The Clean of Pine Sol

I am working on being a better SAHW/M.
Cleaning is not my favorite thing to do.
I grew up with a mother that is a compulsive cleaner.
I sort of went the other way.
I am a pack rat that hates clutter.
I hide my clutter and only allow it is certain areas. Oh the shame!

Anyway...
I printed out my motivated moms calender and got to work this week.
I tried to keep up with the basic routine and even added a few of the detailed things.
My favorite thing about cleaning...

Pine-Sol!

I don't think I would be as motivated without my pine sol.

I am a fan of the original pine sol but my current favorite is lavender pine sol.
It leaves the best scent behind - not too heavy or florally (not a word, I know).

My house is clean and it smells fabulous!!!!

The worst thing about cleaning....

It is a never ending job.

Oh well.

Monday I might use the original scent, just to change things up a bit.

Oscars

There are a lot of movies nominated -far too many to see. I wonder if people just cast a vote for a movie without seeing it. My guess is they do. Marketing works.
Here is a complete list of the movies that are nominated for an Oscar. I still have a few more I plan on seeing before Oscar night. I will post my picks right before.

Below is a list of nominated films that I haven't seen or don't plan to see in the theater....
"Australia," (1 nomination)
"The Baader Meinhof Complex," (1 nomination)
"The Betrayal (Nerakhoon)," (1 nomination)
"The Class," (1 nomination)
"Departures," (1 nomination)
"Encounters at the End of the World," (1 nomination)
"Frozen River," (2 nominations)
"The Garden," (1 nomination)
"Happy-Go-Lucky," (1 nomination)
"Hellboy II: The Golden Army," (1 nomination)
"In Bruges," (1 nomination)
"Man on Wire," (1 nomination)
"Revanche," (1 nomination)
"Revolutionary Road," (3 nominations)
"Tropic Thunder," (1 nomination)
"Trouble the Water," (1 nomination)
"Vicky Cristina Barcelona," (1 nomination)
"Waltz with Bashir," (1 nomination)
"Wanted," (2 nominations)
"Bolt," (1 nomination)

9 of the above I will most likely see on DVD when released

Below are the movies I have seen or plan to in the next week or so....

"Changeling," (3 nominations) -Saw this one
Angelina Jolie - Performance by an actress in a leading role
Art direction
Cinematography

"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," (13 nominations)-saw this one
Brad Pitt - Performance by an actor in a leading role
Taraji P. Henson - Performance by an actress in a supporting role
Art direction,Cinematography,Costume design, Directing, Film editing, Makeup, Original score, Best picture, Sound mixing, Visual effects, Adapted screenplay.

"The Dark Knight," (8 nominations)- saw this one
Heath Ledger - Performance by an actor in a supporting role
Art direction, Cinematography, Film editing, Makeup, Sound editing, Sound mixing,
Visual effects.

"Defiance," (1 nomination) -plan to see this one
Original score

"Doubt," (5 nominations)- saw this one
Philip Seymour Hoffman - Performance by an actor in a supporting role
Meryl Streep - Performance by an actress in a leading role
Amy Adams - Performance by an actress in a supporting role
Viola Davis - Performance by an actress in a supporting role
Adapted screenplay

"The Duchess," (2 nominations)- saw this one
Art direction, Costume design - this is my pick for Costume design

"Frost/Nixon," (5 nominations)- saw this one
Frank Langella - Performance by an actor in a leading role
Directing, Film editing, Best picture, Adapted screenplay - this is my pick for Best Picture of the ones I have seen

"Iron Man," (2 nominations)- saw this one
Sound editing
Visual effects

"Kung Fu Panda," (1 nomination)- saw this one
Best animated feature film - this is my favorite animated film

"Milk," (8 nominations)- plan on seeing this one
Sean Penn - Performance by an actor in a leading role
Josh Brolin - Performance by an actor in a supporting role
Costume design, Directing, Film editing, Original score, Best picture, Original screenplay.

