Wednesday's learn and earn...

Sorry I missed the last couple of days, I had one last procedure I had to go through for my breast cancer treatment.  Because the Dr.s found out I am Factor 5 positive (a fancy way to say I get blood clots pretty easy), I am unable to take the medication that would stop estrogen from being produced so in stead I had my ovaries removed and that should do the trick.  It kept me down for a couple of days, but I am doing much better now, so on with the show...

~WORD OF THE DAY~

recalcitrant \rih-KAL-suh-trunt\  ~ adjective

DEFINITION(s): 1: obstinately defiant of authority or restraint

2a : difficult to manage or operate b : not responsive to treatment c : resistant

EXAMPLES: Anna's doctor ordered a week of complete bed rest, but, ever recalcitrant when it comes to doctors' orders, she was up and baking a cake after two days.

"Finally, he laid down the parental law: You will go on a hike and, gosh darn it, you will enjoy yourself. So the recalcitrant 14-year-old shrugged into her sweat shirt, slipped into her flimsy … canvas sneakers (totally hiking-inappropriate) and slumped in the back seat for the drive southwest to Vacaville, Calif., and Lagoon Valley Regional Park." — From an article by Sam McManis in Tri-City Herald (Washington), June 30, 2011

DID YOU KNOW? Long before any human was dubbed "recalcitrant" in English (that first occurred, as best we know, in one of William Thackeray's works in 1843), there were stubborn mules (and horses) kicking back their heels. The ancient Romans noted as much (Pliny the Elder among them), and they had a word for it — "recalcitrare," which literally means "to kick back." (Its root "calc-," meaning "heel," is also the root of "calcaneus," the large bone of the heel in humans.) Certainly Roman citizens in Pliny's time were sometimes willful and hardheaded — as attested by various Latin words meaning "stubborn" — but it wasn’t until later that writers of Late Latin applied "recalcitrare" and its derivative adjective to humans who were stubborn as mules.

Find more great words at Merriam-Webster online.

  
~THE REBATE~

Langers has a lot of  nice promotions going.  The first ones you can get a free movie ticket to see Paranorman or Diary of a Wimpy Kid.  Both require 3 proofs of purchase using either the UPC from the bottles or an original sales receipt.  ***These are two separate offers be sure to check expiration dates as they vary from item to item.

The next promo from Langers is for DVDs that include Barney, Your a Good Man Charlie Brown, Pocoyo, Raggs, Yogi Bear and Megamind.  Current video games are Megamind, Curious George, Astro Boy and Jumpstart Spanish.  Each one has a different UPC requirement, just click on the image to find out more about the ones that interest you.

I hope you are all having a great week so far!

C.Q.

Friday's Freebie...

I have a couple of freebies today that you may have a harder time getting but are so worth it if you qualify.  The first one is a Kindle copy of the book Super Duper Totally Authorized Top Secret Recipes by Todd Willber if you are an Amazon Prime member this book is totally free to borrow and download to your Kindle or Kindle app. The thing to remember is that you can borrow the book free of charge, but you must return it before you download another or you will be charged the $9.99 for the book. This is a great way to find recipes I enjoy and write them down.  I love having Prime, the free shipping more than pays for the membership for me, but in addition to that you get a free Kindle loaner ebook each month and unlimited free streaming video.

The next offer is for a free Blockbuster Express DVD Rental Code, just text one of these keywords to 39777:  BASEBALL, BILLY, CATHERINE, CHEF, CLOONEY,  DENIRO, DEPP, EDGAR, EMILIO, FARIS, GANG, GERE, GOSLING, HOLMES, HUGH, ITALY, JUSTIN, KERIA, KUMAR, LAW, MAMA, OLSEN, PERLMAN, POLICE, RACHEL, SCARY, SCOTT, SETH, SHAW, STEVE, TATUM, TAYLOR, TERROR, VIRUS, WEDDING, ZANE.

