Book Review: Blue Horses by Mary Oliver

Every so often I'll check a book of poems out of the library. You can't go wrong with Mary Oliver. Her latest collection, Blue Horses, is a treat and yes it makes me feel very inadequate when I re-read my own poetry. But that's okay.

cover blurb:  Mary Oliver returns to the stunning imagery that has defined her life's work, describing with wonder both the everyday and the unaffected beauty of nature.

Here are two stanzas from Stebbin's Gulch
              the water pours
              it pours
              it pours
              ever along the slant

              of downgrade
              dashing its silver thumbs
              against the rock
              or pausing to carve

Her poems seem simple, but they are rich with humor and observation. As the reader, you are on a stroll with her and she stops to point out something. Then you stand and discuss it a bit. When you move on, you are a better person for that moment in time.

Memorial Weekend

The drought is over in the DFW area. It's been raining, and raining, and raining. The poor flag has been sitting in the garage corner day by day by day eagerly waiting to be unfurled. However, it shall not wave proudly this Memorial Weekend due to rain and high winds.

And for the first time in a long time, I doubt I'll take a dunk in the pool for Memorial Weekend. No patio sit, no sunscreen, no friends with boats on the lake, and no shorts. Oh, I'll have fun, but it's a most peculiar Texas Memorial Weekend.

But we shall reflect and be grateful for our freedoms, the roof over our head, and the joy of rain.

I hate war as only a soldier who has lived it can, only as one who has seen its brutality, its futility, and its stupidity - Dwight D. Eisenhower in a speech January 1946.

Movie Review Madness: Pitch Perfect 2

Pitch Perfect was a small summer movie that snuck into big buck success after word of mouth. Now Pitch Perfect 2 is bigger, but still has that “small” movie appeal. Music mashups, competition, graduation, and Rebel Wilson as Fat Amy. What more do you need in a movie? First there’s Muffgate – a shocking screwup when the Barden Bellas perform in front of the President and First Lady. The award winning acapella group are banned from further competition, cannot recruit new members, and are in shame at the college. But, a new girl does get in as a legacy (her mother belonged). Then the ladies figure out a loop hole to get into world’s. Oh the hijinks ensue.  

But can they find their sound again, their soul? Anna Kendrick keeps being psyched out by Das Sound Machine, the scary German group. In their first performance back the Bellas have too much going on to mask their insecurities. A country retreat has the girls at bare bones working together as  a team and they keep building their sound. Meanwhile Anna’s interning for a music producer. She’s demonstrating that there’s more to life than the Bellas – time to grow and move into the world. 

Onward to Copenhagen and the world championships. What will they sing? Did they find that creative spark? Maybe a new tune altogether? Pitch Perfect 2 is sheer joy and fun and good music. You’ll laugh out loud, your feet will want to dance, and you’ll enjoy the mash-up production numbers. I’m shaking my head now at the thought of Rebel Wilson – she is fearless in her comedic delivery and so perfect in pitch. Go support the ladies in this summer time testosterone fueled field (Avengers, Mad Max,etc). The music battlefield is tough.

 

Wordless Wednesday Hodge Podge

decided to share some random pics from my selection. No theme, no hidden meaning,

Variety is the spice of life. 

Book Review: Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

If you are looking for a book that you can read and your young adult will enjoy, try Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children.  Talk about clever and creative. Author Ransom Riggs brings a whole new world to life, along with some very strange pictures. Sixteen year-old Jacob Portman, after the horrific death of his beloved grandfather, journeys to a remote island off Wales. He seeks answers to clues his grandfather left him and stories that didn’t make sense at the time, but now open doors for Jacob. As he stumbles through the abandoned ruins of an old orphanage and leaves discouraged, he enters into a new time loop. There he meets Miss Peregrine, the headmistress, along with the peculiar children he’s seen in his grandfather’s photo albums.  

There’s the invisible boy, the girl who defies gravity, Emma who can create fire in her hands, and Bronwyn the strong. Jacob seems normal, but he is the grandson of Abe Portman, much beloved by the children. Turns out Abe left the island to fight in WWII, and then chose to go to America, age appropriately, and live a “normal” life. However, there’s trouble brewing in the peculiar world. For Miss Peregrine and other headmasters, there are attacks and kidnappings. Some peculiars went rogue in a horrible experiment and are now seeking to destroy the “good peculiars”. Jacob finds he has skills to help his new found friends. But he must decide which world to join, and then what happens if the loop is altered? 

