Catching Fire: This second book in the Hunger Games picks up where book 1 leaves off. It is also a good story, very political. The themes of hunger and fire still figure largely in the book. I rate this one a HIT as well.

Mockingjay: Wow! This trilogy really drew me into the story. While this third book was probably my least favorite in the series, I really like the way it was all wrapped up. As I got into this book I felt like the author had sights already set on the movie screen while writing it (and author’s notes seem to confirm that.) This one is more violent, more “graphic” though not overdone. As I read the author’s notes though, and “hearing” what she was taught by her parents, I can see how the ideas in the book were important to her to convey. I enjoyed the author’s imagination. I like how she used futuristic techniques, while at the same time making some things seem present day as well as including some archaic feel to it. I really like how the themes of hunger and fire resonate throughout all three books; a really good job on weaving that throughout the series. I will rate this book, and the whole trilogy, a HIT for older teens and adults.

Gnomeo and Juliet: I watched this goofy little movie while on my bike. It was a good enough way to pass the time, though I know many of the references from the play were lost on me (too long since I’ve read it.) There were some funny moments and it was light enough (being more of a comedy than a tragedy.) I am sure those who are more into Shakespeare could appreciate the humor better. I will rate it as neither a HIT or MISS but could be an all right way to help pass a bit of time.

Pompeii: Back From the Dead: This new documentary seemed interesting in the fact that new skeletons have been unearthed from Pompeii. The skeletons are all that remains as the ones found in the 19th century are ruined by the casting done to them. I thought it would be interesting to hear what they have found through testing these skeletons. Overall I did not like the “way” in which the film was done; just the overall tone seemed like they were appealing to a younger generation. Overall I gave this documentary a MISS.

Beauty and the Beast: This high school musical featured a few of my daughter’s friends, including her best friend’s sister as Belle. In taking the lead she truly carried the show. While the show and music are fun, this girl truly carried the show with her singing, acting, and poise. She was spectacular and it was fun hearing the little girls in the audience dreaminess over Belle (”it’s Belle”; “she’s in her yellow dress”; etc) I give this show a HIT for the lead actress as well as the girl who played Babette and even the boy doing Lumiere did all right in his role, a tough one to carry.

Micro: Another interesting Michael Crichton book, finished posthumously by Richard Preston. While some of the premise could be mistaken for other cheesy sci-fi hits (The Incredible Shrinking Woman, Honey I Shrunk the Kids) there is some very interesting ideas in here too (maybe more like an “M” rated Magic School Bus.) This one was too violent for me and I felt like some “sexiness” was added just because that is the thing these days-it wasn’t needed at all to advance the story along. I felt the same way about the language as well. Overall I will give this one a HIT though there were moments I was afraid it might be a MISS.

The movement in body art has shifted dramatically over the last five to ten years. Many mainstream people are having “works of art” forever immortalized on their very flesh. It is something that is not only for those just coming of age, many middle aged folks are deciding to permanently ink their bodies as well. But when it comes to allowing a child to have his body tattooed, there are certain limits that are in place.

It seems that the laws vary from state to state, most stating you must be 18, while some states do allow minors to receive a tattoo with parental consent. So when I heard today about the 10 year old who recently received a tattoo, I was pretty taken aback. When I found out why he wanted the tattoo, I could at least understand-to a point- why he wanted it. He wanted it to honor his brother who has died. While I don’t agree with this form of honoring the dead, I do know it has become a fairly normal response among some groups of people. When everywhere kids look they see people with such body art-store clerks, waiters, athletes, their parents, even Barbie-why would they not see this as a normal and acceptable way of responding to their grief, or as everyday/mainstream/normal.

Should a child ever be allowed to have such a permanent reminder on their flesh? Though I know what I would say in response to that, I also think I have an idea of what some close to me would say….So while I think ten is way too young to make such a permanent decision, I am not sure I can actually say it’s “wrong”.

Jan: My dad said I needed to write the date down somewhere today.

A fun date to write (too bad I missed 11.11.11) and fit well with my blogging year in review.

Feb: Staying busy

A rhyming tribute to my life.

March: Just a reminder to spring ahead one hour tonight/tomorrow morning at 2.

A reminder of why we have to “spring forward” each year.

April: In my husband’s training for Iron man it calls for lots of drill training.

Incorporating drill training helps build strength and speed.

May: Fahrenheit 451: I read this book several years ago and liked it.

A HIT or MISS post.

June: I am frugal.

Some things never change!

July: The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy: When I saw this book for $2 at Barnes and Noble I thought I’d pick it up for a Christmas present.

