, even as I go into and out of settings. Third, it is virtually undocumented. There is no mention of the app on the NemusTech home page (in fact the whole page is in Korean).

All in all, Nemus Launcher is a smooth launcher that is pretty good if you stay in portrait mode most of the time. It makes folders extremely easy. Indicator on the app drawer to let you know it's refreshing is also very neat. On the other hand, no landscape and occasional FC makes this launcher a bit niche for me.

7 out of 10

http://www.appbrain.com/app/nemus-launcher/com.nemustech.launcher

Hallmark Channel Christmas Movies 2011 - Updates & New Additions!

July 29, 2011 ~

Two More Movies have been added to the ever-growing list of Hallmark Channel Christmas Movies!

The two new titles are:

Mistletoe Over Manhattan

The Case for Christmas

Both will premiere sometime during the 2011 Christmas Season on the Hallmark Channel.

So far, Hallmark has announced 9 New Christmas Movies for 2011 + a new Cartoon Animation!!! Yeah! (I just love Christmas Movies, classics, new, anything... as long as they are good - I love 'em!)

See the New Christmas Movies on TV page for all of the new movies. By the way, all of the movies have just been updated with cast list info, plot details, etc...

Enjoy!

The Case for Christmas - a Hallmark Channel Original Christmas Movie

MOVIE REVIEW

The Case for Christmas

Network: Hallmark Channel

Original Air Date: November 19, 2011

CAST:

Dean Cain ... Michael Sherman
Rachel Blanchard ...
George Buza ... Santa Claus
Barry Flatman ... Braxton Bennett

PLOT:

Michael Sherman (Cain) is a lawyer and single father struggling to obtain more clients. Being a single working dad, Michael doesn't have time to think about a relationship or work on the classic car he inherited from his parents, but his friend Lauren (Blanchard) is a mechanic who helps rebuild the family heirloom and begins to fall for him. Michael (Cain) takes on a case that could make or break his career... and Christmas. The majority of the population is losing faith in Santa Claus (George Buza "X-Men") and the Christmas spirit. To make matters worse, Santa is served with a class action lawsuit for irreparable emotional distress by sporting-goods mogul Braxton Bennett (Barry Flatman "The Kennedys") who never received the holiday gifts he wanted as a child. Santa believes he has a strong case because Braxton was always on the naughty list and asked for gifts, like a yacht, that were unattainable. Santa hires Michael Sherman to represent him. Once the trial between Kris Kringle vs. Braxton Bennett begins, Michael finds it's much tougher defending Santa Claus than he had initially predicted. Braxton presents a case of Santa's neglect and the biggest gift giver in the universe has difficulty deflecting the accusations.

As Santa's public stock continues to plummet, the press makes Michael the laughing stock of litigators. Both Michael's and Santa's careers are in jeopardy and it will take a miracle for a pouting, overgrown kid like Braxton to come to the realization that Santa always gives the most appropriate gift possible to every child.

Production:
"The Case for Christmas" is a Chesler/Perlmutter Production. Lewis Chesler, David Perlmutter and Rob Vaughn are executive producers. Marek Posival is producer. Timothy Bond directed from a script by Tom Amundsen.

Movie Review:

Coming...

See or Skip:

Coming...

--

Mistletoe Over Manhattan - a Hallmark Channel Original Christmas Movie

MOVIE REVIEW

Mistletoe Over Manhattan

Network: Hallmark Channel

Original Air Date: November 6, 2011

CAST:

Tricia Helfer ... Lucy
Greg Bryk ... Joe
Tedde Moore ... Rebecca, Mrs. Claus
Mairtin O'Carrigan ... Santa Claus

PLOT:

Rebecca, Mrs. Claus (Moore) is worried that her exhausted, workaholic husband (O'Carrigan) has lost his holiday spirit. She believes she can help him recapture his bliss and secretly heads to the one place she knows the spirit of Christmas must still exist, the place she fell in love with Nick - New York City. In a crowded diner, Rebecca befriends Joe (Bryk), a caring cop who is worried about this kindly grandmother, who's alone and low on funds. Joe reveals he and his wife Lucy (Helfer) are in the middle of a divorce. Sensing that Joe is still very much in love with his wife, Rebecca agrees to work temporarily as the family's nanny until Christmas. To Rebecca's delight, by healing Joe and Lucy's family, she shows Santa that Christmas miracles are still possible and his job's more important than ever!

