What I love! | Peaches Prattlings

{April 8, 2014} My movie watchlist

I love when I get to add new movies to my calendar wishlist!

Sometimes when I’m on imdb.com [Internet Movie Data Base – A MUST for any movie/tv puff or you just need to know anything about a movie: who was in it, directed, written, you name it, it’s there or if you need to know about an actor, writer, director: who they are married to, their work history, credits, you name it, it’s there!] I find a new movie I want to see, sometimes obscure, sometimes something I just didn’t know was coming out! In addition, what I might not want to see…ever!

Now, I’d like to share with you my movie list and the trailers, give you some enjoyment and something to do! I know you have nothing else to do, so here is a way to pass time and get an insight into some of the movies that catch my eye!

Cuban Fury with Nick Frost, Chris O’Dowd and Ian McShane [OMG FUNNY!]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2390237/?ref_=nv_sr_1
Lucy with Scarlett Johansson and Morgan Freeman [KICK BUTT CHICK!]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2872732/?ref_=nv_sr_6
The Expendables with, well, EVERYONE!!! http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2333784/?ref_=nv_sr_1
Godzilla [pretty sure, I say that because, well, I grew up in the 70s/80s and who didn’t love Godzilla movies on Saturday morning?] http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0831387/?ref_=nv_sr_1
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles [hoping that KAB will bring BABY A!!! to Grandpa and JJ and her hubby, JB, it’s his ALL TIME FAVORITE moive!]
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1291150/?ref_=nv_sr_1 [are we willing to bribe to get the kids to visit? You bet your sweet buppie!]
X-Men: Days of Future Past [there’s a question?] http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1877832/?ref_=nv_sr_1
Jupiter Ascending [maybe] http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1617661/
Transformers: Age of Extinction..UM YES!!! http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2109248/
The Amazing Spiderman 2 [catchy title] [this is a maybe] http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1872181/
Ida [I just found this and I figure if I need a good cry, this would fit the bill! but it looks interesting] http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2718492/
Antboy [too cute! like Marvel jr!] http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2436046/
Rio 2 [I hear birds singing] http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2357291/
Maleficient [The BADEST of the BAD Wicked Queens and I LA LA LA LOVE Disney Villain Movies! I went as her for Halloween one year, scared a bunch of kids!] http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1587310/
Bad Asses [OMG!! MUST!!! Danny Glover and Danny Trejo [kick arse!!!]- DCM…MACHETE!! MACHETE!!!] http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2996648/

That should keep you busy for a while, right? Enjoy! I know I am going to!

Who’s bringing the popcorn?

{April 2, 2014} My HGI Family

;I have to tell you about the amazing staff that I have grown quite fond of here at the Hilton Garden Inn in Ann Arbor.

Now, I know normally, when I blog about people, I use their initials, but tonight, I am going to use their first names and some nick names because if you get the opportunity to visit Ann Arbor, MI and stay at this hotel, I want you to be able to recognize their names and say hello! [IF I miss anyone, I am SO SO SORRY!].

First, I want to tell you how fantastic these people are, it goes above and beyond the normal wonderfulness of Hilton. We have already discussed and agreed that I am a hotel snob and I prefer Hilton because of the great service I have received, forget the fantastic service that Hilton provides, but this team is peachy keen in my book! I have watched and they are good with all their guests, but if you are there for extended periods of time, they take the time to get to know your name and you, makes you feel welcome.

Now, let me tell you about the great staff here, this is who I see when I first walk in. Wow, this is almost like a movie credit list, “By Order of Appearance”

When I first walk in, I look to my left, I see Nell who is bartending. She will give me a wave and we exchange pleasantries, sometimes if she’s by the front desk we will hug, which is always nice. When she’s not working, she’s in school or studying, go Nell! I met her my first night at the hotel, we knew we’d be seeing a lot of each other.

In the evenings, working with Nell most nights, is Kristen, who waits tables in the restaurant. She is great and puts up with a lot! There was one night we did our happy hour and we ran her ragged, but she was a trooper and survived us! Go Kristen!

Then I go to check in and I get to see a bunch of great people, some in the morning, some at night. Sean works nights and the only guy I’ve seen at the front desk, he’s great and incredibly personable with an impressive belt buckle collection! Debra is a very nice woman who got me into the hotel one night when my reservation was all messed up, THANK YOU Debra! Her badge says “It’s a Jeep thing” because she loves her jeep! The cool thing about their badges is that they get to put whatever they want under their names, so whatever represents them, just as Debra did.

I have to tell you, I LOVE when I call down to the front desk now and most of the time they don’t even say “Front desk, this is…” they say just say hi or hey!

