Here and now: April 14, 2016

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What's happening in my world, here and now:

clock and book 

On my mind...

My taxes. Not because I need to do them, but because I just finished them. Filed them yesterday morning. My brain is still mulling over numbers, deductions, credits, and crap I really don't like to think about. Jim is the numbers person in our relationship; I'm more the words person. But because...

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Saturday movie review: Man Up

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We're taught that one shouldn't judge a book by its cover. I learned last week that the same should be said for movie titles — don't judge the film by its title.

If I had given in to my initial reaction to this week's film, MAN UP, based on its title, I would have missed out on a sweet, silly-yet-smart romantic comedy. The only thing that saved me from scrolling on by MAN UP while searching through Netflix was Lake Bell, whose understated, self-deprecating sense of humor always makes me chuckle.

man up movie poster

In the screwball comedy with an ill-fitting title, Bell stars as 34-year-old Nancy, who's single and

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Here and now: March 3, 2016

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It's been a while since I've shared what's happening right here, right now in my world. Here goes:

here and now

On my mind...

My dad. The week I found out Lyla had brain cancer, I also found out my dad was diagnosed with a relatively rare form of cancer that's, kind of, a precursor to leukemia, something called...

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The concussion discussion from a grandparent's perspective

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My Q&A with Being Brain Healthy author Ruth Curran

concussion movie posterWill Smith's film CONCUSSION, based on the true story of one brave doctor's unrelenting efforts to enlighten the NFL about the effects of continual trauma to the brains of football players, has opened the eyes of many to the dangers of America's favorite sport. Concussions affect far more than just football players, though, and the movie has also opened the door for many important discussions about the effects of brain injuries of all sorts, suffered by all ages, regardless of the cause.

I have long been concerned about concussions in my rambunctious, active, sports-loving grandsons, so I turned to Ruth Curran, author of Being Brain Healthy, to assuage some of the worries and concerns I have as a grandmother. See, grandparents, unless they're in a situation where they serve as primary caretaker for their grandchildren, have little say in the day-to-day care of their beloved grandkids, can't restrict certain sports or activities. That doesn't mean we have no concerns.

being brain healthy by ruth curranHere, Curran addresses my concussion...

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Saturday movie review: Creed

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I loved the original ROCKY. The first sequel not so much. All the following sequels? I refused to watch them, as the magic was gone.

The ROCKY magic is back, only it now goes by the name of CREED.

 CREED movie

I must say I was a bit hesitant to pay good money to see CREED, but it won the...

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Saturday movie review (and giveaway!): Angels Sing

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I stand firm on waiting until after Thanksgiving to listen to holiday music and watch holiday films — except for HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS, which takes place primarily during Thanksgiving deeming it acceptable to watch then.

Now that the turkey has been officially gobbled and gone, holiday music and films are fair game. Consider such viewing begun!

Angels Sing DVD

To be quite honest, holiday films often seem cheesy to me. And corny. But that's okay, that's to be expected. And pretty much accepted. In that vein, I admit that...

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A Brave Heart, plus GRAND Social No. 174 link party for grandparents

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A Brave Heart

A Brave Heart film

My husband and I watched an incredible documentary yesterday called A BRAVE HEART: THE LIZZIE VELASQUEZ STORY, courtesy a free, no-obligation screener from the filmmakers. It's the amazing, heartbreaking, inspiring...

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Saturday movie PREview: Grandma

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As I've been chasing kids, reading bedtime stories, playing at the park, and all kinds of other fun stuff with Bubby, Mac, and Jak, I've not watched a film to review this week.

So you get this: a preview of an upcoming film that will likely resonate—in one way or another—with most of us here.

It's called GRANDMA and stars Lily Tomlin, among others.

GRANDMA movie

And here's the...

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Saturday movie review: Runoff

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What might a loving wife and mother do in hopes of pulling her family from the brink of financial disaster? It's that question that creates the intrigue and suspense in the beautifully filmed, understatedly acted RUNOFF, an independent film written and directed by Kimberly Levin in her narrative film directorial debut.

runoff movie 

Betty (Joanne Kelly) loves her husband, her two sons, her farmland community...

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Saturday movie review: Like Sunday, Like Rain

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I've been intrigued with the idea of nannies since long-ago watching Julie Andrews make a magical, musical difference with her charges in MARY POPPINS and THE SOUND OF MUSIC. While parents seemingly blew off their children, a nanny could make a child's world far more enriched and delightful than parents would likely ever manage.

Like Sunday, Like Rain

I longed for such adventures as a child. I still can't help but fall in love with books and movies featuring nannies who—often unexpectedly—become far more beloved, important, and relevant to the children they care for than the kiddos' parents could hope to be.

LIKE SUNDAY, LIKE RAIN is one such movie. And though...

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