Wonder & Wandering

My favorite movie. Ever.

noreply@blogger.com (Kara) — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 04:23:00 +0000

I was watching White Christmas on tv tonight (caught the last ... three-fourths... of it while doing things around the house, and when it started over again immediately after the credits finished rolling -thank you AMC- I couldn't get myself off the couch) and I realized (once again) how much I love Danny Kaye. I have seen several Danny Kaye movies and each has its memorable moments. haha. Like this (start at :45 if you don't want to watch the intro). hehe. Oh how I love it.

Don't get me wrong, White Christmas is easily one of the best Christmas movies ever. I love it. And every year I watch it several times - probably more than most would ever be comfortable with. I love the songs. I sing them very loudly (usually when I'm alone) along with the movie,. I love the dances. Some of them would never work ever again. But I love them. They are amazing and wonderful and perfect - nothing else would be good enough for this movie. And you have to admit - these folks are all extremely talented. *sigh* Plus, you can never get enough of Bing & Danny doing the "Sisters" routine. Never gets old.

I hadn't seen it yet this year, and while watching Bing & Danny dance and sing, I just had to look up some details. ;)
Thank you, IMDb.

However, White Christmas is not my favorite movie. Even if you were tricked by it being fabulous, and the huge picture, and the title, and my effervescence on the subject. And I was reminded while I was looking at the many movies these folks have been in (while digging around on IMDb) - my favorite movie. And yes, it stars Danny Kaye.

Court Jester. Best movie ever. I am always a little shocked, and a little more saddened when people have no idea what this movie is. So many fantastic quotes. "'Get it?' 'Got it.' 'Good.'" "The pellet with the poison..." Mmhmm. And that's just a start. The joys!

Oh, and it also stars Glynis Johns (mom from Mary Poppins), Angela Lansbury (please tell me you know who that is), and Basil Rathborne (the best bad-guy and swordsman ever - even better than Errol Flynn; No, really - and he was 63 when he filmed this one).

If you haven't watched this movie, you need to. Great humor; good, fun story; fabulous songs; some interesting choreography; tongue twisters I have never been able to say quickly enough to count; and good actors. Again all I can ... *sigh* ... If you can't find it, let me know. I have it taped. (Well, my dad did. And it now 'lives' at my house.) And maybe, someday, if I'm really lucky, I may own it on dvd before my tape gets worn out. ;)

Anyone able to name any other Danny Kaye movies? Go ahead, try it. Good stuff. Watch out or I may make you watch quite the marathon. :)

It's December 2nd.

noreply@blogger.com (Kara) — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 18:43:00 +0000

Only 23 more days!

I just love Christmas.

Its Beginning...

noreply@blogger.com (Kara) — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 05:21:00 +0000

Thanksgiving time is here.

A couple friends have already posted stuff about what they're thankful for this year, and I wasn't planning on writing anything like that just yet. Actually, I wasn't planning on writing anything like that at all.

But after a conversation with a dear, dear friend tonight, I realized how thankful I am for her. She is always praying for me, always willing to listen, always sharing her heart with me. No matter how busy we are, we always find time to "spend" with each other - despite living over an hour away. We talk almost every day, and when that doesn't happen -even for a day or two- it feels like an eternity. The beginning of the conversation after a lapse usually begins with one of us saying "oh, good, you are alive!"

Thanks for being you, and for your constant friendship and love.
You really do rock.

Did You Know...

noreply@blogger.com (Kara) — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 04:55:00 +0000

there is a Muppet Frog Prince Movie?

Well, there is. I remember it. And I love it. And no one else could remember it or believe that it exists.
But it does.

Look What I Found Today!!! (thanks to the joys of internet at home and time to search and be a nerd...)

Proof of Jim Henson's The Frog Prince. *sigh* I love this movie.
-- and I'm loving the ability to post a 2nd (!) post in the same day at HOME - it feels pretty great!