Everyone is so persobale, ready to chat and catch up and I love finding out about their families, kids, babies to be, I love that they share that with me! I’ve also introduced them to people that I work with and they recognize who I’m talking about because I’m always going on about them!

Phillipa I don’t see very often, but she’s always very cheerful and welcoming and her badge says Flip because her grandmother couldn’t say Phillipa, so she called her Flip! Lauren is very sweet, and I don’t see her very often either, but the other day I got to see pictures of her chow baby, the pictures were on her phone case, that’s a proud chow momma. Kirsten is on in the mornings and is always warm with a greeting and smile when I am heading out the door to go to work. And thinks I’m funny when I grab something from the pantry and get almost to the elevator before I remember and go back to let her know what I was getting! When I have a few extra minutes, we talk about her kids.

Last but never least are Adriana and Liv. Adriana “I like hugs” is a smart chick who is trying to decide between med school and teaching, I wish her a lot of luck in her pursuits! I love talking to Adriana to find out about her weekends and her new baby cousin that she was in the delivery room to see come into this world, how special is that? Adriana is always so bubbly and eager to please the guests who come to stay at her hotel.

Liv, short for Olivia, but prefers Liv, which is what’s on her badge is a fun and quirky girl who just turned 19 on Monday, Happy Birthday! I love catching up with Liv when I get in and during the week, what did we do on the weekends, movies she hasn’t seen and today, she found my blog and is loving it! Thanks! Liv is bright and funny and tries to remember everyone’s name and she’s doing a great job at it!

I’ve been wanting to tell you about my new family at the Hilton Garden Inn in Ann Arbor, MI for a while and here they are! I promise, if you stay there, which is where a lot of potential University of Michigan students and their families stay, you will not regret your decision for a moment. I hope that the management realizes what a great team they have, not just by Hilton standards, but by their actions, mannerisms, professionalism and warm welcome, they treat the guests as if they are guests in their own homes or even better and for that I am incredibly thankful. It’s not easy to be away from home for such long periods of time, but since I am, it’s great to come into the lobby and be greated by name by a friend and the hugs aren’t too shabby either!

If you’re in the area before June, I might see you!

{March 26, 2014} On A Clear Day…You Can See Forever

I love this movie! No, DCM, it’s not my favorite, maybe “one of my favorites” but not my favorite.

This is the story of Daisy Gamble, who goes to a psychiatrist to help her quit smoking because she wants to impress her fiance’s potential employers. As he tries to help her with hypnosis, they go through some past life regression and it turns out that she was several people throughout history. The psychiatrist falls in love with one of the past lives while Daisy falls for the doctor because she thinks that he is falling for her, in real time.

In addition to past life regression, she knows when the phone is going to ring, knows where to find things you might be missing and can make plants grow, I mean really grow! She reads Walt Whitman to them, go figure!

There is hilarity, confusion, stories, anger, love, hurt, great costumes and sets and song. Come on, when is there a Barbara Streisand movie that doesn’t involve her singing? So, now you know, it’s a Barbara Streishand movie! It also stars Yves Montand as the psychiatrist, Dr Chabot. Jack Nicholson plays Tad, her former brother, sort of and Bob Newhart as a college administrator.

I remember seeing this movie as a kid, I enjoyed it, mostly because I love Barbara Streisand’s older movies and because she reminds me so much of my mom, who loved Barbara Streisand and her movies. I smile when I watch it.

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wb0KLj9rnww
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0066181/?ref_=nv_sr_1

{March 23, 2014} Saying goodbye…kids are funny

It’s kind of funny the way kids handle saying goodbye.

When EJS was “much littler” she didn’t like saying goodbye, she would hide or just avoid me, it was ok, i knew she just didn’t want me to go. There was one time she refused to say goodbye, then when I was driving away, she stood in the doorway waving excitedly, go figure!

Now, some days she is there to say goodbye or like today, she knew I was leaving, but still went across the street to play with one of the kids. That was ok, I went across to say goodbye, I’ll go to her.

MGS was different, she was heading out to play, I said I was leaving and she said “Ok, goodbye” and gave me a hug. She’s never been too woogie about saying goodbye or me leaving and trust me, if she didn’t want to say goodbye, she wouldn’t. She’s becoming quite the defiant little person, so very opinionated, but as much as she might drive you crazy on occassion, she will touch your hand, wrap herself around your leg and look at you with “that look” and you’re done.

So we have established that the kdis are funny about saying goodbye, sometimes it’s harder on me! Today, no problem, I know I’m going to see them very soon, but when EJS was first in daycare, I had the hardest time leaving! She prepared me so it wasn’t as rough when I was saying goodbye to her sister, don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t easy, but at least i was ready for it.

