What makes you smile?
What makes me smile: Joey who will still cuddle with me and tells me jokes and stories, Steffen's endless quest for learning, Michael’s young heart, Ed singing, date nights, reading well-written fan fiction, watching reruns of Scarecrow and Mrs. King and current episodes of Chuck, purring kitties on my lap, big, sloppy doggie kisses, spring flowers, waterfalls, and finishing projects.
What makes you smile?
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My top ten favorite Scarecrow and Mrs. King tags broken down by seasons. Magic Bus I love the teasing, so early Lee and Amanda. Already the chemistry is there and sparks are flying. And are they flirting or what? She asks him to say something nice about her work and him telling her, “Not bad.” Her leaning towards him and both of them looking into each other’s eyes, almost daring the other, “Care to change your opinion?” “That is so petty.” Love it! A recent challenge posted on my Facebook page was to list fifteen movies I had seen that would always stick with me. The rules were to not take too long to think about it, and to list the first fifteen I could recall in no more than fifteen minutes. I don't know if it's the most influential films I had ever seen, and obliviously I was influenced by 80's films, nevertheless here is my list (with a couple of changes after giving it much more thought):
1. Raiders of the Lost Ark. A masterful creation by Steven Spielberg and George Lucas, combining great storytelling, wonderful effects, humor, and of course the ever-handsome Harrison Ford. "It's not the years, it's the mileage." 2. E.T. Another Steven Spielberg film, this timeless friendship movie captured my heart, and still to this day, I cry at the ending. 3. Star Wars. The first film I saw more then once, and it forever changed the way I looked at movies. 4. The Breakfast Club. Really the only John Hughes/'Brat Pack' type movie I feel I can relate with, although I enjoyed the others. This film defined my generation as I was a high school student when this film was released. 5. Sleepless in Seattle. I'm not really into 'chick flicks,' but this one is an exception to the rule. Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan are wonderful in this film, and I loved all the references to An Affair to Remember, and of course living in Seattle gave me a personal connection to this film. "Destiny is something we've invented because we can't stand the fact that everything that happens is accidental." 6. Dances with Wolves. My all-time favorite film. I love the story, the imagery, touches of humor, and being culturally and historically told. I prefer the extended four-hour version of this film. 7. The Sound of Music. My second all-time favorite film. My first experience with musicals that I have come to know and love. I remember watching this with my parents and sisters on NBC, year after year, and love it as much now as I did back then. When in Salzburg a few years ago, I loved "The Sound of Music" tour, and visiting many of the sites associated with both the film and the real von Trapp family. 8. Dirty Dancing. I was working at a movie theater in Portland, Oregon, when this film was released, and remember sitting in the auditorium on my breaks watching Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze dance. I loved the music and the dancing, and of course, Patrick Swayze! 9. Fiddler on the Roof. One of the first films I remember seeing with my parents and sisters at a movie theater. I thoroughly enjoyed the story, the acting, and the music. 10. The Wizard of Oz. Can't forget this timeless classic and another annual tradition film, I watched every year with my parents and sisters, after all; "There's no place like home." My favorite character, of course, is the Scarecrow. 11. Field of Dreams. I just love this beautifully told baseball story, and then the ending when he sees his father, and discovers it was all for him, still brings tears to my eyes. My all time favorite sports movie. "No, Ray, it was you." 12. Back to the Future. What's better then building a time machine out of a Delorean? The loved the comedy, the actors, the music, the comic timing of Christopher Lloyd, and then the whole premise of traveling back in time and missing up your future. My personal favorite line is when Doc Brown asks who the president is in the future and Marty says, "Ronald Reagan." Truth is stranger than fiction. 13. Bambi. The first Disney movie I ever saw, and the first movie I saw in the theaters. I remember being upset when Bambi's mom was shot by those hunters and being frightened for Bambi in the forest fire. 14. The Pink Panther (Peter Sellers). My parents took us to theater one afternoon for a Pink Panther marathon. I loved the slap-stick and comic timing of Peter Sellers, who played the bungling French police detective Jacques Clouseau. 15. Live and Let Die. The first James Bond movie I ever watched, and becoming intrigued by spies and espionage. Although I enjoy Roger Moore, Sean Connery is still the BEST Bond. Thanks to MACHMABEL on the SMK Forum. She started a thread asking us to name our favorite SMK moments. Here are my favorites:
Although, far from being a world-class traveler, I have been fortunate enough to do some traveling, especially on the west coast. (Before anyone asks why I did not include the Grand Canyon. . . all I can say is I have not been there yet--it’s on my Bucket List). Under the cut is a list of my personal favorite vacation spots in the west:
Growing up, I was a very awkward young lady. I was taller than most of the boys in my class, yet not athletic, very shy and unsure of myself, and I was an easy target for school bullying. Glasses, and later on braces, did not help my self image. Moving twice in less then two years did not help matters either. I found it hard to make friends, and instead of spending recess outside on the playground, where I knew I would be teased, I spent my recesses in the library, where I would get lost in the Little House on the Prairie or Encyclopedia Brown books.