Production:
"Mistletoe Over Manhattan" is a Chesler/Perlmutter Production. Lewis Chesler, David Perlmutter and Rob Vaughn are executive producers. Marek Posival is producer. John Bradshaw directed from a script by Hilary Hinkle and Linda Engelsiepen.

Movie Review:

Coming...

See or Skip:

Coming...

--

Please beware of Christmas Movie coming to Theaters in 2011

When I read about this movie - honestly, I almost couldn't believe it. This movie sounds like Hollywood at it's absolute worst, so of course, I just had to share this news with all of you who visit here.

Please beware of this so-called Christmas Movie, 'A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas'. It sounds terrible, but please read below, and you be the judge....

(My information regarding this movie – is directly from http://insidemovies.ew.com/2011/07/27/neil-patrick-harris-is-back-in-a-very-harold-amp-kumar-3d-christmas/. In this article – it states that this is the third movie for this series.)

Excerpts from Article – (please beware of graphic details):

“This time around, ... the franchise is getting a fresh jolt of blockbuster juice from first-time director Todd Strauss-Schulson, who’ll oversee Harold and Kumar as they contend with robots, Claymation, a “huge car crash” and 3-D marijuana smoke rings. “The adventure is epic, and the 3-D is epic, and the amount of action-y spectacle scenes are epic,” says Strauss-Schulson. ‘It’s epically absurd.’

A recurring feature we’re excited for, however, is the perennial outrageously crass cameo by one Neil Patrick Harris. Yep, count on it — Doogie Howser himself, despite a scrape with death in the second installment, is back in the game for Round 3. “Neil is in this show-stopping Christmas spectacular dance number,” Strauss-Schulson says. “He’s on crack, he goes to heaven and he meets Jesus, he attempts rape, he abuses a robot, he’s telekinetic. It’s crazy. Straight-up crazy. It’s great.”

“I wanted this to be a ‘Trojan horse’ movie,” Strauss-Schulson explains. “The idea was that it should look like a Christmas movie, and at the end of the movie you should feel the warm fuzzies like you’re watching Miracle on 34th Street. But, like a Trojan horse, it’s filled with the most subversive, dirty [stuff]. There’s lesbian nuns, pedophile priests… all this stuff, [but] people walk away feeling like they’ve just seen this really sweet Christmas movie.”

(--end of excerpts--)

My Thoughts:

Christmas is a Holy day in which we celebrate the birth of Jesus and the joy of being surrounded by family. This movie sounds awful, filled with, and I quote from the Director, "dirty stuff". Is that supposed to be 3D fun? I couldn’t believe they actually admitted that it had “lesbian nuns”, and an attempted rape, etc... Is that supposed to be funny? From everything I've read, this movie appears to be a disgrace to Nuns, the Catholic church, and anyone who has ever been victimized - disguised as a sweet Christmas Movie. Please inform others.

Christmas should be about Joy and "Peace on earth, good will toward men". If you need a really good Christmas laugh, please watch Christmas with the Kranks, Home Alone, A Christmas Story, or just about anything else!

Real Men Can Cook: Cheese on Toast

This is a bit of a cheat recipe, since it's ridiculously simple and really just a snack. Makes for great late-night eating if you get the munchies.

Ingredients:
Bread
Butter
Mature cheddar cheese
1 small onion
Paprika

Serves: 4-8

Step 1:
Pre-heat oven to 200 degrees centigrade. Butter 8 slices of toast. Slice cheese. Chop onion into small pieces.