Hope you are all looking forward to a great weekend!

C.Q.

2011 in Review...

Java over a Never Growing old is taking today off for New Years so I thought I would share some of my favorite posts with you from 2011.

In January I went with a friend of mine to Minneapolis so she could have some medical tests run and found some great information on hotel shopping that I passes along in Hotel Happiness, I also found a new blogger friend Meg Hart and her great book Housecat Confidential, a view of life from a cats perspective, that I posted in my Sunday's media madness.  If you get a chance you can check out Meg's new blog at Hart Stories, she is a terrific writer and I highly recommend her book and her blog.

In February I started getting a little antsy to play in my garden and a friend sent me some info on hay bale gardening that I passed along because it is easy and inexpensive and a great way to have a garden quick in an area that may not have an easy place to plant stuff.  You can check that out at Hey! Hay! Hay! Garden the easy way...

March brought two awards that I received, one for the Cherry on Top award and one for the Incredibly Sweet blog award, both required me to share some information about me which was fun, with the Cherry on Top one I also shared a favorite picture of my grandmother.

In April I shared a great recipe for my favorite Easter treat, Hot Cross Buns together with a little history on them.  I also started doing posts called Saturday Sojourn that were a lot of fun for me and included tips on saving while traveling.  One of my favorites was the one I did for Saint Paul, MN since we were heading there ourselves for a short vacation. 

May brought the release of a book from a series that I love by Jess Loury so I was able to do a little review of the book Octoberfest to share with my readers, May also marks Memorial Day and I was able to thank our armed services folks and post two great old pictures of my grandfather and my dad looking very dapper in their uniforms from WWII.

In June I had two great guest bloggers while I was on vacation for my 25th anniversary, the first was Alexis from from Simply Beautiful Veg.  and her great post on ways to organize, including a great pocketed organizer project you can make yourself.  My other guest poster was Nina from The Adventures ArtsyNina.  She did a wonderful post on making a Pallet Kitchen Cookbook Shelf, a very cool and extremely inexpensive project.

In July I stopped doing the Saturday Sojourn's and replaced them with Silly Saturday, my first one I loved because it emphasises simplicity.  I also love this time of year when all the fruits and veggies are getting ripe and took the opportunity to share a wonderful no bake blueberry cheesecake for everyone.

August was a great month for my Media Madness section for me, I found a couple of great apps, Uno and Conde Nast Traveller Magazine, that I love and use all the time.  The other was for the book The Help, which was wonderful and I would recommend to anyone looking for a good read.

September was a moth of highs and lows, the low being the sadness that came with the 9/11 memorial ceremonies I watched that day, the high was going on vacation to Chicago with two of my best girl friends and being able to share a bit of what we did and how we saved a ton of cash along the way.

The October posts were where two of my favorites are, one is one of my many favorite pictures, this one was of a small grey tree frog in our backyard that I used on the Thursday's picture perfect deal, the other was one of my favorite Silly Saturday's featuring a great photo shopped scene.

November was all about sharing my favorite things, including a list of movies, a great app called Flipboard and a recipe I always make for Rosy Fruit Salad, a wonderful frozen concoction that is from the 1950s.

December was all about relaxing and getting ready for the holidays and vacation, but in between that I was able to post one of my favorite ever pictures of my dog Tucker loving the first snowfall from last year.  Java also posted a wonderful Meet Me On Monday with 15 questions to tide us over until after New Year's, and being a good bit Irish, I couldn't end the year without and Irish Christmas Blessing to all my readers.

Thank you to all my readers for reading last year, I am looking forward to 2012!

C.Q.

Sunday's media madness...

There is a great deal going on over at Movies Unlimited right now, they are offering comedies on sale from 1980 to 2011 for up to 50% off.  If you are looking for some holiday favorites or great gift ideas look no further:

Dr. Dolittle from 1998 is only $4.99, regularly $14.99. "Workaholic physician Eddie Murphy turns from two-legged to four-legged patients after an accident restores his childhood ability to communicate with animals. Now he has to cope with complaints from dogs, guinea pigs and other critters, while relearning the importance of his family, in this hip updating of the Hugh Lofting stories."