I found it where I can watch it on YouTube. Can you remember this song? "Nime ine-teen, nime ine-teen, by mirthdays do-tay" .... :D Apparently it was made for tv in 1971, but as you can see from the left bottom corner, they played it on the Disney channel at some point when i was a child- or something...I remember that particular Disney logo being more recent (yes, yes, I watch too much Disney for someone my age), so maybe I was in jr high or something. But still. It exists. Yay!

Here's the proof. (Yes, it's the entire fabulous movie - and only about 50 minutes long):

Video 1:

Video 2:

Video 3:

Video 4:

Video 5:

and, I'm pretty sure this movie is why I love Sweetums so much. :) *sigh*

I feel so spoiled

noreply@blogger.com (Kara) — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 22:38:00 +0000

which is kinda dumb, but I do.

I got cable and internet this weekend and I am writing my FIRST blog post from home! Others have been written on lunch breaks, or just after work. I am so glad to be doing this in the comfort of my living room. :)

I haven't even found anything good to watch yet-- except the end of the Vikings/Seahawks game. And the end of Pirates (1), and part of Kingdom of Heaven, I suppose. But the best thing so far was the football game. Definitely. And it was just because I got to have it on at my house and it was very ... "home-feeling" ... if that makes sense. It just feels right to have football on on a Sunday afternoon in this season. I even got to have a conversation with my dad about it, while it was on. *sigh* good times.

Thanks for indulging me on this one.
Now I'm off to decorate my house for... yep you guessed it: Christmas. ;)

Christmas Movie Quotes Challenge!

noreply@blogger.com (Kara) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 20:31:00 +0000

Last night while I was home finishing something crafty that should have been done about 2 months ago, I was watching Christmas movies. On VHS. Well, I guess there was one on dvd too. And in there somewhere was a non-Christmas movie, but it does have lots of snow in it, so it went along with the rest just fine.

While I was thoroughly enjoying my favorite lines, I realized I don't know how many other people would be able to quote them with me... and thus the idea for this challenge was born. More than one quote per movie most of the time, but not necessarily right in a row! Oh, and the only movie that is not technically a kids movie, is the non-Christmas one... ;)

There are 16 questions. Tell me what movie the quote is from,
and if you know- what character said it.
(I did give you hints on which were from songs...aren't I nice?)

Aaaand, Go!

1. ♪ That's the girl for me!

2. Chawlie, are ya hoit? (accented)

3. Eat, Papa. Eat!

4. Thank you for making me a part of this.

5. ♪ It's the Minuet for clarinet for me!

6. Not hurt. Didn't even break his concentration.

7. Yes? Who's there? There's who? OOOh! A baby!

8. Not happy in my work, I guess...

9. We ain't never hardly ever seen one.

10. Heat wave! (♪) This is my island in the sun. Hoo! Hoo!

11. I reformed this bumble! He wants a job! Looky what he can do!

12. Didn't I ever tell you about bumbles? Bumbles bounce!

13. Ears, Nestor.

14. Either they are going or I am going. And I am certainly not going!

15. We evil magicians have to make a living too.

16. Is it too early for breakfast? (Yes) Oh good. Suppertime.

Oh how I love Christmas. :)

God Knows Best

noreply@blogger.com (Kara) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:55:00 +0000

I logged on today to complain.
I'm having a tough day so far, after a tough afternoon yesterday, and I am quickly feeling like I will reach my limit long before today is over.

Oh, and I'm supposed to pray and be sincere tonight.

When I logged onto my dashboard, I saw that Leash had written a new blog post (a few days ago), and went to read it before I jumped into my post.

God knew I was coming.
He gave me this, through my friend.
Thanks, Leash, for being who you are and for writing honestly and sharing what God gave you in His Word.

I reiterate her thoughts here: "I know all I can do is continue to work hard myself, try to help people in the best way I can, and ultimately pray."
And the verse she shared, I now want to share with you: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

Decorating

noreply@blogger.com (Kara) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:57:00 +0000

In case you missed my last post - short though it was - this post is my elaboration. Because I can. ;)

I am very excited about this part of the season. And I do mean Christmas, and yes, I know Thanksgiving hasn't happened yet. Move on. I love Christmas.

