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What’s on your DVR?

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On Fridays I like to post about movies, but this week I’m curious about what everyone takes the time to record on tv.  And not just the shows you happen to catch either, I mean actually programming your DVR (or other recording device).

Jason and I have very little time to watch these days since Gage goes to bed around 8:45 and Jason has to take him to bed for 30 minutes.  So, some of these shows stay on the DVR for a very, very long time. Seriously, it’s embarrassing how long some of them have been there.  It’s fortunate that some of these have very short seasons.

Here are my guilty pleasures…the ones that take me away from books!

Reality shows…Project Runway, Top Chef and Survivor (I do love The Voice, but haven’t recorded it yet)

My favorite? Probably Project Runway.  Love Tim Gunn.

Comedies…Modern Family, 30 Rock, Psych and The Middle 

My favorite? I love Modern Family, but I love the dysfunctional Heck family a little more so I’m going with The Middle.

Dramas…House, The Mentalist, Castle, Parenthood, The Closer

My favorite? I’m going with the all-star cast of Parenthood.  I think it’s because it’s so different from anything else I watch.

 

I’m sad that House and The Closer will be ending this year, but really, it’s kind of nice to lighten the DVR load.

So, what shows do you tape and what are your favorites?  Is there something I really need to start watching?

Where in the world is Stacy today?

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So sweet of you to ask, thank you. Today I’m over at At Home with Books talking about Elizabeth Berg.  Why not head over and see what I have to say about my favorite and least favorite book she’s written.  Isn’t it nice that Alyce invites us all to have a say?

And while I’m here for a minute or two I have to mention Florinda at The 3 R’s Blog.  On Valentine’s Day she wrote her love story about how she and Tall Paul found each other through eHarmony.  She then asked What is the most important character trait your partner must have, and why? for a chance to be entered to win a $100 VISA gift card.  Well, since I’m mentioning it you may have guessed that I won!!!  Thanks Florinda 🙂  For those who are curious here’s the response I gave…

I love this story, Florinda! I have quite a few friends who have met partners this way. My favorite trait is the one that first drew me to him…his confidence. It is amazing how far uncompromising confidence in yourself will take you.

So, please hop over to Alyce’s, but before you go please let me know what the most important trait is for you.  Or you could tell me how I should spend the $100 🙂

February Wrap Up and a Free Book

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February was a slow reading month for me – I only finished 5 books and three of them were audio!  Thank goodness for listening time in the car.  This month I am offering one of you lucky readers a chance to win one of the books I reviewed, Half Full: Meditations on Hope, Optimism and the Things That Really Matter.  I liked this as a bright place to start my morning and will be sending off one brand new copy.  Just comment on my original post with your email and you’ll be entered.  If you’ve already commented just leave your email so I know you want to be entered.

So, the hard numbers on my daily goals are going to be brutal this month and you’ll find out why.  10,000 steps (18/28), 8 glasses of water (16/28), daily meditations (27/28), a note to Jason (9/20), One line mom diary (28/28).  I was under the weather for almost 3 weeks this month.  It was mostly sinus, but it refused to go away and I let some of these goals slide because just couldn’t make myself do it.  This also affected my secret goal for February…….I wanted to go vegetarian for the month.  I made it 9 days and when I just couldn’t shake my sickness I broke down and added meat back into my diet.  So, my last two goals were mixed- vegetarian (9/28) and a perfect month of letter writing (28/28)!  As you can see I viewed the 29th as a free day 🙂

What am I adding to my goals in March?  I am going to try to go vegetarian 2 days a week and see how that goes.  Until I have some good recipes and start planning better it will be hard to do more.  I am also setting the goal of 3 days a week of 30 minutes cardio.  Seems like so little, but I am trying carve out little bits of time for everything I want to do plus the stuff that is good for me 🙂 I’m already working on a vegetarian day today!

If you watch CNN or the like you will be sick of them talking about Ohio this week.  First, the horrible school shootings last week (the school is about 30 minutes from both Bonnie and me). And now those pesky Republican primaries.  I have never voted in a Republican primary, but they say it’s open this year so I may have to hold my judgement and vote for the candidate who least scares the crap out of me.

If you have any good vegetarian recipes to help me out I would love an email.  Keep in mind I will not let brocoli or mushrooms pass my lips and it would be an added bonus if they were dairy and peanut free so Gage could eat it too.  (do you see what a pain it is to cook meals around here?)

Money for Charity Winner!

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Last April I asked that you all participate in my 5 word movie reviews and once we reached 100 then I would donate $100 to the charity of the top participant (details here).  Well, you did it and we have a runaway winner.

Nolatari of Phrenetical::A State of Mind sped ahead of the rest of the competition with 29 of the 100 blogger reviews.  Her charity of choice is Give Kids the World, an organization that provides fairy tale vacations to children with life-threatening diseases. 

So, I’m headed over to the website now to contribute $100 to their worthy cause and if you are looking for a new charity you should take a look too.

Give Kids The World is a non-profit organization that exists only to fulfill the wishes of all children with life-threatening illnesses and their families from around the world to experience a memorable, joyful, cost-free visit to the Central Florida attractions, and to enjoy the magic of Give Kids The World Village for as long as there is a need.
Over 112,000 children have had their dream come true at Give Kids The World. No child in need has ever been turned away – and no child ever will. Give Kids The World is a place where families find joy, laughter, serenity, and a lifetime of memories. 

I’ve enjoyed your participation and learning about a new charity so much that I’ve decided to do it again this year.  So, get your snappy 5 word reviews ready and the charity of choice could be yours 🙂  Just in case you were wondering how close some of you were Heather and Stephanie finished in 2nd with 15 reviews each.