Step 2:
Place sliced cheese onto bread, then add onion pieces on top of the cheese. Lightly dust with paprika.

Step 3:
Cook in oven until the cheese has melted, and serve.

AAQR: TED Air

Image via CrunchBaseTED Air is one of the many different TED clients for Android. (There's also TED Talks, and TED T). This one seem to be the top of the game, as it supports selectable subtitles, search, and of course, share.

It's not bad, and the interface is pretty polished.

As these features are mostly the same, it's down to personal preference. Try the other two.

http://www.appbrain.com/app/ted-air/com.ogqcorp.tpa

AAQR: Archipelago (game)

Archipelago is one of those simple games where you basically send units to attach the enemy. Each of your "islands" produce planes. You tap your island, then another island, to send HALF of your planes from the origin island there. Islands can be yours, theirs, or neutrals. The idea is to conquer ALL the islands.

The interface on this one is a little iffy. I can't seem to make it send a single fleet from multiple islands. The game also crashes quite often. Even free, it's problematic.

http://www.amazon.com/Maribou-Inc-Archipelago/dp/B004RJYNXK/ref=pd_sim_dbs_mas_6

AAQR: Delicious: Emily's Taste of Fame (game)

Emily's Taste of Fame is basically Diner Dash with a few more mini-games, and a bit more back story.

The premise itself is absurb. Emily, on the way to Hollywood to host her own cooking show, had her car broken down in the middle of nowhere, and was forced to work at a diner to earn enough money to get her car fixed up so she can get to the show. But will she? (Not if you don't play well!)

The mechanics are exactly the same: the counter has some ready made items: cola, donut, coffee. There's a burger station where you can build your own burger (top and bottom buns, lettuce, meat patty, and cheese are optional. Later missions adds ice cream machine, waffle station (you have to "cook" the waffles and add the right toppings), and more. Each person comes in, orders, and you need to fetch the right stuff and serve the right people. You need to serve to-go, sit-down, and drive-thru. Speed is key! You also need to clean up the dishes!

As you earn more money, you can spend some of the money on decorating the diner, which will give you some benefits, such as the clients having more patience to wait for their stuff, bigger tips, and so on.

Frankly, this game seriously needs some tutorial for the newer minigames. The burger one is obvious, but the waffle and ice cream stations are not. The premise itself is also absurb. All in all, it felt like an also-ran.

http://www.appbrain.com/app/delicious-emilys-taste-of-fame/com.realarcade.DEL

AAQR: Lingrove (game)

Given away on Amazon App Store for a day, Lingrove is a word puzzle that is a bit like Mastermind, but with 5 letters (that must form words), not simple colors. You enter 5-letter words and you are told which letters are used and in the right place, and which letters are used but NOT in the right place. You have exactly 5 chances.

I never was very good at word games, such as Scrabble, so I was struggling with this one. There's a story to unlock, but there are a LOT of puzzles to solve.

Interesting, but not THAT interesting.

http://www.amazon.com/Future-Network-Solutions-Fzc-Lingrove/dp/B0058OE9CS

Back in the Game

I've been doing well getting back to work on my WIP. I've broken the 35k mark, so I can safely say the first draft is half-done. I've got some crit-partners already helping me out with comments and advice. If I was ever thankful for the encouragement and motivation to keep writing, it's now.

It's still difficult getting into the writing mindset, but once I'm there I feel so uplifted. It's not so much an escape as it is filling my time with something I love, something which is a positive part of me. I wouldn't say it's helping me heal, but it's giving me something to look forward to. A good thing to focus on, which is mine.

I'm not sure exactly when I'll have the first draft done. My first book took months to complete, but I was a lot less certain of how the story was going to go than I am this time. If I can maintain a steady pace and get, say, two chapters done each week, I should be able to complete the first draft in a little over a month.