Yesterday evening I pulled out all my Christmas stuff from my storage space. I am planning on hanging my lights on my patio this weekend. And possibly, if there are enough, in a window or two as well. I am making the excuse that it will be fairly warm this weekend, and what a better reason to hang them up now instead of when it's really freezing? That doesn't mean I will turn them on, just put them up.

Oh, who am I kidding? I will most likely not make it to Monday before I set the timer and turn them on. The joy knows no bounds. Man, I love Christmas.

Plus, everything else is pulled out - the tree (in a box), its decorations, lights, and the other knick-knacks that will go around my house. I plan to leave them in their corner...until next Saturday. 'Cuz then weekends get crazy and nights I will be too exhausted, and I want them up when I come home from Thanksgiving. So there. (Pouting child? Who let this girl write a blog today? Sheesh.)

Yay. I love Christmas. I am listening to Christmas music on my computer at work today. (I am in the office alone, and am up in my corner of this huge building, so I am bothering no one and am making myself very happy.) Fabulous.

So, tonight I will clean. This Saturday, I will be outside moving plants and putting up lights as quickly as I can. Next Saturday, I will be decorating the place with the rest of the Christmas stuff. And after that, anyone who comes to my house better be ready for it - and no jumping on me for having it all up and out already. I love Christmas and if you are friends with me, this is the cost. You have to just get used to it. Most of you have already, but this is fair warning - it is around the corner, quite literally.

If you've begun counting, I've said "I love Christmas" 4 times already in this post. Actually, make that 5. Onward with the joy.

I can't wait until the decorating dates I have with myself. And then comes family fun at Thanksgiving, and then December, which is the month of Christmas! More family, friends, and joy just because of the time of year and what it means on so many levels for me. Here comes 6: I love Christmas!

It's official-

noreply@blogger.com (Kara) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 17:57:00 +0000

-ly November.

Can I start decorating for Christmas now?

My morning commute

noreply@blogger.com (Kara) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:37:00 +0000

La Traviata
Claire de Lune
Supermassive Black Hole
Flightless Bird, American Mouth

all on one cd.
nice.

Danger, Will Robinson

noreply@blogger.com (Kara) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 03:48:00 +0000

Having internet access at home is dangerous. Very. Dangerous.

Especially when you don't know how long it will last.

Tonight, I was to be packing. For a trip I leave for on Thursday, from work. Tomorrow night I have my small group (yay!) so tonight is the only night to pack, other than the last minute throw-ins on Thursday morning. BUT, instead, having (for the second night in a row, mind you) gotten a signal on my wireless connection, I wasted some time. Ok, ok, lots of time.

I got on the library website and reserved a couple things I've had no luck finding on my own. I looked up a couple movies I'm waiting on - both on dvd and in theaters. I looked up the weather for my trip, and for home so I know how to dress for work the next couple days and on Sunday when I am getting back home. I also looked at a recipe or two (I love the food network), and a couple tv shows to see when they come back on/when their season ends.

Now, as I sit typing this, I wonder how I could let my evening get so out of hand. How have I gotten to 11pm and STILL not started packing?? Granted, it won't be that hard: jeans, socks, tennis shoes, t-shirts, sweatshirts - we'll be doing yard work, etc. But still, I should have put it in my bag. And I'm realizing that even if I wait until tomorrow after small group, it won't be as late as it is now. But I will (most likely) be more tired ... I think. So, I still plan to at least pull things out, even if they don't make it quite all the way into the bag tonight.

I also started to get a little worried about what will happen when I have internet (that is faster, and easier, and doesn't require the slight shifts of the computer trying to get a good enough signal) regularly. However, I then realized that most of my ... obsession ... with it tonight is that it is a novelty. And I don't know how long it will last. Or if I'll be able to get it back tomorrow. If I try. Which means, when it's official, and I'm not sweating that I might lose it and never get it back, I will not be so obsessed with trying to look at everything (essential and non-essential) in one sitting. (At least that's what experience has taught me.)