The always classic Caddyshack is $7.49, marked down from $14.99.  "Riotous comedy set in an elite country club features Rodney Dangerfield as a loud & loutish new member, Chevy Chase as the egotistical club pro, Bill Murray as a crazed groundskeeper, and the pesky Mr. Gopher. The plot revolves around a not-so friendly game of golf between Dangerfield, Chase and stuffy judge Ted Knight."

A great comedy that's still relevant today, Trading Places is also $7.49, marked down from its original price of $14.99.  "Conniving street bum Eddie Murphy and snobby, rich executive Dan Aykroyd wind up switching lives because of a "heredity vs. environment" bet between corporate bigwig brothers Ralph Bellamy and Don Ameche, and hilarious shenanigans are bound to erupt."

The coming of age teen classic The Breakfast Club is now listed at $11.99 from its original $14.99.  "Emilio Estevez, Anthony Michael Hall, Judd Nelson, Molly Ringwald, and Ally Sheedy star in writer/director John Hughes' acclaimed teen drama about five high school students from different social, economic, and academic backgrounds who spend a Saturday detention together and learn that they have more in common than any of them ever thought possible."

And finally a great all around feel good movie Moonstruck, now marked down to $8.99 from its original price of $14.99.  "Three Academy Awards, including Best Actress and Supporting Actress, went to this wonderful romantic comedy featuring Cher as an Italian-American widow whose plans to remarry hit a snag when her fiance's brother falls in love with her."

Movies Unlimited's shipping charges for Economy are $4.00 base charge per order plus $1.00 for each item ordered. Maximum per item charge of $10.00.  With the Economy shipping allow 8 - 16 days for your items to arrive.

I hope you are all enjoying a relaxing weekend!

C.Q.

Sunday's media madness...

Growing up and still today I love movies, almost any genera with the exception of gory horror.  Just give me a bowl of popcorn, a large soda (and a box of tissues if its a tear jerker) and I am set.  Growing up I watched Siskel and Ebert and loved their takes on the movies, not that I always agreed, but I loved hearing what they had to say.   I was saddened in 1999 when Gene Siskel passed away, and in 2002 when Roger Ebert found out he had thyrod cancer I was hoping he would get better and return to At The Movies with his new on air partner Richard Roeper, but he was not so lucky and as time went on he was not able to return and in 2008 Richard Roeper did not renew his contract because his friend and co-host was unable to return.  Roger Ebert has now lost his ability to speak due to the cancer, but that has not kept him silent.  He has written his Memoirs titled approperatly Life Itself: A Memoir.  I have purchased the Kindle version at Amazon for $14.99, if you want it in hard cover I was able to find it at Walmart for $17.10 plus tax with free shipping (Amazon was a close second at $17.90), if you would like the audio version of the book you can find it for $23.09 at Amazon.

From Amazon's Product Description:

Roger Ebert's journalism carried him on a path far from his nearly idyllic childhood in Urbana, Illinois. It is a journey that began as a reporter for his local daily, and took him to Chicago, where he was unexpectedly given the job of film critic for the Sun-Times, launching a lifetime's adventures.

In this candid, personal history, Ebert chronicles it all: his loves, losses, and obsessions; his struggle and recovery from alcoholism; his marriage; his politics; and his spiritual beliefs. He writes about his years at the Sun-Times, his colorful newspaper friends, and his life-changing collaboration with Gene Siskel. He remembers his friendships with Studs Terkel, Mike Royko, Oprah Winfrey, and Russ Meyer (for whom he wrote Beyond the Valley of the Dolls and an ill-fated Sex Pistols movie). He shares his insights into movie stars and directors like John Wayne, Werner Herzog, and Martin Scorsese.

