Top Movies

Listening to NPR the other day I heard they were asking people what are you listening to? reading? watching?....so I'm wondering if I heard that one day and wasn't really paying attention....and that's what made me come up with my lists? You never know?
at any rate....I have some time to myself...so I'll give the list of some of my favorite movies.....
It's really difficult to narrow it down to 10....but I think these are my favorites...most watched, etc.

1. Anne of Green Gables - (with Megan Follows, Colleen Dewhurst & Richard Farnsworth)(all parts)- I LOVE this movie.. I like it better than the books I think......I've watched it so many times and I laugh and cry every time and I just love it!( Some day I want to go to Prince Edward Island. There is a cruise that goes all along the St Lawrence River....stops in Boston, NYC, Quebec, PEI... the heck with Green Gables .....I could be Anne of the Cruise Ship!) :D

2. Last of the Mohicans - there's a war going on...people are getting shot, hacked up etc, but Daniel Day Lewis is so HOT! in this film, who cares! HA ha.

3.Pride and Prejudice -I like the book, all the movies, but I like the latest on with Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfayden. Oxygen Network seems to show it every month or so...and guess who watches it...every time!

4.Shakespeare in Love - great acting and always good for a laugh...and speaking of laughs......

5.Young Frankenstein - sometimes a funny movie is even funnier when there is a person with a great laugh in the audience.....you can't help but laugh too! I went to see this movie with my brother David....who thought it was hilarious....he took me with him the second time he watched it and he started laughing before the movie even started....and what can I say...anytime I need a good laugh I can watch this...or even just talk about it with someone else who has seen it too!...("Take the candle out!")

6.Elizabethtown- I know some people think I'm strange because I like this movie...but it has a GREAT soundtrack and I just think it's funny. Maybe because it came out during a time in my life when I was attending or helping plan more than a couple funerals..(rest assured...no tap dance routines or flaming birds were involved) (I am laughing just thinking about it)..it was some comic relief!

7. Breaking Away- The father is too much. (the eenie foods) I really like this story.

* I'm cheating on this one
8. Peter Pan and Finding Neverland- I love Disney's version...and I ride the ride every time I go to the Magic Kingdom....I just always wanted to jump out the window and FLYYYYYYYYYYY!
and I love Finding Neverland....when the little children are in the audience and giggle and get all excited about the show....I just love it!

9.Sense and Sensibility- I like the story and the acting is great.

10. Little Women- with Winona Ryder and Susan Sarandon...if you look at my favorite books...you will see March by Geraldine Brooks...it's a story about Mr. March and reading it makes me picture scenes from this movie in my head.

* I might have to make a whole separate list for comedies....because there are some great ones...but I won't go on and on.

Earth Day

Nestled under the
Eaves a
Song-filled ark of
Twigs and grass



Green leaves overhead, a
Rug of green under foot,
And the air between
Sweet with the green
Smell of spring.

April 21st - Holocaust Remebrance Day

Okay since it's National Poetry Month and tomorrow is Holocaust Remembrance day.. and I have a poem to share. I saw this poem about 19-20 years ago on a trip to DC to visit Jen. John watched the girls and I went for a few days by myself...and stayed with Jen..(.when she lived in Vienna)
We had a great time the whole trip. We got to visit all the museums when snow had shut the city down...offices, schools, etc were closed...but the museums were open. It was a great time to go...hardly anyone was there.l I went to see one of my favorite exhibits in the American History Museum... the first ladies Inaugural gowns....Well I've been there when you could hardly see anything...but Jen and I were in the room with only a handful of people. So we had a chance to really look closely at the dresses and accessories, etc. I don't think I will ever get to see it like that again. We also saw a fabulous exhibit at one of the museums (can't remember which one) from the Sultan Suleiman (Sp?) Gold crowns encrusted with jewels, hand painted books and again things I doubt I'll ever see again. During that trip we also visited the National Children's Museum and somewhere in our travels...we saw an exhibit from the new (at the time) Holocaust Museum that was opening soon.
There were photographs, etc that would just break your heart... a documentation of the 6 million Jews that were killed (as well as others)but the one of the things that stayed with me all these years was a collection of poems that prisoners in the concentration camps had written that were on display. The one I am going to share just really struck me...how could someone in such a horrible place, cold and starving...... still have such hope and faith that things would get better. I have wondered many times since then if I would have the courage and strength to survive....and I wish I could say YES! but I just don't know............
This poem was written by a young woman/girl:

From Tomorrow On

From tomorrow on, I shall be sad

From tomorrow on!

