I'm Still Standing!

I'm still here!  I'm still standing -- like the old Elton John song.

I can't believe it's been so long since I've checked in.  My apologies.

I wasn't able to finish the semester because I ended up getting an infection (a few actually) that put me in the hospital.  I started fresh for the Spring semester and so far, so good.  We finish the last week of May.  My classes are:  English 101, Intro to Investments, Real Estate Principles and Screenwriting. 

Can you guess which is my favorite.      I love the screenwriting class.  I've learned more about novel writing in this class than any other seminar or book I've absorbed.  There are so many people with great ideas for movies.  In the book we use, the first chapter covered how "Hollywood" is full of great story ideas, but very few good writers.  Ain't it the truth?

I'm doing well in my classes.  I'll share my grades when I know them. 

I haven't chosen a major yet.  I go back and forth between Business and English.  I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up!    

I'll try to hit some of your sites.  Believe it our not... I DO think about the regulars I was reading.

ttfn

Currently Listening ELO's Greatest Hits By Electric Light Orchestra Showdown see related

Have a great day!

Currently Listening The Rising By Bruce Springsteen Waiting on a Sunny Day see related

Hello Everybody!

I love my film class.  I’ve actually learned a lot that will help me in my writing. I’ve seen a couple of great films.  I highly recommend them!

The first is Cinema Paradiso, an Italian film with subtitles.  You’ll forget you’re reading as you get into the movie. Fyi, go for the theatrical release, not the director’s cut.  More about that later...

The other is Whale Rider, a film from New Zealand with excellent acting and a wonderful story.  It’s a good family movie about a little girl finding her place and being an inspiration to her town.

The film took more than two years to make because, after getting approval from the government, they set about casting the lead.  When no professional actresses met what they were looking for, they went to every middle school on the island.  They found a girl, Keisha Castle-Hughes that was perfect AND could act.  The problem was that she was too young for the role.  They decided to wait until she grew into it!  Can you imagine?  After seeing the film you’ll understand why they made the right decision.

Here’s a little info you may find interesting:

The year that Whale Rider came out, 2003, a movie called Charlie’s Angeles Full Throttle also came out.  The both got a PG-13 rating. 

New Zealand has a stricter code than the U.S. so they got their PG-13 because they show a marijuana pipe (no one is smoking) and they use the word “dick".

Charlie’s Angeles got the PG-13 because they removed a graphic sex scene; one that was purposely put in so that the powers-that-be can focus on that and not the other things, like stripping, grinding, cursing, etc.

So I learned that when there is a DVD out and it says "director’s cut" or "unedited" it’s because it still contains the graphic things that were put in for the sole purpose of being cut out and get a better, friendlier rating. What’s a little disturbing is that filmmakers make more money on the after-release market.  Much of the public wants that kind of stuff...just not in public.

Nick comes home today, long enough to pack and move to Idaho.  Momma’s going to miss her baby.

Nickleboy aka "A Dis!" 9/91

Currently Watching Whale Rider By Keisha Castle-Hughes, Rawiri Paratene, Vicky Haughton, Cliff Curtis, Grant Roa see related

Changes

 Everything seems to have changed since I've been out of circulation.  Where is emptynestandlovinit?

I want to tell all of you that I appreciate the prayers and comments while I was so sick.

I feel great now!  It's been almost 12 weeks since the kidney transplant.  It seems like a bad dream to me now. 

I rarely take naps anymore and I'm up by 7:30 every morning.  I started classes at the local community college.  I'm taking a Real Estate class and a Film class.  My screenwriting class got canceled.    It's all new to me.  It's been so long since I sat in a classroom.  I'm a little distracted by things but I guess I've always...LOOK A SQUIRREL!  I'm also a germ-a-phobe. 

Shannon's boys are getting older and bigger, without me.  I can hardly wait to see them in Oct when I can travel. 

It's been almost a year since Shannon and Pete's wedding. 

Lindsay is back at BSU.  I'm sure she will do well.

Nick did graduate after all!  He decided not to go to college.  He tells us that he's going to join the Air Force in 6 months.  Why he's waiting until then, I don't know.  We gave him until Sept. 1 to either be a student or get a job.  Since he's not going to school, he'll start paying a little rent.  We'll see what happens with the boy. 

Gunars is fantastic.  Working closer is heaven!  He's only a 30 minute drive from home.  He used to commute at least 2 hours each way. 

Roger, the dog, is 10 years old now.  I can tell he's gotten old.  He's losing his hearing and sometimes he stumbles.

Tinkerbell is 6 years old!  I can't believe it.  She sleeps most of the time. 

Miss Kitty is still around.  I have no idea how old she is.  We've lived here 10 years and she was already here.  I would miss her if she weren't around. 

Being home alone, with just the animals, brought me closer to them.  I'm sure it has a lot to do with not having babies at home anymore.  I've become what I always hated.  I think of my animals as kids.  I once told Tinkerbell to take her toy to "Daddy".  Gunars said flatly, "I'm not the dog's daddy".

I'm thinking of using this picture for my profile.

ttfn

cathy

Currently Listening If I Should Fall From Grace With God By The Pogues The Irish Rover see related

Separated at birth?