This is a story that only Roger Ebert could tell. Filled with the same deep insight, dry wit, and sharp observations that his readers have long cherished, this is more than a memoir-it is a singular, warm-hearted, inspiring look at life itself.

"I believe that if, at the end, according to our abilities, we have done something to make others a little happier, and something to make ourselves a little happier, that is about the best we can do. To make others less happy is a crime. To make ourselves unhappy is where all crime starts. We must try to contribute joy to the world. That is true no matter what our problems, our health, our circumstances. We must try. I didn't always know this, and am happy I lived long enough to find it out."

Have a beautiful Sunday!

C.Q.

Sunday's media madness...

You may have seen the movie trailer recently for The Help staring Emma Stone.  The movie is based on the best selling book of the same name by Kathryn Stockett.  I love reading the story before seeing the movie, usually the move doesn't do the book justice and so much seems to get left out.

The Help is a story base in fact and takes place in the 60s in Mississippi.  A writer gets an assignment to write some stories told from the point of the help, the black maids who help raise the white children but are not allowed the same privileges, such as using the bathrooms in the homes, as the people living in the houses.  Eventually she puts the stories together in the form of a book that becomes the center of attention and debate in the south.  I like the poignancy of the book, I was born in the early 60s and its still hard for me to wrap my head around the fact that this has only changed in my lifetime.  I am so glad we have come so far, but it took so long.  This book is a must read for me and I think it would be an eye opener for some of the younger folks who don't know how hard life was and how much things have changed.  The book is also a look at enjoying life, no matter what your circumstance and it is sprinkled with humor and love.  I hope everyone gets a chance to read it before they see the movie version.  I was able to find the book in paper back for the lowest price at The Book Depository for $8.49 with no shipping fees, you can download the Kindle printed version of the book for $9.99 from Amazon, or you can download the unabridged audio version from Audible.com for $26.60 and they will give you two free movie tickets from Fandango so you can see the move on them.

Hope you are all having a great weekend.

C.Q.

Thursdays picture perfect deal...

The picture...

I had a chance to spend the day with my sister-in-law and her family last year going to visit local artisans, at one of the stop they had rubber ducks in their pond and it made for a fun picture.  I am hoping to make the rounds again this year if its not too hot out!

The deal...

I love movies and if you are looking to fill in your DVD collection with that copy of The Mummy from 1959, Jumpin' Jack Flash from 1986, XXX from 2002. The Pay-Off from 1930 or The Rat Pack from 1998 or any one of a huge list of movies, then check out Movies Unlimited.  They are having a sale right now of some really great films from all the decades for under $9.00, the sale goes until the end of July and if you purchase 4 or more movies you get free shipping as well as the amazing price.

Hope you are all having a great Thursday!

C.Q.


 

Sunday's media madness...

I didn't get to see many children's movies as a kid and as a result I love watching them as an adult.  My latest joy came from the age old romance story told by Shakespeare so many years ago and re-told now by Disney; Gnomeo & Juliet.  This story is great for both adults and kids, as adults we all know the tragic story of Romeo and Juliet, but as seen through the eyes of Disney and Elton John this story takes on a new life.  Amazon says: "Lured out of their respective gardens by wanderlust and an exotic orchid, Gnomeo (James McAvoy) and Juliet (Emily Blunt) meet and instantly fall in love. Their forbidden love blossoms with a little help from a plastic pink flamingo named Featherstone (Jim Cummings), and soon life-threatening lawnmower races ensue, an epic battle is staged, and wisteria trees and gnome hats are hacked to bits in the process. Shakespeare himself (Patrick Stewart) makes an appearance and declares that, while this story bears a marked resemblance to one of his own, he's not sure it will end in quite the same way."  Some of the other great voice over talent includes Michael Kane, Dolly Parton, Hulk Hogan, Jason Statham, Ozzy Osbourne and Dame Maggie Smith.  Despite the fact that this story has been told thousand of times in as many different ways over the centuries this was a fun way to spend a little bit of time and get lost in an animated backyard.  I found a new copy of the DVD at Amazon for $15.99 with free shipping if you are a Prime member or place an order over $25.00.  The 3D version is available at Glyde for $21.00 plus $4.09 for shipping and handling and the Blu-Ray version is on sale at Amazon for $19.99 again, with free shipping for Prim members or orders over $25.00.