One of my fondest memories from my childhood was when we would go see my grandmother in Brooklyn and when we left, we would all turn around in the car and mom would say “Everybody wave at the grandparents!” I can tell you this is a tradition that we have carried on to today!

Wave goodbye everyone and goodnight!

{March 22, 2014} Day 2…EJS/March Birthday Celebration

The morning started about 7:15am, but I wasn’t quite ready to get up, so I lounged for about, oh…twenty minutes, ha, then it was time to get up.

I walked upstairs to the sounds of Frozen, of course, EJS got the DVD last night and then went to bed, I bet she woke up singing! There was breakfast and then all of a sudden it was time to get showered and dressed and head to the mall for the big birthday party!

EJS started selecting what she wanted to do for birthday parties when she turned five. She still loves the family/friend/neighbor gatherings, but she was ready for the big time. Five took us to a gymnastics studio, six took us to a dance party at a gym and this year was Build-A-Bear for 18 kids ranging from 3 to 7, wow!

We got there early to let EJS pick out the different types of animals for everyone to choose and the accessories they could select. While she was doing that, I took the party supplies to Sabarro at the other end of the mall. When I got back, ACS’s brother, JS and his wife AS and her nephew R were there waiting for us. Then the kids started to arrive, some siblings, some singles and almost all of the parents took the time to go run errands.

All the kids were great, they had their listening ears on and were all together. The girl who worked for Build A Bear was great, she kept the kids together and in line. My favorite part was when they had each finished stuffing their bear/dog/bunnies, they each got a heart and she gave them all these things to do: rub the heart in your hands so it will always be warm, hold the heart next to your ears so it will know your voice and your stories, hold the heart to your forehead so it will be as smart as you and after all the instructions, put it in the animal and then the folks that worked at Build A Bear closed the openings on the back and then back to the front of the store to get their accessory. They had a great time!

After Build A Bear, we headed to Sabarro for pizza, pasta, juice and brownies, and some singing of course! What a great party! After everyone went home, EJS went with Papa and LaLa to the American Girl store and EJS got her first AG doll, Julia with a matching outfit for them both! What a lucky girl!

Back to the house to prep for the evening’s activities. While we were setting up, EJS and I made her first batch of chocolate chip cookies with her Easy Bake Oven!

Then people began to arrive, everyone who was there had someone in their family with a March birthday! EJS, of course, neighbor across the street, COF and her daughter, JF, then the S family down the street, their daughter B is going to be 11 soon, SR is going to have a birthday in a few weeks and his twins S&E turned 3 on the same day as COF, we even took a picture with all the March birthdays, too cool!

We had brunch for dinner. Bagels, lox and cream cheese, whitefish salad, cheese and crackers, I even got some vegan cream cheese and sliced cheese for me and anyone interested, baked french toast and then here come the neighbors and the food! quiches and salads, fruit salad, desserts, everything was absolutely delicious!

We played, we laughed, we told stories, we sang happy birthday, there were presents to be opened and everyone was up way past their bedtimes.

Oh! When EJS was brushing her teeth, she lost one! Put it right in her toothfairy pillow I made her when she was losing her first tooth and then before bed wrote the toothfairy a note, put that under her pillow with the toothfairy pillow and it was lights out.

Here I sit writing to you, getting tired, wondering where the energy the kids had at almost 9pm came from because I know how to wear me out and on that note, I bid you a fond farewell and a great night!

{March 22, 2014} And so it begins…Happy Happy Birthday EJS!

I told you there would be more to talk about starting today!

The day started off too early, for the day, not for the lovin! I must have been expecting it, because as soon as I heard the little feet hit the top of the stairs of the basement, I smiled.

They got to the bed and EJS gently touched my arm and said, very softly, I might add, “Auntie J, it’s time to get up”. I said “Is that the birthday girl?” She jumped on the bed, hugged me and I covered her with kisses. MGS tried her best to get on the bed by herself [side note, it’s a blow up mattress on top of a pull out couch, the top of the bed came up to her neck!] so I grabbed her aned pulled her onto the bed, got my hugs and covered her with kisses!

We all stayed under the covers for a bit, then EJS left and MGS played for a while and then headed upstairs, I guess it was time to get up. I went upstairs for a quick shower and checked out EJS’ room, her daddy had decorated it with all sorts of shiny ballons including a giant 7! Can you believe it?!

For her birthday, EJS wanted to go to Starbucks for breakfast and away we went, with enough time for treats and then back home in time for the school bus. After she left for school, we had about 40 minutes before we had to be at her school as well. We were going to see her first grade class recite poetry! An elementary school poetry slam, so to speak!

