Christmas in June

My aunt Rashel and I had a wonderful day of free activities a couple of Tuesdays ago. What started it all was the train tour of Disney's upcoming movie The Christmas Carol that had a stop at Union Station in Ogden.

Rashel and I drove up and got there right as it opened and didn't have to wait in line long. We got to see all kinds of fun stuff about the movie, like all the different techniques that were used to make it.

They also had some actual items from a Charles Dickens museum! I thought that was neat, kinda risky...but whatever
And then we got to enjoy some Christmas cheer and decorations. There were some carolers and snow even! It was the soapy, light stuff.
And then we got to watch a clip of the movie in an inflatable theater! It was like a bouncy house, without the bouncing.

Mr.Potato Head!

Whenever I go and babysit my little cousins Ruby and Gabrielle, we usually end up playing "Tayto Head" or sometimes called "Tomato Head". Ruby loves creating...

while Gaby loves destroying. Sometimes things end in tears, but lately I've been making one and giving it to Gaby for her to take apart.

This video is cute, you can hear Ruby chattering away about her creation and you can see the concentration on Gaby's face. It was a fun time!

Upcoming Adventure

I am so excited for my trip to Costa Rica in August! My friend Molly and I are going down for two weeks to work at Aviarios Sloth Sanctuary. They have a really good, informative website here.

As volunteers, we'll be working with the sloths, but also with the site itself, maintaining the trails, and helping out with tours and such. We'll work from 6am until 3pm, and have the rest of the day to do whatever.

Some of you are probably thinking that's weird to go somewhere and pay to work. But it's part of the new eco-tourism thing that has been becoming more and more popular over the years. The price was really reasonable, so we'll get to see a foreign country, while doing something good and meaningful.

Molly is from Wyoming, so we'll meet in San Jose, Costa Rica and spend a few days there. Then we're getting a shuttle to take us the 4 or so hours southwest to the Carribbean coast where the sanctuary is located. I'm really looking forward to it!

Enjoy some slothy media:

Here's a cute video I found with baby sloths at the sanctuary.

Thank you BBC

Oh how I love thee...let me count the ways...


1) Pride and Prejudice-this is where it all started. I don't remember who first introduced me to this mini series...it might have been the lady I babysat for in high school...anyway, this is the must see rendition of Pride and Prejudice. I use this version as a measuring stick for all other versions. The new movie is good in some respects, but this version covers the whole book so well. And the actors ARE the characters, they are just so perfect. I think that's why Colin Firth seems to always be in Mr. Darcy type roles in all of his latest movies.

2) Robin Hood-this show is awesome. It follows Robin and his adventures, but makes him all hip and sexy. It's kinda like the movie A Knights Tale, and how they bring in modern elements...like all the clothes and stuff look authentic, but with a modern twist. PLUS there are some good lookin' guys on here, which always makes watching anything more bearable.

3) North and South-Netflix had recommended this for me for a while before I actually watched it. I thought it was about the Civil War...but it's not. It's about this family from refined Southern England who has to move up North, to the industrial area of England. Intrigue and romance ensue. I totally love this show and the characters...it's one of those that ends and leaves you feeling all warm and fuzzy.

4) Doctor Who-There was an older show, from the 70's and 80's...but this is the new series, starting in 2004 I think. So this show is about the Doctor who is a Time Lord, he travels through time and to different planets. Him and his sidekick get into all kinds of interesting situations. At first I didn't like the whole Sci-Fi aspect of this show, but just enjoyed the time travel part. I've gotten more into it now and really like the actor who plays the Doctor. He's just so fun, quirky and cute. He definitely makes the show fun.

5) Monarch of the Glen-this show is about this guy who has to go back the Highlands of Scotland to help save the family estate. The plots for each show can sometimes seem a bit silly and predictable at times, but the characters really make up for it. You come to love them. I really love the guy's dad. He's this fun old man stuck in the aristocratic traditions of his time. The spectacular views of the Highlands also make it worth watching, it's gorgeous!

So this is just the beginning of my top BBC productions list, I'm sure more will be added as time goes on. But I definitely encourage you to see these ones, they are great. Are there any suggestions for me?

Adam

Just call me Marian

That's right! I'm gonna be a librarian! I got accepted to Simmons College in Boston! I actually got into the Graduate School of Library and Information Science. Mmhmm, and how! :)

I thought I'd take a moment and reflect on our many influential librarians. First off is Marian from The Music Man. Then there's the scene in the library at the beginning of the first Ghostbusters movie. You have the older librarian, played by Alice Drummond (who's been in tons of stuff). THEN, there's the ghost librarian. I love when they're down in the stacks trying to catch her..."Hee hee hee! "Get her!" That was your whole plan, huh, "get her." Very scientific." Love that movie.

Then there's Evelyn in one of my favorite movies The Mummy. I love the part where she's drunk...

Evelyn: Look, I... I may not be an explorer, or an adventurer, or a treasure-seeker, or a gunfighter, Mr. O'Connell, but I am proud of what I am.
Rick: And what is that?
Evelyn: I... am a librarian.

Here's a funny clip from Weird Al's movie UHF:

A fun mosaic!

At the top we've got a cool wagon thing, then next to it is one of the first Maytag washing machines, then there's a cool room all Victorian style, on the bottom left is a rock that Kit Carson wrote his name on, then a cool old stove...all found at the Fairview Museum!