Halloween

Happy Halloween!

I didn't buy any candy to pass out. Not many children trick-or-treat on my street. So instead I will be watching the 1978 version of Halloween today.

Movies watched in 2015 - final count

•  A Walk Among The Tombstones (2014)
• Big Eyes (2014)
• Birdman (2014)
• Fireproof (2008)
• Run All Night (2015)
• The Intern (2015)
• The Theory of Everything (2014)
• War Room (2015)
• Watchmen (2009)

I didn't watch too many movies in 2015. I'm more of a TV watcher. My favorite movies were Big Eyes, Birdman, The Intern and War Room. My least favorite was Watchmen. I preferred the Watchmen comic book to the movie. 

Movies watched in 2014 - final count

Final count: 15

Favorite movies: Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit, The Grand Budapest Hotel, The Wolf of Wall Street

Least favorite movie: Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues

• A Million Ways to Die in the West (2014)
• Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues (2013)
• Draft Day (2014)
• Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit (2014)
• Labor Day (2013)
• MST3K: The Sinister Urge (1994)
• Mao's Last Dancer (2009)
• Step Up (2006)
• The Company (2003)
• The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)
• The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1 (2014)
• The Monuments Men (2014)
• The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)
• The Young Victoria (2009)
• Three Days to Kill (2014)

Movies watched in 2013 - final count

Final count: 25

Favorite movies: The Great Gatsby, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire and Parkland

Favorite documentary: First Position and Exit Through the Gift Shop

Least favorite movie: I liked all of the movies/documentaries I watched this year. Not a bad one in the bunch.

Executive Action (1973)

Exit Through the Gift Shop (2010)

First Position (2011)

Gosford Park (2001)

Graffiti Verite (1995)

Gravity (2013)

Hitchcock (2012)

Hyde Park on Hudson (2012)

Jack Reacher (2012)

MST3K: The Wild Rebels (1990)

Magic Mike (2012)

Margot (2005)

My Week with Marilyn (2011)

Open House (2010)

Parkland (2013)

Running on the Sun (2000)

Soul Surfer (2011)

Ted (2012)

The Great Gatsby (2013)

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013)

The Long Green Line (2008)

The Perfect Family (2011)

The Runner: David Horton's 2700 Mile Run (2006)

The Yellow Handkerchief (2008)

Trouble with the Curve (2012)

Movies watched in 2012 - final count

Final count: 20

Favorite movies: Argo, Lincoln, The Hunger Games, The Iron Lady, W.E. 

Favorite documentary: Britian's Royal Weddings

Least favorite movie: Bridesmaids

• 
  
• Argo (2012)
• Bertie & Elizabeth (2002)
• Bridesmaids (2011)
• Britian's Royal Weddings 1923-2005 (2011)
• D.O.A. (1950)
• JFK (1991)
• Johnny English Reborn (2011)
• Lincoln (2012)
• Restraint (2008)
• Running America (2009)
• The Help (2011)
• The Hunger Games (2012)
• The Iron Lady (2011)
• The Last Station (2009)
• The Red Shoes (1948)
• The Runaways (2010)
• Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011)
• W.E. (2011)
• Wallis & Edward (2005)
• Welcome to the Rileys (2010)

Made In Hollywood

My husband and I traveled to the Toledo Museum of Art last week to view the photography exhibition 'Made In Hollywood'.

Made in Hollywood has photographs from well known photographers working in Hollywood from 1920-1960. These photographers photographed the biggest actors of the time. Hanging with the photos, was information about the photographer and the actor in the photo.

I loved the exhibition. I knew most of the actors that had their photographs displayed, thanks to Turner Movie Classic channel. My favorite photographs were of Marilyn Monroe, Grace Kelly, Joan Crawford and Jean Harlow. I wanted to take all over their photos off the wall and home with me. They were so beautiful.

If you are in the Toledo area, I would suggest going to the exhibition if you love Old Hollywood. The Made In Hollywood exhibition will be on display until January 20, 2013. Tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for seniors and students. Children 5 and under are free with a paid adult admission.

Tinker Tailor..

My husband and I drove up to Ann Arbor over the weekend to see Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. We went to Ann Arbor because the local movie theater in town didn't release it. That 45 minute drive one way was worth it. It didn't disappoint.

I read a review and it said that you have to see the movie twice to understand it. For me that is unnecessary. I understood the movie. I didn't think it was very difficult to follow. There are some flashback scenes. But I found it easy to know which was which was a flashback and what wasn't.