Another HIT or MISS post. Reading a book I am going to give as a gift doesn’t count as “re-gifting”…

Aug: It took me most of June and half of July to finish this book.

Another HIT or MISS post. I need to try to keep that from being my first post each month!

Sept: …I finished my first ever Olympic distance triathlon.

YAY!

Oct: The Prestige: Wow! What an interesting movie!

surprise, surprise, a HIT or MISS post…

Nov: The Dark Ages: I actually watched this History Channel presentation in Sept. but forgot to list it.

I lead an exciting life…..

Dec: Pirate Latitudes: I found this Michael Crichton book on sale at the grocery store.

I guess I am blogging on autopilot!

Bladerunner: I did not even finish this movie. The original book (Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?) is much better. I guess the movie was a MISS for me.

Sherlock Holmes: Since my husband and daughter went to see the release of the newest Sherlock Holmes, I decided to watch the first one. About half way through my husband woke me up and said he could tell I did not like it. I said no, I thought it was stupid but I would finish it. We did not finish it that night and I did not realize it was only rented for two days so I missed seeing the end of it. I guess it was another MISS.

Arctic Drift: I felt this novel was on the hokey side and took til nearly chapter 70 before it got good. I would rate it as a MISS for me too, though I did appreciate the lack of vulgar language and situations.

Studio White: This book is a collaboration in which my sister was involved. It was interesting though maybe not quite my style. I will rate it as neither a HIT or MISS.

Sarah May Be Listening: Influencing the People Who Matter the Most: This is a small book my dad wrote years ago. I can appreciate the thoughts he is bringing to the reader’s attention, though I will rate the book as neither a HIT or MISS for me.

I heard on the radio the other day part of a conversation about this very fact, that there are many advertised job openings but companies are not actually hiring! It did not really make sense to me until my latest attempt at a part time job.

I filled out an application for an “off hours stocking” job thinking that would be just perfect (evenings and weekends.) Most jobs now have to have the application filled out online, so you never really get to talk to anybody. After filling out this most recent app, I immediately got an email back saying they are unable to consider my application at this time. I truly don’t know why. But the one idea that struck me is the fact that they will hold on to my app until Feb. It’s almost as if they are just trying to collect a pool of applicants that they can pull from if needed. So I am still unsure why there are so many advertised positions and so many people looking for work and so many rejected applications….

Airframe: Back to good classic Crichton. Good story. Drawn in from beginning. Another HIT.

National Treasure 2: While I missed the beginning of this one, I was happy to watch it since I had seen the first one last month. Even better, my nephew came in before this one was over so we got to finish this one together too. All of us watching, from preteen to grandparents, enjoy these movies and rate them a HIT.

Jurassic Park (novel): I held off reading this book since I remember not being a big fan of the movie. But I have to say that while this book is pretty gruesome in the killing scenes, I sped through those and really enjoyed this novel. I like the ending. I rate it a definite HIT and am hoping to even see the movie again. I also want to go back and see how the original Lost World ends.

Secretariat: A nice family movie, though my family did not watch with me. It was neither a HIT or MISS for me (though more of a HIT than not.) I did enjoy the ending and the blurbs about the real people portrayed in the movie.

It was an amazing day (weekend; nearly a week for him) with Ironman village being set up out in the Town park. I was blessed to be able to volunteer for race day, beginning at 5:45 am with the swim exit. It was a lot of fun to see everyone get to the finish of the first third of the race. Nearly everyone made it to the cutoff time of 2hrs 20min. We cheered those who were close to the cutoff time and were saddened with those 10-12 who did not make the cutoff.

After lunch I helped in the women’s change tent for their T2 transition from the bike to the run. After their 112 mile bike ride through the desert and back to town, the athletes headed out for their 26.2 mile run. It was fun to see all the different kinds of ladies who undertook to finish the Ironman race (my husband’s aunt being one of them!) I learned different ways the ladies prepare themselves for such an undertaking and the different things they pack to help them through the day. So many asked me if I was going to do next year’s race. I think I surprised many with my “no” answer! (Volunteers get a preferred registration, after race day and this year’s athletes. Many people volunteer just to be able to get in that line! Lots of this year’s racers were last years volunteers!)

Earlier in the day I met the lady who was captain of the finish line and she said I could come help that evening at the finish to be able to greet my husband. I was glad for that, since by volunteering all day I was never able to see him out on the course (luckily he spotted me at the swim exit and came over and gave me a big wet kiss!) I sat that evening opening medals and rolling t-shirts waiting for him to come in. I was thrilled to hear his name announced and got to him seconds after he crossed the finish line, now and forevermore an IRONMAN!!