I know, I am so behind the times. I just watched this for the first time today. What an amazing film. Why I haven't seen this before I do not know but I haven't ever seen this or had the oppertunity to see this. Lets see it came out in 1998 which was when I graduated from high school and I really wasn't into military then so that probably has a lot to do with why I haven't ever seen it before. But I will admitt I did let maybe, 3 or 4 tears fall down my cheeks as he saluted the grave site at the end.
I must say though, in my current mind set; Military Intelligence (MI) never ceases to disappoint me. In this film it is the linguist who lets his fellow Soldier die and stands aside scared while he holds all the ammo. Freakin cowards. This is one of many reasons I can not wait to get out of my current unit. I am so glad that I am not deploying with these people. O'well, just one persons opinion. But this was truly a great film.
I don't like military men just because I have dated so many and never has a relationship turned out fruitful, but watching films like this and seeing brave men out there with their weapons fighting for what they believe in, it kind of turns me on. I am probably screwed into falling for Military men for the rest of my life. I just like that Alpha personality. Okay, I need to be more specific. I need a real Military man, not a poge. A real man, a fighter, someone who knows how to use the weapons that are given to him. Someone who isn't afriad to die for what they are fighting for. I don't want one of those pansies that cry for mamma once they are shot. I want one of those men that are so head strong that they wont get shot because they are that arrogant.
When I was a waitress I was told by a customer that I was born in the wrong era. That I should have been born in the late 40's early 50's. I would have been the perfect pin up girl back then. Maybe I would have looked the part back then but I think I would have fit the part as well, back when men were men and the women would do anything for the REAL men that they were married to.
Monday, April 12, 2010
Saturday, April 10, 2010
#37 Club Pulse with Will and Nina
I can always count on Will to help me check off goals on my list. Last weekend 3 April 2010 Will, Nina and I went to two gay bars. The first was very low key. It was called Friends. We warmed ourselves up here with a couple glasses of wine. Then moved onto Pulse. This bar had great music and wonderful atmosphere. We met all kinds of wonderful new people there. Had a blast. I knew the evening was going to be a good night even before I left the house when I fit into a pair of pants that I haven't been able to fit in over 5 years. That is always a good start.
The evening slipped away into an early morning. Nina and burned up the dance floor and all of us drank way too much. We ended the night by hitting the local 24 hour store and getting some booze and took them back to the apartment and sat around drinking a bit more. Only in Europe can you stay out at the bar until the sun starts to come up and then go buy more so the party can keep going at home. It is too easy to see why people come to Europe and never leave. It is like Never Never land here. You never have to grow up!!!
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Getting the hang of becoming a minimalist.
Last weekend was only the beginning. I feel like something has been set free inside of me. All of this stuff!!! and I mean STUFF!!!! that I have been hanging onto for no reason. I spent most of this weekend laying low but this morning decided to get back into the spare bedroom and start going through boxes and getting things put back in the trunk.
I had ordered these bags that you hook up to your vaccum and they shrink everything down to a small size. I wanted to give them a try with all the large blankets and pillows I washed last weekend. After that I just couldn't stop. I found this box that was all taped up and I had no clue what was inside of it. Once the tape was off, I had to roll my eyes and say, "What was I thinking putting all this stuff in a box and not sorting out way back when?".
I have to say this whole minimalization process hasn't been the easiest on the emotions. A couple of weeks ago when I first started the throwing out of boxed I came across a box with all the letters that my ex-husband had ever written me. I will admit I still haven't done anything with these. I shuved them away in a trunk and will deal with them later. I guess I just wasn't strong enough on that day to get rid of them. Over the last couple of years whenever I find something of his I have been destroying/throwing out/donating it/ just plain getting rid of it. This is what I have had to do to remain saine. He was lucky in the fact that he got to walk away and start fresh without any memories, he left everything with me.
