2009 Movies

Haven't blogged in almost a year, but I do this every year, so here goes. Here's my list of 2009 movies I saw in 2009.

Full list of movies released in 2009 here.

(bold, in movie theater/drive in)
Bride Wars
Hotel for Dogs
Paul Blart: Mall Cop
He's just not that into you
FanBoys
Confessions of a Shopaholic
Push
Fired Up
I Love You, Man
Monsters vs. Aliens
Adventureland
Fast and Furious
17 Again
Ghosts of Girlfriends Past
X-Men Origins: Wolverine
Terminator Salvation
Dance Flick
Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian
Up
The Hangover
Land of the Lost
The Proposal
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince
The Ugly Truth
Aliens in the Attic
Funny People
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
Couples Retreat
The Box
The Twilight Saga: New Moon
Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel

20 movies in theater or drive-in/ 32 overall

That's down 5 overall from last year and 4 from the theaters. I saw that's because this years movies weren't that great overall especially in the summer, but that's my opinion. It might be easier to pick my top 5 least favorite movies this year, but I'll give my 5 five favorites a try.

Top 5 for 2009:
1. The Hangover
2. Funny People
3. The Proposal
4. Couple Retreat
5. Hotel For Dogs

Looks like it was a year for the comedy for me.

Just for fun my top 5 LEAST favorite movies of 2009:
1. Adventureland (just pure terrible)
2. Push (I fell asleep)
3. The Box (it was bad)
4. Dance Flick (only funny as a trailer)
5. He's Just Not that Into you (not what I was expecting from such a great cast)

Christmas Gifts

I know its March and a little late to be talking about Christmas gifts, but I never got around to sharing the gifts that I made for Riley's teachers. This year I decided to make cookies and cocoa. With Debbie's expert baking help, I was able to produce some decent tasting cookies, and with Doug's shrink wrap and bow tying skills, I was able to make the presentation look nice. Actually, Doug had no idea how to tie a bow, he watched a 5 minute You Tube video and was able to make these very cool bows all while I was still going.. "HUH????" He's good like that. I bought a big jar of Ghiradelli cocoa mix and separated it into smaller baggies which I placed into the mugs along with a candy cane to stir with. I hand wrote directions on how to make the hot chocolate on a tag which I tied to the hot chocolate baggie. I made up a quick tag that said "Cookies and Cocoa", listed out the types of cookies in the tin and put a few stickers on it. On the back side of the tag, I put the 4 photos of Riley that I used on my Christmas cards.

I waited until the last minute to make these, so I got the tins and mugs at 60% off at Joann's and I got the ornaments at 75% off at Kohls. I tried the best I could to match up the ornaments with something each teacher liked to do. Unfortunately, I don't know much about Julie, so I just gave her a standard bell. She was a student teacher at the time, but Riley absolutely loves her and insisted we give her a gift also.

I got a lot of compliments on the gifts, so I think the teachers liked them. By far the best cookies in there were the Oatmeal Butterscotch ones. I had never had them before, Debbie showed me how to make them in a bar shape and they came out super yummie. Just thinking about them makes me want to make some more!

Neglected Blog

Well, I haven't started the year out very well on the blogging front. The whole point in doing this blog was to use it to help remember all the little things that happen in our lives. I'm going to try and do better with the blog from now on. I have a list of things that I should write about to catch up on, but since hockey has really been in the fore front of my mind lately, I think I'll focus this entry on how my hockey photography has improved over the course of this years RIT season. Hockey is a very new sport for me, I've always been a basketball girl, but after seeing a few RIT games last season, I am now hooked. I can't believe its taken me this long to realize how much fun hockey is, especially RIT hockey. Our whole family has gotten into it which makes it even more fun. It's something we can all do together. Photography is a hobby of mine as I'm sure you know, so putting them together seems logical. I love sports photography, but don't get a lot of opportunities to shoot it. Basketball really is the only sport I've photographed. Well, I guess also I could count the high school football games of my brothers I photographed with my 35mm camera, but that was Sooo long ago. Learning the game of hockey over the course of the year (Thanks Deb!), I can really see an improvement in my hockey photography. I can now somewhat predict where the good action will be. I still have a long ways to go, but here's a little look at how my hockey photography has improved over the course of this RIT hockey season.

