Feeding Your Soul

Your favorite movie of all time. That question gets asked time and time again to every human being as part of normal conversation.  Some people can rattle off a few movies that first come to mind; others find some obscure movie to name that will make them look good in front of other people.  Others, such as myself, name a movie that every time they watch it makes them happy, nostalgic and smile no matter what i going on in their lives.   White Christmas starring Bing Crosby and Danny Kayne is my all time favorite movie.  I could watch it every day of the year and never get bored.  Today I watched the musical on stage in Boston (thanks to a christmas present from my wife) then came home to watch the movie.  A favorite movie of all time is supposed to keep you feeling good, happy and free of worry no matter what is going on in your life. White Christmas brings that out in me every single time I watch it. This movie brings acting, singing, dancing, drama, comedy and ridiculousness

With both OUAT and Revenge, for this viewer each has had a lack luster first half (up until the winter finales).  I was not excited about the Frozen storyline with OUAT and Revenge seemd to be grasping at straws a little with bringing back David Clarke and waiting episode upon episode to reveal to him that Emily is really Amanda.   However, both winter finales have reaffirmed my love for the shows with one getting back to basics with storylines that I love and the other going out with a Bang Bang that I did not see coming. Revenge’s winter finale aired on December 7th with the sneak peak of “Revenge knows how to do death.”  Everyone knew that someone was going to die but the question was, who? You immediatley ruled out Emily and Victoria - Emily because there would be no show without her and Victoria for the same reason because Emily cannot have revenge without Victoria. So the remaining potential victims were: Jack, Ben, Nolan, Daniel, Marguax, Louise, Kate and David.  Each

Ever since Lost decided to take a winter hiatus in their 3rd season, slowly other shows saw the type of hype they received from taking a few weeks off during the television season.  By giving viewers a cliffhanger at the end of 8 or 9 episodes, the shows gave them a way to interact with the season through their imagination.  The viewers could imagine where the story was headed, make assumptions about the rest of the season and even bring their imagination to life through the power of writing.  Television has changed from a mindless set of shows on every day to a thought yearly plan where shows are strategically cut into 2 seperate storylines that intertwine at the most unlikely of places.  This television season most, especially dramas, have taken this path to include a winter finale which airs in mid to late November, takes about 6-8 weeks off and returns full force until the end of the season in May.  For my shows Sleepy Hollow, Gotham, NCIS, NCIS; New Orleans, Grey’s Anatomy, Scan

When I read The Host by Stephanie Meyer at the time it was one of the hardest books for me to get through.  This was before eReaders and Nook and all the fancy things we have today.  Back when it was just books (yes there was a time we just had physical books) the length of the book was the main reason why I could not get through it.  I was always looking to see how much I had left, figuring out the percentage instead of worrying about the story. The book took me about 6 months to read. I had to force myself to go back and read it; I was very intrigued by the genre and plot but the amount of pages kept getting in the way.  Meyer did use more description than I like in The Host which made it very difficult to keep my attention for long periods of time (hence the time it took me to finish the book).I know that I missed a few things and when I heard the movie was being made, I was ecstatic.  And in October of 2014 I finally got around to watching it.   I should have watched it soon

It has been a long time since I have found a great book that I didn’t want to put down. The last one was Ellen Degeneres book “Seriously I”m Kidding” in June! I was due and The House on Tradd Street did not disappoint. The House on Tradd Street tells the story of Melinda, a woman with an ability to speak to the dead. No one knows she has this ability and she likes to keep it this way. Her mother left when she was 7 years old and her father has been an alcoholic since she can remember. She has had to fend for herself most of her life and she prefers it that way. She is a high profile realtor in Charleston South Carolina, selling high end homes including the old, southern homes and plantations. When she meets a very old homeowner to talk to him about putting his home on the marketing she never expects to suddenly be willed that home to renovate and solve a mystery that bears similar resemblance to her own life. With the help of her bohemian best friend and a handsome (although she

It has been a long time since the True Blood made its final bow, or stab depending on which way you look at it. Before I get into the review lets do a little recap. Bill is still on his path to die by Sookie’s fairie light and rid him of his internal struggle that he is destined to die; He believes he is being punished for all of his sins since he was turned a vampire during the Civil War.  Sookie is still struggling to figure out what to do, not sure if she can kill the man she loves. Bill wants Sookie to kill him so she can live her life without vampires and death.  Eric and Pam are working to get rid of the Japanese people and take over New Blood for themselves (which is genius).  In the end, Eric and Pam kill all the Japanese and they are both rich with the New Blood market.  Sookie does come to the conclusion that she wants babies and a real, human life with no vampires and stakes Bill in his own grave that was dug for him when he didn’t return home from the Civil War (creep

It has been about a month since the series finale of How I Met Your Mother where Ted explained to his kids the moment he met their mother and what happened with all of his friends after Robin and Barney’s wedding.  To recap, Barney and Robin got a divorce 3 years after their marriage; Marshall and Lily had another kid and Marshall got appointed Supreme Court judge in NY; and Ted married Tracey (the mother) then watched her pass away after an illness.  In the end Ted was reminiscing with his kids about their mother and how much she meant to him, how she affected his life. But the kids weren’t stupid. His daughter immediately pointed out that their mother was almost never in any of the stories he told and in every story it seemed there was always one constant – Robin.  They called him out saying that he is in love with Robin and wanted their permission to go on a date with her.  He denies it but in the end instead of calling her and asking her out on a date, he goes to her apa