So, again I state: the internet at home is dangerous.
It makes it far to easy to get Lost in Space...

but (of course) I still want it! ;)

This is Tuesday.

noreply@blogger.com (Kara) — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 21:25:00 +0000

If only it were that easy to leave.

Ratatat - Classics - Loud Pipes

noreply@blogger.com (Kara) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 21:35:00 +0000

(Band - Album - Song)
I'm pretty stuck on this song right now.

Interesting sound, beat, etc.
Quite repetitive, which usually drives me nuts in music when it's 'overused' like this, but...hey, what can I say? I guess I just like what I like.

150

noreply@blogger.com (Kara) — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 22:02:00 +0000

150 photo boxes is a lot.
it took me about 150 minutes to get them all unloaded, and put in their proper spot. (well, more like 180, but there were at least 30 minutes worth of 'interruptions'...so 150 is probably closer to true.)

for those of you who (like me) can't do math that quickly, that's about 2 & 1/2 hours. sheesh.
but they are safely in their 'home' -- until i need to take them down again.

of course, that won't be all at once, just a few at a time; and that i can handle.

it's always the 'little' things that take so much time, isn't it?

Yes, It's True

noreply@blogger.com (Kara) — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 15:16:00 +0000

I can't wait for Christmas.

This morning, I was shivering at home. Then, I was shivering outside on the short walk to my car. Now, I am shivering in my office. Later, I will be shivering outside and then at home again.

I can't wait.
So much that I almost watched a Christmas movie last night.
No joke.

I really just want to get all my Christmas stuff out and start decorating. And listening to Christmas music. But I will wait (or try to) until Thanksgiving. Although truthfully, I haven't made it that long yet. Not once. The longest I held out, I still gave in to the music and at least pulling the stuff out about 2 weeks before the end of November.

What makes it worse is that it's supposed to snow sometime this weekend - who cares if it doesn't stick, or stay that long... it's snow! And, of course, I mean "worse" in a purely "how will I possibly hold out now" sort of way. (For those of you not crazy like me, and thus not quite paying attention, this post is frighteningly early. Last year I held out until October 17th. I'm about a week and a half early. Oh, wait. I did post this last week, so maybe this current post just solidifies the crazy. Shoot, that means I was 3 weeks earlier than last year! There is no hope now...)

Who's with me?
Anyone?
Anyone??

'Fast' Sound

noreply@blogger.com (Kara) — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 21:54:00 +0000

You know that sound when something is whizzing by you? You hear a voice in the moving car, a yell in the falling bungie jumper. The zoom of the car gets louder, and then more muted again as it moves away.

Today, I am hearing a yell. It is coming from somewhere ... inside me, I think. It keeps getting a little closer, then further away, but I can still hear it. It never gets far enough. I think I'm trying to run away from it, but somehow the ____ (insert whatever it is here - cuz I haven't figured out what it is yet) is still keeping up just enough to hear the scream.

It's driving me crazy. and it's making me want to yell. Maybe if I do, I'll get it out, and it will go away; I'll be able to outrun it. Maybe it'll just make it worse. I don't know.

but it's got to stop.
i'm starting to go nuts here.
and it's making everything else almost unbearable.

cold air

noreply@blogger.com (Kara) — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 21:08:00 +0000

the air has been pretty cold for a few days now.
mostly since last friday.
i love it. it's fresh. it's crisp.
it makes me want to pick apples, carve pumpkins, make pies.

i really like fall.
'cuz it means winter's coming.
mmm. winter.
winter means Christmas.

and i LOVE Christmas.
;) (edit: I made it, barely, but I made it -it's been a month since I mentioned Christmas.)

Perspective

noreply@blogger.com (Kara) — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 19:51:00 +0000

something i need.

something hard to find.

something even harder to hold onto once found.

"Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying."
Romans 12:12 NLT

Here she is!

noreply@blogger.com (Kara) — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 01:26:00 +0000

Yes, I know I'm not either of the parents...but they've already posted some pictures on facebook. These are just the ones i had on my phone that look the best and won't get anyone mad at me for sharing them! :) (So, I'm sorry, but there are no pictures of Mommy & baby...)

Her name is Belle Elyana (El-yan-na), she was born yesterday, September 17th, and she is amazing. Her name means 'beauty' and 'God has answered' (it is an English-type "translation" of a Hebrew word). I love her so much! I wish I could have stayed longer! ;)

Ok, here she is!

With her Daddy:

Her pretty self - she was very sleepy today!:

Oh, the sweetness...
Thanks for indulging me on this one. ;)

Excitement

noreply@blogger.com (Kara) — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 16:44:00 +0000

Today (most likely) I will become (officially) an aunt.
I was excited before, and I'm sure when it's my own kids I'll be even more excited, but I'm more excited about this little girl than I thought I could be. I'm distracted. I can't wait to see her, meet her, hold her, love her. I get to see her tomorrow. AH! My little brother is about to be a daddy! Coolest thing ever.

Just had to get that out.

Hope is an Interesting Thing

noreply@blogger.com (Kara) — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 19:29:00 +0000

I have found myself hoping for many things lately, probably due in part to the stress I have been feeling.

I hope to feel closer to God, rather than farther away like I do now.
I hope to get better at my devotional time.
I hope to be a better Christian.
I hope to be a better witness.
I hope I stop feeling so stressed.
I hope my niece is born soon.
I hope to find a husband.
I hope to have children of my own.
I hope to be a better friend.
I hope to be more positive.
I hope I am encouraging to those around me, even in tough situations.

Some of these things require diligence, patience, and work on my part. Some of them require patience, and waiting on God. All of them require faith - and that will only be steady as I grow. If I become stagnant, I will not remain faithful.

I hope I can continue to grow.
I hope I can be patient.

I know my Hope will see me through.

Remembering

noreply@blogger.com (Kara) — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 20:26:00 +0000

I have seen many comments, posts, statuses, etc. today about this day eight years ago.

Most of them have been prayers, or "Do you remember where you were"-type things.

It made me think: I can hardly believe that it has been that long. But I suppose, in the grand scheme of things, 8 years is really quite short. And I can't quite wrap my mind around that yet.

I was in my sophmore year of college. I had gotten up that morning, to get ready for work. My roommate got up, turned on the news, watched it for approximately 2 minutes, then headed for the shower. As soon as I woke up enough to drag myself out of bed, I went to change the channel (I don't particularly enjoy the news, especially early in the morning). It had to be just before 8:00 am (cst), as I had to be at work at 8:30 to open. I flipped to channel 9 (the channel I can bear news from in the morning while I wait to see the weather for the day) and it took me only a split-second to realize that 5, 7 & 9 were all showing the same picture.

That never happens. 5 & 7, sure, but not 9 too...

I flipped back to 7 (I trust their news more when I really want to pay attention) and watched the first tower smoking, listening to the newscasters, etc., discussing what may have happened, what may be going on. I'd been watching for about 5 minutes. I was not moving from the spot standing in front of our tiny tv. As I listened/watched, another plane flew into the shot, and a fire-ball exploded out the other side. The man speaking stopped mid-sentence and said without taking a breath "Oh my god! What is going on?!?!?"

My heart dropped. "This is crazy," I thought. "What is going on?"

About that time, my roommate came back into the room from her shower.
"Are you watching the news?!?!"
"Shh."
"Why? What's going on?"
"Shh!"
"Oh. (pause) Wow. What happened?"
"I don't know. I was watching and they were trying to figure it out, and this other plane flew into the shot and hit the second tower about a minute ago."
... silence ...
"Shoot. We have to go to work, like now."