Today, in that box all taped up, I found his old tin box. The one he use to keep anything and everything that meant anything to him since he was a boy. In there was every note I had written him while we were in highschool. I stared down at it and wondered what do I do with this? Stupidly I called him and left a message on his machine. He actually called me back. I told him and he remembered the tin I was talking about and said he was sorry that I was dealing with all this and finding all these memories during my spring cleaning but that he had to go because he can't walk in uniform while talking on the phone. He is very good at making sure there isn't much time for us to talk when he calls.
After taking down the two bags of garbage I compiled (one from everyday use and one from the spare room of crap I have collected over the years), the recycle-able plastics and the again boxes/ paper recycle-ables I have collected over the years, I text messaged him and asked, " What do I do with them now?"
I had ordered these bags that you hook up to your vaccum and they shrink everything down to a small size. I wanted to give them a try with all the large blankets and pillows I washed last weekend. After that I just couldn't stop. I found this box that was all taped up and I had no clue what was inside of it. Once the tape was off, I had to roll my eyes and say, "What was I thinking putting all this stuff in a box and not sorting out way back when?".
I have to say this whole minimalization process hasn't been the easiest on the emotions. A couple of weeks ago when I first started the throwing out of boxed I came across a box with all the letters that my ex-husband had ever written me. I will admit I still haven't done anything with these. I shuved them away in a trunk and will deal with them later. I guess I just wasn't strong enough on that day to get rid of them. Over the last couple of years whenever I find something of his I have been destroying/throwing out/donating it/ just plain getting rid of it. This is what I have had to do to remain saine. He was lucky in the fact that he got to walk away and start fresh without any memories, he left everything with me.
Today, in that box all taped up, I found his old tin box. The one he use to keep anything and everything that meant anything to him since he was a boy. In there was every note I had written him while we were in highschool. I stared down at it and wondered what do I do with this? Stupidly I called him and left a message on his machine. He actually called me back. I told him and he remembered the tin I was talking about and said he was sorry that I was dealing with all this and finding all these memories during my spring cleaning but that he had to go because he can't walk in uniform while talking on the phone. He is very good at making sure there isn't much time for us to talk when he calls.
After taking down the two bags of garbage I compiled (one from everyday use and one from the spare room of crap I have collected over the years), the recycle-able plastics and the again boxes/ paper recycle-ables I have collected over the years, I text messaged him and asked, " What do I do with them now?"
I continued to clean for a little while and after about 30 minutes of no response I realized, he really doesn't care, I really don't care and shouldn't care. Neither of us have seen those notes since before we were in the Army. I went for the healthiest answer I could come up with.....
I shredded them!!! And the tin, it goes into the donation bin that gets dropped off tomorrow. I have another Ikea bag plus some random items in my trunk that wouldn't fit in the bag that need to be dropped off tomorrow. I tell you I am getting really good at this.
I know that I am not finished yet, but here is just a glimpse of the progress. This is just one of the closets. It use to be crammed packed full of stuff. Now I don't have near enough stuff to ever dream of filling it. Oh and I haven't even touched the other two cabnets yet. If you look at the bottem of the picture you can see the schrinking bag thing. Believe it or not, that thing has a king size comforter, a queen size comforter, three normal blankets, 2 pillows and couple of randoms in there. I KNOW!!!! And it is shrunk down to ittty bitty.
As I have said before, I still have a ways to go. But that spare room is getting more and more empty and the cabnets are not getting full, so that is a good sign. I think this is going to be a very good new beginning for me.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
The beginning of #29 Getting rid of old things in boxes that I don't use/need/want anymore
This weekend I had four days off from work. I figured it was the perfect oppertunity to get started on going through and cleaning the blankets I want to keep and getting rid of things I am holding onto for who knows why.
When I first had the problem with the mold in the entry way I had housing get in contact with my landlord. He requested that I take everything out of the trunk so he could move it away from the wall a couple of inches in order to create ventilation room. This also gave me reason to start this project.
For some reason I have been keeping every box that I get anything in. So for starts I collapsed and recycled two blue recycling bins of boxes. There were boxes from old cell phones, from hard drives, amazon.com, you name it, if it came to me in a box I still had the box.