Gary Oldman was fantastic. Such superb acting. Not just Oldman, but the entire cast. This movie should get plenty of award nominations. If it doesn't, it will be shocking.

Now that I've seen the movie, I'm hoping to get my hands on a copy of the book. Should be a great read.

Movies watched in 2011 - final count

Final count: 38

Favorite movies: J. Edgar, Love Actually, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Swedish & American version), The Girl Who Played With Fire and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest

Favorite documentary: Ultramarathon Man: 50 Marathons, 50 States, 50 Days

Least favorite movie: Drive

1. 127 Hours (2010)
2. American Experience: The Kennedys (1992) TV
3. Big Jake (1971)
4. Center Stage: Turn It Up (2008)
5. Conspiracy? - Princess Diana (2008) TV
6. Diana: Last Days of a Princess (2007) TV
7. Double Indemnity (1944)
8. Drive (2011)
9. Frank Sinatra: The Man and the Myth (2004) TV
10. Hardcore (1979)
11. Harlow (1965)
12. J. Edgar (2011)
13. Love Actually (2003)
14. MST3K: Ring of Terror (1962) TV
15. MST3K: Teenagers from Outer Space (1959) TV
16. Our Fathers (2005) TV
17. Out of the Past (1947)
18. Remember Me (2010)
19. Running the Sahara (2007)
20. Saved! (2004)
21. Somewhere in Time (1980)
22. Stolen (2009)
23. Strangers on a Train (1951)
24. The Conspirator (2010)
25. The Fall of the Roman Empire (1964)
26. The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest (2009)
27. The Girl Who Played With Fire (2009)
28. The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (2009)
29. The King's Speech (2010)
30. The Other Guys (2010)
31. The Quiet Man (1952)
32. The Stranger (1946)
33. The Town (2010)
34. The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1 (2011)
35. The Upside of Anger (2005)
36. Ultramarathon Man: 50 Marathons, 50 States, 50 Days (2008)
37. Young Adult (2011)
38. Zero Hour! (1957)

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

I have read the books. I have watched the Swedish movies of the trilogy. If you are able to rent the Swedish movies, do it. They are fantastic. You have a choice of reading subtitles or watching a dubbed English version. Michael Nygvist and Noomi Rapce did a wonderful job as the main characters of Mikael and Lisbeth. Rapce was a bad ass in these movies.

I will be heading to the movie theater on Friday afternoon to watch The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. In this movie, the main characters are Daniel Craig and Rooney Mara. An added bonus is Christopher Plummer. Plummer is one of my favorite actors. He plays Henrik Vanger in the newest version.

I have read that this movie is a bit long, but it stays true to the book. I like movies more when they don't change what was written in the book. I'm hope I like the US version as much as the Swedish version.

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy was released on December 9 in the US with very limited release. I have been waiting patiently for that movie to come to a theater near me. Tinker Tailor Solider Spy was written by John Le Carre who also wrote The Constant Gardner.

This movie is set in the 1970s and the head of British Intelligence resigns after an operation goes wrong in Hungary. The head of British Intelligence believes one of the four senior figures in the service was a Russian agent, mole, and the Hungary operation was an attempt to identify which one of them was it.

I will be buying or checking out the book at the library because I really want to read this. I'm hoping I don't have to wait much longer before the movie is released.

Weekend update

I had a wonderful weekend.

My husband and I saw the movie Young Adult Friday. Charlize Theron plays the main character Mavis. After her divorce, Mavis returns to her small Minnesota hometown to try to get back with her ex-boyfriend. The only problem is her ex-boyfriend is now married with a daughter. If you want to see the movie, skip the next paragraph.

Mavis tries for the entire movie to get back with him. I'm glad that she didn't get her happy ending. She leaves her hometown empty handed and returns to her life in the big city of Minneapolis. There are some laugh out loud parts in the movie, but it is a dark comedy. Which I like. I thought Patton Oswalt did a great job with his character and his flaws.

My husband and I hosted a family dinner after Christmas mass Saturday. We had a total of 11 family members in our house. If we had anymore, there wouldn't have been any place for them to sit. For appetizers, we started with a meat and cheese tray; cookies and bread and olive oil. For dinner, we served salad, pot roast, potatoes, onions and carrots. To end the meal, we had a choice of cake, eggnog cheesecake or pumpkin pie. Everyone enjoyed dinner. Family, conversation and great food made the night wonderful. Hosting a huge family dinner on Christmas Eve is my favorite holiday tradition.

