Goodbye 2008!

( If you haven't seen this movie . . . it looks like I'm rather bummed about 2009. LOL. I'm not! By all means! It's the only screencap from Bachelor Mother that I could find from the New Years scenes. They make me very happy . . . )

Wishing everyone a most happy New Year!!!

I had a very clever post in mind (haha) for today. But I drowned in photos. Attempting to clean out my iPhoto for the new year. Yikes. Please, does anyone have the secret formula for the best way to store digital photos? *puppy eyes*

For Laughs

I love my dog. I love my Bebe dog oodles and oodles. I love her so much . .. that I forgive her that she makes it positively impossible to practice piano when it's just us. Now, she won't do this when everyone else is home. Very rarely . . . she'll do it if everyone else is upstairs. No, this lovely song must be saved for when it's just the two of us.

Bebe Sings
Coming Soon to the CD store near you . . .

NOTE: Please forgive my very badly done part of this song. Pretty, pretty please? Do you have any idea how hard it is to practice when you are laughing your head off? REALLY hard. Also. I'm honestly not abusing her. As much as it sounds like it! She is standing over the back of the sofa do the most adorable little wiggle dance ever.

Now . . . if you could just see that adorable wrinkle hound mouth when doing this. *melts*

Happy Birthday to Moi!

Were you able to watch the Van Johnson Tribute last night? I was planning on watching it all the way through . . . but was too sleepy. I was able to watch three though. And they were a very wonderful three. Gosh, he sure is going to be missed.

Today I turned 19! Just as 'Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo' came on. So at midnight I was able to unwrap my gifts.

Squee!!!! My very first iPod! And it's PURPLE . .



Or, well, it is in real life. Honest. And that's just fantastic because purple is my favorite color. You know.



And then this afternoon my new dreamy soft flannel sheets came!! Thank you, Mommy! Muah!

Tunes plus flannel = Happiness.

Oh. PLUS caramel. Because I'm going to go eat one now . . .

Happy 2nd Day of Hanukkah!

I love gift wrap. That is no secret. I planned exactly how I was going to wrap my gifts back in October. But we were so rushed this year . . . going back and forth. I was not able to get some things I needed. So I used the paper we had and made beaded letters. Much fun. The directions can be found . . HERE. I like them! Although mine turned out rather small. hehe. It adds a little personal touch. That is always fabulous.



This Hanukkah is different than others. The big thing being in our new house. Squee! We moved in the week after Hanukkah last year. We were home for the first night! Yay! Granddaddy was in the hospital last year as well. So we were away. It's so good to be home. And of course darling Blake makes it different as well. Wow, things have changed in a year.

Don't forget to watch the Van Johnson tribute on TCM tonight! And bring along a box of tissues.

Happy Hanukkah!

"The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him." Psalms 28:7

Wishing y'all a very wonderful 1st night of Hanukkah!

How was my day?

Need I say more?

Van Johnson

I was so busy over the weekend that I missed some very sad news . . .

Mr. Van Johnson died on Friday at the age of 92 of natural causes at the Tappan Zee Manor, an assisted living facility, in Nyack, N.Y.

When I started writing my favorite actors and actresses a few years ago . . . he was on the very top of my list. Right after June Allyson. I was very sad to find that his address was not available . . . I longed very much to write and tell him how much he is still appreciated. Many of my favorite movies have him in them. They are instant pick-me-uppers. Many depressing 'feel like crying my eyes out' days have been saved by Van Johnson's priceless smile.

I know many people have not such lovely things to say about Van Johnson. But I still love him. He is one of my favorite heros. He could play any possible role. The romantic. The sailor. The soldier. The silly friend. The serious friend. The drunk friend. The hero. The author. The teacher . . . a success at all of them.

Have you noticed the look he gives the leading lady during a romantic scene? He always gives them a look like they have three heads. June Allyson mentioned it during an interview on TCM. Ever since then I have been most entertained with looking for the 'three heads look'. hehe.

I have become a walking 'Van Johnson movie' advertisement. Just ask my poor friends . . . who have had to deal with my loud *GASPS* when they told me they didn't know who he was. I have mailed his movies out many a times. Actually . . . having no idea. I just mailed one Friday. 'Three Guys Named Mike' one of my top favorites of his.

My favorite description of him is 'The Voiceless Sinatra'. It fits so well! Although he isn't really that voiceless . . . considering the numerous musicals he was in. How could he be? Not that he sang quite wonderfully . . . but wasn't all that bad either. If nothing else, it was a comical scene to muchly be looked forward to. Seriously, that scene in 'In The Good Old Summertime' where he starts to sings 'Put Your Arms Around Me' . . love it! It's impossible to watch with a serious face.

"I am the luckiest guy in the world. All my dreams came true. I was in a wonderful business, and I met great people all over the world."

Turner Classic Movies is hosting a tribute. Starting at 8:00PM Tuesday, Dec 23rd.