I hope you all have a great Fathers day.

C.Q.

Wednesday's learn and earn...

~WORD OF THE DAY~

galley-west \gal-ee-WEST\ ~ adverb

DEFINITION: into destruction or confusion

EXAMPLES: A rogue wave knocked the anchored boats galley-west.

"'Get the door, Scott.' 'Daddy, what if he's … there?' 'Then I'll knock him galley-west with this thing.'" -- From Stephen King's 2006 novel Lisey's Story

DID YOU KNOW? American author Mark Twain is on record as one of the first to use "galley-west" in his writing. Etymologists believe the word is a corruption of dialectal English "colleywest" or "collyweston." The earliest appearance of those words, used with the meaning "askew or awry," dates from the late 16th century. The ultimate source of "colleywest" and "collyweston" is not known but is suspected to be from a personal name. When "galley-west" is used in speech or writing, the verb "knock" usually precedes it.


~THE REBATE~

This is a fun one, you can receive a $5 rebate check by mail when you purchase Tangled on Blu-Ray™ or DVD PLUS and any two (2) packages of Success® Rice.  Just mail in the proof of purchase tab from the movie and the UPCs from the rice together with your cash register receipts for the rice and the move dated between 3/1/11 and 6/30/11 with the store names at the top and the prices circled and the completed rebate form.  Allow 6 to 8 weeks for your $5.00 check to arrive.  If you recieve the All You magazine there is a coupon in the April edition for $1.00 off of two packages of Success Rice.  Also, remember if you are a member of Disney Rewards to enter the code for your points.  They are also offering a free charm bracelet with your purchases Disney code entry between 3/29/11 and 6/30/11.

I hope you are all enjoying your mid-week!

C.Q.

Saturday Sojourn...

Astoria, Oregon

So this may reviel my true age, but one of my all time favorite movies is The Goonies.  Its the story about a group of young boys that save their town from being bought out by a developer while at the same time capturing a notorious gang of thieves.  Its a great feel good movie of the 80s and always made me wonder about the town they saved.  Well it is in fact a thriving place in Oregon, the house and neighbor hood (the Goondocks) is still there and people still come to visit.  You can even print a Google Map of where The Goonies was filmed, as well as Kindergarten Cop, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III, Short Circuit, Come See The Paradise and Free Willy which were also shot on location in and around the area. So besides the movie Goonies what else is there in Astoria?  Lots!

Finding a great place to unpack your bags is pretty easy, the number one Tripadvisor rated hotel in Astoria is the historic Cannery Pier Hotel.  The hotel amenities include an on premise spa facility, complimentary Continental breakfast (featuring Finnish delicacies, fruit and beverages), complimentary wine and Lox evening reception, a complimentary Chauffeured 1939 Buick, 1938 Packard or 1945 Cadillac, free wifi, use of the hotel library and free bicycle use during the day.  They also allow pets, a huge plus in my book. Got a special Goonies story from your past?  Enter the Cannery Pier's Goonies contest and you could win two nights at the hotel, dinner for two, desert, drinks and a travel voucher.  You need to enter before May 31st, contest winner will be named June 7th.  Even with the goodies included in the room it is a little pricey at between $159 to $299 per night.  If you want a really great bang for your buck try one of the many beautiful Bed and Breakfast Inns, Tripadvisor lists the Astoria Inn at #1 and the Benjamin Young Inn at #2.  The Astoria Inn is a lovely Victorian home with rooms ranging from $80 - $95 per night and every room has a queen-sized bed with private bath.  They do not allow children or pets on the property.  The Benjamin Young Inn is also a Victorian home and overlooks the Columbia River in Astoria.  This Inn has three resident cats but does not allow guest pets.  Room prices range from $75 - $135 per night.