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children is a hoot. You will love the characters, enjoy the adventures, and then worry about their troubles. It’s a scary world, and you will turn the pages quickly as evil appears. You will root for the kids to use their peculiar talents and work together to overcome obstacles. This is an excellent book for you and your teen to read and discuss. Then you’ll fight over who gets to start the sequel first. Defy gravity, make yourself invisible, and be peculiar. It’s okay.

Friday: Workplace Bingo

I've heard that in large companies when people are stuck in meetings, they play a game of buzzword bingo. Score points for hearing "synergy" or "multi-task". 

I work for a very small company. It consists of the owner (gone most of the time) and three other guys (all in their thirties), plus me - the lone female sitting on the opposite side of the room. A huge majority of time, I tune out my co-workers' blather. After eight years, I know what they are going to say on what topic. Am I bored? Yes.

Last Friday, I mentally played BINGO and filled out my sheet as they hit the usual topics:

1. Car parts for projects. One guy has been re-working his rock crawler, the other his VW bus, and the other guy keeps looking at wheels. Long discussion on axles - snore city.

2. Super hero argument. The big quote "What's the point of Daredevil?"  Fifteen minute debate of pros and cons

3. Pause to watch, yet again, a new Star Wars trailer. This is a daily occurrence. I've stopped getting up from my chair.

4. Star Trek references and a reading of some Scottie quotes. That highlighted lunchtime

I had B-I-N-G and then nothing. They veered off on tangents -discussion of weekend activities, a cute kid story.

It was late in the day when I could mentally stamp O and shout BINGO

5. Guns and ammo.  All I can say is "please shoot me now" when they get on this discussion.

Fortunately I completed my last report, gathered mail, and waved goodbye to another week.

How's your workplace bingo? Do you hear the same thing week in and week out? Let me know your key topics - how quickly can you stamp the card in one day?

Have a great weekend everyone.

What's In Your Queue?

Been awhile since we’ve explored Netflix. Let’s take a look at a few selections

 

I binged on Orange is the New Black. Initially I wasn’t keen and stepped away. Then after encouragement from my sister and others I revisited the show and was hooked. It’s way more than just ladies in prison. This is a full character exploration, along with scheming, conniving, underground dealings, and more. Lorraine Toussant as V deserves an Emmy award – she was evil.  I am ready for season 3 to start in June.

Also started Season 3 of House of Cards. Oh, if even half of what goes on in this Washington is true, then we are in trouble. Kevin Spacey as Frank Underwood is a gooey slimy snake. His wife Claire, Robin Wright, is a Lady Macbeth. Oh the games. 

Whiplash – Miles Teller is the student. JK Simmons (Oscar winner for this) is the teacher. He’s foul mouthed and brutal, as kids try to achieve perfection in music. Banging those drums until the hands bleed. Excellent movie. 

The November Man – Pierce Brosnan is pulled from retirement to deal with a Russian mess. But there’s more to this spy game. Good action and plenty of intrigue. It’s a cheap James Bond.  

The Maze Runner – kids wake up and are stuck in a world where the maze seems to thrive on killing. What’s on the other side? Strong YA movie with survival themes. But Hunger Games is a better series.  

Life Itself – This is a fascinating documentary about the late Roger Ebert. He gave us the thumbs up on movies and changed the world of movie criticism. This doc explores his life and watches him fight throat cancer. It silenced his voice, but not his heart and love of movies.  

Laggies – Keira Knightly doesn’t want to face grownup decisions.  She hides out with teens (Chloe Grace Moretz) and generally is a joke. I expected better from this film. Don’t waste your time 

Force Majeure – Swedish film with some subtitles. But really good. Family is on a ski vacation when there’s an avalanche. The father basically flees the scene to take care of himself. No one is hurt but it creates a lot of tension as far as family trust and his failure to be The Man.  

Draft Day – Kevin Costner is perfect in this role as the man who has to make the right choice for the draft pick. It’s Moneyball with football – go with the money, go with the reliable, go with the gut, or cave to pressure. You can count on Costner to make the right choice and get the right kid for the job.  

The Equalizer – I was set for a tight movie with lots of action starring Denzel Washington. Instead it was a tad boring.