Snapshots From An Unmade Bed

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year....

Wishing you the happiest of holidays and may 2008 bring you and your families wonderful blessings...

Will be back after the New Year....

inside SPIN + Film

My husband sent me an "ultimate' playlist so I thought I would list it out for the music post this week. I like a lot of his choices although there are a few I am like, what?!

Battle-Axe by the Deftones
Keep off the Lawn by Aesop Rock
Ride with Me (Acoustic Version) by the Lemonheads
No Shelter by Rage Against the Machine
No Quarter by Led Zepplin (the live version by Tool ain’t half bad either)
Holding Sand by Rival Schools
Eyes of the South by Down
Act III Scene 2 (Shakepeare) by Saul Williams
The Noose by A Perfect Circle
Fear of a Black Planet by Public Enemy
Cry Me a River by Justin Timberlake (and what of it???)
Driving Nowhere by Helmet
Start a War by The National
Way to Blue by Nick Drake
Hip Hop by Dead Prez
Knock’em Dead Kid by Motley Crue
Southern Hospitality by Ludacris (featuring Pharrell)
Rocket by the Smashing Pumpkins
Little Lover’s So Polite by Silversun Pickups
Genius by the Kings of Leon
Breadcrumb Trail by Slint
Anything by the Secret Machines on the Now Here is Nowhere LP
Wax and Wane by the Cocteau Twins
Morning Has Broken by Cat Stevens
Mother by Danzig
Beside You in Time by Nine Inch Nails

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A few of the films I have seen recently:

Waitress - I really enjoyed this quirky, indie film!

I am Legend - I will admit I had my reservations about seeing another "the world is coming to an end" film but I found this movie really entertaining and Will Smith keeps you engaged. Certainly not an upper but as with most sci-fi films...there might be a glimmer of hope for the human race!  The special effects are pretty fantastic too.

The Nanny Diaries - I had not read the book and did not go into watching this with any expectation. It was different than what I had in my mind but I did actually enjoy it.  An easy film to watch!

Books + Literature

Whimsical Christmas Tree Fairy
Originally uploaded by SnapshotsUnmade.

I am feeling more festive this week so I thought I would post a holiday poem and photograph (a cute ornament I brought home from an ornament exchange and a new addition to our tree..)

Christmas Bells
by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old, familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet
The words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along
The unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Till, ringing, singing on its way
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime,
A chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Then from each black, accursed mouth
The cannon thundered in the South,
And with the sound
The Carols drowned
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And in despair I bowed my head;
‘There is no peace on earth,’ I said;
‘For hate is strong,
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!’

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
‘God is not dead; nor doth he sleep!
The Wrong shall fail,
The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men!’

The Arts

I was able to get a bit of rest over the weekend and hopefully work won't be too crazy over the next few weeks...hmmm, somehow I don't think that is going to happen.

I don't have much to talk about regarding the Arts because I don't see much happening at the moment. But here are two exhibits you might want to catch:

Dallas Museum of Art

Gabriel Orozco: Inner Circles of the Wall -  a sculptural installation by this artist running November 29, 2007–March 30, 2008.

Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth

Declaring Space installation focusing on the abstract work of Lucio Fontana, Yves Klein, Barnett Newman, and Mark Rothko

Taking a Break

I have to take the week off from my blog and other personal things as work is going to be crazy and I just can't keep up with everything else.

I will be back next week with news and updates.  Until then - have a great week!

Film

Cinema

We actually made it to the cinema this past weekend to see No Country for Old Men. My husband had read the book but I had not so I didn't know quite what to expect other than what I had seen in the trailer. Saying that, I felt it was going to be much more gorey than it was. Not that it takes away from a nail-biting, hair-raising twist of fates and consequences. The film work and storytelling is fantastic and the dialogue sits with you for a while (think toss of a coin). I can't say enough about  Javier Bardem who plays Anton Chigurh, a cold and relentless killer. Let's just say I hope I never run across paths with someone like him - ever!

I would highly recommend this thriller.

Rentals

Ratatouille - This was a little gem of a movie. The animation is beautiful. I think Pixar added more of the human character element. At times you are caught almost feeling as though the characters are quite real but they still have the animated feel to them. If you are not a fan of rats, I think Remy my make you change your mind - he is pretty darn cute!I think we were also big fans because of all the cooking scenes - honestly - they had the chef moves down!

If you are looking for a lovely, feel good movie and are already a fan of Pixar films - you will surely enjoy this.

I never watched Elizabeth and decided to send it back. I will add it to my list again and watch it a bit later on. I did however have Waitress next on my rental list and it arrived yesterday. I hope to have some time over the weekend to watch it. With a tagline like "If only life were as easy as pie" how could I resist?

inside SPIN

No time for discovering new music at the moment so I am going back to some classics, like a bit of U2.

ocean grey
Originally uploaded by SnapshotsUnmade.

The Ocean

A picture in grey, dorian gray,
Just me by the sea.

And I felt like a star,
I thought that the world could go far,
If they listened to what I said.

The ocean, the ocean
Washes my feet.
Splashes the soul of my shoes.

When I looked around,
The world couldnt be found,
Just me by the sea.

~lyrics by U2

Books + Literature

I am off to my book group tonight to discuss A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian by Marina Lewycka. I haven’t finished the book with so much going on at the moment but I am really looking forward to hearing what everyone else thought about the story.

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This is not really focused on books and literature but I was wandering around Flickr and one of my contacts who is very creative used some lines from the TV series Heroes. I actually think it is very poignant.

Mr Linderman: You see, I think there comes a time when a man has to ask himself whether he wants a life of happiness or a life of meaning.

Nathan Petrelli: I’d like to have both.

Mr Linderman: [Shakes head] It can’t be done. Two very different paths. I mean, to be truly happy a man must live absolutely in the present, and with no thought of what’s gone before, and no thought of what lies ahead. But a life of meaning, a man is condemned to wallow in the past, and obsess about the future....

Her point added to those lines was this: "I want a life of happiness, but I can never escape meaning."

Words are powerful. It made me take pause.

The Arts

The Art of Cookie Making

Last year we had bought an old fashioned cookie press from Crate and Barrel. I remember as a child my Aunt making these wonderful spritz butter cookies in the shape of trees and stars. Sometimes she would use food coloring to make them red or green and of course there the sugar sprinkles to top them off.

So, last night we decided to make some ourselves and it was so much fun. We also rented "Ratatouille" and started to watch that as well which kind of fit in with our theme of the night (review on that later in the week). I highly recommend making your own!

This weekend, Dec. 8 - 9, 38th Annual Candlelight Tour at Historic Village (formerly Old City Park). A way to experience the holidays as they were in 1861 and 1901. I am hoping to make it there some time over the weekend. More information can be found here.

If you are in the mood for some Holiday theatre, the Dallas Theatre Center is now showing a production of A Christmas Carol through December 24th.