The Beginning of the Season!

This is my favorite time of year; holiday cheer, winter gear and the anticipation of a new year. Not to mention, Santa’s reindeer, Leinenkugel “Fireside Nut Brown” beer, and for some of us, a bigger rear.

So to kick off the holiday season, I decided to post some Christmas trivia questions and add more every week. You can post your answers in the comments or shoot me an email.
 

1.  In Frosty the Snowman, who brought Frosty back to life?  Santa Claus
 

2.  Who lost $8,000 in It's a Wonderful Life? Uncle Billy
 

3.  In How the Grinch Stole Christmas, what biological shortcoming made the Grinch so mean? His heart was two sizes too small
 

4.  Who tells you she's in town by tap, tap, tappin' at your windowpane? Suzy Snowflake
 

5.  What is the biggest selling Christmas single of all time? White Christmas
 

6.  What was Scrooge's first name? Ebenezer
 

7.  Where was I when I saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus? On the Stairs
 

8.  What was the name of Rudolph's dogsled driving friend? Yukon Cornelius
 

9.  Who said "God Bless Us, Every One!"? Tiny Tim
 

10. What carol contains the line "O tidings of comfort and joy"? God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
 

11.  In The Night Before Christmas I sprang from my bed to see what? What was the matter
 

12. Name the three reindeer whose names begin with a "D"? Dasher, Donder, Dancer
 

13. In the song "Grandma Got Run over by a Reindeer" what did Grandma go to get? Her medication
 

14. What was the first gift my true love sent on the sixth day of Christmas? Six geese a-laying
 

15. In what city did Miracle on 34th Street take place? New York
 

16. In It's a Wonderful Life, how did Clarence cleverly save George's life? He jumped in the river first
 

17. Who kept time with the Little Drummer Boy? The ox and the lamb
 

18. In The Night Before Christmas, where were the stockings hung? By the chimney
 

19. What is the name of the little girl in most versions of The Nutcracker? Clara
 

20. What is the last ghost called in A Christmas Carol? The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come

Prayers and Miracles,

Bea

Friday Night at the Movies

After being on the computer writing cover letters and submitting with resumes, working on my poetry book and studying, I decided to make it “Friday Night at the Movies” night. Of course, I’m not one to rent known movies—Oscar nominated; I enjoy Sundance Films or Independent. Instead of getting a romantic comedy, my favorite genre movie, I wound up with two sad and depressing movies—Blue Valentine and Like Dandelion Dust. Even though they were sad and depressing, I liked Like Dandelion Dust better than the promoted Blue Valentine with Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams.

Blue Valentine was sex induced, which led me to be unsympathetic to Michelle Williams character, Cindy. In the movie, she is promiscuous and her relationships are about sex. When Ryan Gosling’s character, Dean wants her emotionally and she claims she doesn’t have any emotion left, I thought, “I didn’t think she ever had any.” Her character was bland and the storyline dragged like a wet blanket hanging from a car door.

I prayed Like Dandelion Dust would be better. This is a story about two sets of parents, one biological and the other adoptive. The biological parents played by Mira Sorvino and Barry Pepper are poor, and the adoptive parents played by Kate Levering and Cole Hauser are rich. Barry Pepper’s character, Rip Porter goes to prison at the beginning of the movie for domestic violence due to his alcoholism. Mira Sorvino’s character, Wendy Porter finds out she’s pregnant and gives her child up for adoption. When Rip finally gets out of jail, she tells him about the pregnancy and adoption, and he wants his son back. He’s a changed man and never signed the papers.

Like Dandelion Dust comes from the idea of making a wish on a dandelion and blowing on it—this sets the wish free. Each set of parents has a wish, which both entail their son, Joey. It shows what lengths each one will go to for their son as they break from the pressure. In the end, their wish is granted—for their son to be safe and happy. 

If you’re looking for a compelling drama, I recommend Like Dandelion Dust and skip Blue Valentine.  

Do you have any movie recommendations?

Have a great weekend!

Totally Awesome!

“She is the only evidence of God I have seen with the exception of the mysterious force that removes one sock from the dryer every time I do my laundry.”  St. Elmo’s Fire (1985)

“There are several quintessential moments in a man's life: losing his virginity, getting married, becoming a father, and having the right girl smile at you.”  St. Elmo’s Fire (1985)

“Loosen up, have some fun! Yes, sleep when you feel like it, not when you think you should. Eat food that is bad for you - at least once in a while. Have conversations with people whose clothes are not color coordinated. Make love in a hammock! Life is the ultimate experience, and you have to live it to write about it.”  The Sure Thing (1985)

“Walter (Gib) Gibson: Elliot? You're gonna name the kid Elliot? No, you can't name the kid Elliot. Elliot is a fat kid with glasses who eats paste. You're not gonna name the kid Elliot. You gotta give him a real name. Give him a name. Like Nick.
Alison Bradbury: Nick?
Walter (Gib) Gibson: Yeah, Nick. Nick's a real name. Nick's your buddy. Nick's the kind of guy you can trust, the kind of guy you can drink a beer with, the kind of guy who doesn't mind if you puke in his car, Nick!”  The Sure Thing (1985)

“Chris Knight: So, if there's anything I can do for you, or, more to the point, to you, you just let me know.
Susan: Can you hammer a six-inch spike through a board with your penis?
Chris Knight: Not right now.
Susan: A girl's gotta have her standards.”  Real Genius (1985)

“Nancy: I hate my fuckin' life.
Sid: This is just a rough patch. Things'll be much better when we get to America, I promise.
Nancy: We're in America. We've been here a week. New York is in America, you fuck.”  Sid and Nancy (1986)

“John Bender: You're right. It's wrong to destroy literature. It's such fun to read. And
John Bender: Moe-Lay really pumps my nads.
Claire Standish: Moliere.”  The Breakfast Club (1985)

“Sam Emerson: Look at your reflection in the mirror. You're a creature of the night Michael, just like out of a comic book! You're a vampire Michael! My own brother, a goddamn, shit-sucking vampire. You wait 'till mom finds out, buddy!”  The Lost Boy (1987)

“Inigo Montoya: Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.”  The Princess Bride (1987)

“Dark Helmet: What's the matter, Colonel Sandurz? CHICKEN?”  Spaceballs (1987)

“Dark Helmet: Before you die there is something you should know about us, Lone Star.

Lone Starr: What?
Dark Helmet: I am your father's brother's nephew's cousin's former roommate.
Lone Starr: What's that make us?
Dark Helmet: Absolutely nothing! Which is what you are about to become.”  Spaceballs (1987)

What quotes make you laugh, think, smile, etc.?