Kermie's Back!!

So what brought Kermie back? Just wanted to remind you that Earth Hour is one month away, so until then every time I blog, I will be doing a Kermie tip.

Here is a video to remind you what Earth Hour is about

Click here to see the cities that took pledges- is your on it?

Click here for the home page for Earth Hour

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Also I wanted to give a shout out to my brother-in-law Chris today since it is his birthday!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRIS

Have a Wonderful day!!!

9 for 24 :(

Anyone who actually paid attention to my pics and then watched the Oscars may of realized I wasn't in the contention for the jackpot. It just doesn't pay to watch all the movies. At the party my friend Cec and I had watched the most movies of anyone at the party and we were in the bottom half of the scoring. We figured we voted with our hearts.

...AND to top it off Michael and I didn't win for best costume!!! (I think we might of had a chance if we arrived together- but Michael had a camping trip on Saturday and Sunday, so he was late to the party and they gave the best costume award before he got there.)

The winning costume was Randy the Ram (Mickey Rourke from the Wrestler) he even did some of his signature moves. (the winning Randy is on the right , however the Randy on the left had the better props/staple gun)

Most Creative costume went to my friend Kathy and her hubby. They dressed up as MILK cartons, and had each others pictures on the back of them asking "Have you seen me?"

My friend Kim had the best line about her custume. Her and her hubby came dressed from the movie Happy-Go-Lucky (nominated for best original screenplay). Well the movie took place in the late 70's and early 80's so Kim put on heavy blue eye shadow and these florescent green hoop earring for her costume. Her mother, who was babysitting her daughter during the party, told Kim she looked very nice, and she should dress that way more often- not knowing that Kim was in a costume.

Here is Kim and Danny, along with Michael (my Brad Pitt for the evening- he had shades and a leather coat on, and looked really cool- I came as his wife the aging dancer from the movie Benjamin Button)

Rounding out the rest of the costumes were a lot of nuns, one priest, one slumdog, and a lot of veiled women with sequence.

Oscar Day

Well this will be the end of my Oscar movie recaps -until next year at this time. I managed to fit 2 movies in this weekend.

We Net Flicked, Vicky Christina Barcelona-- I am not a big fan of Woody Allen movies, so it came as no surprise I didn't like the movie, however the acting was very good, and it allowed me to finish out the Supporting Actress category. Although Penelope was good, I am going to vote for Taraji, as the mom in Benjamin Buttons. (as a spoiler alert Michael and I are dressing up as characters in that movie)

Then yesterday, I hit the $2 movie theater (still can't believe I never found this place before) and saw Revolutionary Road, which I really wanted to see. Kate and Leo were great in the movie, but the movie was way too depressing for me. Michael Shannon is up for best supporting actor- I saw 4 of the 5 movies in this category and I am going with the priest from Doubt, because he did a great job in leaving Doubt in your mind at the end of the movie.

4-day weekend part 4

After the Statue of Liberty we headed over to Ellis Island- a place I had never been before.

Once again we took the audio tour (and worth it). It really made me appreciate my ancestors for coming over to America- it was not an easy trip (unless they came first class)

This was the main hall where everyone had to wait until there name was called to take their medical examine.



Only 2% failed the medical/questionnaire examine. Those failing had a chance to explain themselves.

We had a very fun day in the City- and I must give a shout out to our excellent tour guide Suzie, who is lovingly called the overconfident navigator--She did a fantastic job and didn't get us lost once. However she wasn't looking very New Yorkish, since she tried to help out some tourist on the subway, but they didn't trust her. To which Michael, myself, and a stranger who up until this incident was very serious looking /don't mess with me type of guy - thought was hysterical.

We went back to Suzie's place, her hubby collects lp's - but since he was not there Michael played DJ.

On the way home we got a free movie on the plane, and luck would have it, it was one of the movies on my Oscar list that I had not scene yet. Rachel getting Married- I didn't like the movie, if you like family disfunction type of movies this would be your type of movie, but it wasn't for me. Anne Hathaway played a very good disturbed girl- however not good enough to beat out Kate or Meryl.

4 day weekend part 2

After we had dinner on Valentines day, Michael and I headed for his sister's Suzie's apartment. The next morning we were joined by Michael's brother Chris and his wife Kristen, and his father. The five of us set out for our day's adventure- we took the subway from Queens to Battery Park

I must say, I am very impressed with how clean and efficient the subways are. {picture of Suzie and her dad on the subway}

When we arrived at Battery Park we took a boat to Liberty Island. Once on the boat Michael explain to us what the plan of attack would be (this is one of his famous poses- when explaining stuff to us and as you can see everyone gives him their best attentive looks).

On the boat ride, it was someones great idea to sit up top in very chilly weather-What were they thinking?? but then again it adds character.

Once we arrived we all took the audio tour (highly recommended- you learn (yes Murphy family I did say learn) a lot). The tour started out by the American Flag against the backdrop of the city.

(3/4) of the Murphy Men

Lady Liberty is very impressive, we did not go inside her, however I have been to the crown of her head before-mostly I remember all those steps.