Once we arrived at work, we spent the morning sending eachother back (or having people sent up) to give us updates to the news they were listening to on the radio. That's how I found out about the plane that crashed into the Pentagon, as well as the one in the field.

Most of the day was spent in shock for all of us. This stuff just doesn't happen here. We're too safe, too comfortable.

I remember that at work we listened to Michael W. Smith's worship album all day.
I remember that I prayed for our country and our president, our the firefighters, the military, and those who were wondering and beginning to grieve.
I remember chapel being open all day with a constant service - prayer, worship, conversation.
I remember that our choir director spent time with us in prayer and we sang a few worship songs, but we did not rehearse because he didn't want us to forever correlate those songs we were working on with that day, that event.
I remember a professor in the evening who was so stuck on the rules that he did not dismiss us in time to hear the president's speech.
I remember wishing I understood more, and being frustrated at people for criticizing the nation's leaders so quickly, before all the details were even figured out.
I remember the fear that San Francisco, Denver, or Chicago would be next.
I remember the country on red alert for weeks, months afterward.

6 months later, I was in New York City with my choir on a tour. A few of us went to Ground Zero to see what was being done. There were walls of memoriums, pictures, candles, crosses, prayers. They were blanketing the blocks surrounding the site. One of the most moving experiences. I remember thinking, "Oh my word. This is where it happened. This is where that was that I was watching on my tv in my room."

It made me realize that many people (more than I had ever admitted to myself) turn to "religion" only when they "need" it. But they don't realize that they always need it. It was crazy to see/hear that many people, including newscasters and politicians - who have to be so careful - praying and talking about God and heaven constantly on tv, in newspapers, on the radio. It made me realize how lucky I was to know God personally before that event, and to know that even if something happened to me or my loved ones, I knew the end result of my life. I knew that my purpose was whatever He deemed it to be.

Whenever this day comes along (a week after my birthday), I always am reminded of the tragedy, and the unbelief I was feeling that day. I pray for those who are still grieving, for those who lost loved ones, for those who are still unable to move forward.

And I thank God that still, despite it all, He has been faithful.

Yes, I am a geek.

noreply@blogger.com (Kara) — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 15:30:00 +0000

...just in case you didn't already know. I reconfirmed this fact with myself yesterday. (And I should be working right now, but I just had to get this out there before I got so busy I forgot.)

I literally got so excited about a couple Excel equations that I found/figured out that I had to call my dad and share it with him. And, of course, we shared about a 10-minute (or so) conversation about it, even though both of us were still at work and still had many things to do. Thrilling. No, really, except for the topic, we sounded like 2 little kids excited over the shiny new toy we were sharing.

EDIT: My dad (who knows so many things that many call him a genius) also taught me how to pronounce "concatenate" which I couldn't do for the life of me, much to his amusement. In case you are wondering it is "con-CAT-uh-nate." :) And it made me laugh because he was laughing so much over my inability to pronounce this word. end edit.

haha. *sheepish smile*

It's just that it made some things I was doing SO much easier, AND faster! So sweet. So exciting!

Oh yes, I am a geek...

...and, I am my father's daughter.
Absolutely no doubt about that either. :)

Mmm, coffee...

noreply@blogger.com (Kara) — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 17:24:00 +0000

It does a body good... :)

This morning (thanks to a birthday gift card) I got some Starbucks coffee. A huge one, too. It definitely is doing its job of keeping me awake...and I think this may be the first time I was able to finish one that large!

Thanks to the coffee, and the worship music I've got on at my desk, I'm in a better mood than yesterday. So far, there has not been anything unexpected. I realize the day is still young, and that there is potential for that, but so far it hasn't happened today. Which is good, because I'm actually getting the other stuff done... well, started at least. :)

So, I failed the challenge miserably yesterday, but today I'm doing better.

And I give all the praise to God!
2 Corinthians 12:10

er... challenge...

noreply@blogger.com (Kara) — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 21:55:00 +0000

GAH!