DaVinci and Memorial Day

**Going to talk about the movie - if you don't want to read my review, skip the blue stuff and go down to the green!**

So I went to see 'The Da Vinci Code' last week (after finishing the book for the second time) and I had some issues with it. I thought Ron Howard did a good job on the directing of the movie; camera shots were wonderful... however, character development could have been done better - ie they deviated from the book in spots that I think they shouldn't have. I was informed I only had issues with it cuz I had just got done with the book, but I still think after a year I would've had issues with some of the things. I understand movies can't be exactly like the book, but I think the plotlines would have taken the same amount of time doing them more like the book than how they did them. Oh well... just my own personal issues with it I suppose. I do recommend it however... Tom Hanks being Robert Langdon was better than I expected - I expected it to be all watered-down and cheesy-girlie romance since that is what I stereotype Tom Hanks as playing (ie Sleepless in Seattle and You've Got Mail). So all in all, good flick if you're ok with deviations from the book (or if you haven't even read it yet)


So this weekend my cousin Samantha graduated from high school - such a huge accomplishment. It got me thinking that 5 years ago I was graduating from high school - and now I'm done with college. Wow, how the time just flies!! Home was a bit boring, but then again how could it not be when I am from a town of 1000!!! The weekend was spent with family and the graduation party - we managed to have a good time and snuck in a few drinking games and jello shots (the Olsons are known for jello shots at their parties - just gotta watch out for those jello-shots-of-death, which we end up making when we forget exactly how much alcohol is supposed to be added)

Best jello shot of the weekend: watermelon with Island Breeze berry rum (it's half the calories, half the carbs, but also half the alcohol content, so you can add a bit more than normal to these shots - and they are DELICIOUS!!!) My mom definitely likes to use flavored liquor in our shots, and they are alway nummy.

What's your fave jello shot (or any shot for that matter ;) ) ..... maybe I'll have to make some for Ang's party this summer :)

The Farmer's Market

Another thing I love about Madison is the Farmer's Market on Saturdays. I mosied my way on over there this morning, and there is just so much stuff to see. There are a lot of flowers, and fresh squeeky cheese curds! (which I purchased - however I prefer mine deep fried and oozy) I didn't bring my camera, so there are no pics (I forgot it at home) If you ever come to Madison, it's definitely something to check out. Some of the stuff is more than in the stores, but it's all fresh and homegrown, so definitely worth it. My purchases for the day were: squeaky cheese curds, mini-loaf of banana bread, and some catnip for Vienna.

Now it's on to getting my butt outside enjoying this sunny warm weather!

GRADUATION DAY

So this is graduation day... I already got my present from the parents (A NEW DIGITAL CAMERA, COMPLETE WITH 1GB MEMORY CARD!!!!).... but today hasn't gone quite so well yet. I might have the wrong color tassle (my friend in the b-school has blue, I have magenta - not sure who is correct) And then I tried on my robe, AND IT DOESN'T ZIP!!! So I'll have to go to the bookstore to see if they can do something about that, otherwise I'm gonna look like a tard walking down the aisle with my robe open. GRRR!!! Let's just hope it all turns out.

KAKURO

I know Sudoku is a huge phenomenon right now, but nothing beats Kakuro. It's like a crossword puzzle with numbers and addition! I love it!! It's definitely more challenging than Sudoku, which I love.

And now that I'M DONE WITH COLLEGE I will probably be spending lots of time outside (if it ever stops raining) working on these puzzles.

What are some fun games you like to play in your free time, and no one else is around?

Season/Series Finales

So I'm completely in love with Grey's Anatomy, and cannot wait until it's TWO NIGHT, THREE HOUR SEASON FINALES next Sunday and Monday night!!! This is the best and worst time of year.... shows come to the climax that everyone wants, but then they are taken away from us for 3-4 months. Hopefully Season 2 comes out on DVD over the summer, so I can get my Seattle Grace fill (:


The next show that I cannot wait to see how it ends is Seventh Heaven. I have been an avid fan of this show since it first premiered (minus last year, when it got really dumb... I mean, some girl faking pregnancy to get Simon to marry her - come on stupid girls, don't you know pregnancy just drives the man away!)

This show has been a staple in my life for ten years, so it will be sad to see it go... but I will have to say the show has run out of original ideas, and Rose annoys me SOOOO much!! I guess we'll see if Simon and Rose get married. What I am excited (and shocked!) about is the fact that Mary will be making an appearance. I know there were plenty of issues with her and the show when she did her Playboy photo shoot (kind of like the falling out with Lisa Bonet and Bill Cosby from the Cosby Show) I'm excited to see her though. Something that I don't like surrounding this whole series finale though is the fact that it might not really be done. There are rumors that it will be picked up by CW (the new station that has the WB and UPN joining forces). I think they just need to have it lay to rest. Maybe there will be a spinoff, but I think they need to just let it go.

The last season finale that I care about is Everwood (another WB show - hopefully it gets moved to the CW channel!!) This is another show I've watched since the very beginning. Fantastic Show!! I was not a big fan when Marcia Cross was on there, but lots of stuff happens, and I'm in love with the characters. The thing is, when I enjoy a show, I become friends with the characters... I talk about them like they are my old friends. Ephram and the gang is like that for me as well... it's my new Dawson's Creek - I just hope Everwood doesn't get sucky for a couple years before they decide to be done. I'm an avid believer that shows should end out on top, not the bottom, and I hope they know when their time is up; but I don't forsee that anytime soon.

And who can forget about the OC... I have to wait til next week to see this season finale, but they are never short on the crazy story lines... This show definitely can be over the top, but man is it enjoyable. I can't forsee this one sticking around much longer - they are definitely running out of shocking storylines. The first season had so much stuff going on, that it's been hard to top, and I feel like the writers just keep trying to do that. Just go with the flow people, let the story lines evolve... Fifty different things don't have to happen in a season!!

What are some of your tv guilty pleasures? And finales (and season premieres in the fall) can you just not wait for??

The Terrace (:

Oh the Memorial Union Terrace, how I miss you... This is the best place in Madison to hang out during the summer, and I cannot wait til school is out... that's when everyone is gone, and it's much more enjoyable.

On Monday nights, they put up a screen outside, and people sit around and watch a movie, while drinking some pitchers. We would go every Monday last year, arriving early to get a good seat, bringing along games to play. We played some scrabble and monopoly, and I hope we can continue the tradition this year :) Not only were the games fun, but they also introduced us to new fun movies - I got to see 'Who Framed Roger Rabbit,' 'Jaws,' the original 'Psycho,' and 'WET HOT AMERICAN SUMMER' which is a fantastic movie!!! We had no idea what it was about, but it was HILARIOUS! Slightly raunchy, but fun nonetheless. It's definitely a fun summer movie (set at a summer camp) so I suggest checking it out.

Here are some quotes from the movie:
"You taste like burger. I don't like you anymore."
"I hope you're not having jumbo shrimp, because I'm allergic to oxymorons"

What are some fun summer movies you enjoy? Maybe I'll get lucky and they'll play them at the Terrace (:

**UPDATE FOR EM**
I do have a friend who managed to take a terrace chair - they put it in a garbage can and dragged it back to their place - this was at like 3 am or something crazy like that... SO IT CAN BE DONE!

Also, they can be purchased (I found a website once) but they are like $200... way too much for a not so comfy chair (but it would still rock to have one!)