First game:



Faceoffs, learning how to stop the action, so you can see the puck. Other than that not much good about this photo



Alittle improvement, I captured the celebration after a goal. Photos still alittle dark.



An okay in action shot:



Action shot, but way blurry:



A better angle on the faceoff


Good facial expressions



Getting better, goal shot



Better:


Nice angle:


Latest photos I've processed, very happy with these:











I know I still have alot to learn about the game of hockey and a lot to learn about photographing hockey, but I must say I am truly truly enjoying both! I'm so glad hockey is a part of my life now.. I can't believe I went so long without it.

GO TIGERS!

My InaguralPhoto.com Photo!

This was fun. Couldn't go to the inauguration, Just go to MyInauguralPhoto.com, powered by online photo editing software provider FotoFlexer, and pretend you were there, right behind the new president of the United States as he was sworn in.

Can you see me?

Haven't done one in a while

Friday Fill-in

1. Enough with the iPhones.

2. iPhone causes me to be conflicted.

3. I've been craving iPhone.

4. iPhone makes me laugh.

5. I wish I could go to the store and buy an iPhone next week.

6. iPhone has been on my mind lately.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to poker where everyone has an iPhone but me, tomorrow my plans include RIT hockey where everyone has an iPhone but me and Sunday, I want to go ice skating where everyone has an iPhone but me!

Ice Skating

Riley finished her first Ice Skating lessons today. She's starting again in a few weeks. Debbie skated with us today. We didn't know she was coming, so we were surprised. Riley was excited to show off her new skates and what she's learned in skating so far.







Rest of the set here.

In other weekend news, we had poker and everyone had fun trying to solve the puzzles I got Doug for Christmas and Riley and I had fun playing the new game she got from the Gotobeds!

Happy New Year

We had a very relaxing New Years Day. We watched the Redwings defeat the Blackhawks 6-3 in the NHL Winter Classic and Riley played hockey in our living room during and after the game. She warmed up to Let it Rock by Kevin Rudolf just like the RIT Tigers do and then she rocked back and forth during the Star Spangled Banner, and then she made 3 goals in 3 pretend periods. In between each period, I drove the Zamboni. After the game, I interviewed her and every answer was "good", then she took a pretend shower because she smelled like hockey stink, then a crazy fan (me) asked her for an autograph and a had my photo taken with her. Then we started all over again. Good times!

These photos didn't come out that great though, apparently there was a huge fingerprint smudge on the camera lens. Oh well, they are cute anyway.

2008 movies

Thought I should at least have one post in December.. Here's my list of 2008 movies I saw.

List of all 2008 movies here

(bold, in movie theater/drive in)
27 Dresses
Cloverfield
Fool's Gold
Definitely, Maybe
Jumper
Vantage Point
Semi-Pro
College Road Trip
Horton Hears a Who
Drillbit Taylor
21
The Forbidden Kingdom
Forgetting Sarah Marshall
Baby Mama
Iron Man
What Happens in Vegas
Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian
Sex and the City
Kung Fu Panda
You Don't Mess with Zohan
The Incredible Hulk
Get Smart
The Love Guru
Wall-E
Wanted
Hancock
Hellboy 2
Journey to the Center of the Earth
The Dark Knight
Step Brothers
The Mummy
Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2
Tropic Thunder
Zach and Miri make a Porno
Madagascar 2
Bolt
Twilight

24 movies in the theater/drive in. 37 movies overall.

My top 6 for 2008:
1. The Dark Knight
2. Iron Man
3. Zack and Miri make a porno
4. 21
5. Hancock
6. Kung Fu Panda

Sappy but it brings me to tears

Congratulations to Brooke and Derek for winning Dancing With the Stars season 7. I was really rooting for them to win more so for Derek than Brooke cause I gots a little crush on that boy, but I thought Brooke was amazing all season. I was also rooting for Lance (my Nsync boy!) and he so should have been in the final with Brooke. I think Brooke's Vienese Waltz might be my favorite dance this season and I'm glad she chose to do it again in the finals. It's the first time ever that I've actually gotten teary eyed watching someone dance. It must be because I'm a Mom now. Something special happens on this show when they pair the perfect music with the perfect dancers and the perfect choreography. And can I say I love that song with someone other than John Mayer singing it! Enjoy!

