Half Year Anniversary

We've been married six months now!!!!
We were both awake after midnight ...
ate a sliver of the ice cream cake Randy bought.

For the celebration Randy picked up a few things:
an anniversary card and bouquet of purple flowers
and to go with supper a non-alcoholic drink,
Welch's Sparkling white grape juice cocktail.

We also watched some romantic movies:
Happy Together (1989/I) followed by scrabble
A Good Year (2006) followed by wine substitute
Chocolat (2000) followed by "Bliss" chocolate

Thank you, Randy, for marrying me.
Thanks for filling my life with bliss, my darling.
I pray there will be many more years to celebrate.

AFI Movie Date Night #18

Giant starring Rock Hudson, Elizabeth Taylor and James Dean was tonight's viewing. This 1956 film was #82 on the list. I'm not sure why it has such hoopla, but it's probably because of Dean. I didn't really care for either of the male leads performances and I thought Taylor was just ok. Maybe this long film was welcomed in the 50's but I thought this long film was mostly boring! B-.

After reading more about the movie, I realized I didn't notice that was Dennis Hopper! It looks like I'll see him in Rebel Without A Cause also.

AFI Movie Date Night #17

Tonight was Platoon, the Oscar winner from 1986 and #83 on the AFI list. Oliver Stone's anti-war film starred Charlie Sheen, Tom Berenger, Willem Dafoe and a bunch of others that were probably just getting their starts before becoming famous. Best scene is Willem Dafoe's iconic scene that graces the cover. And by the end of the film, you'll think war is stupid too! B+.

AFI Movie Date Night #16

We waited until Saturday to see Fargo (#84 on the AFI list), but truthfully, I think we could have waited longer. I'm trying to remember why this movie was so funny the first time around. It has a few funny moments but mostly it's kind of annoying. Maybe it was just easier to laugh at anything back then.

AFI Movie Date Night #15

Tonight was Duck Soup, said to be the best of The Marx Brothers movies. This 1933 classic is #85 on the AFI list. I think I expected it to be funnier (or maybe I remember it as being funnier), but mostly I didn't laugh too much. Maybe my funny bone is getting old. Still, it's a good movie of the period.

AFI Movie Date Night #14

Mutiny on the Bounty was the selection today, the best picture winner of 1935 and #86 on the AFI list. This is the only film to boast having 3 of it's stars nominated for best actor (none won though). It's a great film from the period. Though I must admit I might remeber it differently because I thought Bligh got more punishment.

Nubble Lighthouse

During our Belated Honeymoon Getaway we visited Nubble.

This lighthhouse is located off Cape Neddick in York Harbor.

Read The History of Nubble on their official website.

That site also has a page listing Maine Lighthouses.

For lighthouse enthusiasts: New England Lighthouses.

Even more links to Maine Lighthouse at about.com.

Considered M, R and E of HUMORE

AFI Movie Date Night #13

Frankenstein, the 1931 classic monster movie with Boris Karloff as the Monster was our movie this day. This one deserves its ranking on the AFI list (#87) because of its influence on the rest of the genre. It is a great movie for its time and I don't think any remake version has surpassed it.

We decided to watch all 5 of the Frankenstein movies on The Legacy Collection. We've already watched the second one - Bride of Frankenstein - and still have Son of Frankenstein, Ghost of Frankenstein and House of Frankenstein to go.

Belated Honeymoon Getaway

We got married in December after Randy moved here.
At that time we decided on an "at home" honeymoon.
Now that spring is here we decided to get away!!!
We headed out Tuesday morning around 10 AM
and got back Thursday afternoon about 2 PM.
We put 210 miles on the car during the trip.

We decided to coordinate it with a shopping trip.
Randy loves shopping (more than me) and bargains.
We headed to the Kittery Maine outlet strip which
is home to over 120 brand name outlet stores.
I had been very eager to replace my old corelle dishes
with a new pattern but wanted to check it out in person.
The Corningware Corelle outlet store was the perfect stop.

I will be blogging on different elements of the trip.
Expected blog titles coming soon: (will add links later)

Getaway Food Finds - from food outlets and Yummies!
Getaway at Coachman Inn - review of hotel we stayed at
Getaway Kitchen Finds - kitchen gadgets and great finds
Getaway Corelle and Pyrex - new dishes purchased

Getaway DVD set find - Randy's classic movies find!
Getaway Day 1 - trip there and initial shopping
Getaway Day 2 - shopping in Maine and NH
Getaway Day 3 - mostly scenic trip home

Getaway at Coachman Inn

For our belated honeymoon getaway we stayed at Coachman Inn. It's not part of a chain just a single discount hotel which easily competes with national chains. I had read a lot of great reviews about this hotel touting its spacious rooms and bathrooms and spectacular continental breakfast. I was concerned as to whether the bed and toilet would be high enough for me (and my arthritic knees). We were given one of the two handicap rooms because the toilet was higher and it had a king sized bed. The bed was 20 inches high and the toilet was 18 inches high. Both ended up working for me just fine.