Today I will be gay!

What is the use of sadness----tell me that?---

Because these evil winds begin to blow?

Why should I grieve for tomorrow---today?

Tomorrow may be so good, so sunny,

Tomorrow the sun may shine for us again:

We shall no longer need to be sad.

From tomorrow on, I shall be sad----

From tomorrow on!

Not today: no! Today I will be glad.

And every day, no matter how bitter it be,

I will say:

From tomorrow on, I shall be sad,

Not today!

Motele (*she did not survive the camp)

Jenifer July 23,1963 - April 19, 2007

Cheryl, Jen & Ellen dancing?posing? both!

Lindsey, Bridget, Brenna & Jen

* All of us except Martha

Jen & Rob

Jen & Rob & Paul

Cheryl & Jenifer , friends since the first day of first grade

Aunt Jenifer & Brenna

Aunt Jenifer & Megan

Celebrating Shane's birthday

"Those we have laughed with,learned from, leaned on, and loved most

will live on in memory forever."

I just wanted to share a few photos and a few words in memory of my sister Jenifer, who died two years ago today. The photos remind we of what a beautiful person Jenifer was. These are (mostly) from John's 50th birthday party in December 2005. Jen was pretty sick at the time...but the pictures show her smiling, dancing, laughing and just being Jen! The year and 3 1/2/ months following this get-together were pretty difficult....one thing after another and a lot of pain....but she stayed pretty positive. It's not quite as hard to think about her without wanting to cry....but I miss her ; especially when something funny comes up and I'd love to be able to laugh about it with her.(see the post about the towels) However...when I do think about her...I can hear her in my head.....so she's not so far away after all.

*as you may know...I love music and I almost always have music on in the background...as I do now...

and it just so happens that a perfect song for this post just played on my Ipod.

"From Where You Are" by Lifehouse (which is a perfect song when you need a good cry!)

and I'll just finish off with a verse from that song.......

I feel the beating of your heart

I see the shadows of your face

Just know that wherever you are

Yeah, I miss you

And I wish you were here.

something to go with the next post.....

part of a little poem....

Animal crackers and cocoa to drink
That is the finest of meals I think
When I am old and can do as I please
I think I shall always insist upon these! :)

Cookies on a Saturday afternoon

We are going to some friends for dinner tonight (fish...what else) and you know what that means....I get to BAKE! (any excuse to make something...I just can't keep it here...or I will eat it all bit by bit)..... Anyway...as soon as I knew we were going to the Roy's...I got the ingredients out.

The cookies I made are one of my favorite recipes...and what's not to like...peanut butter, sugar, M&M's, etc.

The first time I made these was for my Brownie troop......(Brenna) (who's 24 now.....I'll let you do the math.)( haha)Anyway...they've always been a hit. I think I got the recipe from Southern Living. The Brownie troop was at Holy Trinity School... and we switched a couple years later to Indialantic Elementary...so we didn't see the girls too often after that....but when Brenna and Megan were at Mel High....one of my former Brownies was in Latin Club with Megan.(this is important background information...bear with me. Ha)I volunteered to bring refreshments to the Latin Club event and I made these cookies. Alison (former Brownie-now a HS senior) took one bite of one and looked at me and said"You made these didn't you Mrs. Kaminski? I remember these cookies from when you made them for our Brownie troop."

So...what can I tell you....they're good!

MONSTER COOKIES

1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened

1 cup sugar

1 cup plus 2 TBSP firmly packed brown sugar
3 eggs

2 cups peanut butter

1/4 tsp vanilla

3/4 tsp light corn syrup

4 1/2 cups regulars oats, uncooked

2 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

1 cup plain M & M's

6 oz semisweet morsels

Cream butter, gradually add sugars, beating well. add eggs, peanut butter, vanilla & corn syrup. Beat well. Add oats, soda and salt, stir well. stir in remaining ingredients. Drop dough by 1/4 cupfuls-about 4 inches apart onto lightly greased cookie sheets. Bake at 350 degrees for 12-15 minutes, centers will be soft. Cool slightly on cookie sheets, remove to rack and cool completely.

