(no subject)

[auntiemeesh]

Despite feeling sluggy and tired today I managed to get at least a few things accomplished. I scooped the cat boxes, emptied/loaded/ran the dishwasher, washed nearly all the stuff that can't go in the dishwasher, cleaned the kitchen, and pulled out some Christmas decorations. I have very few things that don't need a tree and I don't have a tree, so that's a bit limiting. But I strung some lights around the dining room and put up some stockings and a few other things, so it's at least a bit festive in here now.





A friend came over while I was working on the decorations, and hung out for a while. It's been awhile since we've both been off work at the same time (she works a lot of evenings and weekends) so it was good to see her. We listened to some of the Pens game together (the Pens lost in the shoot out, but managed 3 out of 4 points on a weekend when their line-up boasted of guys like Rust, Farnham, and Ebbett - guys who live on the wrong side of the NHL talent borderline - and a backup goalie who gave up a goal on a penalty shot and two goals in the shoot out) and got caught up on all our doings.

In other news, last week I found one of the stretchy exercise bands I got from the physical therapist a couple of years ago, and started using it again. I'm doing a bit of leg and arm work. I can definitely feel it in my legs, so hopefully I'll start to regain a little bit of muscle tone there. My bad shoulder, which hasn't bothered me in a while, is whining away now. It doesn't like being made to work at all. But my elbow isn't complaining, which is great news - I was afraid it would start acting up but so far so good. I'm starting out slow, just about tens minutes a day, but every little bit helps.

And during the worst of the tired/sluggy slump in the middle of the day, when all I really wanted to do was go back to bed and stay there for the rest of the weekend, I put on a movie instead. I watched Funny Face, with Audrey Hepburn and Fred Astaire. I've apparently been on an Audrey Hepburn kick lately. I've also watched Roman Holiday and Sabrina within the past month or two. Because really, you can't go wrong with those movies. Funny Face was entertaining, although the love story between Hepburn and Astaire was a bit of a stretch.

I'm really in the mood for some good old holiday movies. Most of the Christmas movies on Netflix seem to be of the Lifetime or Hallmark channel variety. Saccharine and wildly improbable love stories revolving around mistaken identities and Santa Clause. I love White Christmas, which is also fairly saccharine and the love stories are still improbable, but at least there are fantastic actors, a nice plot to go with the love story, and no Santas.

So what are your go-to favorites for the holidays?

Comments

[wbkbb.livejournal.com]

The holiday decorations look good - I'm glad you got to enjoy them with a friend.

Roman Holiday is one of my favorite films. My favorite holiday films are harder to come up with. Probably my favorites are actually the old animated classics from the 60's, especially How the Grinch Stole Christmas (the original, of course), and A Charlie Brown Christmas. One of my favorites (although I haven't seen it in quite a while) is Home for the Holidays starring Holly Hunter. It's set at Thanksgiving, not Christmas, but the holiday theme still works.

[auntiemeesh.livejournal.com]

I love A Charlie Brown Christmas, and I'm pretty sure I've seen Home For the Holidays at some point, possibly with Beth.

[ani-no-mouse.livejournal.com]

Yep, we saw it in the theater when it first came out.

[piplover.livejournal.com]

Emmet Otter's Jugband Christmas is one of my absolute favorites, as well as A Christmas Story. I have to watch those every year. Also, Miracle on 34th Street, the original one in black and White, and Alastair Sim's the Christmas Carol.

[auntiemeesh.livejournal.com]

I saw Emmet Otter's Jugband Christmas as a kid and remember it fondly but have never seen it since. I'll have to look it up.

[grey-wonderer.livejournal.com]

It looks lovely! Great decorating skillz.

I have been off holiday films lately but when I do get in the mood, I like
"The Bishop's Wife" (the original version only. I want Cary Grant.)
"The Charlie Brown Christmas" (My favorite of the animated classics.)
The "Mister MacGoo" version of "A Christmas Carol"
"It's a Wonderful Life"
"The Best Christmas Pageant Ever"

and of the newer ones, I like "The Family Stone" (There are a couple of odd romances in it but the humor saves it and the realistic, sad, bits make it seem so much less impossible.)

and finally, "Love Actually" (It's got romance but, it isn't all hearts and flowers. Win some, lose some with not everyone ending on a happy note and cheating and lying and people getting turned down by the one they love, so more real than most of them.)

[auntiemeesh.livejournal.com]

I think I watched Love Actually once, but I should watch it again. It's a Wonderful Life is a great classic, but I've perhaps watched it too often, lol. It's one of those movies that I have to be in just the right mood to make it all the way through.

[shirebound]

I forgot about my stretchy exercise bands! I need to dig those out.

[auntiemeesh.livejournal.com]

I have several different bands of varying tension, but I can only find the lightest 'weight' ones. They're fine for now, but I suspect I'll need something with more resistance before too long.

[ani-no-mouse.livejournal.com]

I have a special pre-holiday gift to help you with your Christmas decorating. Perhaps I could come down next weekend to deliver it and we could spend some time together, doing whatever.

[auntiemeesh.livejournal.com]

That sounds delightful! :)

[penwiper337.livejournal.com]

Your sparkly lights are so cheerful!

Re: Audrey Hepburn, I just watched How to Steal a Million this weekend, for the first time, and was slightly crabby that no one had told me to watch it before. What a fun flick!

I can't really think of any holiday movies that I just adore, but I do tend to watch a lot of Christmas episodes of favorite TV programmes around this time of year. Very fun!

[penwiper337.livejournal.com]

Oh! I did just remember that there is one "Christmas" movie we watch every year, and that's "Hogfather". Does that count? It's definitely not soppy. ;)

[auntiemeesh.livejournal.com]

The Hogfather totally counts. That's an awesome movie and one that I forgot to put on my list of what to watch this season!