My husband slept until 11:15 a.m. on Christmas morning. Since I had plenty of time, I ran 20 miles that morning. But before running, I looked in my stocking. "Santa", aka my husband bought me a variety of Clif bars, a big box of Nerds and two of Adele's CDs, 19 & 21. I've been wanting Adele's 21 for a long time. Very excited to see it in my stocking. In my husband's stocking was Pecan Sandie's cookies, gift cards, Michael Jackson's Thriller CD and three sample bottles of vodka, Grey Goose and Absolut. When we were buying wine for his stepfather, he mentioned that he would like to try the different vodkas.

As for gifts, I received a stack of books, clothes, new running shoes and license plates. Yes, the license plates that I have been drooling over. My husband bought me a set of all 50 states. My husband and I discussed remodeling our porch and hanging the plates on the wall. Above a counter, the plates would act as a back splash and using more plates as a border near the ceiling of the porch. As for the plates that won't fit in the porch, they will most likely end up on the wall in our basement. My husband surprised me with the newest Mizuno Wave Rider 15. They are so pretty and bright yellow. The colors are lemon and dark shadow. I love my shoes to be a bright color and different from everyone else. I like to be different and stand out.

I had today off from work. The office was closed to recognize Christmas. I have enjoyed my five days off. I have been taking advantage of this time off. I have been running, catching up on work, reading, spending time with my family and napping. It has been great. Tomorrow, it will be back to the grind.

Harry Potter

I started reading the Harry Potter series shortly after Thanksgiving. I'm currently reading the third book, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. My thoughts on the books so far is that they are good. As someone who loves books, I'm glad it got many kids reading.

As I'm reading the books, I keep thinking how is this done in the movie? I will soon find out. When I finish the entire series, I will have a Harry Potter movie marathon at my house. I added all of the movies to my Netflix queue the other day. Right now they are at the bottom of the list, waiting. I thought of moving up the movies to the books I already finished. I decided against it. I waited over 14 years to read the books. I think I can wait a little longer to watch all of the movies.

J. Edgar

My husband and I saw J. Edgar over the weekend. We both enjoyed the movie. As did Roger Ebert.

There are scenes in the movie where J. Edgar Hoover (Leonard DiCaprio) shows affection towards Clyde Tolson (Armie Hammer). So many people in the theater were laughing. The two guys sitting next to me couldn't contain their laughter. I felt like we were watching the movie with fourth graders. They really couldn't stop laughing during the scene where Hoover put on one of his mother's dresses.

I thought DiCaprio had Hoover's mannerism's down so well. I sometimes forgot I was watching DiCaprio play J. Edgar Hoover. Clint Eastwood did a wonderful job with the movie. But I happen to love all of his movies that he directed. We sat in our seats during the credits, Eastwood actually did some of the music for the movie. He is so multi-talented.

J. Edgar

This weekend my husband and I will be seeing the movie, J. Edgar. The last movie we saw together was Drive and thought it wasn't the greatest. Usually my husband and I don't watch the same types of movies. To see one together in the theater is huge for us.

We both like Clint Eastwood movies and history, so we are really looking forward to seeing this Saturday.

Weekend update

Since I didn't have a race Saturday morning, I decided to take a rest day. I shocked my husband when I said I wasn't planning on running. He said that it was weird because I usually run. Taking the day off of running, let me do some other things.

After picking up a few items at the grocery store, I watched the movie Love Actually. I was pleasantly surprised how much I liked this movie. The huge cast was mainly British actors in the leading roles, except for Laura Linney. This movie is about love shown through ten different storylines. What really made it interesting is how some of these characters interacted with other characters from the movie. Some where friends, co-workers and family. The movie flowed well and connected everything. The character I enjoyed the most was Rufus. Rufus was only a minor character, but he was played by Rowan Atkinson. Rowan Atkinson is well known for his role as Mr. Bean. Atkinson played the role of a jewelery salesman who can't wrap a gift fast enough for Alan Rickman.

I was a little confused at the end of the movie. Most of the characters are meeting loved ones at Heathrow Airport. Alan Rickman just got back from a flight alone. He is met by his wife, played by Emma Thompson. Alan and Emma's characters kissed each other on the cheeck. They didn't look too in love to me. I had to Google it to make sure they were still together. I guess the movie could have made it more clear. Yes, I'm a nerd.

I woke up with my husband's alarm on Sunday morning. After he went to work, I ran 20 miles. I could have probably run a couple more miles, but I thought 122 miles run for the week was enough. I can always run more this week. After my run, I read and took a short nap before going to my niece's birthday party.