Then I found an entire foot locker of an ex's old clothes. Why am I still storing this stuff? I folded all the clothes, sorted out the socks and underwear and took them to the donation center. The socks and underwear got thrown away.
In the fashion of spring cleaning, I rounded up my down douvet, the pillow top for my bed, all the pillows in my house, and the king size comforter I have decided to keep, and took them to the laundry mat for cleaning.
While sorting through my linens I decided I don't need my deployment twin size sheets anymore. Therefore the sheets and their matching pillowcases were folded up and taken to the donation center along with the ex's clothes.
This was one days work. I still have a lot more to do. I have another load that needs to go to the donation center. I have found an old toaster that works but I won't use again. A couple of camera cases for cameras I don't have anymore, a laptop bag for a laptop that I don't have anymore, and a few other odds and ends. I am quite sure that there will be more as I go through the rest of the trunks as well. What I really need to do is the painful part. Start on my closet. There are so many articles in there that I haven't worn in forever and I know I will never wear them again, but you know how hard it is to get rid of clothes. I just need to buckle down and do it.
What really sucks to think is just when I am done doing all of this here in Germany and getting down to a minimized state here, I will move back to the states and pick up all of my stuff that my parents have been storing for me. That will be another monster to go through and tackle since I haven't seemed to throw anything away ever in my life.
I will get there though. I make this promise to myself. I will be clutter free!
When I first had the problem with the mold in the entry way I had housing get in contact with my landlord. He requested that I take everything out of the trunk so he could move it away from the wall a couple of inches in order to create ventilation room. This also gave me reason to start this project.
For some reason I have been keeping every box that I get anything in. So for starts I collapsed and recycled two blue recycling bins of boxes. There were boxes from old cell phones, from hard drives, amazon.com, you name it, if it came to me in a box I still had the box.
Then I found an entire foot locker of an ex's old clothes. Why am I still storing this stuff? I folded all the clothes, sorted out the socks and underwear and took them to the donation center. The socks and underwear got thrown away.
In the fashion of spring cleaning, I rounded up my down douvet, the pillow top for my bed, all the pillows in my house, and the king size comforter I have decided to keep, and took them to the laundry mat for cleaning.
While sorting through my linens I decided I don't need my deployment twin size sheets anymore. Therefore the sheets and their matching pillowcases were folded up and taken to the donation center along with the ex's clothes.
This was one days work. I still have a lot more to do. I have another load that needs to go to the donation center. I have found an old toaster that works but I won't use again. A couple of camera cases for cameras I don't have anymore, a laptop bag for a laptop that I don't have anymore, and a few other odds and ends. I am quite sure that there will be more as I go through the rest of the trunks as well. What I really need to do is the painful part. Start on my closet. There are so many articles in there that I haven't worn in forever and I know I will never wear them again, but you know how hard it is to get rid of clothes. I just need to buckle down and do it.
What really sucks to think is just when I am done doing all of this here in Germany and getting down to a minimized state here, I will move back to the states and pick up all of my stuff that my parents have been storing for me. That will be another monster to go through and tackle since I haven't seemed to throw anything away ever in my life.
I will get there though. I make this promise to myself. I will be clutter free!
Friday, March 19, 2010
Top 100 of the Internet Movie Data Base
So, it isn't like I thought that this was set in stone. I knew that the list would change, I just didn't think it would change on a daily basis. I am torn as to how to go about completing this task. Should I make a set list on one date and stick to that list or be flexible and watch the flims until Ifinish my 1001 days. If I go all the way out to 1001 I may end up watching 2001 films.I have only had 1 that I have watched so far fall off, but then again, I have had 2 that I have already watched been added. So, I am not totally sure how to go about this. Maybe I should make a claus like a, I can change up to 10 of the films on the list as they change over the time it takes me to complete the goal. That way if there are films that I am having a difficult time finding I can switch them out with other films that come onto the the list. That is what I willl do. I will publish my list today, here. And then from now, I am allowed 10 changes from the list as they change in the future.