My parents moved my sisters and I from the large city of Santa Clara, California to the rural town of Hillsboro, Oregon. I remember the first day, the 'new kid' in school, and how scared I was, then my teacher opened up a novel and began to read aloud to the class. The Runaway Stallion was a story about a boy who was being bullied, because he was a little different, unsure of himself, and an easy target, but one day he stood up to face his adversaries. To this day, The Runaway Stallion has been one of my favorite novels. An unforgettable moment in my life was when I got to met the author. The school librarian knew how much I loved the Walt Morey books, and since he lived in the area, she invited him to come talk to our school. At the school assembly somehow I found the courage to stand up and tell him how much I enjoyed his books, and asked him which one was his favorite. Of course, he gave the standard answer, "They're all my favorite." Then he asked me which one was my favorite. I replied, "Scrub Dog of Alaska;" another coming of age story about a young boy and his scamp of a dog, who have an unbreakable bond, just how I felt about my dog. My favorite Walt Morey books are the ones with dogs, as I have a special place in my heart for canine friends, because they love unconditionally, and without judgment. A continuing theme is his stories not only revolves around animals, but his love and respect for nature. A few years later, I met him again, after he wrote what would be his final novel, Death Walk. He autographed the book for me, and I asked him, "Why don't you ever write about girls?" He told me, "I do write about girls. Much of the woman in my stories are based on my mother." "No, I mean, why are the heroes always boys?" He smiled. "I know about boys and how they feel and how they think, I don't know anything about girls." "We're really not that much different from boys," I huffed. Then he gave me some sage advise, "Then write your own story where the girl is the heroine. Write what you know and draw from your own personal experiences." He held up one of his books. "My stories are based on my own life experiences. You know the story The Runaway Stallion?" I nodded, remembering back to that first day in school in the fourth grade at Witch Hazel Elementary. "One of my favorites," I stated plainly. "The story really happened. My parents did own that little country store and the bridge really did collapse, pieces of the bridge and bodies in the water, one of the worst things I ever seen in my life, but the town came together to rescue the survivors, and then we built a better, stronger bridge." I stopped to ponder what he said. At the time, I must admit not publicly, but privately, I wanted to write. Then he looked me in the eyes, "The best advice I can give you is tell an exciting story and keep it simple." To this day, I continue to love all Walt Morey stories. Walt Morey (1907-1992): Author Gentle Ben, Home Is The North, Scrub Dog of Alaska, Year of the Black Pony, Angry Waters, Gloomy Gus, Kavik the Wolf Dog,The Runaway Stallion, Canyon Winter, Run Far, Run Fast, Deep Trouble, Sandy and the Rock Star, The Lemon Meringue Dog, Death Walk |
"Hey. . . it's me."I live in the shadows of the Olympic Mountains in the state of Washington and I love camping, boating, kayaking, hiking, and hanging out with my husband, our three adult children, and our Bernese Mountain dog, Henry. Tags
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