The Hunger Games leaves me craving for more


53:366(Y2) - The Hunger Games

53:366(Y2) - The Hunger Games (Photo credit: Nomadic Lass)

If you like reality shows, good-looking teenagers killing each other, and Lenny Kravitz ―he doesn’t sing but exudes sex appeal― in a minor role, “The Hunger Games” is for you. Donald Sutherland does a great job playing the bad guy.

I went to see this movie, not knowing what to expect. the movie takes place in the future in a place called Panem. There has been some cataclysmic even that destroyed much of North America. Our heroine, Katness Aberdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) lives in District 12 which is the old Appalachia. There are dirty miners coming home from work, ramshackle houses, and a gate that keeps everyone inside.

Our main character is a strong 16-year old teenage girl. She’s a little rough around the edges, but you know she’s downright beautiful, smart, and courageous. She’s brave enough to go under the  fence that is supposed to keep everyone in their own district. She has the admiration of a very good-looking male teenager who is her friend. Katness is really good with her bow and arrow and hunts wild game to keep her family going. (This is against the law).

The way this new civilization keeps the peace is by having “Hunger Games” every year.  There are 12 districts, and the civilization is being punished for a rebellion in which a 13 th district was destroyed. Each district picks two volunteers, a boy and a girl, to fight it out in the city. Only one can be a winner.

The rest of the movie takes place in the wealthy capital where the contestants get makeovers, stay in plush surroundings and finally fight it out. They place tracking devices inside the contestants so everyone can watch the killing on TV.

I won’t tell you who wins. You’ll have to figure that one out by seeing the movie. There is a unique twist, one you wouldn’t expect.

It’s not so far from today’s society where people watch other people’s lives on TV to get a vicarious thrill. I’m talking about the Reality shows that are not really reality, but are orchestrated.  (Not to mention how we’re all needy and watch “news” 24 hours a day.)

This movie has everything you need to hold your interest: a good plot, romance, good acting, excitement, good-looking kids and it keeps you guessing about what is going to happen next.

Unfortunately, it leaves you hanging a little. I guess that’s because they’re coming up with another movie next November.

The only thing I questioned was parents bringing their kids to see this? Wouldn’t this scare them, or are we so used to violence that this is no big deal?  It is PG13, but I saw children much younger than this at the movie.

What’s your opinion?

Do you think people should bring their young children to this movie?

I’m not sure on how far we can go with subject matter without being offended? I guess I was, just a little.

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How should children act at a private gathering?


Childhood (Photo credit: Vineet Radhakrishnan)

I went to a  gathering where there about 40 people. There were tables and chairs set up, and people were eating snacks and drinks.

There were some kids playing tag right in the eating area.  The parents were sitting at a table and smiling while the kids ran around. They weren’t just walking around. They were going at break neck speed. The funny thing was they kept running around me, and avoiding the parents.

I said, to one in my best teacher voice, “you shouldn’t be running in here.”

He looked at me and said,”you’re kidding! ”

I finally went up to the mother and asked, “Is that your child?”

“One of them is,” she answered.

“Aren’t you worried they might get hurt in here? I have to tell you their running is really annoying.”

The man who was in charge of the event looked at me and said, “that’s how we roll around here.”

I couldn’t believe it. It wasn’t a playground, and nobody was supervising them. (Except for me).

Was I being an old curmudgeon or was I right?

What do you think?

Please comment.

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Live & Learn

“For some of us, it’s time to own up, step up and do what success requires. It’s that complex and that simple. We’ve read enough. Thought enough. Talked enough. Planned enough. Avoided enough. Hoped enough. Intended enough. Waited enough.

Now it’s time to do enough.”

~ Craig Harper





Image Credit: Making Things Happen

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Dancing With The Stars Week 2



Dances and Dancers

Roshon Fegan and Chelsie (Quickstep)


Score: 26/30

Sherrie Shephard and Val (Quickstep)


Score: 23/30

Melissa Gilbert and Maxim (Quickstep)


Score: 20/30

Jack Wagner and Ann (Jive)



Good news: the judges weren’t crazy about him!

Score: 21/30

Gladys Knight and Tristin ( Quickstep)



Score: 19/30

Katherine Jenkins and Mark (Jive)


Score: 26/30

Jaleel White and Kim (Jive)


Score: 22/30

 Maria Menounos and Derek (Jive)


Score: 25/30

Martina Navratilova  and Tony (Jive) 



Dan Driver and Peta (Quick step) 


Score: 24/30

Gavin Degraw and Karina


Score: 21/30

William Levy and Sheryl Burke (Quickstep) 


Score: 25/30

What do you think?

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Rainbows are Always Special

Rainbows are magical to me!Today when I saw a rainbow, I thought about my mother. I was with my mother when I saw my very first rainbow. I was about four years old. We hurried out the front door to look at it. It made a big beautiful arch over our house. I will never forget the vivid colors: pink, yellow, green, and blue. Was it because the world was still so new to me?

