Three Movie Tickets in My Pocket

This does not normally happen, but I've seen three movies in the last couple days.  Three movies in the theater, that is - I'm not counting any movies we may have watched at home.

Tuesday night Cory and I attended a pre-screening of Man On a Ledge, which opens January 27.  Yay for free passes!  It's certainly a good way to fill up a theater on a weeknight.  For reference - if you get free passes to a movie like this, show up early.  The movie was at 7pm, and we got there about 5:20 and were behind about 8 people in line.  It wasn't long until that line curled all around the theater's entryway and into the lobby, and they started taking the passes, exchanging them for tickets, and directing us to the theater where they were showing the movie shortly after 6pm.  Too far back in the line could mean bad seats or no seats at all.  We got good ones!

We really enjoyed the movie.  It's about an escaped convict ex-cop who climbs out onto a hotel ledge declaring that he's prepared to die - yeah, probably not a good risk for guaranteed issue life insurance -but as the movie continues we find out he's not really planning to commit suicide, but what is he really up to?  There are enough twists, turns, and laughs to keep you entertained until the end.

The second movie we saw was The Muppets.  Cory and I went yesterday morning/afternoon, and we loved it!  We laughed out loud throughout the whole movie.  It was just so much fun.  Also, I really really need to figure out how to Travel by Map!

Then last night Jeffrey, Cory, and I went and saw Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows - again.  We went and saw it on the Ultra Screen when it first came out and probably wouldn't have gone to see it again, but we had passes - from buying some $8 BluRays - so we had to use them....  We really enjoyed it both times!  I think it's better than the first one.  Of course, we might just have to watch that one again soon just to see...  I'm also thinking that I really need to read some Sherlock Holmes!

How many movies did you see this week?

January?

It's been hard to believe that it's actually January the last couple days.  It's been sunny and in the high 40's to low 50's.  Seriously - sunshine and 50° in January.  In Wisconsin.

Not that I'm complaining.  I could get used to this.

They were saying on the radio yesterday morning that the golf course in the area are making thousands of extra dollars because people have been out golfing.  In January.  In Wisconsin.

Yesterday I thought I heard someone riding by on a motorcycle.  In January.  In Wisconsin.  I bet people are even breaking out the saddles and horse riding helmets and going for trail rides.

We're all plenty happy to put winter on hold.

Until tomorrow when we're supposed to get several inches of snow, and we'll have to forget about golf, motorcycles, shirtsleeves, and sunshine - and pull out the snow shovels.

And learn to drive in the snow again.

When the Store is Closed...

...the books will play!

OK, maybe not, but I saw this video on facebook this morning, and I just had to share.




So, if you've ever wondered what happens when the bookshop employees shut down the cash registers, turn out the lights and lock the door, now you know!

Isn't that fun?  Just imagine all the work that went into putting that video together...  I'm in awe.

Moving Here

Guest post written by my buddy Aldo Mays

Moving here meant a new life for my family but it’s been hard getting everyone on the same page, to tell you the truth. I’ve had a hard enough time convincing my wife to come here so I could pursue my dream career as a music producer but I think she’s finally warming up to it which is something I’m really thankful for. I wish I had better news in terms of what was happening with my business but it’s still a work in progress. I’ve got the office space and the Nashville business internet but not the clients just yet…but they’ll come. I’ve got to get my name out there and make sure the people I’m aiming to service know I even exist and that’s not too much to ask, really. I think it’s only a matter of time before I really catch on in this market and make the connection I need to push my little company over to the next level. At least I hope that’s what happens but we’ll have to see!

Baby on the Move!

We had an exciting weekend.  A very special young man came to visit while his parents went off to have some fun with their friends.  Jason stayed with us from Saturday afternoon when his parents left until Sunday evening when they returned - so he even got to spend the night.

Things have changed a bit since the last time he spent the night.  He's no longer a little baby who stays put wherever you place him.  No, now he's crawling all over the place, pulling himself up to things, and getting into everything.  Cords and wires are especially enticing, and he pretends not to hear us when we tell him 'No' those aren't for him - or he turns around and smiles his best smile, just knowing we'll change our minds.  He's wrong about that, but he sure is cute while he's trying!

We made some basic changes while he was here - putting up the baby gate at the top of the stairs so he didn't go tumbling down chasing after the cat, and removing all the Table top displays, I mean clutter, from the coffee table.  If Jason is going to spend any more time here, I am going to have to do some serious baby-proofing around here - either that or spend all of my time on the floor playing with him.  Yep, I know - it's a tough job, but somebody's gotta do it!

Excercise YouTube Style

I mentioned a while back that I've been doing the exercise programs I can get on demand with DirecTV.  I've found some really good ones.  The problem is that I can only keep them for so long before they expire and delete themselves from my DVR.  In a way that's good because it makes me try new ones, and doing different exercises every day is a good way to keep working different muscles - or work the same ones in new ways - and it's more effective.    The problem is that I am finding fewer and fewer exercise programs that are even available - so when the ones I like expire, I'm having trouble finding new ones.