99 things and a bitch ain't one

I never do these when they come to me in emails, but I'm a sucker for putting them on my blog. This one is called, Things I've done and I found it here. So you're supposed to copy the list of 99 random things and then cross off all the things that you've done. Hmm maybe it'll spark some potential scrapbook pages or stories to share here. Here goes:

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
   
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables (Well I helped my dad when I little)
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David in person
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt in person
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling (it was snorkeling)
    
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie - This is an interesting one, what's the definition of movie here. LOL..
    
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

Interesting list. There are a lot of things on this list I want to do and some things I would not wish to do (kill and prepare an animal for eating). Wonder what the list will look like in 5 or 10 years from now?

If you've got an hour, enjoy some of my latest photos

Ok I was seriously behind on my photo processing. I spent all last night catching up, and I managed to process and post all the recent photos waiting on my hard drive, but I still have a bunch still on my memory card that need to be uploaded to my hard drive and then processed, but hey one step at a time. When I say I spent all last night on this, I really spent a lot of time, (after all there is NOTHING on tv on Wednesdays and since I had control of the computer I wasn't about to give it up to Doug to play his video game), but it feels good to be mostly caught up. I had photos going back to September still to process. Here's a look at some of my favorites and links to the rest of the sets:

Dansville Hot Air Balloon Festival





Coloring with Riley


This was a game night turned coloring with Riley night. We were playing Wii and while Deb was sitting out one round she asked Riley to color, and from that point on everyone took turns coloring with Riley.

Doug's Poker Birthday



Barktoberfest


There's something about this photo I really love. It's not the best photo of Nyssa and its not even the best photos I took at Barktoberfest, but I just love it. I took it while we were waiting for Riley to finish jumping in the bounce house. It's like she's saying, "OK Dad, when's it gonna be my turn to play?"

Random Everyday Life


Riley actually took this photo. She's becoming quite the little photographer. There are some funny photos in this set. Some random everyday life kind of photos. Stuff that didn't fit anywhere else, but were fun and I wanted to share.

Kai's Poker Birthday




Riley Fall Photos at Tinker Nature Center



Riley at swimming lessons


I also uploaded 2 videos for the first time in this set. They are set to friends and family only. Uploading videos was cool. I like having them right in the set with the photos that go along with them.

Pumpkin Patch



Pumpkin Carving



Seneca Park Zoo Boo



Halloween Trick or Treating



And some RIT hockey photos. I think after the seasons over I'll do entry showing off my favorite from the season. Photographing hockey is hard, but I think I'm starting to get some good shots. The more I learn about hockey, the easier its getting.

RIT vs. Holy Cross
RIT vs. Clarkson
RIT vs. St. Lawrence

I came up with all kinds of ideas for scrapbook pages based on the photos I processed last night, so I'm looking forward to working on them. I think at least for some, I'm going to try some more digital pages.

Survivor: Probst is Fun!

I have to share the link to this video. I couldn't find a way to embed it unfortunately. Jeff Probst is really funny in it and I got a kick out of it.

http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1815812964/bctid1817710962

Doug and I had a disagreement last night while watching Survivor about what happens to the Jury members when they are voted off. He insisted that they aren't allowed to see each other and are kept secluded and I insisted that they all get to stay together, hang out, and talk about the game. I had to prove him wrong this morning, so I found out that since last season Survivor has been producing webisodes called Life at Ponderosa. Ponderosa is what they call the Jury House. The current seasons webisodes are here, Life at Ponderosa. I also went back and watched a lot of them from Fans Vs. Favorites on you tube. It was nice getting alittle Ozzy fix. I forgot how much I love him. Anyway, all this talk got me thinking more about Survivor and I ended up on the Entertainment Weekly website, where I found out that Jeff Probst is blogging about the episodes and they have exclusive deleted scenes. Very cool. Jeff is a good blogger. His blog entries are fun to read. Anyway, I wanted to share that video just because I thought Jeff was really funny. "Now who's your daddy?, Tell me, Put you on Big Brother...... Bitch!" Classic.