Today, after all the contemptuous weather―rain, hail, wind— I saw a double rainbow. It came with half the sky filled with sunshine. I’m glad my husband was home, so I could share it with him.

I know there’s a logical explanation. Sunshine reflecting off the moisture on the earth. But I like to think there’s some magic involved!

Sometimes it’s true, the best things in life are free!

Smokers: At least don’t smoke in the park

Today I went into the park as I frequently do in the morning. So, what do I see? The same nice looking man sitting on a park bench, reading a book, and smoking his cigarettes. When he finishes one, he starts another. I know this because after I’m finishing my walk, he’s usually lighting up another one.

He’s there every time I go to the park. He obviously knows how to read. (That does take a certain amount of intelligence).  At the same time he’s sucking on his cigarette and blowing out all the carcinogens out into the fresh air.

He is doing it in full view of everyone starting a 1.4 path jogging path. Explain to me why someone in this day and age would be engaging in this lousy habit? And out in public? He knows he’s going to get bad looks from people jogging around the path. Maybe he’s a masochist, and wants people to give him sidelong looks?

If I could write him a note this is what I’d say!

Letter to Mr. Smoker

Dear Mr. Smoker,

Why do people come to a park? Maybe to get healthy, and enjoy the environment.  Not to watch you destroy your body.  Not to take a whiff of your smelly cigarette.

If you’re going to smoke go in your house, lock the door behind you, and smoke to your heart’s content. But don’t do it in the park! You don’t want to expose the squirrel birds, turtles, and little kids to your  second-hand smoke.

Why not just put on a big  cardboard billboard that says: I don’t care about myself.

Please don’t violate my park, or yourself with this nasty habit.


Little old lady who enjoys the park

Nothing worse than an ex-smoker

When I was in my 20’s, I did smoke.  I knew it was bad for me, but I did it anyway. I didn’t have any trouble quitting after I got asthma every time I took a drag on my cigarette. I couldn’t breathe. That made up my mind for me. There’s nothing worse than being unable to take in air. I was actually in the bathroom, turning on the hot water, and using the steam to breathe. I finally got it. It really wasn’t good for me!

I’ve never regretted smoking that last cigarette. And I can breathe without wheezing. And the best part: I’m still alive!

What’s Wrong with Smoking: It’s a free country

In case you live in the dark ages, and want to know why smoking really is bad for you, take a look at the CDC Statistics on why cigarettes aren’t good for you. It’s on the blog roll. (What is really disturbing is that high school kids are still picking up that first cigarette.)

It contributes to every kind of cancer, causes premature death, and hurts every vital organ in your body.

It doesn’t help when TV cable shows glamorize it. Mad Man, and Shameless are two cable shows that come to mind. I guess that tobacco industry still has a big presence. Too bad they can’t make gas out of tobacco.

Don't you just want to put this in your lungs?

Maybe someday, it will be outlawed altogether. That wouldn’t bother me at all.

What do you think?

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TSA Searches Wheelchair bound 3 year old. What do you think?

Now, I’ve seen everything . The TSA searched a little wheelchair bound 3-year-old little boy on a video I just saw on YouTube.  Supposedly the little boy was scared and was trembling.

Another woman was detained because she was carrying over $8,000, and they thought she might have embezzled it or stole it from someone. I have no idea why someone would be carrying that amount of money on them. It would make me suspicious too.

The TSA does say terrorists have hidden bombs and things in prosthetics. That’s how the TSA justifies personal searches. And I wouldn’t put anything past a terrorist. If the TSA missed something, everyone would be all over them for not doing their duty.

When I take  my sleep apnea machine through security, they always have to do a test on it. One time, someone stashed some dynamite in one, so they searched them all.  That did make me feel ridiculous. It’s bad enough that I have to use one, but does everyone have to know about it? The last time I traveled, I didn’t take it because I didn’t feel like going through the hassle. (I’ve heard that they stopped doing the test.)

I’ve seen people do silly things. One time I saw a person bring a swiss army knife that could be misconstrued for a weapon. They were upset when they took it away. How can you get upset about that?

I forgot about a whole new bottle of sun-tan lotion I had in my purse. I was irritated when they confiscated it, but it was a stupid oversight on my part.

I know every time I take a plane, I’m not looking forward to the security check.  First of all, I hate taking off my shoes, being pressured to put all my stuff in baskets. (I can never remember whether the purse gets its own basket, etc.) I hate taking my computer out of its case. I’m not a fast mover, so it’s a little intimidating.

Personally, I figure it’s worth a little inconvenience to check everyone out.  I wish they could do it without traumatizing people. I know if my privacy was drastically invaded, I would be more than a little upset. There should be a better and less invasive way to screen people.

TSA insignia

TSA insignia (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I’d hate to be blown up mid-air. And we know it’s happened more than once.

What’s your opinion on this? Have you ever had a bad experience, or seen someone’s privacy invaded unnecessarily?

You can find the wheelchair video in related articles that follows this post.

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