My niece turned three on Sunday. My sister hosted a lunch for family for the occasion. My niece blew out her candles on her cake after lunch. My sister gave her a piece of cake. She said she didn't want it. It didn't go to waste. I ate it. That cake was very light, fluffy and delicious. I can never turn down cake. I bought my niece a Beanie Baby lion named Midas. I bought it because it is something that I thought was cute and I actually wanted it for myself. Yes, I'm 32 and I still have stuffed animals. #Nerd.

I didn't go big with her present because I knew my brother and sisters would do that. My niece got many gifts. When she was opening them, it looked like Christmas. My brother-in-law, my niece's dad, said "she's not spoiled" in a sarcastic way. Everyone spoils them. She loved all of her gifts. She couldn't decided to play with first. My sister, her mom, bought her some Disney princess glamour shoes. It was a 4-pack. Once the box was opened, my niece tried on all of them. She decided to wear the blue pair. She looked so fancy in her heels.

It was a nice and relaxing weekend. Spent time watching a movie, reading, running and seeing family. I wish I had more of these weekends to enjoy.

Random things

I'm so disappointed. Thursday night was the one night only showing of My Run in movie theaters across the country. I really wanted to go to see it, but I couldn't. I had to work. My Run is the story of Terry Hitchcock losing his wife to breast cancer and raising three children. He wanted to bring attention to the difficult lives of singe parents. Hitchcock ran 75 marathons on 75 consecutive days. How incredible. It took me years to see Spirit of the Marathon. I hope it doesn't take years before I see documentary. I really hope it will be offered on Netflix.

After a long layoff, I finally ran some intervals Wednesday. I incorporated them into my 13.1 mile run. For the first four miles, I did 8x400m. The last two miles, I threw down 4x100m. I decided to try to do some speed work once a week. Ever since gas prices climbed, I haven't been joining my track club for Tuesday night workouts. I miss running with the group, but it is too expensive to keep filling up my car. Especially when I saw gas was $3.65 a gallon. I have the discipline to run over 100 miles by myself every week, I need to have the discipline to do speed work by myself also.

I photographed my first track meet of the year Wednesday. Its spring and March and that meant the weather was awful. The temperature was in the high 30s, but it was windy. The wind made it very cold just to be standing outside. I was wearing a sweatshirt, a hat and my winter coat but I was still cold. When I photograph events, it is hard for me to wear gloves and work. Gloves are bulky and it is hard to shoot and take notes. I went without gloves for the entire track meet. The track meet lasted about three hours. But I shouldn't complain, I wasn't wearing a track uniform and running in the cold like the kids were. I'm just happy that the track season has started. Warmer weather will be on the way.

The University of Toledo is about 35 minutes south of my home. The Toledo Rockets women's basketball team will be playing in the WNIT championship game Saturday at their home, Savage Arena, at 3 p.m. against the University of Southern California. The Rockets defeated UNC-Charlotte 83-60 in the WNIT semifinal Wednesday to advance to the final. Hope the Lady Rockets can pull off the win.

Movies watched in 2010 - final count

• Final Count: 40
  
  Favorite Movies: Black Swan, Wall Street 2: Money Never Sleeps & You Kill Me
• Favorite Documentary: Eleven Minutes
  
  Least Favorite Movie: The Hangover
  
  So bad that it was laughable: For the second year in a row: any of the Mystery Science Theater 3000 movies.
  
  

1. A Woman's Face (1941)
2. Absolute Power (1997)
3. Black Swan (2010)
4. Deception (1946)
5. Eleven Minutes (2008)
6. Family Guy Presents: Something Something Dark Side (2009)
7. Grey Gardens (1975)
8. Grey Gardens (2009) TV
9. Inside Daisy Clover (1965)
10. John Wayne: American Legend (2007)
11. MST3K: Final Justice (1985) TV
12. MST3K: First Spaceship on Venus (1960) TV
13. MST3K: Future War (1997) TV
14. MST3K: Hercules Unchained (1959) TV
15. MST3K: Mad Monster (1942) TV
16. MST3K: Monster a-Go Go (1965) TV
17. MST3K: Mr. B's Lost Shorts (1993) TV
18. MST3K: Santa Claus Conquers the Martians (1964) TV
19. MST3K: Soultaker (1990) TV
20. MST3K: Swamp Women/Swamp Diamonds (1955) TV
21. MST3K: The Clonus Horror (1979) TV
22. MST3K: The Rebel Set (1959) TV
23. MST3K: The Starfighters (1964) TV
24. Phantom of the Opera (1943)
25. Play Misty for Me (1971)
26. Psycho (1960)
27. Reunion in France (1942)
28. Sabrina (1954)
29. Shutter Island (2010)
30. Speak (2004)
31. The Hangover (2009)
32. The High Commissioner (1968)
33. The Invisible Man (1933)
34. The Killer that Stalked New York (1950)
35. The War Zone: Eva Braun: Hitler's Mistress (2005)
36. Unsolved History: Death of Princess Diana (2004)
37. Vertigo (1958)
38. Wall Street (1987)
39. Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps (2010)
40. You Kill Me (2007)