*If you make them this big....the recipe makes about 2 1/2 dz...I usually make them smaller (so technically I guess mine aren't "Monster" cookies...haha...I make a good sized cookie and you get a lot! They are tasty!

Talking to myself

Not to be confused with "Dancin with myself" (a favorite song by Billy Idol.....have danced many times to that!)
I think I like this whole BLOG thing because I get to write stuff whenever I want and maybe people read it and maybe they don't.....but if they do...they know a little bit about who I am. I've always been one to say what I think...and I try very hard to think it through first...but this is kind of fun! For instance today I am going to make a list of some favorites......and maybe this will give a little insight into who I really am. And besides...when would I talk about this otherwise! Ha ha!
Remember when you went to college and the way you got an idea about whether or not you were going to get along with your roommate was by checking out their albums while they were out of the room. Well that's kind of what these lists are like...you may think you know me.......but do you? Haha I know I always like to see what other people like...music, art, books, etc sometimes they surprise me...and other times I just think it's interesting. I sometimes think I should've worked at one of those places where you send in surveys to....telling them what products you use, etc, hobbies.....it would be fun to read that kind of stuff all day!
Anyway....for what it's worth here's what's on my lists......
Since I work at the library ...... I might as well start with some favorite books/authors
not in any particular order......
1. Tony Horwitz-read Confederates in the Attic and then read his other books. I love them all.I have recommended them and sent them to friends and family. I especially liked Blue Latitudes...Boldly Going Where Captain Cook Has Gone Before. All his books tell about people and places in a funny, offbeat way. He would be a great History teacher; telling you about historic events in an entertaining way.
2.Geraldine Brooks-( wife of Tony Horwitz...they would be great dinner guests!)I loved March and her most recent book People of the Book.
3.James Michener- any of his books...but I especially liked Hawaii and the Source. I really enjoyed all his books that I've read....I love the way he takes you through history and weaves the characters through the story.
4.Robert Ludlum- my brother- in- law Tony recommended The Bourne Identity to me back in the early 80's. What a great book!!!...not my usual type of book but I loved it. If you liked any of the Bourne movies...read the books....they are the kind that keep you up at night wanting to know what's going to happen next! (how many more pages?what time is it? should I just keep reading!?)(YES!)
5.Robert Fulgham
6.Bob Greene-(not the diet guy the other one)especially American Beat, Good Morning Merry Sunshine and Hang Time: Days and Dreams With Michael Jordan
7.William Least Heat- Moon- Blue Highways :a Journey Across America and River-Horse: Across America by Boat
8.Bill Bryson-A Walk in the Woods
9.Biographies.....I like biographies and autobiographies about sports figures, politicians, presidents,musicians...I just like them! a couple of favorites...John Quincy Adams: a Public Life, a Private Life by Paul Nagel
and Man of the House by Tip O'Neill with William Novak
10.Maeve Binchey- all of them...but a favorite is Evening Class

when I was younger..........
All the book by Luara Ingalls Wilder..... I LOVED them. (especially Little House on the Prairie and On the Banks of Plum Creek)
2. all the Betsy-Tacy and Tib books by Maud Hart Lovelace. I wanted to live on Hill Street!
3. the All-of-a-Kind Family books by Sydney Taylor
4. The Giant Golden Book of Elves and Fairies by Jane Werner illustrated by (my favorite!) *Garth Williams....I am pretty sure this book I recently found again is the one I checked out as often as they would let me when I was in about 3rd or 4th grade!
5.Charlotte's Web by E.B.White
6.The Happy Orpheline by Natalie Savage Carlson
7.The Wolves of Willoughby Chase by Joan Aiken....I didn't usually read mysteries...this one was great!
8.Mr. Pudgins by Ruth Christoffer Carlson and Margaret Bradfield...(maybe sometime I'll tell you about the animal circus we had in a neighbor's garage! Ha!)
9. any biography...but especially liked the ones about girls...Louisa May Alcott, Jane Addams, Annie Oakley come to mind!
10. poetry book ands books that rhymed...like Plum Pudding for Christmas by Virginia Kahl

*actually Garth Williams illustrated the Little House books, the Happy Orpheline books, Charlotte's Web and the Elves and Fairies books, I loved his illustrations as much as the books....never made that connection as a kid...but maybe it was the cover illustrations that got me!
Well....this is long enough......I'll tell you about my other lists another time! Next time Movies? Music? this is fun...................:)