Book of the Month- January (Steph)

One of my New Year resolutions this year was to read a new book every month.  I thought that was a pretty lofty goal for myself, since I don't think I read a single new book last year.  Well, maybe, but I honestly don't remember.  I always make the excuse that "I don't have time," but really, that's not true.  So I figured if I didn't read one book every month, half of that would be 6 books for the year, and that's pretty good for me. 

I'm happy to announce that I am on track for my goal and have finished my book for the month of January.  I read The Choice by Nicholas Sparks.  When my sis-in-law Lisa moved out, she left all of her books, so I thought that I would borrow a few before I resort to paying my 6+ years overdue fines at the library. (Thanks Lisa)

The Choice was a fairly easy and quick read and I would recommend it to someone who needs a feel-good, romantic, heart-warming story.  Most of Sparks' stories have a similar feel and a bunch have been made into movies (The Notebook, Dear John, The Last Song, Nights in Rodanthe, A Walk to Remember), but I'll jump on the band-wagon and say that I enjoy them.  They are similar to stories by LDS author Jack Weyland, but they are a teeny-tiny bit more "dirty." 

The description on the dust jacket says this:

"Travis Parker has everything a man could want: a good job, loyal friends, even a waterfront home in small-town North Carolina. In full pursuit of the good life -- boating, swimming, and regular barbecues with his good-natured buddies -- he holds the vague conviction that a serious relationship with a woman would only cramp his style. That is, until Gabby Holland moves in next door. Despite his attempts to be neighborly, the appealing redhead seems to have a chip on her shoulder about him...and the presence of her longtime boyfriend doesn't help. Despite himself, Travis can't stop trying to ingratiate himself with his new neighbor, and his persistent efforts lead them both to the doorstep of a journey that neither could have foreseen. Spanning the eventful years of young love, marriage and family, The Choice ultimately confronts us with the most heartwrenching question of all: how far would you go to keep the hope of love alive?"

Can't wait to read it right?  Check it out and and enjoy!

"Tangled" Cute Movie, and Lightbulb Moment for Me(Mel)

Last Friday, Tim and I actually went on a date (I know right?) cause he got free movie tickets so, yeah it wasn't a really expensive date, but when the last time you've been on a date with your spouse was after you first got married, free movie tickets are the only chance you get sometimes. So anyways, we went and saw the movie "Tangled" and oh my goodness, is that movie cute! (Yes the one night we have away from our kids we go and see a kids movie, but there really wasn't anything else I wanted to waste my free movie ticket on.)  Ahem, a cute movie. On the way home from the movie we stopped and got an ice cream cone (see we did spend a whole 2$) and Tim and I were talking about the movie cause Tim really liked and I did too, but I don't talk for hours on end about something that I like; I BLOG about it.;) But Tim wanted to talk about it, so we were chatting and Tim brought up the question " What other fairy tales are there that haven't been made into a movie yet?" Because Tim doesn't really know of any other fairy tales other than the classic ones, we went through those first. Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, Snow White, Little Mermaid, (although I always point out to Tim that Disney's Little Mermaid is no where near the fairy cause in the original she kills herself, nice huh?) But after going through most of the ones that have been made into movies we approached Nursery Rhymes. I immediately started naming all the ones that haven't been made into a longer story or a movie, when I said Jack n' Jill, Tim laughed at me and said, "Yeah that would probably be a funny one. Jack and Jill went up the hill to fetch a pail of water; Jack fell down, and broke his crown, and Jill came tumbling after. How would you stretch that out into a movie?"
LIGHTBULB. I immediately started pulling apart the rhyme in my head and looking possibilities. Jack and Jill; what exactly is their relationship? Brother and Sister? Cousins? Neighbors? Lovers? Enemies? Okay now we have those, next line, "went up the hill to fetch a pail of water" what was the water for? Was it the chore? Was there an emergency? " Jack fell down and broke his crown" Why did Jack fall? His he that clumsy? Was he pushed? Did the "breaking of his crown" cause him any problems, like amnesia? Think of the possibilities THAT would bring! "Jill cam tumbling after" okay so either this hill is slippery or they were pushed down that hill. who would want to push someone down a hill? What really happened at the top of the hill?
Of course the first verse everyone knows but then I thought about the second part of the rhyme Up Jack got and home did trot as fast as he could caper, to Old Dame Dob who patched his nob, with vinegar and brown paper." Let's assume Jack and Jill up on the hill for just water and nothing or no one bad was up there waiting to push them back down, if Jack really broke his head open, would it be wise for him to get up and run home, much less move? Take a look at Old Dame Dob, Who is she? is she is mom? His grandma? Just some old lady who goes around fixing people's broken skulls? hmmmm. Seems shady. Really think about the words themselves and see what possibilities you can come up with. I'm not looking for what the rhyme really means cause there are several meanings, but just think about the words and see if you could come up with a story idea. I'm playing with a couple ideas right now and when I get them sorted out I'll write them down and post them to see if anyone can help my direction. When it becomes a story I can sell it to Disney and make a bazillion dollars.:)