All unpacked, time to head out and see some sites.  Other than the movie tours you can visit Fort Stevens State Park.  The Fort was built towards the end of the Civil war at the mouth of the Columbia River to guard against an attack from the British.    Fort Stevens is preserved within Fort Stevens State Park, part of Lewis and Clark National and State Historical Parks.  The 3,700 acres park includes camping, beach access, swimming at Coffenbury Lake, trails, and a military history museum.   Also be sure to visit the Columbia River Maritime Museum, home to the Lightship Columbia.  "Lightships not only provided a beacon where a traditional lighthouse could not stand, but they could also be stationed offshore, where a beam from a coastal lighthouse would not reach."  It is also home to the "ultimate heavy weather vessel, the Pilot Boat Peacock crossed the most dangerous river bar on the planet, the Columbia River Bar, more than 35,000 times during her 30-plus year career."  You can stop in and visit the research library while you are there and find out some historic information on the cannery or discover ship wrecks at the mouth of the Columbia River.  Open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m, except for Thanksgiving and Christmas, admission is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors, $5 for children ages 6 to 17, kids under 6 are free.  Had your fill of history for now?  Stop over at the Shallon Winery and indulge in the decadent with a little chocolate wine.  Yes, you read that right, they make a chocolate and orange wine, much like a liqueur, while your there you may see some other unique wines to try and buy like Wild Evergreen Blackberry, Peach, Lemon Meringue Pie or Cranberry Whey.  If this is something on your must see list I would recommend calling to make sure they are open at the time you want to see it, per the web site "The TASTING and SALES room in the winery is open most every afternoon in the year, even Christmas and New Years. The sign says "1 to 6 p.m.," but as the winemaker gets older, the one o'clock opening gets pushed a little later."  They can be reached at (503) 325-5978. 

 
 

For a memorable and unique dining experience check out the fish and chips at Bowpicker Fish & Chips.  The restaurant is an old re-purposed fishing boat, open Wednesday thru Sunday From 11ish - 6ish, Weather permitting, high winds being the worst offender.  All they serve is lightly beer battered Albacore tuna with steak fries, this falls into my category of a place that does one thing and that usually means they do it to perfection. 
 
Hope you are all having a great weekend!
 
C.Q.

Wednesday's learn and earn...

~WORD OF THE DAY~

aureate \OR-ee-ut\ ~ adjective

DEFINITION(s):

1: of a golden color or brilliance

2: marked by grandiloquent and rhetorical style

EXAMPLES: Matthew tried to get into the novel that Stephanie had recommended, but he found reading the author's aureate prose too much of a slog.

"Still low over the flatland east, the sun threw long aureate light across the field." -- From Jeffrey Stepakoff's 2010 novel Fireworks Over Toccoa

DID YOU KNOW? "Aureate" is among several adjectives in English pertaining to gold that derive from the Latin name for the metal, "aurum." While its relatives "auriferous" and "auric" are more likely to appear in scientific contexts to describe substances containing or made from gold (or "Au," to use its chemical symbol), "aureate" has tended to have a more literary allure since it was first used in English in the early 15th century. Over time, the word's use was extended from "golden" to "resplendent," and it finally lost some of its luster as it came to mean "grandiloquent."

~THE REBATE~

What to do on a rainy Spring day, hummm.  How about catching a movie complements of Kellogg's?  To receive your movie ticket just send your completed Official Order Form and five Movie Pass Official Tokens from specially-marked packages (most of the cookies and crackers have the offer on them).  Allow 90 days for delivery.  There is a limit of 3 movie passes per household. Limit one Official Order Form per envelope. One Movie Ticket good for one admission at participating theaters.

