It’s a pop culture reference, not an ailment.   Well, in a way it is an ailment.

An “ear worm” is a song you can’t get out of your head.  Dancing Queen is often cited as an ear worm.  Well, it is no surprise to me that my ear worms have been the songs from Willy Wonka, the musical I am in this weekend.  The weird part is that the songs that are stuck in my head are not the songs that I sing.  Never.  It’s always someone else’s song.

It is so bad that in order to get to sleep, I have to listen to the radio or my MP3 player, or I am doomed for a sleepless night.   Not good.  But, at least I found a treatment.  I just hope this goes away in about a week.  I’m really tired of these keeping me awake.

Oompa Loompa Doompty Doo, now I have given the ear worm to you! 

I don’t feel old, but things happen every once in awhile that make me realize how old I really am.

One of my former 2nd grade students just graduated from Webster University.  That alone made me feel old.  She just told me via Facebook that the Musical Director of Willy Wonka is a good friend of hers.  That means I could have taught this lovely lady “back in the day.”  Man.  How come I don’t feel 20+ years older than she? 

Gotta go.  My arthritis is kicking in.

Sometimes I watch the Academy Awards and think, “What?!  Are you kidding me?!   THAT is what you chose for Best Picture?”

But, I’m going to have to admit that the Academy made some pretty good choices in the 90’s.  Continuing with the ever-exciting list of “What Michelle Movies Has Seen and What She Thinks About Them…”

• 1999 American Beauty – Okay, I’ll be honest here.  Kevin Spacey could read the ingredients on the side of a cereal box, and I would watch it.  This movie was good, albeit a tad disturbing.  Which is what the Academy often chooses, so it’s not a surprise winner.  However, that year, I would have chosen The Green Mile.  Probably too “preachy” for Hollywood.
• 1998 Shakespeare in Love - This one goes in the “Are You Kidding Me?” category.  It was decent movie, but was it really better than Life is Beautiful?  Really? 
• 1997 Titanic - I’ve never seen this movie.  It’s become a thing of pride now.  A game winner in “I Have Never…”  Besides, I know how it ends.  The ship sinks.  Oops.  Did I spoil it for you?
• 1996 The English Patient - Never seen it.  Heard it’s a snooze-fest.  One of “those” movies.  The kind the Academy loves, but the public slept through it.  Fargo, however, was Oscar-worthy in my opinion.  At least I stayed awake during Jerry Maguire.  (Remember Cuba Gooding Jr’s acceptance speech for Best Supporting Actor?  Priceless!)
• 1995 – Braveheart - Wow, this was the year to watch movies.  Braveheart was well-done.  I remember people poo-pooing Mel Gibson’s accent, though.  He was up for Best Director, not Best Actor, so lay off.    Apollo 13 was an excellent film that year as well.  Historical.  Tom Hanks.  Gary Sinese.  What more do you want?  Babe never had a chance, in my opinion.  Still one of my favorite “feel good” movies.  But, the biggest disappointment of all?  Sense and Sensibility was robbed!  This is absolutely one of my very favorite movies!  Brilliant!  I cry every single time I watch!
• 1994 – Forrest Gump - Okay, I’m still not over Sense and Sensibility.  Give me a moment.  Okay.  Now I’m ready to move on.  Forrest Gump is absolutely going to remain a classic for all time.  The acting, the special effects, and the storyline were all superb.  I feel sorry for anyone else who made a picture that year.  You never had a chance.  (Especially Shawshank Redemption.  It was all about timing.  Should have waited until 1996.)
• 1993 – Shindler’s List - This was a no-brainer on the Academy’s part.  Holocaust, Steven Spielberg, and vintage black and white.  A trifecta film.
• 1992 – Unforgiven – Please don’t call it THE Unforgiven.  Drove me crazy anytime anyone would call it that.  The first movie I ever saw on DVD.  Not a big fan of westerns, per se.  (Unless Jimmy Stewart is in them.)  But, they had me at Gene Hackman.  Other than that Superman III debacle, Gene is almost always in excellent movies.  I absolutely loved this one.  And, the Academy’s nod to Clint Eastwood.  (Whose name I can’t type or say without thinking of Back to the Future III .  “Eastwood.  Clint Eastwood.”)
• 1991 – Silence of the Lambs - I have to admit that I’m surprised by this one.  Thrillers don’t normally win the big award.  But, this wasn’t just any thriller.  Anthony Hopkins and Jody Foster (the darling of the Academy) made this movie worth more than just a glance.
• 1990 – Dances With Wolves – Epic movie.  Beautiful landscape.  Shows how mean we were to the American Indian.  No question.  Godfather Part III is arguably the worst of the trilogy.  It got a pity nomination, in my opinion.  Ghost was too “froo-froo” for Best Picture and too much of a comedy.  Comedies never win Best Picture.  Never.  Awakenings and Goodfellas might have won had they been released a different year.  Similar to 1994.  No one else had a chance.