1. 9.1 The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
2. 9.1 The Godfather (1972)
3. 9.0 The Godfather: Part II (1974)
4. 8.9 Pulp Fiction (1994)
5. 8.8 Schindler's List (1993)
6. 8.8 12 Angry Men (1957)
7. 8.8 One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)
8. 8.8 Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
9. 8.8 The Dark Knight (2008)
10. 8.8 The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
11. 8.8 Star Wars (1977)
12. 8.7 Casablanca (1942)
13. 8.7 Goodfellas (1990)
14. 8.7 Fight Club (1999)
15. 8.7 The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
16. 8.7 Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
17. 8.7 Rear Window (1954)
18. 8.7 The Usual Suspects (1995)
19. 8.7 Psycho (1960)
20. 8.6 The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
21. 8.6 The Matrix (1999)
22. 8.6 Se7en (1995)
23. 8.6 Memento (2000)
24. 8.6 It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
25. 8.6 The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
26. 8.6 Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)
27. 8.6 Sunset Blvd. (1950)
28. 8.6 North by Northwest (1959)
29. 8.6 Citizen Kane (1941)
30. 8.6 Léon (1994)
31. 8.6 Apocalypse Now (1979)
32. 8.5 American Beauty (1999)
33. 8.5 Forrest Gump (1994)
34. 8.5 American History X (1998)
35. 8.5 Taxi Driver (1976)
36. 8.5 Vertigo (1958)
37. 8.5 Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
38. 8.5 Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
39. 8.5 Alien (1979)
40. 8.5 WALL·E (2008)
41. 8.5 Saving Private Ryan (1998)
42. 8.5 A Clockwork Orange (1971)
43. 8.5 The Shining (1980)
44. 8.4 Paths of Glory (1957)
45. 8.4 The Departed (2006)
46. 8.4 The Pianist (2002)
47. 8.4 To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)
48. 8.4 Aliens (1986)
49. 8.4 Double Indemnity (1944)
50. 8.4 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
51. 8.4 Chinatown (1974)
52. 8.4 Requiem for a Dream (2000)
53. 8.4 The Third Man (1949)
54. 8.4 L.A. Confidential (1997)
55. 8.4 Reservoir Dogs (1992)
56. 8.4 Das Boot (1981)
57. 8.4 The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948)
58. 8.4 Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)
59. 8.4 City Lights (1931)
60. 8.4 Avatar (2009)
61. 8.4 El laberinto del fauno (2006)
62. 8.4 The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
63. 8.4 Inglourious Basterds (2009)
64. 8.3 Raging Bull (1980)
65. 8.3 The Prestige (2006)
66. 8.3 Up (2009)
67. 8.3 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
68. 8.3 Singin' in the Rain (1952)
69. 8.3 Back to the Future (1985)
70. 8.3 Modern Times (1936)
71. 8.3 Some Like It Hot (1959)
72. 8.3 Amadeus (1984)
73. 8.3 Full Metal Jacket (1987)
74. 8.3 The Maltese Falcon (1941)
75. 8.3 Braveheart (1995)
76. 8.3 Gran Torino (2008)
77. 8.3 Nuovo cinema Paradiso (1988)
78. 8.3 Once Upon a Time in America (1984)
79. 8.3 All About Eve (1950)
80. 8.3 Metropolis (1927)
81. 8.3 The Green Mile (1999)
82. 8.3 Slumdog Millionaire (2008)
83. 8.3 The Elephant Man (1980)
84. 8.3 Sin City (2005)
85. 8.3 The Great Dictator (1940)
86. 8.3 Rebecca (1940)
87. 8.3 The Apartment (1960)
88. 8.3 The Sting (1973)
89. 8.3 Gladiator (2000)
90. 8.3 Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)
91. 8.3 The Great Escape (1963)
92. 8.3 Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983)
93 8.3 Ladri di biciclette (1948)
94. 8.3 Unforgiven (1992)
95. 8.3 Batman Begins (2005)
96. 8.3 Jaws (1975)
97. 8.2 Blade Runner (1982)
98. 8.2 Hotel Rwanda (2004)
99. 8.2 Die Hard (1988)
100. 8.2 Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) \
So this is my list. I have watched 31 as of now and so far I can tell why some of these have made the list. I am not sure as to why some of the more recent films are on the list but they are okay I guess. I have to admitt I am not a fan of the lord of the rings trilogy but I guess they are not for everyone. I have already edited the original imbd to illiminate the films that are not translated into English. There were about 10 films on the top 100 that were only offered in German, Italian or Japanese. They didn't even offer English subtitles. These films I removed from my list and added the next films that were on the list in their place. I have kept the foreign films that are offered with subtitles or are translated into English. I have had the oppertunity to watch two such films so far and both have been very well produced. So cheers and onto another film!