I do have an exercise program for the Wii I could try.  Or, start looking on YouTube.  Did you realize there are tons of exercise videos available on YouTube?  I hadn't really looked until today, and I'm amazed at how many there are.  I'm supposed to be able to watch YouTube videos on the television now, so I'm going to have to figure that one out, because that will be easier than trying to exercise to a video on my computer.

Here's one I'm going to have to watch a time or two:




I did several of the on-demand workouts with Cindy Whitmarsh and really liked them.  I wrote down all the parts to the 'Deadly 7' she mentions at the beginning of this video so I could do them even without the program, and I've used the list several times - including this morning!  Now I'm going to have to try the 'Deadly 5' that she demonstrates here.  It's nice having a video that shows the moves - instead of a sheet of paper with them just written down and I have to try to remember what I'm supposed to do for each one.

Have you checked out the exercise videos on YouTube?  Which ones are your favorites?  (Leave links in the comments - thanks!)

Matchbook: FREE College Textbooks

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of MatchBook for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.
 
As any college student knows - textbooks are expensive!  Thankfully UW-Whitewater, where Cory attends school, has a textbook rental program, so the cost of books is included in his tuition.  But for most students the cost of those books is an added expense, one they can't really afford.  The costs can add up to over $1000 per year, depending on the subject and the books.
 

That's why MatchBooks is so great.  Their textbooks are FREE.  That's right - FREE!  MatchBooks are published under a Creative Commons open license, which makes it possible for students to read online for free! NO catch and NO expiration date. Each MatchBook textbook is an entire textbook, written by an expert author, from a trusted publisher, aligned to content in an expensive textbook - FREE online.  That means that, for whatever reason - whether a student can't afford the expensive textbook or just doesn't have it - all the information is available online. 
 
While a MatchBook is not an exact copy of the original textbook, it has been matched closely to the original and contains the same chapter order, core concepts, and key terms.  For instance, a student taking General/Intro Psychology this spring semester who has been assigned Psychology 9e by Myers can use the MatchBook and get:

• Number of chapters > same
• Chapter order > same
• Topics in chapters > same

All the same knowledge for free.  Compare that to around $100 to buy the original hardcover textbook (from Amazon - I'm not sure what it would cost in a campus bookstore)  or around $60 to get a year's subscription to the  ebook version - and you can see how the savings can add up.  MatchBook for Myers Psych is the very first MatchBook, so Psych students get to be the first to check it out at matchurbook.com.  Early reviews of this MatchBook by students and professors have been very positive.  More MatchBooks are coming later this year.
 
Be sure to check out the MatchBooks site, and share it - because when they reach 1,000 shares, they’re making a $1,000 charitable donation!  Besides, I'm sure you or someone you know can really benefit from free textbooks, right?  Also, be sure to Like Flat World Knowledge on Facebook (Matchurbook.com is a project of Flat World Knowledge, the world’s largest publisher of free and open college textbooks.) for more information and to find other FREE textbooks for all your basic college courses.
 
So what do you think?  Would you use a MatchBook or recommend MatchBooks to someone?  Let me know in the comments.
 

Cheapskate's Guide to Grocery Savings - Get it Free

If you're looking for ways to stretch your grocery budget, The Cheapskate's Guide to Grocery Savings - How to Save a Bundle at Supermarkets promises to have some great tips.  Now is a great time to grab it, because it's currently free for Kindle.

I have not read it, but you know I'm all about saving as much money as I can, so I'm hoping to learn a thing or two I can apply.

Break Legs!

Wishing my son Cory and the rest of the cast and crew of "The Edwin Booth Company Presents..."  the best in their performance tonight at ACTF!  Have fun and show those people your business!!

Everyone in the audience is in for a huge treat!

Update from facebook this morning (1/6/12):

"The Edwin Booth Company Presents "

Edwin Booth worked his magic at the American College Theatre Festival last night. A magnificent show and standing ovation at curtain. Congratulations to all involved!

#1 When I was Born

I saw this on facebook and thought it would be fun to try.  The idea is to find the #1 single from the week you were born, see if you can find it on YouTube, and post it without shame.  (Like any of us had any control over the music people were listening to when we were born!)

But anyway...  I tried using the site referenced in the facebook post I saw, but it didn't seem to be working - so I did some searching to find another site that would give me the same information.  I found everyHit.com and searched up my birthday.  Then I noticed the information was for the UK, not the US where I was born.  Oh well - I remember looking this up once before and finding it was a song by the Beatles or something else I really didn't care for.  I like this better. 

On 20th May 1965 ... The Number 1 single was: Jackie Trent - "Where Are You Now (My Love)"




According to the comments, this video clip is taken from the movie 'Four In The Morning' made in 1965.

Now - it's your turn.  Go and find the #1 single from the week you were born and share!  If you don't like the one from your own country, try looking elsewhere.  You never know what you might find!