 

Well, I didn’t win, but…

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I did receive a very thoughtful gift from my Book Blogger Holiday Swap ‘Secret Santa’.  Chronicle Books gave away $1500 worth of books, $500 each for the blogger, a commenter and a charity.  Check out who won here.  Even though I didn’t win the contest my Secret Santa saw my Happy Haulidays post (here) and look what I received…

The mysterious Fourth Musketeer chose two books from my list.  Isn’t that thoughtful?  I love all three books, especially Dog is a Dog.  The illustrations are gorgeous. I am also looking forward to using the Line a Day for Moms book in 2012.  Except for Sundays with Gage I have been terrible about recording milestones or interesting things for Gage. And I’ve already taken a peek at the photography book and know that it will improve my picture taking.

 

 

 

bookbloggerholidayswapAfter some sleuthing (okay, okay, I Googled) I discovered that the Fourth Musketeer is Margo and  she’s a library science student. Who better to choose books for Gage and me?  Thanks, Margo!

Monday Movie Meme- This is the End

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Feature Presentation…MONDAY MOVIE MEME
This week’s movie topic is all about Endings…
I have no intention of reviving the Monday Movie Meme again, because I don’t want to “jump the shark.” But I felt it wrong to just kill it off without giving
you the motivation behind things. After all, good movie murderers have an insidious past history that explains why they butcher teenagers in their path. I
thought you should know the reason behind the plug being pulled on the Monday Movie Meme. Here are our favorite endings in film.
If you want the whole story on why this will be the last Monday Movie you can visit The Bumbles.  She has been a great host for the 3 year old meme, but I know that having a baby at home is her main priority, as it should be.
So, for the last hurrah we are sharing our favorite endings…
Se7en (1995) Seriously, could there be a more perfect ending for a thriller?
The Usual Suspects (1995) I liked the film but didn’t really love it til the end.  This is Kevin Spacey’s second appearance already and in the same year. Busy.
Fight Club (1999) I wasn’t really that into the film, but the ending made me want to watch it again right away.
Glory (1989)  This movie based on the Civil War’s first black army could only end one way.  With lots of tissues.
A Few Good Men (1992) Who didn’t feel like cheering when Nicholson got led away in handcuffs at the end?
No Way Out (1987) This movie had me on the edge of my seat the whole time and the ending was perfect.
 I just realized that none of these was filmed this century!  What am I missing?

Monday Movie Meme – Bring on the Heat

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Feature Presentation…MONDAY MOVIE MEME
This week’s movie topic is all about Heat…
Devoted Monday Movie Meme-er Nicole @ The Madlab Post recently suggested
a topic for us that I thought was very appropriate given the weather we have
been having here in the Boston region lately. She wanted to discuss movies
containing a heat wave or extreme summer heat that was present in but not
necessarily the focus of the film…Share on your blog movies that turned the heat on their characters and link back here, The Bumbles.
Of course, the first one that comes to mind is Body Heat View Image  (1981).  Kathleen Turner and William Hurt were smokin’ hot!
The next obvious choice is the Seven Year Itch Seven year itch.jpg  (1955).  Even if you haven’t seen this movie that takes place one hot summer you are probably familiar with iconic Marilyn Monroe scene.
And while I’m thinking of hot, iconic images my mind goes to this scene.  https://youtu.be/HNR_HofJ_Fs  Top Gun (1986)
Holes Holesposter03.jpg (2003) is very hot.  How hot would you be digging holes all day in the desert?
So, what’s another movie that sizzles?

Quiz Results for Round 2!!

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The results are in and we have a first time quiz winner!

Mariska!!

Mariska scored an impressive 1015 points out of a possible 1200!  She will receive a $27 gift card to Barnes & Noble.  Congratulations 🙂

And for the randomly chosen winner…

Jill (Fizzy Thoughts)

wins a special bookish gift from me.

Thank you all for playing.  It’s only fun because you all play along with me every week. Final leaderboard here.  Last week’s quiz here.

I am taking July off to rejuvenate and come up with some even better quizzes next round.  We’ll start again on August 2.  If any of you have any fun ideas you’d like me to consider, just drop me an email.

Audiobook Mid-Week Meme

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AudiobookWeek pictureI wanted to participate in Audiobook Week 2011 and this is the first chance I’ve had to do so.  I love audiobooks and hope you do too 🙂

Here’s something quick and easy for the middle of the week, just a short meme.

Current/most recent audiobook: I finished listening to The Last Time I Saw You by Elizabeth Berg last week.  Review coming tomorrow.  I’m currently listening to The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery.

Impressions: I thought The Last Time I Saw you was okay, although not my favorite Berg book.  I am undecided about The Elegance of the Hedgehog so far.

Current favorite audiobook: I loved listening to Sherman Alexie reading his book, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian.  I also like listening to Elizabeth Berg read her novels.
One narrator who always makes you choose audio over
print: I’m not great at keeping track of favorite narrators.  That being said I’m loving to two narrators of The Elegance of the Hedgehog . They are what’s saving the book for me right now (Barbara Rosenblat & Cassandra Morris)

Genre you most often choose to listen to: Anything on my wish list.
If given the choice, you will always choose audio
when: We’re going on a road trip which means I have to find something that both Jason and I will enjoy.  I don’t take the time to read James Patterson anymore but I do listen to his Women’s Murder Club in thecar.
If given the choice, you will always choose print
when: I really want to savor the book.  Sometimes if a book is complicated or I really don’t like listening to the narrator I will abandon the audio for print.

Hosted by Jenn of Devourer of Books.