Hope you are all having a nice Wednesday!

C.Q.

Wednesday's learn and earn...

~WORD OF THE DAY~

brummagem \BRUM-ih-jum\ ~ adjective

DEFINITION: not genuine : spurious; also : cheaply showy : tawdry

EXAMPLES: Donald knew better than to pay good money for the brummagem watch that was being falsely advertised as a quality Swiss timepiece.

"Just as critics … conceived high culture in some antithetical relationship to 'middlebrow' or 'kitsch,' which imitated the intelligentsia's culture and blurred the distinction between commodity and art, so too, they warned, the spirit of Christianity now had to be preserved from its brummagem versions…." -- From Jason W. Stevens' 2010 book God-Fearing and Free: A Spiritual History of America's Cold War

DID YOU KNOW? "Brummagem" first appeared in the 17th century as an alteration of "Birmingham," the name of a city in England. At that time Birmingham was notorious for the counterfeit coins made there, and the word "brummagem" quickly became associated with things forged or inauthentic. By the 19th century, Birmingham had become a chief manufacturer of cheap trinkets and gilt jewelry, and again the word "brummagem" followed suit -- it came to describe that which is showy on the outside but essentially of low quality. Perhaps the term was something of an annoyance to the people of Birmingham way back when, but nowadays "brummagem" is usually used without any conscious reference to the British city.

~THE REBATE~

Looking at getting replacing your DVD player with Blu-Ray?  Right now you can get a free copy of the 3D version of Avatar on Blu-Ray with the Purchase of a  Panasonic DMP-BDT100 Full HD 3D Blu-ray Disc Player.  The offer is good between 1/02 and 3/26, you will need to mail in the rebate form, filled in by hand, together with your dated sales receipt and the UPC code cut from the package, all the submissions need to be received by April 9, 2011.  I was able to find the lowest price on line for this Blu-Ray player at Amazon for $149.98, however, be sure to call and check your local warehouse clubs like Sam's and Costco who may have even lower prices and you would be able to get it right away.

Hope you are all having a great Wednesday!

C.Q.

Sunday's media madness...

I have been waiting for a couple of movies that were just released the first of March.  The first one is Faster staring Dwayne Johnson aka: The Rock as a man refered to through the move as Driver.  It's the story of a man released from prison who goes after the men responsible for his brothers death.  The film also stars Billy Bob Thornton as the cop assigned to capture Driver.  As the story progresses you learn more and more about each character, slowly revealing the full story behind the death of Drivers brother.  Thrown in the mix is an assassin sent to kill Driver before he gets to his last victim played by Oliver Jackson-Cohen.  This movie is high on the list of must sees for anyone that enjoys the sheer adrenaline rush of watching fast cars and things that blow up, and for that, you can count me in!  I was able to find Faster for the lowest price at Amazon for $14.99 plus $2.98 shipping if you are under the $25 minimum for free shipping.  The Blu Ray copy was the lowest at Amazon also for $19.99 plus the $2.98 shipping.

The next one is Burlesque staring Cher as Tess, a Burlesque theater owner struggling to stay afloat, enter Christina Aguilera as Ali the small town girl looking to make it big.  Ali starts in the club as an actress and works her way up to the stage and soon becomes the star of the show.  This movie didn't receive high marks from the critics but I think the music and the costumes will more than make up for what may be lacking in a rather predictable story line.  I was able to find the DVD version Burlesque for the lowest price at Amazon for $16.99 plus $2.98 shipping if you are under the $25.00 minimum.  The Blu Ray copy was also the lowest at Amazon for $19.99 plus the $2.98 shipping.

So there you have it, the two movies I have been waiting moths for that couldn't be more different than night and day.  Have you seen either of them?  If so I would love to know what you thought of them.

Have a fantastic day and remember to enter my giveaway that ends this coming Friday.

C.Q.