Now it’s your turn.  What movies did you love/hate?  Never see?  I’m at 90% for the 90’s! 

I’ve been interested in classic movies lately.  Watched In the Heat of the Night  “They call me MR. Tibbs!”  Loved it!  Watched Wall Street, not sure that it is a classic, but I felt like it was on the list of “Movies Everyone Has Seen and Gets Referenced Enough that I Should Watch It.”  (Am I the only one who has this list?)

The way I got started with this list was reading someone’s blog about the 10 Most Memorable Movie Quotes.  As I went through the list, I realized that the two movies above were the only ones I had not yet seen.  So, I can check those off my list.

I then decided to check out what Academy Award Winning Movies (Best Picture) I had seen/not seen.  (This was also prompted by my friend Mark who was shocked to find out I had never seen The Godfather.  Yes, it is now in my Netflix queue.)

The past 10 years of Best Picture are as follows

• 2008 Slumdog Millionaire-haven’t seen it, and don’t really want to.  Just not my cup of tea, I guess.
• 2007 No Country for Old Men – haven’t seen it.  Too violent for my taste, I think.
• 2006 The Departed – saw it, and had to admit it was pretty good.  I’m a sucker for Matt Damon movies.
• 2005 Crash- EXCELLENT MOVIE!  Love those movies where everyone is impacted by other characters, seemingly unrelated.
• 2004 Million Dollar Baby - haven’t seen it, but I HATE boxing and boxing movies.  (”It’s not a boxing movie, it’s a movie about (insert life-changing moment here)”.  No, it’s a boxing movie.  Sorry.)
• 2003 Lord of the Rings-Return of the King - Saw it.  Loved it!  Never read one of the books.   Wouldn’t have even seen the first one, if my only other option hadn’t been to stay at home and watch 12 kids while their parents went to the movie.  Yeah.  Not a tough choice there. 
• 2002 Chicago -Haven’t seen it.  However, I saw the musical at The Fox in 1998, and so the movie’s not on the top of my “must see” list.  Not a big fan of Richard Gere or Renee Squinty-EyesZelleweger.  (I know.  I shouldn’t talk…She probably makes fun of me too.)
• 2001  A Beautiful Mind Excellent movie.  Excellent acting.  Loved it.
• 2000 GladiatorI haven’t seen this one either, but I have to admit that I’m going to add it to my Netflix queue.  Not a big Russell Crowe fan, but it’s probably worth it.  After all, Elizabeth Taylor’s announcement of Best Picture at the Oscars that year alone made it intriguing enough for me to want to see it!

So, what have you seen and loved?  Or what do you wish you hadn’t wasted your time on?

Karen and I went to Five Guys Burgers and Fries last night.  (Hang on a minute.  I have to wipe the drool from my chin.  There we go.)  Something caught my eye, and I said to Karen, “Now look at that.  Why don’t all restaurants do that?  That is brilliant!” 

An employee was going to put a new bag in a trash can.  She MOVED the trash can out of sight, and took out the garbage, and replace the bag.  THEN, she brought it back!  How nice to not to have to look at garbage while eating!  FABULOUS! 