When I created my 30 Before 30 list back at the end of January I left 2 spaces open for anything that would pop up (and because I couldn't think of anything else).  My wife recently came up with an idea for me that would get us both out of our comfort zone – visit 5 restaurants we have never been too.  Now this might not seem very outgoing to some people but to my wife and I who have our Cheers in our hometown this is a big deal. We have a list of our usual haunts that we go to whenever we go out for dinner and we rarely deviate from that list.  In this, my last year of my 20s, I will deviate hence this addition to the list.  The part that makes this addition easy is we watch Phantom Gourmet every weekend when we are home.  Our list of places to eat grows every week.  As for the rest of my 30 Before 30 list, I am starting off very slowly. I have only eaten 2 different dishes at 2 of my favorite restaurants (Happy Jack’s and Cheesecake Factory).   I am working my way towards

Well here is it. The dreaded/happy/exciting list of the 30 things I want to do by the time I am 30 on January 28th, 2015. I have already started one (#16) and had a dish at my favorite restaurant - Happy Jacks - that I never had before. 1 down, 4 to go! There are 2 empty spaces that I will fill in as the year goes on. If you have any suggestions feel free to leave a comment and let me know. If you want to do any of them with me, leave a comment and let me know. On the right hand side of the page I have my list. I will be taking them off as I go. Wish me luck everyone! 1. Reach 160 pounds 2. Visit 10 of the 25 Waterfalls of New England 3. Walk/Run Castle Island Route 4. Bike 2 Trails – Cape Cod and ??? 5. Read The Count of Monte Cristo 6. Pay off 1 Credit Card 7. Begin my Event Planning side business 8. Eat Thai Food 9. Put All Photos on my computer and camera into albums and organize 10. Decide for good whether I want a tattoo or not 11

Had to share. Puts you in a good mood :)

How do you tell the Sleepy Hollow story to an audience who has seen and heard the story countless times? By creating a little humor in all the drama of course.  Fox’s Sleepy Hollow premiered in September 2013 to a raving 10.1 million viewers – one of the highest rated season premiers this year on Fox.   New to the American silver screen Tom Mison plays Icabod Crane who is killed in 1781 by the Headless Horseman (who he kills as well) and is reawakened in 2013 along with the Headless Horseman.  Nicole Beharie plays Lt. Abbie Mills crosses paths with Crane after her partner is decapitated by the Headless Horseman. She is the only one who slightly believes him and they are paired together – reluctantly – by the chief of police Frank Irving (Orlando Jones) when events start occurring in Sleepy Hollow that cannot be explained.  Trying to find the truth as to why Crane awoke at all let alone in 2013 and dealing with life creates a bond between Abbie and Crane and with any bond, humor will

 After the success of shows such as Lost and 24, television studios have started airing new episodes of hit shows every week from the premiere until late November/early December with a long hiatus from December to end of January/February/March.   2 of my favorite shows – Revenge and Once Upon a Time – followed that pattern and they both ended with quite a bang. Revenge ended their 1 st half of Season 3 in early December with the reveal of who shot Emily.  I can say that the shooter was someone that I didn’t think would do it.  It was a shocker, one story-line that I never remotely thought of.  The moment to bring the shooter to light was a very calculated move but not by Emily.  She actually got herself on the other end of the gun by a lapse in her revenge agenda and slipped. Yes, Emily Thorne/Amanda Clarke slipped up and the result was 2 bullets to her stomach.  After watching the episode it was her slip-up that was most shocking and surprising with the reveal of the shooter ju

Visually spectacular. That is how I would describe Catching Fire, the second installment in the Hunger Games movies.  From the “ruins” of the districts to the Capital parties to the 75 th Hunger Games arena the movie was visually a masterpiece.  Everything was just as I had pictured in the book. Catching Fire picks up a few months after the 74 th Hunger Games where Peeta and Katniss won in the first time 2 people became victors.  Katniss is finding it hard to keep her thoughts together and questions everything, especially her relationship with Gale and Peeta.  After a disturbing visit from President Snow, Katniss tries to make the best of the Victory Tour and convince everyone that she and Peeta are madly and happily in love.  It doesn’t work and for that the 75 th Hunger Games – the Quarter Quell – will reap (choose) from the existing pool of victors. By process of elimination, Katniss will go back into the arena as she is the only female victor from District 12.  But this H

2013 was beyond words. I married my best friend, went on an amazing and romantic honeymoon, met amazing people that I will never forget and reconnected with family that I let slip through the cracks. 2013 was by far the best year on record. But 2014 brings about a new set of exciting – starting the life that I know I deserve. Every year I make a list of resolutions that I rarely keep (which is the first problem) but this year I have a much different and better outlook on the year and what I want to accomplish. I feel confident. I feel radiant. I know that this year will be amazing and better than last year because I want it to be. If you want something bad enough you just have to go out and get it, no matter what it takes. That is what I plan on doing this year. I have made a few resolutions and I plan on keeping every single one of them. I also created a 30 by 30 list as this is the last year in my 20’s. I know I will accomplish everything on that list come hell or high wa