My husband and I love the movies. We go as much as possible. When we are not going to the movies, we are looking to see what we can rent on demand at our home. In the past month or so, we have watched all of the following. I will list them in the order of our favorites first.
SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK- Bradley Cooper (world's sexiest man- and yes, he is easy on the eyes!) and Jennifer Lawrence (star of Hunger Games) star in this, along with DeNiro. A bipolar,
Philadelphia Eagles Fan (is that redundant?) finds a new life, falls in love, and becomes a "regular guy" after attempting to kill the man he sees in his shower making love to his wife....loved it!
THIS IS 40-Sequel to Knocked Up. Leslie Mann, (real life wife of Judd Apatow) and his daughters star in this family comedy. Paul Rudd plays Pete, Mann's husband. Watch for Melissa McCarthy who has two great scenes, and Albert Brooks as Paul Rudd's Father. This is a movie that shows the realities of a marriage and family: we fight about the kids, money, life, our parents. Truthfully, this hit a little too close to home for me so it was not always funny....I cringed at a few of the topics. By the way, I do shop at Ann Taylor Loft! (see the movie). The topic of how men drive
women crazy (gift selections, excessive bathroom time, not standing up to ridiculous parents who are completely out of line, etc.) shows all of us that we are not the only dysfunctional family on the block. Make sure to stay for the end and watch the credits-very funny.
LINCOLN-I predict Daniel Day-Lewis will get the academy award for this performance. Spielberg directs the movie which illustrates the 16th president's final months in office. We see a nation divided and a gridlocked house divided over how to end the war between the states and how to end slavery. This has a star studded cast and a terrific script. Watch how art imitates life-the movie is more timely than you would imagine with parallel issues of government not coming to mutually acceptable agreements. Only, in this movie, the Republicans were the "good guys"! A MUST SEE
DJANGO UNCHAINED-typical Tarentino. The movie starts two years before the Civil War ends. Jamie Fox is Django, a slave turned bounty hunter. He partners with Dr. King Shultz, a german born Bounty hunter portryayed brilliantly by Christoph Waltz (another academy award worthy nod). Only Django can lead Shultz to the Brittle Brothers and so the story goes. If you like Tarentino, you will enjoy this. However, it is very long (2hrs. 46min), poorly edited, and exceedingly bloody, so be prepared. Not one of his better films.
THE GUILT TRIP-Barbra Streisand and Seth Rogen star. A terrible script, one long "jewish, nagging, mother joke". Rogen steps back and lets Streisand star. Mother and Son go on a road trip to sell son's latest invention. Not funny, nothing redeeming about this movie. A total waste of your time. Don't Go.
MOVIES ON DEMAND
TED- Very Raunchy and Very Funny. Stars Mark Wahlberg and Mila Cunis. worth a look.
CENTRAL PARK FIVE-documentary about 5 black/latino teens arrested and charged for attacking and raping a white female in Central Park. They spent years in prison for a crime they didn't commit but were brutally forced to confess to by the corrupt cops. Hard to watch, infuriating that this could happen. Not an easy movie to stay with.
STRUCK BY LIGHTENING- Rebel Wilson(Pitch Perfect) and Chris Colfer(Glee) star. Plot is about a teen trying to survive the dilemmas of highschool and his crazy parents. Very mediocre, not funny.
TROUBLE WITH THE CURVE- Amy Adams and Clint Eastwood star in this movie about a baseball scout and his daughter who are forced to spend some time together, and renew a relationship. Terrible-not worth watching.
SASSY PANTS-home schooled teen runs away from mom to live with dad. I fell asleep-my husband said it was horrible.
TELEVISION
KENNEDY CENTER HONORS-just a quick note about last night's program honoring David Letterman, Dustin Hoffman, Natilia Makarova, Buddy Guy, and Led Zeppelin.
Much of the show was a snooze, but notable moments to watch on the internet:
The entire tribute to Led Zeppelin was AWESOME! Kid Rock was spectacular, Lenny Kravitz singing Whole Lotta Love brought the house down. And finally, Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart sang an amazing rendition of Stairway to Heaven.
Most enjoyable was watching Obama with his arm around Michelle rocking to the music. And watch for Yo-Yo Ma grooving to the beat- completely hysterical.
Jimmy Kimmel giving his tribute to Letterman: "You are the hero of all of us, with the possible exception of the people who came to see the ballerina."
Ray Romano telling us what he learned from Letterman: "Don't Quit! Do you quit when you're down one nothing in the Debates (as he looks up at Obama!)? No-you keep going."
Tracy Chatman and Reba's tribute to blues great, Buddy Guy-really, really great.
Thursday, December 27, 2012
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
A New Laptop or A New Hip?
Lately, I have noticed my computer shuts down all by itself. I will walk out of the room and when I come back in, it has turned off! Then, to make matters worse, it often will not turn back on. My family has explained that a computer is not meant to last for more than a few years. I think this one is about 6 years old. I stay awake at night and watch HSN and QVC and SHOPNBC. Everyone has a deal. The computers are about $500 and come with several hundred dollars of software. My head starts to spin. I feel these networks all have great deals! I'll order a new one tomorrow, I say. Then tomorrow comes. And I can't betray my old friend. I am attached to my obsolete, failing computer. I just can't pull the trigger for some silly reason. And miraculously, she turns on.....