And, yes, I’m going to go to the web site and compliment them right now.  Excellent!

Am I just on a train speeding to nowhere?  I feel exhilarated when I’m going to, at, and coming from Willy Wonka practice.  VBS practically wiped me out.  But I’m back on top, baby!  Am I doing too much?  Just keeping my head above water?  Too many irons in the fire?

Appointment with Kent tomorrow.  Even though I feel great right now.  I feel as though I should touch base with him.  It’s been awhile.  Maybe I’m not headed for a crash, but I’d like to be safe,  just the same.

Why is it that when he’s here, I think Mark is so grown-up for a 13-yr-old?  But now that he’s away at Boy Scout camp, I think of him as a 9-year-old…not knowing what to do…having no self-confidence…missing me… 

Tom leaves tomorrow to spend the rest of the week at camp with him.  I’ll bet he won’t hug him like I would, though.  Maybe Mark’s glad I’m not coming. 

Last night we had a big thunderstorm.  Karen has never been a fan, to say the least.  She asked if she could sleep on our floor last night.  So, this morning when I got up, I told her that she could go sleep in my spot on the bed.  “No, I like it here.  Thanks, though.”  WHA?!?!??! 

Ahhh.  Gone are the days of being able to get a good night’s sleep anywhere my body landed…

Mark on the way home from a somewhat hectic VBS:  “Mom, you are so awesome.  People don’t come to church to learn about God, they come to see you!”

Lightning may strike me for feeling so good about my 13-yr-old to say that.  My reply was, “Well, I hope they learn about God as a bonus.” 

As a mom, I try to teach my kids lots of life lessons that I’ve been taught, used, or, at least, learned the hard way.  I try to be the mother figure when dispensing advice.  You know:  all-knowing, wise beyond my years…

Well, yesterday, I was in a position to practice what I preach.  At Willy Wonka rehearsal, the main cast members were asked to go through our lines while the rest of the cast was going through the dances from the first couple of scenes.  We’ve been doing this for a couple of days, so it wasn’t anything new.  That was kind of the problem, though.  It wasn’t anything new.  The kids that play the main roles (ranging from 9 – 16 years old) were getting restless.  Plus, they were getting to know each other pretty well now that it was Day 4.

It started like most read-throughs we’d done.  A little chatting, then on to the reading.  The music for the dances was loud, and did make it difficult to hear each other.  So, the read-through was not going well.  Then, it became just chatting.  And laughing.  The stage manager came up to us and told us we were WAY too loud.  (We were as far away from the stage as possible and were told to stay in the theater.)

It got quieter, and the youngest of the group kept saying, “Can we just do our lines?”  He was completely ignored.  Some of us tried, but were not successful, to run our lines.  It was not going well. 

I thought, “Crap.  I don’t want to sit here and get scolded again.  Plus, I don’t know my lines well enough yet, so this is a waste of time.”  I’ll admit, the biggest part of that thought was the getting scolded.  At 43.  By a college student.  But, I respect him and his position as Stage Manager.

Then, it hit me.  What have I always told my kids?  Move.  Get away from the group.  So, I said, “Hey, I don’t know my lines, so I’m going to have to go sit down there and learn them.”  And I moved.  I was going to go off into a corner and just read my lines, but I wanted to make sure that the stage manager didn’t think I was still up there causing a ruckus.  So, I sat alone in the seats near the front of the theater.

It also hit me how hard that really is to do.  At 43, I didn’t care too much about what the kids thought of me, but I did a little bit.  But, what if they were my peers?  It really isn’t as easy as the mom in me made it sound when I said it to my kids.  I made sure I did what I tell them to do and I know that actions speak louder than words.  But, I am planning on telling them the situation.  And, when I do, I also plan to tell them how I realize that it is not easy to do.  But, man, did I feel better when I did move.  And, when the director turned around and told the group to be quiet (AGAIN!), I was not up there.  And, that felt GREAT!