Helping me in this is the fact that my wife bought herself a digital piano which had been reduced in price to a bargain. It's due to be delivered today and will be living in the front room, where I prefer to write. So my wife and I will be able to both indulge in our own artistic pursuits, but still spend time together. I'm looking forward to that.

Hallmark Movie Channel's newest family film, "The Cabin", Premieres this Weekend!

If you've been inside alot lately - trying to keep cool, due to the Summer Heat~Wave sweeping the Country, then you'll need something to prevent "cabin fever". And, I've found the answer... it's Hallmark Movie Channel's newest family film, The Cabin!

The Cabin

Premieres July 30th at 8 PM est

on Hallmark Movie Channel

Hopefully, many of you have the Hallmark Movie Channel and will be able to see this one. I have DirecTV, but don't have HMC - so I won't be able to view this, until it is, hopefully one day played on the regular Hallmark Channel. Would love to hear from any of you who will be able to watch this movie. Please let me know what you thought of it, by posting your comments on the main page for The Cabin - here.

See the Family TV Schedule for other Times airing!

See "The Cabin" main page for Pictures, Cast Details, Plot, and More!

Enjoy the Film!

AAQR: QQ Desktop Pro (Home Launcher)

QQ Desktop Pro (actually the app's in Chinese) is a decent if not spectacular launcher. At 1760KB in size, it's not exactly lightweight, but its performance is quite respectable.

BEWARE: The app is in Chinese, so it's not for everybody.

Once nice thing it does is it will look for backup files left by other desktops and import them to restore your desktop layout. I have Launcher Pro installed and it was able to restore my desktop config.

The dock's background can't be changed, but it does have 4 static shortcuts. Just drag and drop another icon to the spot and voila, it's configured.

It comes with a few built-in widgets such as memory / purge widget and a "toggle" widget similar to "Power Control". However, it used a 'blue on white' theme instead. In fact, the entire app uses a white theme.

You can choose different transitions, import config from other launchers, and choose two styles of app drawer (Samsung style, or Windows Phone 7 style) . It also has a few links directly to QQ's download app store, and other things.

Worth trying for sure.

http://www.appbrain.com/app/qq%E6%A1%8C%E9%9D%A2pro/com.tencent.qqlauncher

Arthur Christmas - In Theaters for Christmas 2011 Season

MOVIE REVIEW

Arthur Christmas

3D Animation Movie

Original Air Date: November 23, 2011 In Theaters

Pictures from arthurchristmas.com

CAST:

James McAvoy ... Arthur
Bill Nighy ... Grandsanta
Jim Broadbent ... Santa
Hugh Laurie ... Steve
Imelda Staunton ... Mrs. Santa
Matt Lucas ... Santa Elf #1
Johnny Brennan ... Santa Elf #2
Ashley Jensen ... Bryony
Will Sasso ... American James
Ramona Marquez ... Gwen
Kevin Eldon ... Various
Iain McKee ... Thomas Jack
Miggie Donahoe ... Pedro

Pictures from arthurchristmas.com

PLOT:

ARTHUR CHRISTMAS is an animated family comedy in 3D that reveals Santa’s secret high-tech operations at the North Pole.

'So how does Santa deliver all those presents in one night?' The answer: Santa's exhilarating, ultra-high-tech operation hidden beneath the North Pole. But this year, Santa's son Arthur has an urgent mission that must be completed before Christmas morning dawns.

Pictures from arthurchristmas.com

Movie Review:

Coming...

See or Skip:

Coming...

---------------------

AAQR: Farkle Dice (game)

NOTE: Farkle Dice was given away one day on Amazon App Store.

Farkle Dice is a very simple game of chance with some strategy involved. The rules are simple, and you can actually buy the physical game (with real dice) in some B&N stores (that's Barnes & Noble). This is the Android virtual version, with AI players.

