Saturday movie review: Brooklyn

Immigration is a hot topic right now, though most of the talk focuses on negative aspects related to those who seek a better life, legally or not, in America the beautiful. In stark contrast to the anger, ire, and divisiveness the word elicits in today's heated (and hate-filled) political climate, immigration as depicted in the Oscar-nominated film BROOKLYN inspires and warms the heart, focuses on possibility and positivity.

I far prefer BROOKLYN's take on the topic.

brooklyn movie poster

The romantic drama BROOKLYN tells the story of Eilis Lacey (Saoirse Ronan) who, in the '50s, left her homeland of Ireland in search of the American dream. Eilis' older sister, Rose...

Read More

Rest in peace, Lyla girl

In 2009, our youngest daughter, Andrea, adopted a frightened little stray from The Denver Dumb Friends League. The little girl — about two years old, they guessed — had roamed the city streets on her own most of her life, it seemed.

Andie took in the black lab/shepherd mix, fittingly named her Lyla — which means "black as night" in Persian — and gave her a happy home and lots of love.

black lab/shepherd mix

Then Andrea gave her to us, months later, when it was clear Lyla needed a yard to run in and Andie's apartment didn't provide that.

Lyla had issues, to say the least. Psychological ones, likely...

Read More

Perfection... no effort required

“About the only thing that comes to us without effort is old age.” 
 Gloria Pitzer

Most days I agree wholeheartedly with cookbook author Gloria Pitzer's quote above. I put in a fair amount of effort — and thoughts on how to most effectively put forth said effort — toward being a halfway decent wife, mother, friend, human being.

The same is true regarding my attempts to achieve something at least halfway close to pleasing when fiddling about with photography. I take a jazillion photos, choose one that's perhaps meh, then...

Read More

Weekend at the Y, plus GRAND Social No. 195 link party for grandparents

Weekend at the Y

Welcome back! Those of you who follow me on Instagram may already know this from the photos I've shared the past few days, but I spent this past weekend at the Y. The YMCA of the Rockies, to be exact, for a log-cabin stay focusing on multigenerational travel and all the fun to be had at the amazing resort-like property located in Estes Park, Colorado.

The multiple generations staying at the Y with me and Jim were Brianna (our oldest daughter), her fiance Patrick, and Patrick's son whom we all know here on Grandma's Briefs by his bloggy nickname, Bud. Our first picture upon settling in at our cozy cabin Friday night:

 

We had a super time at the aaah-mazing YMCA, and I have much to share with you. But we arrived home late Sunday evening (which is when I'm writing this) and I've...

Read More

Saturday movie review: Far from the Madding Crowd

I have a confession: When it comes to reading classic literature, I'm woefully lacking. Though I vaguely recall reading a few classics in high school and college literature classes, I'm relatively ignorant of most classics that seem common knowledge among many of my more educated friends.

Another confession: Every time I've seen mentions of Thomas Hardy's 1874 classic, Far from the Madding Crowd, my mind interpreted the M-word in the title as maddening, not madding. Forever. Even up to my pressing play on the movie FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD and through to the end of my screening of the romantic drama over Valentine's Day weekend. It was only after I pressed stop that I realized the word is madding.

Did I mention my ignorance?

Far from the Madding Crowd movie

Thank heavens for films based on classic novels for I now...

Read More

Multigenerational travel: My 5 fantasy vacations at Walt Disney World resorts

Grandparents treating grandchildren. Parents inviting their parents. Mother/daughter, father/son trips together as adults — no youngsters allowed.

Multigenerational travel is the way to go for baby boomers and beyond. In fact, about 36 percent of families are planning such a trip for and with their beloveds in the next 12 months.

I recently had my first taste of multigenerational travel when Disney invited me for a Disney Grand Adventure to Walt Disney World, and my daughter and two of her sons (my grandsons!) joined me for the fun. It was indeed fun. And fabulous. And memorable. And it led me to consider other multigenerational vacations I'd be delighted to pursue.

walt disney world resorts

I had the grand opportunity to tour several Walt Disney World resorts on my Disney Grand Adventure. So, naturally, when considering future trips with various generations of my family...

Read More

My grandsons aren't normal

"My darling girl, when are you going to realize that being normal is not necessarily a virtue? It rather denotes a lack of courage."

~ Alice Hoffman, Practical Magic

I love that quote. I do believe, though, it applies not only to "darling" girls, but darling boys, too.

Particularly when those darling boys are my darling grandsons.

My abnormal grandsons.

See, my grandsons aren't normal. It doesn't take long scrolling through my photos of Bubby, Mac, and Jak to find evidence of their abnormalness.

weird kids wait in line for IT'S TOUGH TO BE A BUG 

...

Read More