"Rachel Getting Married," (1 nomination)- plan on seeing this one
Anne Hathaway - Performance by an actress in a leading role

"The Reader," (5 nominations)- saw this one
Kate Winslet - Performance by an actress in a leading role
Cinematography, Directing, Best picture, Adapted screenplay -this would get my vote for best actress in a lead role

"Slumdog Millionaire," (10 nominations)- saw this one
Cinematography, Directing, , Film editing, Original score, Original song - "Jai Ho"
Original song - "O Saya", Best picture, Sound editing, Sound mixing, Adapted screenplay. This one gets my vote for best director, cinematography, original song

"The Visitor," (1 nomination)- saw this one
Richard Jenkins - Performance by an actor in a leading role

"WALL-E," (6 nominations) - saw this one
Best animated feature film, Original score, Original song - "Down to Earth",
Sound editing, Sound mixing, Original screenplay.

"The Wrestler," (2 nominations)- plan on seeing this one
Mickey Rourke - Performance by an actor in a leading role
Marisa Tomei - Performance by an actress in a supporting role

27 Seconds

In this day and age where professional athletes are paid exorbanent salaries, and when they simply perform the job they are paid to perform, they want a ticker tape parade for doing so.
The antics that go on in the end zone, or on the court are silly and stupid.
What happened to humility?

It has been a very long time since I have found a person in the spotlight that makes me stop and admire who they are, how they handle themselves.
Sully did.

I, like everyone else I know, was amazed at the remarkable feat of setting that plane down and making sure every soul on board survived. But what really made me sit up and take notice was the lack of attention this individual seemed to want/need.

His first media event after the landing in the Hudson, is in his hometown.

He spoke for 27 seconds....

"...circumstance determined that it was the experienced crew" aboard the plane during the flight.

"We were simply doing the jobs we were trained to do."


He opted to shine that spotlight on the others envolved (rightfully so) and not toot his own horn.

I heart Sully.

Movie Monday: Gran Turino, The Reader, Benjamin Button

I liked this one. I know this main character. I like Clint Eastwood films, at least the ones he has made in the last 20 years or so.
What stayed with me after seeing this film was how much we can impact others lives if we choose to.
His children didn't know him, but his neighbors got to know him and because of it, he changed their lives.



















For me, this one just doesn't live up to the hype. Yes, the make up was very well done. Yes, Brad Pitt is nice to look at -young or old. But the film didn't suck me in. I found myself wondering about weird things during the movie. Things not having anything to do with the emotional current of the movie.
In spite of all of that, there was a moment toward the end of the film, where Benjamin is giving advice to his 13 year old daughter....I don't have a quote but I will have those words printed and framed one day.
The gist of it was that it is never too late to live the life you want to live and to be happy in whatever it is you do. Grand or simple, it is your life to live. It was beautiful.
The upside to seeing this movie........now, I will go read the book. I bet it is better.



















Last but not least, The Reader.
I loved this book so I had mixed feelings about seeing the movie.
But since it has been 13-14 years since I read it, I went ahead with the movie version.
I remember when I read the book many hated it.
I loved the many faceted, complex characters the book revealed without judgement.
The movie did a fine job of showing those characters as well.
I really liked this movie.
People will focus on the affair beween the adult woman and the 15 year old boy but that is not what this film is about. It is the thing that draws this boy into a path that he cannot escape. What I love is the questions and the shades of grey that leave me thinking days after the movie is over.

Movie Monday - Frost/Nixon

I saw 3 movies over the Holiday break and this one was my favorite.
The film was based on a play by the British screenwriter and dramatist Peter Morgan.
The play was, of course, based on a series of televised interviews done by David Frost with former President Nixon in 1977.
Frank Langella is the former President of the United States Richard Nixon and Michael Sheen plays British TV broadcaster David Frost. Both actors did a fantastic job but it is Langella that is riveting. As of today, he would get my nod for best actor.
I won't say too much about this film because most adults are already somewhat familiar with the interviews, but I will say that I was throughly engaged during the entire film.
It was fascinating, absorbing, interesting....not a bad way to spend an afternoon.