We were greated by two classmates and escorted to her classroom, where we were treated to a lesson about poetry, then they recited two poems together, a song, then EJS read two poems that she wrote, one called ” I come from” all about family and what she likes to go and see and places she likes and movie, you name it, she wrote about it. The second poem was call “Cars”, it was short and sweet, just like her.

After all the kids read their poems, some one and others two, then they sang two songs, it was fantastic! I took some videos and some photos, boy does EJS look like her mommy! We had a great time, so proud of our poet!

Then it was home to get some work done, I ran some errands and then dad and LaLa got here and eventually, we went to pick up EJS from aftercare and we headed to meet ACS and MGS, along with ACS’ “big brother” S and his wife B at EJS’ restaurant of choice, The Cheesecake Factory. Luckily the company was terrific, because the service was awful! I did my thing and told the waiter that it was EJS’ birthday and of course, when we ordered dessert, it came out with a candle and serenade, she loved it.

After dinner, we walked a little, headed home and it was time to open presents. An Easy Bake Oven from Auntie J, books and clothes from LaLa, books, games and puzzlers from Papa, tomorrow we are going to American Girl after her party for Papa’s next gift! And last but not least, for tonight anyway, Frozen from mommy and daddy! BIG hit! MGS had some treats of her own, games, puzzles and books, a great night all around!

Then it was story time, new books for night night and lights out, well, for the girls.

The grown ups went downstairs, dad and LaLa bade us good night, I made some brownies for the party tomorrow and GES and ACS chilled for a bit, then said goodnight.

Told you it was going to be a jam packed day! Gotta get some sleep because tomorrow is packed: Birthday party, more shopping, birthday brunch for dinner with all the March birthdays in the family and extended family, it’s going to be another crazy day!

Sweet dreams and Happiest of Happy Birthdays to my wonderful, smart, caring, funny, sweet SEVEN year old niece, EJS. I love you!

{March 20, 2014} writer’s block…or maybe I’m just tired

What to talk about?

It’s 1:15am, I got to Boston a few hours ago, GES picked me up, we were able to catch up just the two of us for the ride home, it was great. I saw ACS when we got to the house, we caught up a little, eventually, they went up to get some sleep, I did a little laundry and here I am sitting talking with you. I have a lot to say, but I can’t think of one thing to talk about.

You should see the way they decorated EJS’ room for her birthday tomorrow, well, today! She’s going to be so very excited when she wakes up in a few hours!

I’ll have much more to tell you over the weekend! There’s a poetry reading, birthday dinner, birthday brunch, going into the office and then back to Michigan on Sunday, whirlwind! Of course, maybe with some Muppets Most Wanted thrown in…I can’t wait to be woken up by my two favorite wee tots in a few hours! Gotta get some sleep!

Good night!

{March 18, 2014} The Muppets are coming! I am such a child!

March 21st is a great day, this year for two reasons.

First…my most wonderfullest niece, EJS, turns SEVEN!!! OH MY GAWD! And…I’m going to be there to celebrate with her! I made her a promise, I would always be there, either on her birthday or for her party and I am keeping my promise! Friday birthday, Saturday, party! [I may repeat myself when I talk about this wonderful event again! sorry!]

Second…the inspriation for this post…THE “MUPPETS MOST WANTED” Movie is coming out on FRIDAY!!! I am such a child! I know that and I’m ok with it! I have loved the Muppets since I was a kid and was first introduced to Sesame Street and then when The Muppet Show premiered in 1976, http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074028/?ref_=nv_sr_1, I was hooked. I own the first three seasons of The Muppet Show, [that’s all that’s out on DVD as of now], all the movies, some that you may never have heard of.

There is something special and magical about The Muppets, not just that they make me feel like a kid, which is AWESOME! [must be read in that kid-excitement voice!] but I smile when I hear a muppet voice, song, see a video, you name it, there is just something comforting about the Muppets. Maybe it’s the memories they envoke, the good thoughts and times, the traditions.

One tradition was the night before Thanksgiving we would watch The Muppet Movie and the The Wizard of Oz, go to bed and my dad, sister and I would get up way too early to go to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. That memory alone makes me smile.

I can remember specific scenes in Sesame Street that made me smile, or the guest stars on the Muppet Show, I had some of my first introductions to stars there! I can still see Alice Cooper walking down the dungeon stairs, Carol Burnette dressed like a giant vegetable singing, Dr Teeth and the Electric Mayhem Orchestra, John Denver, Beverly Sills, I could go on and on and on! And the guest stars in the movies! Steve Martin, Bernadette Peters, Whoopie Goldberg, Dom DeLouise, Gregory Hines…the list goes on and on, its almost like a game, can you name all the stars? Sometimes it’s great to look back and see stars that are no longer with us and how they reached out to a younger generation.