The rules are simple, and you will have a hard time beating even the regular "Steady Sam" AI until you figure out the strategy on how it should be played.

Graphics are simple, and typical game only lasts a few minutes. So you can slam a quick game in.

Is it worth money? I don't know. Depends on how much ad you tolerate. Give the free version a try, at least.

http://www.appbrain.com/app/farkle-dice-deluxe-(ad-free)/com.smartboxdesign.android.farkle.dice (paid version)

Sorry about ANOTHER unplanned outage... And Updates

My apologies about lack of updates in the past week. I've been VERY VERY busy on various problems, personal, business, and other. I still have various items on my to do list.

But don't worry, there are more reviews in the pipeline, including more home launchers, more apps, and more live wallpaper reviews.

So stay tuned.

AAQR: Sinister Planet (game, no rating)

This game does not run on my OG Droid. The title "loading" screen pops up, the progress bar goes to 1/5th, then after 3 seconds, it "quits to launcher", no error message.

http://www.appbrain.com/app/sinister-planet/com.neosoft.SinisterPlanet

Welcome to Paradise - Movie Review

MOVIE REVIEW

Welcome to Paradise

Network: Gospel Music Channel

Original Air Date: 2010

Rated: PG for mild thematic elements, brief language and teen smoking

CAST:

Crystal Bernard ... Debbie Laramie
Bobby Edner ... Hayden Laramie
Brian Dennehy ... Bobby Brown
William Shockley ... Kent Dylan
Beth Grant ... Frances Loren
Ken Jenkins ... Reverend McNamara
Nick Searcy ... Reverend Ellington
Lou Beatty Jr. ... Trevor Goodman
Cynthia Boris ... Church Goer
Brianne Costa ... Snobby Girl
Doug Cox ... Izzy
Danielle Dearing ... Church Goer
Elizabeth Dennehy ... Helen Brown
Loy Edge ... Nate Twain
Lorilynn Failor ... Twyla Twain

PLOT:

The Road to Paradise begins withia Journey of the Heart.

Welcome To Paradise is an inspirational family film about a preacher, Debbie Laramie (Crystal Bernard) and her son Hayden (Bobby Edner). They are sent from a big city church to the small town of Paradise, where Debbie finds a community in desperate need of direction and a town that turns its back on its neediest neighbors. She tries to build a new vision for her congregation that embraces everyone, even the poor and outcast, but the deep rooted veil of indifference may be too strong to lift.

Movie Review:

This is truly an uplifting movie. It's a true inspiration - to keep standing strong in your beliefs and never give up. There are serious moments and lighthearted moments, too. When a community comes together it's amazing what they can accomplish when they work with one another.

The All-Star cast in this movie includes...

Connie Ray, who portrayed the Mother from the Television series, The Torkelsons. (loved that show!) She is always terrific... gentle, sweet, and compassionate. Then, there is someone you might not recognize - William Shockley, who potrayed Hank on Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman. (the one who had the long hair and ran the saloon.) Well, in this, he is clean cut and looks and acts completely different. He's pictured above in the camel colored barn jacket.

The actress, Beth Grant, is absolutely wonderful in this. I think of her as Jimmy's Mother on Yes Dear, however, in this movie, she is so serious and sweet - she's terrific! Brian Dennehy is also a well known actor. He's in another movie I love - Return to Snowy River.

And, an interesting find for all of you Christmas Movie fans. I knew I recognized the young man who portrayed Hayden's friend. Upon looking him up, I discovered he's actor, Evan Sabara, the young boy named J.T. in A Season for Miracles! (Still one of my favorite Hallmark Christmas Movies!)

I also love Brad Stine in this - he's such a funny comedian. He's also great in Christmas with a Capital C!. And, of course, I love Crystal Bernard, she is always so pretty, perky, and fun, she has such a great personality! I remember her first, on the sitcom, It's a Living, and of course, those cute Hallmark Movies, Single Santa seeks Mrs. Claus & Meet the Santas.

