Hallmark has got my mark

Is there anything more moving then a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie?

Is there anything more moving then a Hallmark commercial.

Sheesh – they get me everytime!

Ms. Roller Goes to Washington

More to come when I get back!

A Reflected Year : 2008

I found this on another blog and while some of the questions are hokey, overall I think it is a nice way to reflect back on a year.

1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before?

The candidate I voted for President won! I worked a semi-retail job.

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

No – on that front I failed miserably. At least now I have 12 months to do better not that I have made any yet.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

One of my cousins gave birth at the beginning of the year and another one at the end.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

Two people. First my Grandfather in August. Then Micah in October.

5. What countries did you visit?

No traveling for me in 2008. I did make it to the Cabin. And back to Boston.

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?

My drive.

7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

I am terrible with dates but there are several moments that will stay with me forever. The search for a rock in Disneyland with my brothers. Sitting on the deck of the Cabin watching the sunset. The cars pulling over out of respect at Micah’s funeral procession and then being saluted by the patrol officer. Curbside seats to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Moving all my stuff in. Getting my mom to do the Bay2Breakers. Playing rockband at Pesach. Having all my Roller cousins together. Putting dirt on my Grandfather’s grave.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Getting back into school – now if I could only finish!

9. What was your biggest failure?

Quite a few actually – though the root of all comes from the fact that I seem unable to finish or truly start anything. Schoolwork for example…

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

Knees and scissors where not my friends in 2008.

11. What was the best thing you bought?

Well by not going to school for most of the year, I “bought” time with my family. In doing so I discovered so many tales and pictures. All the photo stuff I bought for it enabled and started many great conversations.

Oh the Wii Fit which I got for the family. I have my dad doing exercise! My mom too but she already and was much easier to get to do it.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

Barack Obama? That seems like a cop-out though.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

Sarah Palin comes to mind. Mine would be a close second though.

14. Where did most of your money go?

Paying off debt.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

The election.

16. What song will always remind you of 2008?

Breaking Love and Down to Earth from Wall-E

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? Happier
b) thinner or fatter? Thinner - barely
c) richer or poorer? Richer - technically

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?

I wish I had actually finished all that I started

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?

Doing nothing – time wasted

20. How did you spend Christmas?

At home with family. Dinner menu consisted of Chinese food, dinner rolls and pie!

21. Did you fall in love in 2008?

Perhaps started to

22. What was your favorite TV program?

I think I am going to go with Chuck. Pushing Daises, The Daily Show and Colbert Report also up there.

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?

No – peace love and mickey mouse people!

24. What was the best book you read?

I really enjoyed Inkheart.

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?

Ha! This question implies I have some music coolness which just isn’t the case

26. What did you want and get?

Back to Boston

27. What did you want and not get?

My old self back

28. What was your favorite film of this year?

Toss between The Dark Knight and Wall-E

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

Nothing particularly special and it was my first year anniversary of turning 21.

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

If I could have gotten my schoolwork in hand

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?

Jeans and t-shirts

32. What kept you sane?

Not sure I really did…

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

Toss between Jon Stewart and Christian Bale

34. What political issue stirred you the most?

The election and proposition 8

35. Who did you miss?

My Grandfather and Micah

36. Who was the best new person you met?

What a question! I am going the easy route here and will say my new first cousins once removed Eliza, Carly and Clayton.

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.

Avoiding things only makes the problem harder to deal with when you have to and usually by then it is so much bigger than what you started with.

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

Did you think you’d escaped from routine
By changing the script and the scene?
Despite all you made of it
You’re always afraid
Of the change

Time Before Land

I can't turn it off. I can't seem to help but watch.

The Land Before Time II is on.

It is so bad it hurts.

With laughter or tears I am not sure.

Save the Mother's, Save the Childhoods

While this happened almost a month ago, I cannot begin to express my happiness that Mother's Cookies will live once more.

Oh thank you Kellogg's, thank you!