Meanwhile, in Rivendell . . .

Once again, late but hopefully better than never.  I may write one more post about a couple of specific musings on 2020, but I'm not sure.  Either way, this will be one of the last retrospective posts I'll share about 2020; I'm feeling an urge to put it behind me for the time being (as I'm sure many are), and I want to move forward with new content.   And I think that, for me, part of executing that plan will mean not completing any of the tags I've been passed in recent months.  So, if you're one of the lovely people who tagged me lately — thank you so much!  Please know that I did read and appreciate all of the questions you posed, but for now I think I need to start afresh. 💛 ⸻ Arranged (2007) ● Not Rated This had some painfully unprofessional moments, but I found myself very invested in the two women and the way their friendship evolved.  The story also offered a different and thought-provoking perspective on (consensual) arranged marriage, which...

Well, folks, it's that time of year. Actually, it's past that time of year.  I did intend to have several review/wrap-up posts published by December 31, but . . . as you can see, that didn't turn out.  Stuff happened, it is what it is, no use crying over spilled milk, that sort of thing.   Nevertheless, I've still been stubbornly determined to finish this shout-out post, so that's what I've done.  This will be exactly what it sounds like:  a highlight reel of some of my Personal Bests in reading and watching over the course of 2020.  (To keep it manageable, I've limited myself to ten or fewer stories in each category.  I also want to point out that I primarily went off of personal enjoyment when selecting my top picks.  There may have been other stories that were better crafted from a critical or semi-objective perspective.  But if a conflict arose in my ranking process, I typically went with which story I personally enjoyed more, or whi...

Also known as, two lovely Christmas tags. 😉 Yes indeedy, two dear friends have both passed me holiday tags!  I don't often double up on tag/award posts, but since we're already halfway through December, it seemed like the best move. 😛   First, let's start with Heidi's tag:  the 12 Delights of Christmas . 1. A favorite Christmas tradition? Watching The Sound of Music on New Year's Eve! 😃💕 2. Say it snowed at your domicile, would you prefer to go out or stay curled up inside? Ideally, I'd have a whole day in which to do both!  It's actually snowing as I write this (😍), and I'm hoping/planning to go outside for picture-taking and hiking, as well as to spend Quite A Bit of time reading in an easy chair.  3. Tea or hot chocolate? Hot chocolate, for sure. 4. Favorite Christmas colors (i.e. white, blue, silver, gold, red and green etc)? I really can't decide . . . in terms of combos, probably white and green.  But I also need some splashes of multi-col...

My pal, my buddy, my main slice Katie  has passed me a Narnia-themed tag, because she's cool like that.  I have a Deep & Abiding love for this world that Clive created, so let's jump in! ⸻ Rules 1. Thank the person who nominated you 2. Rate your degree of “Narnia fanatic” (nostalgic, serious, maniacal) 3. Answer the questions below 4. Tag 5+ bloggers 5. Have fun! Scale of Fanaticism 1. Nostalgic Fanatic :  You read the book and/or watched the movies as a child and the word Narnia gives you a warm feeling. 2. Serious Fanatic :  You rediscovered the wonder of Narnia after you were older and have read the books and watched the movies. 3. Maniacal Fanatic :  You have lived Narnia from childhood, hid in closets on more occasions than is healthy, have read and watched all the movies including the BBC version. I read the books and watched both the BBC and the Warner Bros. movies as a child; the word Narnia gives me a warm feeling; and I constantly reread the books ...

Alas, no, I am aware of no immediate plans for Disney to produce a live-action version of The Incredibles .  But if such plans should ever materialize . . . have I got a cast ready for them or what. 😉 ⸻ Elastigirl / Helen Parr Emma Stone Emma would rock Helen's grit & sass like no other actress available today & I will not be accepting criticism of that statement at this time.  I would absolutely love to see her in this role.  She would crush it.  Mr. Incredible / Bob Parr Eric Allan Kramer I know he's a leetle too old now, especially as a partner for Stone, but he's the only person I've ever been able to envision as Bob.  (Except Alan Hale, Jr., but he's about six feet too old.)  So it is what it is, peeps.  Violet Parr Mackenzie Foy   I went back and forth on the casting for Violet.  I would also love to see what Millie Bobby Brown could do with the role, so it was difficult to decide.  In the end, I think Mackenzie Foy would ...

Did I drop off the face of this blog for a full month?  I sure did. 😂  School and work are both crazy right now.  Really looking forward to December when they'll calm down. 😅  Anyway, here's the new stuff I watched in September and October! ⸻ Adopt a Highway (2019) ● Not Rated I know it would have been unrealistic if it had ended the way we want it to, but DID I ASK FOR REALISM???  DID I ASK. (I did not ask.) (But this was a good movie anyway.) Barbie and the Twelve Dancing Princesses (2006) ● Not Rated You don't understand:  I've been wanting to watch this for at least a decade. 😂  Ever since I had the novelization as a kid and fell in love with the dresses & the aesthetic & what-not.  And I finally know someone who owns it, so I was finally able to see it!  Huzzah. I didn't love it, but I enjoyed the experience. 😍 Magic in the Moonlight (2014) ● PG-13 This was my first time watching a Woody Allen movie, and all pedophilic sexual...