Great Movie, with a warm feeling inside, Happy Ending!

See or Skip:

See, wholesome family viewing.

---------------------

*Images above are:
DVD Cover for Welcome to Paradise
and Screen Cap Images from Movie.

Join me in watching "Christmas in July" on QVC...

July 23rd, 2011 - Saturday
154 Days until Christmas!!!

This post is for all of you Friends and Followers, who like me, Absolutely Love Christmas!

I'v been watching "Christmas in July" on QVC... Oh, it's so fun to watch all the Christmas Decorations... the lights, toys, trees, and everything! I love Bethlehem Lights. Especially, I love the name - so Beautifully named after the birthplace of Jesus. Their pre-lit trees look especially pretty to me and they said earlier that they have a new technology that is fail-proof! That sounds wonderful! I love Christmas lights - but mostly when they are working - when they go out and you have to remove an entire strand or try to fix them - it can be so frustrating! I'll have to look into those lights!

Anyway, just so you know - I'm not getting a penny from QVC - I'm just sharing with you my likes and dislikes - simply because I love Christmas and I've enjoyed their station for years now, especially their "Christmas in July" Special!

It is refreshing to sit inside in the AC and get out of the heat (outside) and dream about snow and Christmas! Someone in my neighborhood is having a garage sale - but due to the heat, there doesn't seem to be any takers. It's just too hot - people would much rather be in a cool mall, or shop on-line, or shop from TV!

And, did I just hear right - are these QVC Christmas in July items returnable until the end of January 2012? That's what they just said - but please check on anything you order, just in case! That's a great deal - especially if you are buying Christmas Presents!
Hope you enjoy the show - it will last all weekend long!

Happy Christmas Shopping!

----------
Image:
*The QVC Logo is the property of QVC
*I personally used photoshop to design their logo with the Christmas Wreath

Getting Back Up

The last two weeks have completely thrown my blogging and writing schedule to the dogs. All of my blog posts lately have been about Conor, and I've managed to write all of a single paragraph on my secondary WIP.

Everyone is being so supportive, telling me to take my time and not to rush myself. I'm my own biggest critic in this. I've gone through feelings of worthlessness, anger and guilt, all over the fact that I haven't been writing. It's been one of the hardest things to admit that I'm not this hardcore author who can keep working even while suffering the grief from the worst day of my life. My ego has taken a beating. I'm not the kind of person who can go through what's happened and come out unscathed.

In my heart, I know this just makes me a good person. Part of me is relieved to know that this has wounded me, and I still need time to heal.

But I want to write. I have a book coming out next year, and I want to be able to query the next book in the series by then, so that if it's accepted I can hope to see it come out the following year. I have a secondary WIP which calls to me. And now yet another idea which I want to play around with. I can't do these things, tell these stories I love to tell, unless I just write. It hurts. Sometimes I don't want to move or even lift my head.

But it's time to get back up. I've been hit hard. I've fallen. It's time to get back up. I don't know how long it'll take to get my strength back, but I have to start. My blog schedule may still suffer and my word count may be low.

But I'm getting back up.

Funeral Service

Conor's funeral was held yesterday. It was a bright, sunny day, spent surrounded by friends and family. The service at the hospital was beautiful, as was the short one at the crematory. Included in the readings were a poem written for Conor by a friend, and a short piece by Ellen Brickley which she wrote to express her thoughts on Thursday after hearing about Conor's passing. Both were beautiful pieces, perfectly expressing the love and strength we have come to associate with Conor's life.

My previous post about Conor marks my 100th blog post. I hadn't even realised. I can't think of a more fitting topic for the 100-mark.

After the services we came home and spent the rest of the day and night with our friends. We talked, ate, drank and laughed. We enjoyed the shared love and company of one other.

Everyone agreed it was a wonderful way to celebrate Conor's life.