Random things

My work week is coming to an end, as is 2010. I'm working a double shift again today. I already worked my five hour morning shift and will be heading back into the office tonight. I'm not a big fan of the double shift, but if it let's me have the next day off, I'm all for it.

I will post my final mileage for the year Friday. It is high this year. With Monday's 17 mile run, I passed 2700 miles run for the year. That is awesome! My final count for 2009 was 1257.9. At the time, I thought that was a lot. Looking back at that now, it was a lot for me then. I was still overweight and didn't run 70-80 mile weeks.

My New Year Eve plans are set with my husband. We aren't doing anything too special, but it will still be fun. Our plans are to go to the Westfield Franklin Park Mall down in Toledo, Ohio. I received a bunch of gift cards for Christmas and I want to use them. After I shop, we will be going to a see a movie at the mall. My husband and I won't be seeing the same movie. I will be seeing Black Swan, while he watches Tron. Then after the movie, we will be having dinner at Famous Dave's BBQ. I could eat there everyday because it is so good. I love their cornbread.

I know our plans don't involve a wild party, but that is OK. It will be a nice and quiet evening, just how we like it.

Weekend plans

I am really looking forward to this weekend. I actually have plans with my husband. It seemed like the last couple of weekends that my husband had off from work, we didn't do anything. This weekend we are.

My weekend starts off with a 5K run at my Alma mater. It is Homecoming weekend at the college and the 5K is the only event I go back for. The 5K is fun and many of the cross country and track alumni come back and run.

Later that day, my husband and I are traveling to Dundee, Michigan to make three stops. We are stopping at Cabela's, Silver Bells (a Christmas store) and Beef Jerky Unlimited. My husband likes jerky and wants to see what selection they have to offer. After visiting the three locations in Dundee, we are heading down to Toledo, Ohio.

Besides going to the Westfield Franklin Park Mall, we are stopping by the movie theaters first to see Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps. My husband and I both liked Wall Street (1987) and we wanted to see what will happen to Michael Douglas' character Gordon Gekko. Gekko was my favorite character in Wall Street.

After the movie, we will enjoy the mall at Westfield Franklin Park and maybe I'll buy a book or some clothes. I haven't decided yet. Where we will be dining later that night, it is still up in the air. As you know I have been losing weight and my husband is on a special diet. I'll let him decide what he would like to eat. Usually I pick the restaurant when we are visiting Toledo.

My weekend doesn't end on Saturday night. On Sunday morning, I signed up for another 5K. This is the first time I'll be doing 5Ks back-to-back. I thought it would be alright since the races are just 3.1 miles. It will be like a training run for me.

So those are my big plans for the weekend: two 5Ks, a movie, shopping and dinner with my husband. I'd say that sounds pretty good and I'm really looking forward to it.

Weekend update

I figured since the weather is going to be above 50° this week, I would wash my winter coat. I washed my two pairs of gloves, scarf and my husband's winter coat. I put all of the items in the washer and dryer. When I was putting the gloves back into my pocket. One came up missing, a Mizuno running glove. I checked the washer and dryer. Nothing. I checked my coat, my husband's coat. Nothing. I unfolded the towels that were in the laundry cycle with them. Nothing. I'm a little sad. The dryer ate another piece of clothing. If the glove doesn't turn up, I'll just buy another pair.

I did something last week, I never thought I would do: run 40 miles in a week. Well, actually it was 41 miles. I ran my usual six days a week and my daily mileage was no lower then 5 miles. I'm going to try to do it again this week. I will be doing my long run of 10-13 miles later this afternoon. What a way to start out the week!

The NCAA basketball brackets have been announced. I'm happy to see that the Duke Blue Devils were one of the #1 seeds. I've been a Duke fan for the last couple of years and I would love to see them get back to the finals. But they must take it one game at a time.

I'm debating on whether to see Remember Me at the movie theater. My sister said she didn't like the end of the movie. I read the spoilers and I know what happens. I guess I'll see how my week goes.

Remember Me trailer: