Sneaky Ground Hog Day

This year Ground Hog Day sneaked up on me.  The only way we knew was because my LW heard on the radio the day before.  Every Ground Hog Day, we watch the movie "Ground Hog Day" with Bill Murray.

We like the story of a selfish man learning that only by helping others can he be truly happy.

The movie's premise is that 1 day (Ground Hog Day) in the life of a Weatherman covering the famous Ground Hog P Phil is played over and over.  He finds that the day has no consequences and tries to get in bed with his female producer by learning more and more each "day" to make himself her ideal.

Of course it doesn't work and he decides to eventually (after trying to kill himself numerous times) to try to help others.

It is my understanding that it was actually filmed a few miles west of us.

A fun movie, you should try it if you want a happy movie to watch.  It is not very deep and goes as you would figure, but who needs anything else?

Alpha Male

We conservatives like to think we are alpha males (the ones that are male at least).  It is interesting that the new "Idol" is what we use to call "Wimpy"or girly.  Of course, we are all combinations of many types.  The above video gave me something to think about, hopefully, it is interesting to you!  Many of the references are to shows that are no longer on, so the younger genration might not get them.

The alpha male was needed when the country was first started since it was wilderness and needed taming.  We tend to think that we don't need that type any more, maybe that is why things are going to H*** in a handbasket!

Horror Movies

When I was a (younger) child, I use to go the movies on some Saturdays.  They would have 2 features for  a quarter or so.  Usually at least one of the movies was a horror movie (probably what they call a B movie now).  These movies were not as graphic as they are now-a-days.  But they were scary to me.  Usually all of the blood was via innuendo, they would show a knife or whatever maybe swinging down but go to the face of the murderer / monster when it landed.  They would usually have fog with scary sounds in the night.

I no longer go to horror movies.  There are too scary for a delicate creature such as myself.

This morning on the dog walk, it was a very foggy environment.  And of course, I keep hearing creepy sounds.  It was probably the wind or the raindrops falling plus I had my trusty (fraidy cat) dog; but I would look for the monsters or villains in the mist!  Never goto horror movies when you are young (hopefully this warning is not too late for you)!

Groundhog Day

Picture from http://www.groundhog.org/.

Oh well, six more weeks of winter!

We have a tradition that on Groundhog Day (or there abouts) we watch Bill Murray in the 1993 movie Groundhog Day. It is fun little movie about a jerk weather forecaster and his lovely producer and how he repeats Groundhog Day day after day.

I wonder how Phil can ever predict that he doesn't see his shadow with all the cameras and lights around.

The movie was filmed in Woodstock,IL.  

HOW IT ALL BEGAN

In 1992, something astonishing happened in the historic city of Woodstock, Illinois. People came to town and roped off the picturesque city square, moved all sorts of equipment into the park and started playing the Pennsylvania Polka, over and over and over again

They were filming a movie that has become a favorite of young and old for more than 15 years, and the city gathers each year to remember the fun and celebrate the special community that Woodstock has always been.

Picture from http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/groundhog/

Happy Groundhog Day!

Snow, Glorious Snow

Frisbit in the Snow

The path we used for the morning walk snow filled it in

This year, we have had very warm weather with next to no snow.  Finally we got some snow yesterday and last night; only 3-5 inches, but every little bit helps..  Of course, everyone has forgotten how to drive in the snow; so we were much more cautious driving to the Y this morning.

Another good thing about the snow is that the Y had very few people there at 0600 when we arrived.  This meant I could get my favorite locker and favorite swim lap lane (I swim 52 laps in the 25 yard length pool when we go to the Y).

Snow makes a much prettier picture then when it rains; of course, shoveling is not as much fun as it might be!

*** 

(The stars mean a new subject)

Last night, we watched a movie called "Christmas Lodge."  It did not have great acting or a complex plot, but it was a good (predictable) movie which the entire family could enjoy (which we did) plus it actually mentioned God and his guidance. It was refreshing having a movie that morally was right.

“Nature has no mercy at all. Nature says, "I'm going to snow. If you have on a bikini and no snowshoes, that's tough. I am going to snow anyway."”   Maya Angelou

The aging process has you firmly in its grasp if you never get the urge to throw a snowball. Doug Larson

Oh! the snow, the beautiful snow, Filling the sky and earth below, Over the housetops, over the street, Over the heads of the people you meet. Dancing, Flirting, Skimming along. J.W. Watson

A year of snow, a year of plenty. ~ French Proverb

Where does the white go when the snow melts?

A snowflake is one of God’s most fragile creations, but look what they can do when they stick together!

Don’t complain about the snow on your neighbor’s roof when your own doorstep is unclean. ~Confucius

There’s one good thing about snow, it makes your lawn look as nice as your neighbor’s. ~Clyde Moore

I love snow, snow, and all the forms of radiant frost. ~P B Shelley

Blondes make the best victims. They're like virgin snow that shows up the bloody footprints.  Alfred Hitchcock

Snowflakes are kisses from heaven. Unknown

Snowmen fall from heaven....... unassembled.

Movies

A pastor, we had, said "The Neverending Story" was one of his favorite movies of all time.  I found it boring and a little frightening.  Many people like movies that are meaningful and full of symbolism, great acting and beautiful sets, etc.; but I'm afraid the movies I like have few of those things.

Some of my recent favorites are R.E.D. ,  Knight & Day, Star Trek and The Incredibles.  Pretty much I watch movies to escape; to experience a little humor & some action & not any R rated "love."

Another irritating thing is when they make a repeat of a old classic, almost always the newer version is not as good; it usually has more sex and less plot.  I would think that someone in hollywood could have a new idea (perhaps the definition of an oxymoron - hollywood & thought).

Sequels are sometimes OK, for instance the second Star Trek movie was much better than the first.  And yet they don't make sequels of some good movies like the latest Star Trek movie which is ripe for a sequel.

Star Trek

We missed the new "Star Trek" movie when it came out, so I ordered the DVD along with the latest Harry Potter. We watched it recently.

I remember the first S.T. movie many years ago. It was just boring, a lot of time spent going around the Enterprise showing detail which was just strange; it was like we don't have much of a script so let's show a (model) ship.

One thing that made the old S.T. series was that it always had a moral & likable characters. Of course it was made while my wife & I were in college so many of the special effects were not very good compared to ones available now.

Back to the movie, I found it great fun. It is sort of a prequel to the TV series. It explains how Spock & Kirk & Scotty & Uhuru & Sulu & Checkov & Bones all got together. It is a good guy v. bad guy (tho we see the motivation of the bad guys); it has action & some humor; so it was a good reflection of the the original TV show that we first saw & liked!

"Random chance seems to have operated in our favor" -- Spock
"In plain, non-Vulcan English, we've been lucky" -- McCoy
"I believe I said that, Doctor" -- Spock (The Doomsday Machine)

"Is there anyone on this ship, who even remotely, looks like Satan?" -- Kirk
"I am not aware of anyone who fits that description, Captain" -- Spock
"No, Mr. Spock, I didn't think you would be" -- Kirk (The Apple)

"Does everyone know about this grain but me?" -- Kirk
"Not everyone, Kepten, it's a Russian inwention." -- Checkov (The Trouble With Tribbles)

"Emotional, isn't she?" -- Spock
"She has always been so." -- Sarek
"Indeed. Why did you marry her?" -- Spock
"It seemed the logical thing to do at the time." -- Sarek (Journey To Babel)

"I signed aboard this ship to practice medicine, not to have my atoms scattered back and forth across space by this gadget." -- McCoy

"Just before they went into warp, I beamed the whole kit and kaboodle into their engine room, where they'll be no tribble at all." -- Scotty, explaining how he got rid of the tribbles (The Trouble With Tribbles)

"Mr. Spock, the women on your planet are logical. That's the only planet in the galaxy that can make that claim." -- Kirk (Elaan of Troyius)

(Final) frontier (n) a line or border separating two countries. • the district near such a line. • the extreme limit of settled land beyond which lies wilderness • the extreme limit of understanding or achievement in a particular area
ORIGIN late Middle English : from Old French frontiere, based on Latin frons, front- ‘front.’