1. 9.1 The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
2. 9.1 The Godfather (1972)
3. 9.0 The Godfather: Part II (1974)
4. 8.9 Pulp Fiction (1994)
5. 8.8 Schindler's List (1993)
6. 8.8 12 Angry Men (1957)
7. 8.8 One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)
8. 8.8 Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
9. 8.8 The Dark Knight (2008)
10. 8.8 The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
11. 8.8 Star Wars (1977)
12. 8.7 Casablanca (1942)
13. 8.7 Goodfellas (1990)
14. 8.7 Fight Club (1999)
15. 8.7 The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
16. 8.7 Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
17. 8.7 Rear Window (1954)
18. 8.7 The Usual Suspects (1995)
19. 8.7 Psycho (1960)
20. 8.6 The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
21. 8.6 The Matrix (1999)
22. 8.6 Se7en (1995)
23. 8.6 Memento (2000)
24. 8.6 It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
25. 8.6 The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
26. 8.6 Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)
27. 8.6 Sunset Blvd. (1950)
28. 8.6 North by Northwest (1959)
29. 8.6 Citizen Kane (1941)
30. 8.6 Léon (1994)
31. 8.6 Apocalypse Now (1979)
32. 8.5 American Beauty (1999)
33. 8.5 Forrest Gump (1994)
34. 8.5 American History X (1998)
35. 8.5 Taxi Driver (1976)
36. 8.5 Vertigo (1958)
37. 8.5 Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
38. 8.5 Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
39. 8.5 Alien (1979)
40. 8.5 WALL·E (2008)
41. 8.5 Saving Private Ryan (1998)
42. 8.5 A Clockwork Orange (1971)
43. 8.5 The Shining (1980)
44. 8.4 Paths of Glory (1957)
45. 8.4 The Departed (2006)
46. 8.4 The Pianist (2002)
47. 8.4 To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)
48. 8.4 Aliens (1986)
49. 8.4 Double Indemnity (1944)
50. 8.4 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
51. 8.4 Chinatown (1974)
52. 8.4 Requiem for a Dream (2000)
53. 8.4 The Third Man (1949)
54. 8.4 L.A. Confidential (1997)
55. 8.4 Reservoir Dogs (1992)
56. 8.4 Das Boot (1981)
57. 8.4 The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948)
58. 8.4 Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)
59. 8.4 City Lights (1931)
60. 8.4 Avatar (2009)
61. 8.4 El laberinto del fauno (2006)
62. 8.4 The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
63. 8.4 Inglourious Basterds (2009)
64. 8.3 Raging Bull (1980)
65. 8.3 The Prestige (2006)
66. 8.3 Up (2009)
67. 8.3 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
68. 8.3 Singin' in the Rain (1952)
69. 8.3 Back to the Future (1985)
70. 8.3 Modern Times (1936)
71. 8.3 Some Like It Hot (1959)
72. 8.3 Amadeus (1984)
73. 8.3 Full Metal Jacket (1987)
74. 8.3 The Maltese Falcon (1941)
75. 8.3 Braveheart (1995)
76. 8.3 Gran Torino (2008)
77. 8.3 Nuovo cinema Paradiso (1988)
78. 8.3 Once Upon a Time in America (1984)
79. 8.3 All About Eve (1950)
80. 8.3 Metropolis (1927)
81. 8.3 The Green Mile (1999)
82. 8.3 Slumdog Millionaire (2008)
83. 8.3 The Elephant Man (1980)
84. 8.3 Sin City (2005)
85. 8.3 The Great Dictator (1940)
86. 8.3 Rebecca (1940)
87. 8.3 The Apartment (1960)
88. 8.3 The Sting (1973)
89. 8.3 Gladiator (2000)
90. 8.3 Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)
91. 8.3 The Great Escape (1963)
92. 8.3 Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983)
93 8.3 Ladri di biciclette (1948)
94. 8.3 Unforgiven (1992)
95. 8.3 Batman Begins (2005)
96. 8.3 Jaws (1975)
97. 8.2 Blade Runner (1982)
98. 8.2 Hotel Rwanda (2004)
99. 8.2 Die Hard (1988)
100. 8.2 Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) \
