Toy Story 3

I just saw Toy Story 3 last night, and don't worry, I won't give anything away, but it was amazing! It was, hopefully, the final movie in a great childhood trilogy. It did however, make me a little bit sad about the toys that I have outgrown.

I had several of the toys featured I played with - the toy phone, the spinning wheel of farm animals, the three animals that pop up when you hit a button. The only toy missing was My Little Pony.

While many of my toys did get donated, a few got thrown away in heated cleanings with my mom, but most still sit in bins in my parents basement. Thankfully getting a second life with my nephews. Except my barbies. Boys don't play with barbies - at least my nephews think that way. Maybe some day when there are daughters and nieces, they will get played with and accessorized as well.

The whole movie was wonderful, but perhaps the cutest thing was the little eight-year old boy sitting next to me. At the end of the movie he was bawling (it will probably make you cry for those who haven't seen it yet). He had his shirt up by his eyes and was using it to wipe the tears away as the movie was concluding. I was crying too but that is beside the point. It is just a really great movie and Pixar did a very good job of wrapping up the stories of some of my favorite characters.

If you haven't seen it yet - go. :)

The BFG

The Big Friendly Giant was a long time childhood favorite book of mine. My mom used to read to me every night, and there are few nights even now as an adult, where I don't read something. A life-long love of books has meant that I have scoured through libraries, read classics and new fiction, and even had a book club when I was younger.

But the BFG by Roald Dahl was always one of my favorites that I still continue to enjoy. It's a great story about a giant who would rather not eat children, like his cousins do, but rather catches and mixes dreams for children to enjoy at night. One evening, while giving children dreams, a young girl sees him and he takes her with him. Adventures follow....  I won't spoil it for anyone.

I just finished reading "The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fist Fight Into Heaven." It wasn't my favorite book, as it mostly deals with Native Americans on a government reservation, and alcoholism, but some of the stories were really good. I just prefer books to have a linear plot.

I am also reading a biography about Stalin. It is an intense book and I have to keep taking breaks from it because it tends to get a little depressing. Did you know that he killed almost everyone from his childhood because he only wanted to be remembered as a revolutionist and not who he was before that? Its tidbits of knowledge like that that make this book intense and hard to just read through. But I will say that it is really interesting. Having lived in Russia, and gotten a sense on how Russians feel about Stalin, I better understand them now. Lenin is everywhere as a visionary. There are statues of him in every Russia city I was ever in, but none of Stalin. The atrocities he committed are not soon forgotten, and I dont' blame him.

Ok, after that macabre note - all I am trying to say is that I love books, especially those that make me think or help me understand something better. Since finishing the Tonto book, I am looking for a new replacement. Any ideas?

Nooks and Crannies

Is there anything more wonderful than a perfectly toasted english muffin with all the "nooks and crannies" filled with melting butter? I could have them with every meal - sadly, that never ever happens. But on the rare occasion my husband and I actually pick them up at the store, they are a surprising delight. We always seem to wait too long between purchases in my opinion, but I guess absence makes the heart grow fonder as they say, because every time I enjoy one again, I am surprised by how good they really are.

There are so many foods I adore - but things that I can toast, for some reason are a real comfort to me. While I was in the Provo MTC, my companion had a toaster mailed to her and I had my mom send me Great Harvest wheat bread, so we could have toast any time we wanted it. And a toaster in my apartment in Russia was a near miracle. It is surprisingly difficult to make toast with a skillet.

So today, thank you toast machine inventor man - Charles Strite, for making my day just a little bit better.

A New Beginning

Well, after much deliberation, I have decided to try out this blogging thing and simply put here whatever interests me and makes me happy. I have been making lists and writing down things that make me happy since I was in high school. Heck, I even made it into a book - not one that got published, but rather just one years collection of some of my favorite things. So as my first forray into blogging, I thought I would just write about whatever strikes me as interesting - a good movie I watched, a book that made me think, people who are wonderful or inspiring.

Today it is Chihuly.

Dale Chihuly.A genius of art. I was first introduced to Chihuly by my amazing mom. There was a display of his art at a downtown musuem and from that moment on - I have been transfixed. I never knew you could create such things out of glass.

He even suspended his artwork off of the canal bridges in Venice, Italy.

They are vibrant, and delicate, and bold in color. And because they are made of glass, they are unique. Sadly, there isn't a gallery that displays his works in Utah, but if you ever get the chance to see his work - jump on it. You won't be disappointed. At the very least, check out his website - www.chihuly.com. Oh, and did I mention that he works with flaming hot balls of glass with one eye? No depth perception and yet he makes things that are incredibly deep.

Anyway, that's todays wonder. Since I am new to things, who knows what will show up on here next, but at the very least, this is my optimistic proclamation for now.