Below are the pieces of music we used during the service. The first two were chosen by my wife, Jen, while I picked the last two.

I Love Lucille Ball's 100th Birthday Celebration - a Special Honoring!

August 6th, 2011 - will mark the 100th Birthday of Lucille Ball. Many will be doing special honoring ceremonies and TV Specials to commemorate the day a true Legend was born.

Lucy is a favorite Actress of so many. ( I know, "I Love Lucy"! ) She was born in Jamestown, New York - where a festival of comedy, will take place Aug 3-7, 2011, to celebrate Lucille Desiree Ball! It's called Lucy Fest! You can see all the details on the Official Lucy Desi Center Web-site. There will be a parade and a Lucy Radio Show re-enactment, plus loads more! Sounds like so much fun.. just like Lucy!

Also, on TV:
(you can see Lucy in lots of Specials)

Hallmark Channel

~ All Weekend Long - August 6th & 7th 2011 - "I Love Lucy" 100th Birthday Tribute!

(Over 100 Episodes of "I Love Lucy")

I Love Lucy - The Complete Fourth Season

My Favorite "I Love Lucy" Episode:

Oh my, or as Lucy would say, "Eeeewwwww", can I possibly choose one? I think my absolute favorite is The Dancing Star with Van Johnson - for once Lucy is the star and she is successful! I love it! Plus, I love their trip to California when they end up at the same rest stop over and over again - and when Lucy does the Commercial, when she tells Ricky she is expecting, when they redecorate the Mertz Apartment, the chickens, the lawn mower, Ethel's birthday gift, the chocolate candy, the home permanent, meeting Bill Holden, Madame X, Lucy misses the Boat, and so many more........oh, I guess I do love them all!

TCM:

The Lucy & Desi Collection (Too Many Girls / The Long Long Trailer / Forever, Darling)

~ August 6th - Movie Marathon 100th Birthday Tribute to Lucille Ball!

Du Barry Was A Lady (1943) ... TCM ... 6 AM
Panama Lady (1939) ... TCM ... 8 AM
Without Love (1945) ... TCM ... 9:30 AM
Miss Grant Takes Richmond (1949) ... TCM ... 11:30 AM
Fuller Brush Girl, The (1950) ... TCM ... 1 PM
Long, Long Trailer, The (1954) ... TCM ... 2:30 PM
Best Foot Forward (1943) ... TCM ... 4:30 PM
Dance, Girl, Dance (1940) ... TCM ... 6:15 PM
Stage Door (1937) ... TCM ... 8 PM
Big Street, The (1942) ... TCM ... 9:45 PM
Easy To Wed (1946) ... TCM ... 11:30 PM
Lured (1947) ... TCM ... 1:30 AM
Affairs Of Annabel, The (1938)... TCM ... 3:15 AM
Annabel Takes A Tour (1938) ... TCM ... 4:30 AM

My Favorite Lucy Film:

Well, I just can't pick one... I adore - Miss Grant Takes Richmond (with the Handsome, William Holden), The Fuller Brush Girl (such a funny, Suspenseful Mystery), The Long, Long Trailer (again, very funny!), and Easy to Wed (which of course, isn't Easy, at all - and I Love Van Johnson with Lucy!).

Enjoy the wonderful Lucy Laughter... and the 100th Birthday Celebration of a Fantastic Actress and Comedian as we all honor, Lucille Ball!

Lucille Ball Film Collection (Dance Girl Dance / The Big Street / Du Barry Was a Lady / Critic's Choice / Mame)

For "Lucy Fest" details, visit:
http://www.lucy-desi.com/

For "I Love Lucy" Episodes airing August 6th & 7th:
http://www.hallmarkchannel.com/

For Lucille Ball Movies on TCM, Biography, & More:
http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/person/8873%7C102009/Lucille-Ball/

Click Here for Lucille Ball Movies on DVD.

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