The room truly was spacious. The bathroom had hand rails around the toilet. However, even though this was suppose to have been for someone in a wheelchair (which I am not) it still only had a tub/shower enclosure which would have been too difficult for me to bend my legs to get into. They had remodeled recently even replacing the carpets and all the bedding. I actually wrote down the specifics on the bedspread and king size blanket to see about purchasing from the same company.

Across from the front checkin desk was a sit down area with small tables and chairs ideal for comfortably partaking of your continental breakfast. They did also provide a complimentary USA Today on weekdays. Coffee and hot water for tea and cocoa was available 24 hours a day. For breakfast there was bagels and pastries, fresh fruit and cereal. It was decent enough - comparable to other hotels. I took the opportunity to eat bagels and cream cheese.

AFI Movie Date Night #12

It was Easy Rider tonight (#88), which is probably the best known motorcycle road movie of all time. This 1969 movie starred Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper (who also directed it) as the two friends who take the motorcycle trip. It also had supporting roles from Jack Nicholson, Karen Black and Toni Basil.

It's a good movie for its time and probably helped the young people of the culture identify with the movie. And the soundtrack was very memorable.

FOUR MONTHS!

It's our four month anniversary!

Thanks honey for four incredible months!!!

AFI Movie Date Night #11

Tonight was the 1970 best picture winner Patton starring George C. Scott and Karl Malden, number 89 on the list. He was a brilliant general who sometimes got in trouble for his overzealousness, who hated cowards and quitters. He didn't care if his men liked him or not, just that they would follow him. I thought it was a pretty good war biopic.

AFI Movie Date Night #10

We watched The Jazz Singer, the landmark 1927 film that had the first spoken words in a movie, number 90 on the list. I think I was expecting more talking because I was disappointed at how much of the movie was still a silent film. But it probably was a big deal back then. I don't think it was good enough to spring for the 3 disc collection (unless it comes down under $15), but I wouldn't mind a single cheap disc as it is one of the few AFI that I don't own on DVD.

AFI Movie Date NIght #7

We watched The Apartment, the Best Picture winner of 1960 and #93 on the list. (We skipped over Goodfellas as I'll have to watch that solo - Cathy doesn't want to deal with the vulgarity!) I thought it was ok. It starred Jack Lemmon as the renter of said apartment with Fred MacMurray as a boss who wanted to borrow the apartment so he could take Shirley MacLaine there. But Lemmon is falling for MacLaine. It's listed as a comedy but we found it had more drama than comedy, especially from the midway point.

We wondered what other pictures were up for Best picture. They were "The Alamo", "Elmer Gantry", "Sons and Lovers", "The Sundowners". Some notable ones not nominated that year were Psycho and Spartacus! Some say The Apartment won because Some Like It Hot didn't win the year before (both directed by Billy Wilder).

Jim Brickman love songs

When looking up love songs on YouTube for Randy.
Love of My Life was written by Jim Brickman.
Of all things he was born and raised in Ohio.
He started his career writing tunes for Jim Henson.

Other YouTube videos featuring his songs:
Your Love Is the Greatest Gift of All (with Michelle Wright)
The Love I Found in You
(My) Destiny (clicks from Shrek)

With Olivia Newton-John:
Change of Heart
My Valentine
I Honestly Love You

Valentine's Day recap

The day started with a snow-rain mix.
We mostly were planning to stay in anyway.
In the morning we watched Freedom Writers.
It's a love story of a different kind - a teacher's.
I will write more about this movie Saturday in the blog.

I made some Macaroonies while Randy cleared snow.
There was a lot of ice so decided to see if sun would help.
So we watched second movie of the day: Catch & Release
It's a romantic comedy starring Jennifer Garner of Alias.
I liked it although there were some strange elements.

Randy again attempted to go out to do a few errands.
We needed the paper because I had placed a "love message".
Decided to watch another movie: Come Early Morning
It stars Ashley Judd in what some say is her best performance.
It was a good relationship movie that included country music.

Randy finally headed out while supper was heating up in the oven.
So I did not have to cook we decided on On-Cor lasagna.
I was going to make bread sticks but temps varied too much.
When out Randy picked up Little Caesar's cheese bread sticks.
We ate by candlelight with a glass of Welch's Sparkling fruit cocktail.

During the course of the day my left eye had become a "red eye".
My nose was also draining pretty heavily as well - thinking allergy.
I decided to lay down and put a hot compress on eyes for a little bit.
This gave Randy a chance to sit down and read the paper.
He did find the "love message" I had placed for him.

We finally settled into watching the last movie of the day.
It was Elizabethtown with Orlando Bloom and Kirsten Dunst.
Since I was not feeling well I feel asleep in Randy's arms.
I saw the beginning and the end. Will watch the rest of it later.
Evening snack: Chubby Hubby for me and Moose Tracks for Randy.

My wife is amazing!

She sent a message through today's paper. It read:

Randy,
I will always love you.
You are the love of my life.
Thank you for two plus months of wedded bliss.
I Love You, Cathy

Plus all these Youtube love videos has made this a memorable week!!!

Thanks honey!

When God Made You

Happy Valentine's Day, Randy, my beloved.
Last Valentine's Day was our first phone conversation.
And this year we are happily married now for two and a half months.

Endless Love

For my love, Randy.