Gum Cute-Ah

I confess to posting a goodly amount of outta-focus photos...though...
this pic proved a bit too blurry-of-the-face for fake it till ya make it blog. More often than not, blurry artsy is acceptable (to me) - but this photo didn't quite make the cut to post over there at fakeittill.

However, I could not resist sharing this sweet mug somewhere anywhere - so here it be.

Gum Cute-Ah is not her Chinese name.
It's May Lon.
Excuse me.
May Lon-Ah.

Enchanted

When 'Enchanted' was released last year, it piqued my moviegoing curiosity.

The movie trailer presents the film as something of a parody (correct), satirical (yes) as it borrowed with tongue-firmly-in-cheek and with nary a hint of shame - from just about all of my fave Disney Princess Classics. They can do that. Carte Blanche. It's Disney, after all.

One could deduce that, at the very least, 'Enchanted' might be trite. However, the promise of lite entertaining fare for the downtrodden is something not to be ignored.

'Enchanted' arrived, via Netflix, in my mailbox the other day.
Because I add movies to my Netflix queue weeks/months in advance of receiving them, it's a challenge to remember what'all was put on my list. Consequently, it's usually quite a surprise when the DVDs arrive. As in: 'What movie is this and who the hell put it on my queue?!?' Thank goodness the folks there keep proper tabs.

It's been desperate times these last months, and I needed an uplifting movie (having just viewed 'Golden Door' and 'Pan's Labyrinth' earlier this week), so I popped 'Enchanted' into the player to while away an hour and a half - multitasking, of course, by unraveling yet another knitting project. Suffice it to say that there is always another kniting project to 'cleanse'.

At any rate, I was banking on some escapism...

Ha.
and
Yay.
Who knew?!?
Such a good time to be had in 90 minutes time!
Admittedly, I'm an easy mark and highly susceptible, but get this - by movie's end, I felt quite oddly, yet pleasantly ~ transformed and undeniably uplifted.
Disney often does that to me, y'know.

One Word Movie Review: 'Enchanted' = ENDEARING

P.S.
'Pan's Labyrinth': Waaaaay more violence than my poor emotionally ravaged (yes, a bit melodramatic, but hey) soul bargained for at this time. However, I appreciated the Monster at the Feast (my moniker for it), which was amazingly well-designed and so very awesome...

'Golden Door': Great insight on the plight of the first wave of immigrating southern Europeans: especially worth seeing for the Ellis Island scenes, as well as the swimming-in-milk scene at the end.
...and here you Sicilians thought you were just Plain Ol' White Folk...or was it I who thought that?

California's Gold

Last week, Huell Howser took me where few have gone before:
to the top of the TransAmerica Pyramid - right up next to the lightning rod!

OK - so it was on his TV show, 'California's Gold' - but - nonetheless, t'was a thrill.

I've learned a bit (from Huell) about California over past years of watching his show.
F'rinstance - about The Old Plank Road and The La Brea Tar Pits. Granted, the Plank Road and Tar Pits are remotely (the former) or oddly (the latter) located; and are considerably less romantic than the view from the tippy top of the Pyramid, but there I be - right along with Huell - and very excitedly so.

Huell Howser has been here, there and everywhere in the 38th state- looking for California history, geography, geology, folk lore, good eats and entertainment. In my humble, tagging along on Howser adventures via his shows is TV time: well-spent.

Why is that?

First of all, there's his on screen persona: Huell Howser is a big, rugged 'growed man' - looking more like a ski instructor or football coach than one who goes exploring the nooks and crannies of California's byways for his jollies.

Originally from Tennessee, he delivers his exclamations with a southern twang.

On very sunny days, Howser removes his everpresent sporty wraparound sunglasses to reveal a 'raccoon eyes tan'. What a dork! You've just got to chuckle.

What I like best is the way Huell Howser displays the curiosity of an enthusiastic 5 year old - delighting in even the simplest discoveries to be found in a world much bigger than himself. And yes, there is something oddly charming (at least to me) about Huell's point-blank naivete style of questioning his hosts and fellow travelers, as well as his reactions to what he experiences.

Huell Howser's joie de vivre about All Things California is just so ~ well ~ gosh-darned ~~~ infectious. He shouts, he laughs, he jumps for joy. He interacts playfully with his guides and with passersby at the sites he explores.

What's more, he appears to genuinely enjoy what he does.

Some viewers can't stand Huell Howser's dweebie style.
Me? I LUV it!

Watch:
Huell on the Golden Gate Bridge.
Huell Whale Watching.

P.S. Another Howser Production worth checking out:
California's Green

Bring on the DUCT TAPE!

Twiddling those thumbs?

Pictured is a pretty darn cute tote you can make with DUCT TAPE.

When you're done with that, here's another cool DUCT TAPE craft project.

~ DUCT TAPE: WILL CRAFT~

this one is for DollinkGDaughter

The Final Frontier?

Thanks to the 'How Things Work' module on my Google homepage, I share with you
this peek into the not-so-distant future. Here's a video for those of you (like me) who need moving imagery to better understanding.

As law/technology have already BorgTooth'd us, it logically follows that space travel for the (monied civilian) masses looms on the What's Next? horizon...

'Fascinating'.

A few words about the video: In typical Infomercial style, it only takes a few minutes in - and you want one (in this case you want to GO) NOW NOW NOW.
In addition: Space Travel = Adventure + Art + Family Values: a winning combination, no?
Personally, I'm torn - as I am yet in retro thrills mode - having just invested in slowing the pace of life with a new-to-me recreational activity ~~~ making 'nary a footprint' via a slow-moving, manually-operated, quiet, environmentally-friendly, flat water KAYAK...

Still tired.

Still not feeling up to par.
But not cranky.
Feel like crying.
For love.
For life.

Yet I'm happy to wake up each day and be given another opportunity to deal with it all.

P.S. Many Thanks to YouTube musical video contributors for spot-on visuals I've been able to use on my recent posts when words have failed me oh-so-terribly.
(And K.D. Lang - OMG).