As we walked around her we learned the very bottom of the base was a Fort Wood, and the base was designed with the fort in mind. Actually when the french were ready to give us her, the US needed to supply the base. However there was not enough money for a base, and Joseph Putlizer took up the cause to raise the money (click link for full story).

We had a fun time walking around and seeing all angles of her. She is most impressive and has stood for many things about our country- mainly freedom, democracy, and survival.

4 day weekend Part 1

Our school celebrated President day weekend by having a 4 day weekend. So on Thursday at 2:30 I took a plane to Philadelphia to visit my best friend Sue. Friday we spent the day at the spa and had Mexican for lunch (since both our husbands do not like spicy food, we usually go out to Mexican when we are together).

{picture taken from the sun roof of Sue's car of City hall in Philadelphia}

The next morning we were planning to take a train up to NYC to meet Michael. However Sue's husband Law is very heavily into ARF (animal rescue flights- where he flies or drives to pickup abused or homeless dogs and delivers them to their new found home- sometimes they just fly food to shelters that need them -usually down south). National Geographic was filming a documentary on their organization the next day over NYC and ask Law to fly , so we flew up in their plane instead of training it.

We meet Michael in THE City and had lunch {here is a picture of Sue & Law when we were having lunch}




Next we went to see a show "In The Heights" about Woodlyn Heights in the Bronx- it was a very touching story,(aka- I cried a lot) and the actors and actresses were very talented both in singing and dancing.

Then the 4 of us went out to a very nice Valentines Dinner. I had a great time being able to spend a couple of days with Sue.

Time Travel Tuesdays

Yes I know it is Wednesday, however I thought about this topic yesterday. When I started to blog Annie did a Tuesday feature called Time Travel Tuesday. Well she hasn't been doing that for a while but I thought of a topic yesterday when I went to a matinee to see Frozen River (although Melissa Leo was good, I don't think she will win for best actress). The movie was a bit depressing, however it had a "do the right thing" ending. And you felt for the characters.

... but I digress, the movie theater I went to was a bit of a dive, and older, however the matinee price was $2---how can you beat that! I was so proud of my thriftiness. The seats were in the old slanted version not the new stadium seating, no stairs just the slanted floor, and they had curtains as doors, and tables set up at the concession stand. It was a fun flash back.

So I got to thinking, is there an old movie theater or a movie experience you had that really stands out in your memory.

I have a couple but today I will write about one of our favorite movie theaters in Delaware

Chestnut Hill Cinema Cafe- did you notice the cafe part? It was an old movie theater only 2 theaters, and in the late 80's a couple of hippies bought it and gutted the theater, and put benches and tables in. So you came for dinner and a movie. Most of the time they showed foreign films. Michael and I loved going there. Unfortunately when I was looking on line for a picture of this theater, I found that it was shut down. But it will always live on in my mind.

More Movie Updates

Well I saw my 5th and final movie for best picture this weekend. Slumdog Millionaire, during the first 30 minutes when I wasn't liking the movie I was thinking that Benjamin Button would win for best Oscar, even though I really liked Frost/Nixon, it doesn't have enough originality. But for that matter Milk and The Reader were really good too. So I can actually see anyone of them winning (not like last year when they were just all depressing)

But I am deciding alone this year without the help of pop-corn boy, and am choosing Slumdog for the winner, because the movie definitely picked up. It was an interesting twist on the game show Who wants to be a millionaire- and that's all I am saying.

We also saw The Wrestler, although not up for the best picture, Mickey Rourke and Marisa Tomei are up for awards. Even though I had to keep my eyes shut for most of the beginning 30 minutes ( it is not for kids- lots of violence & nudity) I think Mickey will win for best actor. All the training he had to do for the part is impressive, and he played the down & out wrestler to a T! (however Sean Penn will give him a run for his money. )

It's funny that I am not all that into movies/movie stars, but I like the competition of our Oscar party, and if I am sitting through a 3+ hour show, I at least want to have an opinion. This year there is a new twist for the party, we need to come in costume- I think Michael and I have the winning recipe for the costume contest-stay tuned for pictures :)

Photo Hunt: Bridge(s)

Hi All,

Haven't done a photo hunt in awhile so watch out- lots of pictures for this theme. I am taking the (s) to mean plural.

As an avid card player I thought of the game of Bridge, which I learned to play in 11th grade during study hall by my english teacher. But sadly no picture of those care free study hall days.

But here in my even early days I prepare to play a song with a "bridge" in it on the piano. (Mom check out those cool pants I have on, and I must of been going through the pre-braces face, look how many teeth are missing! and to Linda, hope I used the terminology correctly :) )

Then of course since Michael and I love the water so much here is a picture on the bridge of the Elation (our first cruise to Mexico in April 2000)




and here is Michael and his parents standing on the bridge in August 2002 when we cruised to Alaska.

...and then of course the photo hunt wouldn't be complete without the pictures of the 2 most famous bridges in the United States

The Golden Gate with my Great Uncle Frank in April 1984.

And the Brooklyn Bridge (November 2007)