Which brings me to my 58-year-old left hip. Recently, I noticed it shuts down all by itself. I try to walk out of the room or jog up the steps and it fails me. This can't possibly be happening, can it? The three doctors I have consulted tell me they can't believe I can even walk. "Bone on Bone" they all say. A hip of an 80-year-old they all say. Bah Humbug! I love this hip. I have walked through Yellowstone, Yosemite, Maine, Europe, Canada....it has gotten me far and done a pretty impressive job. I stay awake at night and think about which month to do the surgery, which doctor to use, which type of surgery (anterior vs. posterior), and which hospital I want to do it in. I play a schedule in my head....I actually commit. That's it-now or never, one b. I can't go on this way. I am definitely doing it- YES, I am.
And then tomorrow comes. And I can't betray my old friend. I am attached to this obsolete, arthritic, failing hip. And I just can't pull the trigger for some insane reason. However, as I try to pull on my pants, I begin to think my new hip will be happening faster than my new computer.
Which brings me to my 58-year-old left hip. Recently, I noticed it shuts down all by itself. I try to walk out of the room or jog up the steps and it fails me. This can't possibly be happening, can it? The three doctors I have consulted tell me they can't believe I can even walk. "Bone on Bone" they all say. A hip of an 80-year-old they all say. Bah Humbug! I love this hip. I have walked through Yellowstone, Yosemite, Maine, Europe, Canada....it has gotten me far and done a pretty impressive job. I stay awake at night and think about which month to do the surgery, which doctor to use, which type of surgery (anterior vs. posterior), and which hospital I want to do it in. I play a schedule in my head....I actually commit. That's it-now or never, one b. I can't go on this way. I am definitely doing it- YES, I am.
And then tomorrow comes. And I can't betray my old friend. I am attached to this obsolete, arthritic, failing hip. And I just can't pull the trigger for some insane reason. However, as I try to pull on my pants, I begin to think my new hip will be happening faster than my new computer.
I Always Advise An Advocate
In the past year or so, it seems that I am surrounded by friends and relatives who have someone in their lives that has become ill and needed hospitalization. As we age, it is inevitable that we will be taking more of an active role in caring for our aging parents. While no one likes to think about the prospect of being the caretaker, a child more often than not, takes on this responsibility. Even if there is a spouse still alive to take on this task , I find that too much information can become confusing and difficult to retain for the healthy spouse. It creates too much anxiety when they are worried about their loved one.
I strongly recommend that someone accompanies the patient to the doctor's office and goes into the room with them. You should have questions ready and if necessary, write down all responses, write down the protocol the doctor expects the patient to follow, the medications, and any other relevant information he discusses. Do not be intimidated by a curt or demeaning physician. Stand your ground. Do not be rushed.
If the patient has to be hospitalized, one should be there as much as possible. Specifically, you want to be there when medication is dispensed AND when the doctors typically make their rounds. Too many times the wrong medicine or the wrong dosage is given, or two medicines conflict with one another. Often one doctor isn't aware what another doctor has ordered. All kinds of issues can go wrong-and many mistakes happen all the time. I have had experiences while my children and my mom have been hospitalized, and I have caught incidents with medication where a disaster was just about to happen. Personally, I suggest you keep a ledger of all nurses, their times on duty, and the meds dispensed and the times they are given. I also keep notes on each morning, afternoon, and evening visit by the doctors, the doctors' names and what they report.
If you think a nurse is not tending to the relative properly, you must SPEAK UP. If you notice a symptom that has appeared or a reaction, SPEAK UP. Do not be afraid to ask a question, or ask for help, or call the doctor. Follow your instincts. In your gut, you can tell when someone is failing, hurting, or in need of attention. In the final analysis, having an advocate will help facilitate a speedier
recovery, a more efficient rehabilitation or resolution, and a happier patient.
It is always nice to know that someone is watching out for you-Especially at a time when you are not capable of doing this for yourself. You will be saving someone's life and that someone is a person you love very much.
I strongly recommend that someone accompanies the patient to the doctor's office and goes into the room with them. You should have questions ready and if necessary, write down all responses, write down the protocol the doctor expects the patient to follow, the medications, and any other relevant information he discusses. Do not be intimidated by a curt or demeaning physician. Stand your ground. Do not be rushed.
If the patient has to be hospitalized, one should be there as much as possible. Specifically, you want to be there when medication is dispensed AND when the doctors typically make their rounds. Too many times the wrong medicine or the wrong dosage is given, or two medicines conflict with one another. Often one doctor isn't aware what another doctor has ordered. All kinds of issues can go wrong-and many mistakes happen all the time. I have had experiences while my children and my mom have been hospitalized, and I have caught incidents with medication where a disaster was just about to happen. Personally, I suggest you keep a ledger of all nurses, their times on duty, and the meds dispensed and the times they are given. I also keep notes on each morning, afternoon, and evening visit by the doctors, the doctors' names and what they report.
If you think a nurse is not tending to the relative properly, you must SPEAK UP. If you notice a symptom that has appeared or a reaction, SPEAK UP. Do not be afraid to ask a question, or ask for help, or call the doctor. Follow your instincts. In your gut, you can tell when someone is failing, hurting, or in need of attention. In the final analysis, having an advocate will help facilitate a speedier
recovery, a more efficient rehabilitation or resolution, and a happier patient.
It is always nice to know that someone is watching out for you-Especially at a time when you are not capable of doing this for yourself. You will be saving someone's life and that someone is a person you love very much.
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