Bullitt

This was the first time I've seen the 1968 classic, and tbh I wouldn't rank it as highly as its reputation demands. It's a realistic police procedural, for sure, but that works against it, as you spend a fifth of the time wondering why everyone did everything so half-a**ed in '68- and I for one didn't need to spend a full thirty seconds watching an antique fax machine churn out a single document. "The Chase" though - my, oh my, "the chase" lives up to its billing.

Masterminds

 Pleasant and funny at times. - with Lisa

Whoo-hoo!

Smiley just beat Pokemon Moon!

Brrr

I went out for a walk with Junie and Smiley but turned around after only about a quarter mile. The cold was bad enough, but with the wind? No thanks.

My Apologies

A lot of people, myself included, have posted about how Debbie Reynolds died of a broken heart, unable to live without her daughter. Putting aside the fact that she was 84 and the stress of the week, not a "broken heart," killed her, I need to apologize to her son. 

He lost his sister and his Mom on back to back days.and in reply the internet basically says he was so irrelevant his life wasn't worth squat to his Mom. 

Well done interwebs, we done screwed up again.

Debbie Reynolds

Shocking news; she must really have loved her daughter. Carrie's death broke her heart. RIP

My Thoughts - Profanity

I don't mind obscenity and vulgarity, but I won't tolerate profanity. If that's confusing, put it this way: "F you" and "Oh s--t" are cool with me, taking the name of the Lord in vain, or even just saying "OMG," [the full version, not the abbreviation] is not.

Great Looking Offspring

I ain't saying it's *all* my doing, but these are some darn good looking kids.

Midnight Mass

I returned (solo) to listen to the choir concert, then stuck around for some of Midnight Mass. Later, I watched the time delayed Midnight Mass from the Vatican. 

It's a Wonderful LIfe

My favorite movie, and two of my favorite people. Merry Christmas!

If you don't cry during the final scene of It's A Wonderful Life, you lack a soul. #1000viewings1000tears

Health, Happiness, and Good Fortune!

Team Slap just concluded our Christmas Eve by doing Oplatki. "Health, happiness, and good fortune!"

Christmas Pajamas

LuLu in the pajamas we bought her for Christmas.

YaYa  in the Eeyore pajamas we got her for Christmas.

On Santa

 My Christmas Eve thought..... Wouldn't it be nice if society/parents were as focused on getting your kid to believe in God as they are in getting them to believe in Santa? My focus is on God during Christmas, not a jolly elf. Don't pity my kids for their lack of faith.... Their faith is rightly placed, thank you very much

- Lisa

Congrats!

 Congratulations to to my sister LuLu for getting into Milwaukee High School of the Arts! - YaYa

SPQR by Mary Beard

One of my favorite memories of the cruise is of reading this history of ancient Rome while lounging on the deck and looking out into the sea. It's a great book btw, and Beard can write. Very impressive.

Very True

Dean Martin was better looking than, and had a superior voice to, Frank Sinatra. Discuss.

My Thoughts

I'm against legally mandated compensation for the wrongfully imprisoned. If there is evidence of the system suppressing or manufacturing evidence then a lawsuit will bring them their reward. But if they are arrested, tried, and convicted in what was an honest and fair effort to enact justice, what (legal) wrong was done to them? None at all.

Christmas Music

From Thanksgiving on I only listen to Christmas music on the radio, but I've grown dissatisfied with 95.7 and their repetitious secular classics. So I've switched to 93.3. Many of the same tunes, of course, but a fair number of classic carols too.

Another Setup

LOL Time and again, these "attacks" are outed as fiction. 

Criminal

This atrociously mistitled film is a great spy thriller with a sci-fi twist. Kevin Costner was excellent and I highly recommend it.

Szarlotka

I made szarlotka (Polish apple cake) from scratch tonight. It didn't turn out as pretty as the picture from the recipe I've posted here, but it was darn tasty.

Green Room

A touring band becomes locked in a Neo-Nazi club after witnessing a crime. Highly recommended.

Pirate Night!

Pirate Night on day three.

Junie getting her braids done on our cruise

The pictures seem to have loaded in reverse order, so start at the bottom and scroll up!

The Nutcracker and Dinner at the Water Street Brewery

Yesterday LuLu and her pointe class went to lunch at the Water Street Brewery (they had reservations at Bucca, but a pipe burst there) then had a backstage tour at The Milwaukee Ballet before watching the Nutcracker. What a great opportunity!

 

Moana

On day four Lisa took Smiley and Junie to see this on the ship. Junie loved it, Smiley thought they introduced too many characters and lost focus.

Some Vacation Pics on the Disney Dream

Disney Dream 12/12-12/16

Good Taste

In the last week Junie has had duck confit, leg of lamb, and mussels; Smiley had duck breast, crème brule and sushi; YaYa had one of my escargot; and I had lamb shank (I haven't had lamb in maybe thirty years). I'm glad the kids taste buds don't start and end with chicken nuggets.

Junie and the Disney Selfies

Junie made a habit of taking a selfie with the Disney characters she met on the cruise.