S is for Signs, and C is for Cabot

I finally saw the movie Signs last Friday, and I really enjoyed it.  All the actors did a great job, and even though I knew what ultimately defeats the aliens I was still freaked out.  Aliens in general tend to scare me so my heart was pounding during certain points of the movie.

For my YA novels goal, I've just finished reading Jinx by Meg Cabot.  I always love a good Meg Cabot novel.  They are full of kick-ass heroines and cute guys.  Jinx is about Jean Honeychurch, called Jinx because of her perpetual bad luck.  When she moves in with her aunt, uncle, and cousins in New York she begins an adventure that pits her against her cousin Tory, who is a practicing witch.

Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman

I just finished listening to the audio book of Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman.  I loved this book.  It was the first solo adult book of his I've read. I've only previously read The Graveyard Book and Good Omens which he wrote with Terry Pratchett.  This book is about Fat Charlie, who finds out that his father is the god Anansi.  After his father's death he meets the brother he didn't know he had, and goes on a long journey towards discovering the truth about himself and about family.  Gaiman has a wonderful style of writing, and I really enjoyed the reading of the book given in the audio book version.  I highly recommend it.

Mid-May Update

First of all, I got hired as a school library media specialist for the 2010-2011 school year!  That means I have completed goal number 24, which is huge to me!

Other progress:
16.  A little behind on journaling this month so far. I've only done it once.

20.  I finished listening to Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman, which was amazing.  I'll write a review next.

37.  I've watched another movie, Reign Over Me, which I have already created a post for.

42.  I've really been on top of cooking new recipes.  I've already tried four more from my Rocco Dispirito book:
1. Baked Onion Rings
2. Healthy Sloppy Joes, which were really good, made with turkey but still tasted just like a sloppy joe
3. Really good sweet potato fries, which had a good spicy-sweet flavor
4.  Healthy Philly Cheese Steak, which I really enjoyed

44.  I have been cooking at home once a week, which lets me try new recipes.

51.  I visited two local businesses.  I bought my mom's mothers day present from Tom's in Binghamton, and some hand lotion and candy from East of the Sun West of the Moon in Owego

66.  I have gone through the Curly Girl Book and have started my conversion.  I'm not going to shampoo anymore and I'm trying out a new conditioner.  I have ordered towels especially designed for getting the right amount of water from curly hair, and I'm going to try some of the home remedies in the book soon.

92.  I just finished week 3 of the 200 sit-up challenge

94.  I just finished week 5 of my 12 week walking program

R is for Reign Over Me

Last night I watched Reign Over Me starring Don Cheadle and Adam Sandler.  I didn't really want to watch the movie because I thought it might be too depressing.  Adam Sandler's character, Charlie, lost his wife and three children in the 9/11 attacks because they were on one of the planes that crashed into the twin towers.  It had more funny moments than I anticipated, and was really more about Don Cheadle's character, who tries to help Charlie and in the process examines his own life and marriage.  Overall I thought it was trying to do too many things and went on too long, but there were definitely some great moments and stellar acting by those involved.

End of April Update

April wasn't super productive for me, but I did make headway on some of my goals.

16.  I only journaled 2 times this month instead of five, so I'll have to try better next month.

20.  Finished two more books getting my total to 6/50

24.  I've been searching for jobs every week.  I had an interview this month but didn't get the job, and I'm still waiting to hear back from another school district.

37.  I saw a few new movies this month, which I blogged about already.  My total is up to 9/26

40.  I have managed to keep up with the goal of have a tv-free night once a week

42.  I cooked two new recipes this month, jalapeño poppers, and Chicken Marsala, bringing my total to 4/20

44.  I cooked once a week while I was at home.  I went away one week during April, but other than that I've been cooking away for my family.

49.  This month's date with Justin was pretty low key.  We went to a flea market and then out to lunch at the Skylark diner.

61.  I got the first of three shots for the HPV vaccine, so I'm on my way to completing this goal.

63.  I went to my two different doctors to discuss my current medical concerns.  I could check this off now, but I'm going to wait to see if I want to go back for bloodwork to see if I have rheumatoid arthritis, since I put that off at the last doctor's visit.

64.  I am doing very well with my goal to find techniques for managing anxiety.  I am in physical therapy for some of my physical symptoms.  I've been getting more into breathing exercises and meditation.  Also, the doctor gave me an herbal supplement to help.  I am not going to mark this complete yet, as I'm also working on a self-help program through the book When Panic Attacks that I think will help me.

72.  I recorded four more flip videos of the various birthday celebrations for my sister, bringing my total to

92.  I have finished week 2 of the 200 sit up challenge program.

94.  I've been doing well with walking, getting through week 4 of the 12 week program.

P is for the Princess and the Frog

I finally saw Disney's The Princess and the Frog the other night. I thought it was a really cute movie. Unlike other Disney movies there was some inclusion of real American culture, although I realize it tended to be a simplified view of New Orleans culture. It was nice to lose myself in a Disney musical again and just feel like a little girl mesmerized by a fairy tale.

Finishing the Han Solo Trilogy

I just finished the third book in the Han Solo Trilogy by A.C. Crispin: Rebel Dawn.  I enjoyed this trilogy as a whole, and the final book brought Han's narrative right up to where he meets a certain moisture farmer and an old man.  I think Crispin did a great job with his character and really explained where his character's mind set was in the first movie.  Of course, you know that Han isn't going to die, and he isn't going to live happily ever after with his love interest from the books.  Even so, I enjoyed this trilogy very much.  It provided good insight into the workings of Hutt society, as well as some interesting looks at Boba Fett.

Food in New Paltz

My boyfriend and I visited his sister in New Paltz, New York.  We had a lot of fun and got to visit some new restaurants while we were there.  The first we went to was the Moonlight Cafe.  Justin and I both had their falafel  wrap special.  It was my first time having falafel, and I loved it.  The wrap had falafel, hummus, eggplant, sprouts,   and tahini sauce.  So yummy!  I will definitely be making falafel in the near future.

We spent one day in Woodstock, NY, where we came across a little Mexican place called Taco Juan's.  We had a really yummy lunch there.  They had a good variety of dishes, and lots of sauces to add to your own food.  I had the baby burrito, so called because it was a mere half pound of food.  Justin had the full pound burrito.  I had mine with beef, and added guacamole for extra yumminess.