Mama Mia - One thumb down

Last night two friends of mine went to go see Mama Mia. Now I knew of course it was a musical, but didn't know the whole story line. It's about a girl Sophie who is getting married and wants to know who her dad is. She reads her mom's diary from 20 years ago and finds out it could be 3 possible men (yes mom was a slut). She invites all three men to come to her wedding and they all do. The story is good and I would like to see it on Broadway.

At the end of the movie as they are doing a special song and dance, I see the the executive directors were Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson. I'm a HUGE Tom Hanks fan and think he is an amazing actor. But I thought their choice for actors in this movie was a little off.

Then my friend told me that Rita kept bothering Merle Streep until she finally said she would do the part of "Donna" the mom. In general I'm not a big Streep fan at all, but I thought her singing and dancing in this movie was not good. I wish Tom would have stepped in and got someone who can sing and dance and act like...... Cathrine Zeta-Jones or even better a wonderful actress whom my daughter was named after Olivia Newton-John. Now that's who the should have got!!

Then Pierce Bronson played one of the potential fathers. I laughed so hard the first time he broke out in song!! I told my friend he could never play 007 again after this. My favorite movie that he played in was Mrs. Doubtfire. Anyway he did not sing well at all either. They should have got a different actor to play that part like...... Richard Gere or the best choice I think would have been their (Tom and Rita's) friend John Travolta! That would have been great to see him and Olivia back on the big screen together.

Well those are my thoughts. In general the movies story line was good but I did find myself laughing A LOT at the musical numbers and the cast that sang them. I think this movie could have been great with the choices of different actors whether the ones I mentioned above or non-famous actors who could sing and dance. I'm disappointed that Tom put out a movie like this but I still respect him as an actor.

Hot Air Balloon Festival

This weekend we packed up the family and headed back for the last time in a while to Indianola,IA to see our friends the Sullivan's. We planned on going this weekend because starting on Friday was the Indinaola Hot Air Balloon Festival. Indianola is home to the National Hot Air Balloon Museum(now if this answer is ever on Jeopardy you know the answer). We got there Friday night around 5:30pm. While we were eating we could see some of the balloons which had taken off at 6:30pm for the night ascension. It was a nice thing to see. Then Friday night at dusk they were doing the night glow. This in tells the balloons being on the ground but lighting up. So we get there around 8:45pm and cars were leaving. We thought it's not even dark yet whats the deal!!! We asked someone and we had missed it (thanks Sherry :) there was maybe some storms coming in so they did it earlier then dusk. Bummer!! But the next night we went over for the 6:30pm ascension and here are some of the pics I got from it. It was so beautiful. The purple one is called the Purple People Eater. And the spaceship didn't fly that night it was so huge and I'm glad they kept it blown up for awhile.

If you ever get the chance I do recommend going to the Balloon Festival it was a great time.

RAGBRAI in Lisbon

Well we had a whole lot of bikers come through our little town today. All walks of life from old to kids sitting in carry along things while their parents peddled away. I went walking around 10:30 this morning with a friend and we were able to check it all out. There were a lot of bikers and some were drinking beer which I would expect from the riders but thought at 10:30 in the a.m. was pretty early unless you are an alcoholic :)

Then further down on our walk we heard a few guys hooting and hollering and as they went by we were able to get quite a few glimpses of about eight guys butts!!! That's right they had half of there spandex shorts pulled down and everyone got a good look.

Also when we were downtown there was this let say 20 something year old guy with no shirt and not spandex but skin tight Calvin Cline boxer shorts. Let's just say if a sketch artist needed me to describe him the police would be able to pick him up in about 10 min. ( from Seinfeld).
It seemed like a great day for the bikers and they all seemed to be having lots of fun.

Doing Laundry..Trevor style

I just got done mowing and I have Trevor help me by doing the big open area. Both kids have chores and this is not part of his but he does it cause he loves his mom and is willing to help me out.
OK back to the main idea of this post. One of Trevor's jobs is to fold laundry. So when he first started I showed Trevor how to fold it etc....
He now does it by himself. So after he is done I sometimes need to change clothes or the next day get dressed. I would find Darryl's underwear in my underwear drawer. Then there would be Darryl's shirts or shorts in my pile of clothes. I thought good night does he REALLY think I could fit into these things?? Does he think I'm fat???? What is going on????
As time goes on though I know he is just clueless. I'm trying to train him whoever might be his future wife :)

I figured out he has no idea because I have found Alivia's shorts in my pile, sometimes her shirts, and sometimes her pants. Now that makes my day :) I think wow Trevor thinks I'm a stick thin 60 lb. mom. Although I know the truth is he has no idea whose clothes are whom besides his own that he wears.
AHAH.... another day in the life of Trevor. I do love him so much and he makes me laugh everyday.
Ladies I really am trying to train him up to be a wonderful husband. We are currently working on..... holding the door open for women, not saying mom listen and then farting loudly, and not burping out loud and straining chucks as he does it.