How about the famous people who are immortalized by being portrayed as a muppet? Vincent Price, Pat Sajack, The Andrews Sisters, that list goes on and on!

They started premiering movies in 1979 every few years through 1984, then a jump to 1992 through 1999, then eleven years until the next movie. TOO long!
The Muppet Movie June 22, 1979
The Great Muppet Caper June 26, 1981
The Muppets Take Manhattan July 13, 1984
The Muppet Christmas Carol December 11, 1992
Muppet Treasure Island February 16, 1996
Muppets from Space July 14, 1999
The Muppets November 23, 2011
Muppets Most Wanted March 21, 2014

I can sit and watch the movies over and over again, I know you’re shocked, but I love them. I am a big kid and i will go see these movies by myself, why not? I’m a great date! I’m looking for a midnight show on Thursday in Boston! You know I’ll be there front row!

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2281587/?ref_=nv_sr_1

{March 13, 2014} Copacabana

What a movie!

How can you go wrong with Groucho Marx and Carmen Miranda? There is a great supporting cast including Steve Cochran and the crooner Andy Russell. Groucho Marx plays Lionel Q Deveraux, a failed vaudville star/agent who switches to agent for his long time girlfriend/fiance Carmen Navarro. He gets her an audition at the Copacobana club as Carmen, a fun, lively brunette with a fruit basket on her head and then throws in a double bill getting her to audtion as Mademoiselle Fifi, a long legged blond with a veil covering her face.

If you know anything about Groucho Marx and/or Carmen Miranda, then you know there can only be silliness, pratfalls and hilarity. Just picture it, Carmen Miranda as a brunette, then running around to get upstairs to perform as a blond! Think she gets a little confused and winded? Groucho Marx is, well, Groucho Marx! ever on point and funny with his trademark moustache and cigar.

Check out some videos.
In the first one, as Carmen Navarro, you will even see Steve Cochran, Groucho Marx and Andy Russell!
Carmen Navarro http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFOogEdoQwo

Here is a video of Mlle singing:
Mlle Fifi http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ht0Hqc4E184

I would love to add this and other Carmen Miranda movies to my collection, she was something! Groucho Marx too!

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0039277/?ref_=fn_al_tt_2

{March 12, 2014} A response to a comment

A friend from high school, MDC, read my post last night and had a few things to say about it.

First thing I would like to say is bravo for telling me what you thought of my post, honest and open. I loved it! And I agreed with some things and disagreed with other things.

She felt that my post was more about body image than running and a commentary on the article I referenced. I suppose that could be considered true and not true. I know, confusing.

I’d like to address a few points. She thought I wanted to be a wickedly skinny minnie [size 3] or at least, that’s the size she mentioned more than once. I can assure her and you that first, I have no desire to be a size 3 nor would I ever get to that size, I don’t think that would be healthy for me. I’m a 12, got there about 5 years ago and I like being a 12, but I would prefer to be a more fit 12, like I was when I first got to this size. [I remember the day I was able to pull my jeans on and off without unbuttoning, what?] If I even got to a 10, more power to me, but I’m happy with my number.
I want to be healthier and feel better in my skin, that’s really all.

She said that society has helped in screwing up our self images as women and she’s absolutely 100% correct! Not everyone is meant to be thin, genetics play a big part in how you grow and develop.

You can be fit and not be a size 3 and you’re right, but you can also be a size 3 and be unhealthy. The last “acceptable” discrimination is making women of average weight or being curvy and/or voluptuous as disgusting or unsexy. I both agree and don’t agree. I agree that there is a lot of discrimination against average weight or voluptuous women, but on the other hand, there are some great strides being made in the world of modeling, Emme, the “first” plus sized model, more and more spokespeople, well, spokeswomen, are coming out encouraging that we should love ourselves as we are.

She said if I am athletic, I should focus on that, I wish I could say I was athletic! ha ha! I’m working on it! Or, focusing on it! I promise that I don’t feel inadequate because I’m not 90 pounds, I hope I never get to 90 pounds! People will really start to worry about me!

I loved her last directive: I admire your aspiration/ dedication as a runner…..That’s all! You rock and run with pride!!! I say to that “Yes ma’am!”

Again, MDC, I say thank you, first, for reading my blog, I am more flattered and honored by that than anything! Second, thank you for your honesty and openess with your opinion and feelings. Don’t stop!

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