Books to Movies

Lately there have been several books that I have read that have been turned into movies. And most of them I would have to agree with the norm that the book was way better than the movie. Finally an exception, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. The movie wasn't better than the book but I felt it was equally as good. Having read the other books in this series and seen all of the previous movies, this was the only movie so far that didn't really follow along as closely with the book. The movie had additional parts that were not in the book and vice versa. It was done really well!! I have been so disappointed at the movies lately that I almost decided not to see any more movies when I had already read the book. Perhaps there is hope yet...

Here are some movie/book disappointments:

• My Sister's Keeper
• Angels and Demons (Also The Davinci Code)
• Twilight (though the preview for New Moon looks promising)
• The Golden Compass

Book Club

Yep! I joined a book club...Okay it's really a wine/book club. I started attending last month. So, every month I'll post my opinion about the book we're reading that month for book club...and if there is a certain wine that really stuck out I'll post about it too. For the month of June we read My Sister's Keeper. It was an exceptional book about a family, one daughter with cancer and the other daughter with the possible ability to save her sister but refuses. You could laugh out loud on one page and grabbing for tissue on the next; an emotional roller coaster. Well worth the time. I even saw the movie this weekend; which didn't hold a candle to the book! For July we are reading Trash, Sex, Magic. It's a story about magical whores...yep magical whores. It's a current time fantasy book about two very good looking witches, their neighbors and the construction team that threatens to take their land. NOT worth the time. It was really hard to follow and the story kind of jumped around. Although, I will say the author is a very detailed and this allows for very vivid pictures. I know it's not even July yet, but I want to hurry and finish so I could re-read Harry Potter before the next movie comes out.

Belly Dancing!

A friend mentioned that I didn't blog about Belly Dancing Classes. Yes, it's true. I took a belly dancing class with some of my friends a few months ago. The class was for eight weeks. And it was one of the best work outs I've ever done! No kidding. Every night after class we would all be totally exhasted. You move muscles you never knew you had and you feel pain in places that you thought would never ache...good pain. I remember going to a small town parade with a friend and they had Belly Dancers...actually it was kind of a Club who's hobby was Belly Dancing. They looked so funny, dancing around in their costumes. We laughed about it forever...want to join my club? I have a new respect for those women! Thinking back at it they were amazing! I'm in class after just 5 minutes sweating my ass off, no traces left of any make-up because it's in a puddle below my feet and these woman were dancing around in a parade looking beautiful! The classes were just as much fun as they were exhausting. We'd all get the giggles so bad! And in every class you have to dance in front of the rest of the group. If you ever get a chance I highly recommend it!! And invite me to come along! Last week I met up with some of the girls from my class for a night of dinner and dancing. We went to India Fusion for dinner; they had some exceptional belly dancers! Later we went out dancing...however, we did not practice our belly dancing moves on the dance floor...too embarassing! I think I'll have to take a few more class before I brave the outside world with my belly dancing...or maybe I should say scare the outside world!!

Status Post

Bad News: well, I wasn't able to get into that duplex. The owners decided at the last minute that they didn't want to allow pets. It is their current policy and decided not to change it. I understand their position, it was just really frustrating to get that little bit of news in the 11th hour and after I have waited several months...patiently. I have been diligently searching for a new place to rent, that has a little yard for the dogs and under $700. Well that has turned impossible. I can't find anything under $900. And if I'm going to pay that much in rent I might as well just buy a duplex. So, that's what I'm doing; then at least I can rent out the other unit for part of the mortgage. I haven't found a place yet but I'm looking.

Good News: I don't' have the swine flu! I haven't come in contact with someone who has the swine flu and I haven't been in Mexico recently...but you never know! :)