So this is my list. I have watched 31 as of now and so far I can tell why some of these have made the list. I am not sure as to why some of the more recent films are on the list but they are okay I guess. I have to admitt I am not a fan of the lord of the rings trilogy but I guess they are not for everyone. I have already edited the original imbd to illiminate the films that are not translated into English. There were about 10 films on the top 100 that were only offered in German, Italian or Japanese. They didn't even offer English subtitles. These films I removed from my list and added the next films that were on the list in their place. I have kept the foreign films that are offered with subtitles or are translated into English. I have had the oppertunity to watch two such films so far and both have been very well produced. So cheers and onto another film!
Julia Child's Coq au Vin
Learning to cook better has been a goal of mine for a while now. I started off learning Italian recipes. But since I have started the 101 list I am switiching to French recipes from Julia Child's cook book. My first meal to conquer was Coq au Vin. It was a great deal of fun to make. Required a LOT of alcohol.1/4 cup of Cognac and 3 cups Chianti. I had half a bottle of Chianti myself while preparing the meal. I haven't ever lit a dish on fire before so that was definately an adventure. I had a picture of water standing closely by to ensure that I didn't burn the kitchen down. If you look closely in the picture you can see the flames.
It took a lot longer to prepare than the book said it would but the next day I took it to work and had a couple of people try it with me. Everyone agreed. It was very good. Not sure when I will try the next recipe it might be a couple of weeks. I am sure the next recipe will be just as exciting to make. Most of her recipes look like there seems to be a twist to them.
Friday, March 12, 2010
Frustration with #38
I thought I had everything all clear and ready to go. I am use to getting some push back when I want to do things and then people telling me, no I'm sorry because you have MS you can't do this or that. But, I had my paperwork in hand and I was ready to go. I printed off the policy from the Red Cross saying that they had lifted the ban on donors with MS back in May of 2007 and off I went to the local blood drive.
Silly me, I forgot. This is the Military. We have our own rules that don't follow any guidelines that the rest of the world follow. So after about an hour of screening and asking questions the big one finally was asked. And I was ready. I said, I am being seen for MS. Then when she went to look in her big book of referals I pulled out the policy letter and she said, "Well good for the Red Cross, but the Military still has a ban on MS donors."
Isn't that just peachy! I will still make this goal, I will just have to wait until I can get back stateside and go to an official Red Cross to donate.
Silly me, I forgot. This is the Military. We have our own rules that don't follow any guidelines that the rest of the world follow. So after about an hour of screening and asking questions the big one finally was asked. And I was ready. I said, I am being seen for MS. Then when she went to look in her big book of referals I pulled out the policy letter and she said, "Well good for the Red Cross, but the Military still has a ban on MS donors."
Isn't that just peachy! I will still make this goal, I will just have to wait until I can get back stateside and go to an official Red Cross to donate.
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