10 TV guys, I secretly love

I read this post this morning about the hottest hunks on TV, does anyone even use that word anymore, and I thought it would be fun to make my own list. Here are the 10 guys on TV I secretly, or not so secretly LOVE:

10. Bryan Datillo

I've been watching him on Days Of Our Lives on and off for a very long time. He plays Lucas Roberts and there is just something about him that I really like. He is funny and seems very down to Earth.

9. Seth Meyers

I love comedians. The way to my heart is definately through laughter. If you can make me laugh, you've got a great shot. He's such a funny guy and he's great on Weekend Update all by himself.

8. James Lafferty

He plays Nathan Scott on One Tree Hill. The show was created for Chad Michael Murray, and don't get me wrong, he's pretty nice looking too, but there is something about James that I just like more. He's athletic. He loves basketball and is good at it too. His character is a bad boy turned good. I think that's what drew me to him. I love the bad boys, but he's one with a great heart. Nathan's flaw though is he's a Duke fan. That's really a deal breaker for me, even if he makes up for it by loving Michael Jordan.

7. Michael Trucco

I first saw Michael as Hot Uncle Cooper on One Tree Hill and then he turned up as Sam Anders on Battlestar Gallactica. Another Badass with a good heart. You don't mess with him or anyone he cares about. He'll take you down.

6. Zachary Levi

Another funny guy. I really didn't know him before Chuck, but I love him. He plays a funny, hot nerd who can be a badass in his own way sometimes. That's the best combination. He's perfect!

5. Jensen Ackles/Jared Padaleki

I just couldn't separate these two. I liked Jared on Gilmore Girls, and I liked Jensen on Days Of Our Lives, but neither were really a standout to me in those roles. Put the two together and you get the Winchester Brothers from Supernatural. I love these two together. They are HOT, they kick evil butt, they make me laugh, and they are super loyal to each other.

4. Joshua Jackson

I loved him as Pacey on Dawson's Creek and I have a really hard time seeing him as any other character, but he recently returned to TV as Peter on Fringe and he's great on that show. As Pacey, he as always trying to do the right thing, but getting in trouble. Everyone thought he was a bad guy, but he was just misunderstood. As Peter, he is a mysterious genius, so much we haven't learned about him yet. I love Josh!

3. Derek Hough

I always talk about Maks from Dancing with the Stars, but secretly, I love Derek more. The all american boy. He's funny, hot, and wow can that boy dance. He's great at all the ballroom and latin, but a couple weeks ago I saw him in the group hip hop routine. Heaven help me, he was amazing. He's a singer too, his band just signed a record deal. He can do it all. I love his style. He's hard working and always very gracious. Some genes in that Hough family, man!

2. Brian Austin Green

What is there to say about Brian Austin Green, my David Silver. I grew up with him. He was always my favorite on 90210, even when he was young and dorky looking. I've stuck by him through the awkward growing years, the bad rap album, dropping off the grid, and then reappearing stronger than ever as Derek on Terminator: The Sarah Connor Cronicles. This is the best character he's ever played. He will kick your ass and not think twice about it. He's a shoot first ask questions later kind of guy. He's loyal. He's been through alot and I think there's alot still to learn about him. He brings a great dynamic to the show, but he needs more screen time, PLEASE!

1. Jason Momoa

It was hard picking a number one, and hard placing Jason in front of Brian just because of how long I've liked Brian, but Jason Momoa as Ronan Dex on Stargate: Atlantis. If you watch him on that show for just a few minutes you'll instantly see why he's my number one. I didn't even watch that show until he showed up on it. He caught my eye immediately. You don't mess with Ronan. He's a man of little words, but he gets his point across. He's a shoot first, NEVER ask questions kind of guy. He's extremely loyal, and if you mess with the people he loves, you're done. He kicks major butt on that show, he makes me laugh, and that's why I love him, plus look at him, he's ridiculously HOT!


So there it is my version of the 10 ten hotties, I secretly love on TV. It was hard to pick just ten. These guys almost made the cut, and it was hard to leave them off Adrien Grenier as Vincent Chase on Entourage, Maksim Chmerkovskiy on Dancing with the Stars, Chad Michael Murray as Lucas Scott on One Tree Hill (liked him better as Charlie on Dawson's Creek though, he's a bit of a whiner on OTH), and Jason Lee as Earl on My Name is Earl.