8:00 PM	In The Good Old Summertime (1949)
	In this musical remake of The Shop Around the Corner, feuding co-workers in a small music shop do not realize they are secret romantic pen pals. Cast: Judy Garland, Van Johnson, S.Z. "Cuddles" Sakall. Dir: Robert Z. Leonard. C-103 mins, TV-PG, CC, DVS
9:45 PM	Guy Named Joe, A (1943)
	A downed World War II pilot becomes the guardian angel for his successor in love and war. Cast: Spencer Tracy, Irene Dunne, Van Johnson. Dir: Victor Fleming. BW-120 mins, TV-G, CC, DVS
12:00 PM	Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo (1944)
	General Jimmy Doolittle trains American troops for the first airborne attacks on Japan. Cast: Spencer Tracy, Van Johnson, Robert Walker. Dir: Mervyn LeRoy. BW-138 mins, TV-PG, CC, DVS
2:30 AM	Last Time I Saw Paris, The (1954)
	A writer recalls his turbulent marriage to an expatriate heiress. Cast: Elizabeth Taylor, Van Johnson, Donna Reed. Dir: Richard Brooks. C-116 mins, TV-PG, CC, Letterbox Format
4:30 AM	Thrill Of A Romance (1945)
	A soldier returning from World War II finds love with a lady swimmer. Cast: Esther Williams, Van Johnson, Tommy Dorsey. Dir: Richard Thorpe. BW-105 mins, TV-G, CC

Thank you, dear Mr.Johnson! For the many,many laughs! And even the tears. For your wonderful contribution to making our Grandma's smile while the Grandpa's were away. And here is a thank you way in advance from my own Grandbabies for the laughter and appreciation for your generation that you will give them. . . .and so forth.

Oh the weather outside is frightful, But the fire is so delightful . . .

We were finally home long enough to put up some lights! As soon as I'm done with this posts ~ I shall put all my dozens of snowflakes up. And search for my twinkle lights.

Thank you so much for your prayers concerning my ACT test. I've spent quite a while thinking about how to be positive about how it went. hehe. I'm so glad it's over! I wasn't expecting to be the only homeschool student there. But oh was I! Somehow all the other students there knew who I was. I was greeted by a very sweet girl who asked if I was "Laura B----?" which startled me at first. After I responded she said a very quick "Hi" and ran off. Okie dokie. But then it continued . . . "Miss B---- doesn't have a pencil!" yada yada. Lots of head jerking up on my part. Huh??! Who was that? How does she know my name. Eepers. I want to go back to my cave now . . .

My desk was at the very front, seperate from the others and almost at an angle. Which was pretty ok at first. Awkward. lol. But ok. Especially since everyone there had the flu - the farther the better. ;)

I wasn't half as nervous as I normally am during tests. Considering that the boy behind me was literally sick he was so nervous ~ I was feeling pretty ok! Even, maybe cool calm and collected. *gasp*

They started with english and I feel pretty confident about that. Math seemed to take forever . . .

I dreaded the break very much. Once again being asked if I was "Laura B----?" repeatedly."So . . . you're homeschooooled, eh?" . . . "How old are you anyway?" . . . Then the poor sick boy ended up being a huge flirt. Eeks. The other boy who opened the door for me, wouldn't stop asking for high fives. Even during the test.

I think the teachers must have discussed to "be nice to the out-of-town girl" earlier.

So yes, thank you oodles and oodles for your prayers! It was an interesting day.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I received my very first awards this week! Thank you ever so much, Emily and Carla! I was so very honored! I love both of your blogs.

'Uber Amazing Blog'

Award

The qualifications for this award:

You give this award to five bloggers who:

1.Inspire you

2.Make you smile and laugh

3.Give amazing information

4.Are a great read

5.Have an amazing design

6. And any other reasons you can think of that makes them uber amazing!

Rules of the award are as follows:

1. Put the logo on your blog or post.

2. Nominate at least 5 blogs (can be more) that for you are Uber Amazing! ***if you don’t have 5 that’s okay.***

3. Let them know that they have received this Uber Amazing award by commenting on their blog.

4. Share the love and link to this post and to the person you received your award from.

I nominate:

Liz

Emily

Emma & Johanna

Lisa

Clare

ACT with a raspberry on top

I was able to spend a quiet morning here at home, studying for my ACT test.

See Mommy! See! I'm studying!



Dunno what's going on with my left hand ~ protecting my dear waffle perhaps? hehe. My waffle.



I'm a bit of a waffle-aholic.



Especially with warm raspberries and chocolate. It's the best.

I'm still very nervous about my test. Prayers for Sunday would be muchly appreciated.

Until We Meet Again

Oh blog land, how I miss you ! ! The past two weeks have been crazy with a capital C. Some of which has involved my 96 year old Granddaddy in hospital, my niece's doggie getting run over, run over doggie coming back to life (basically), nursing a sick bunny and preparing for my ACT test.*gulp* And being far away from home.

It's still going to be a while until I'll be able to attempt to post everyday again (because I really do try to).

Until then ~ keep warm ! ! Hopefully I shall still have time this week to read your loverly blogs.

Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

I'm feeling all winter-ish today. Which will explain why my background has been randomly changing. Trying to make it feel less fall, more winter. It always takes me a while to decide on backgrounds . . .

We had snow! It didn't stick. But it was gorgeous all the same. It was more like pretty rain. hehe. I've spent the past few days making snowflakes of my own. I seem to be incapable of making normal paper snowflakes ~ they end up very square and weird. But I've had tons of fun with 3D snowflakes. They actually turn out like snowflakes! Nice.



While busy making sure that my room is drowning in snowflakes ~ we've been listening to the one and only Dino! A friend of mine sent me an early birthday and Hanukkah gift. *happy sigh* . This CD is fabulous! It has 30 tracks. I wonder how many times I'll play it before I'm tired of it? Hmm. Never! Sorry, dear family.