I'm having a hard time with the last one since his dad burps all the time, and very loudly. It is gross and I have learned to put up with it. I only hope if I can't break this habit, that his wife will be tolerant of this genetic disorder that has been passed down the Studt line :)

I'm going back to NYC

Big Apple here we come!!!! I just got done booking my flight this morning to NYC in May 2009.

A few months ago it was not looking good with airline prices going way up (along with everything else) plus our hotel we stayed at last time is under new ownership and they bumped up rooms from $250 a night to $400 a night!! When we went in '07 we planned $500 for room and air ticket, this time it was looking like it would be $500 for air and $500 for room. So I told my friend that I didn't think I could go. Then this week my other friend going said United had tickets going out of Moline,IL for $204. So this morning we booked at that great price.

We are still searching for a good hotel that doesn't cost too much. Right now we have reservations at a hotel called Herald Square. The cost for 5 nights is $1,485.70 for two queen beds, that divided by 4 women equals $371.42 each for our room stay. So my cost right now for room and flight is $575. I have that saved already so now I have 10 months to save for spending money, food and money for a broadway show. I plan on giving plasma once a month (going in twice in the same week) and earning $60 which would give me $600 by the time we leave.

So I'm set and ready for NYC again. I do love going there and there is always so much to see each time. People who live there really do have so much culture around them. If you have never been I encourage you to go.

Heritage Days 5k.... I did it!!!

It was a stormy night last night and the thunder booms kept waking me up. My alarm goes off at 7:01am and I hit snooze and hear the rain. I lay there thinking do I get up and check the weather or go back to sleep. I get up and go downstairs. Darryl is up and talking with our friend Mark Sullivan whom spent the night along with his brother last night because they are leaving for Chicago at around 8:30am to go to the NASCAR race tonight.
I check the weather and the storm looks like it has passed. So I get ready for the 5K. I stop at Casey's and get a granola bar that has yogurt to continue on my carb eating. I pull into the Mt.Vernon High school and someone is waving at me....... it's my friend Vanessa. I was in shock! Was she there to run with me or walk by herself??? I park the car, get out, hug her, and she tells me she is there to cheer me on and take my picture. How sweet!!!
I line up in the back of the pack of runners and in front of the walkers and the gun fires. I'm off..... I get to the 4th Ave. hill and can see a lot of people walking up it :( So I get to it and make it almost to the top but walk about 15-20 at the crest of it. My mouth is dry and I need a drink of water. Just a little ways up Sam Young has a water jug. I stop grab and cup and fill it with water take a drink and get going again. I hit 1 mile marker at 12min 15 sec. Not bad since I never know what I run a mile in. I'm thinking minus the walking and stopping for a drink I could have done it in 12min. The rest of the race is on pretty level ground with only a small hill about a 1/2 mile later. I go to the finish, Vanessa takes my picture and is cheering for me and I get me stick which has #163 on it. I still don't know my time the stick was my proof for when all the runner/walkers came in. But I had fun and got my exercise in for today. Now it's back to training for sauerkraut days 5k. I will post Vanessa's pictures she took of me before and after the race as soon as she e-mails them to me :)

Getting ready for a 5k

That's right I'm getting ready to run/jog in my first 5k. I have always walked them before but started jogging in late winter/early spring to try and lose some weight faster then just walking everyday. I started out on the treadmill and could barely do 2 minutes of jogging now I'm up to 2 miles and have done 3 miles at different times. I know my body is in better shape and my legs are looking great! In general I really don't like to run/jog so this has been a challenge for me but the results are great. Mount Vernon is having Heritage Days this weekend and I signed up to walk that 5k since Mt. Vernon is so hilly (is that a word?). but a lady told me last night that there is only one big hill on the 5k, so I think I will run until I get to the monstrous hill and then walk up it. I will try it out.
I am however running in the Kraut Route in August in Lisbon. This is what I've been training for.
I will let you know how it all goes. I was going to run with my friend Vanessa but she is ditching me because she is pregnant!!!! No excuse I say, suck it up and do it! She disagrees with me :(
Wish me luck!!!!

4th of July/ 40th Wedding Anniversay

My Mom and Dad with the Grandchildren. My Mom and Dad
My Mom and Dad with us kids.

The first pic is one fabulous looking family!
The second picture is of my sister Kathy
and her family.

The first picture is of my brother David and his girlfriend and her son. They always make the trip out from Ohio.

The second picture is of my brother Sean and his family. I just found out tonight that his wife who is pregnant will be having a girl!!!

These pictures are of my sisters. The first one is my sister Donna and her family. She has two other daughters who were in Spain over the 4th for a Spanish trip with school.

The second picture is of my sister Denice and her family.

I hope all had a wonderful 4th of July.

We spent the weekend camping and celebrating my mom and dad's 40th wedding anniversary.

Their anniversary is in August but it is during the 4th that my sister and her family comes to Iowa from Ohio and my brother David also comes out from Ohio. The only ones missing is my oldest sister Dyann who lives in southern Iowa and her family. She did not come because she is a brat and is acting like a 7 year old instead of a 50 year old. Oh.... she is my half-sister hence why she is 50 and my mom and dad are celebrating their 40th :)

So here's a picture of my family that showed up.