How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You: Romance is in the Air, Part V

Well with tomorrow being the first of February, you know what that means:

Yes my annual countdown to Valentine’s Day, with 14 romantic moments from film or TV shows.

So whether you are single:

Or in a relationship:

Whether you love Valentine’s Day:

Or hate it:

Or just want to eat the candy:

Valentine’s candy also doesn’t count.

There is sure to be at least one moment on the list to make you smile:

So get ready for some real sweet moments coming your way.

For the 2013 countdown, go to Boom Box of Love: Say Anything (1989)

For the 2014 countdown, go to Language of Love: Love Actually (2003)

For the 2015 countdown, go to I Can See Your Beauty: The Breakfast Club (1985)

For the 2016 countdown, go to I Can’t Pretend, I Have to Be: Casual Sex? (1988)

I Started a Book Club

So you all know how I enjoy reading:

For years I’ve been trying to start a book club. I thought about doing one where we read a book, than watch the film version:

But did that happen?

Then I wanted to do a Jane Austen book club, where we read the books and the adaptations.

But did I do that?

Then I thought about doing a book club where we read the book and then do something like in the book; in essence “living” the book or acting it out. Like in Daring Chloe

But did I do that?

So finally I started one, but this one is simple. We read one book a month, each member having a month where they choose the book (any type), and then we meet and discuss it with good food.

I don’t know how it will turn out, but if we make it to next year I’m planning on choosing Northanger Abbey or Persuasion to honor their 100th anniversaries.

Right now the book we are reading is The Secret of Chimneys by Agatha Christie. I’ll post after our meeting to see how it turns out!

Nobody calls me Chicken: Chinese New Year

So I’m not a big chicken fan, but I will do my best to continue my tradition and count down by favorite rooster or chicken moments in film, TV, or books.

But before I go there, let’s talk about those born in the year of the Rooster. Roosters are trustworthy, with a strong sense of timekeeping and responsibility at work. Some famous Roosters are Donny Osmond, Dolph Lundgren, and Jennifer Lopez. Roosters are best with Oxen and Snakes; but should avoid Rats, Rabbits, Horses, and Pigs.

.So now onto the countdown.

4) Back to the Future:Part II (1989)

Back to the Future: Part II picks up where the first leaves off. Marty has come back to 1985, slightly altered from his time travel, and eager to continue his weekend plans. However, that all changes when he and his girlfriend, Jennifer, go with Doc to the future, 2015, to help their children. As they are occupied there, old Biff steals the time machine and using a futuristic almanac, goes to 1955 to alter the future. Now Doc and Marty must return to 1955 in order to fix their future, but things are more complicated. They must avoid their previous selves, or else destroy the entire space-time continuum.

Best Chicken Scene: “Nobody Calls Me Chicken”

Marty has the almanac and has completed the mission, but is stopped by Biff. Biff calls him chicken, which we know is Marty’s undoing. He goes to begin the fight, but gets himself knocked out by his earlier time traveling self. How sad and hilarious. Poor Marty!

For more on Back to the Future: Part II, go to We’re in the Future: Good-bye 2015

4) Chicken Run (2000)

Mr. and Mrs. Tweedy run a chicken farm in Yorkshire that is failing. Mrs. Tweedy comes up with the idea of switching from raising chickens to starting a Chicken Pot Pie Farm.

Ginger, one of the chickens, has been trying to free herself and the other chickens, with no avail. This increases as they discover what the Tweedys are planning.

Rocky, a rooster, is running away and flies into the chicken farm. They agree to hide him, as long as he teaches them how to fly. He begins the preparations, but it turns out he is a liar and cannot fly without assist from the circus cannon.

They begin building an airplane in the hopes to fly, but will the Chickens figure something out before they are turned into pies?

Best Chicken Scene: But I’ve Seen Ev’rything
When I See a Chicken Fly

The chickens are finally able to fly but it isn’t a smooth take off.

2) Robin Hood

Disney has taken its hand at the classic Robin Hood, but has told the story with animals! Robin Hood, a fox, must outwit the Sherriff of Nottingham (a wolf) and Prince John (a lion). To aid him are Little John (a bear), Alan-a-Dale (a rooster), and Friar Tuck (a badger).

Best Chicken: Alan-a-Dale

Alan-a-Dale is a friend of Robin Hood and tries to help him as much as he can; but even more than that Alan is our narrator and helps tell the story. Through him and his songs, we are relayed information about the characters and their situation.

For more on Robin Hood, go to Waiter, There’s Some Disney in My Jane Austen

1) Foghorn Leghorn, Looney Tunes

Foghorn Leghorn is a large rooster, who’s voice and way of talking is based on Senator Claghorn from The Fred Allen Show.

Foghorn is a blustery character who is constantly fighting the barnyard dog in a Coyote-Roadrunner relationship. He also has to outwit a tiny boy chicken hawk and babysit Egghead Jr. in order to woo Miss Prissy.

I loved how he would say, “I say, I say, I say…”

For the 2016 Chinese New Year, go to A Little Monkey Business: Chinese New Year

For the 2015 post, go to Well I Feel Sheepish: Chinese New Year

For the 2014 post, go to A Horse’s Tale: Chinese New Year

For the 2013 list, go to Snakes on a Post: Chinese New Year

Is Mr. Darcy Out There?

Now I’m not talking about a “Mr. Darcy”

Don’t Stop Believing!

But I mean a “real” Mr. Darcy.

Let me explain. So the other day I helped someone at work who’s last name was Darcy.

ooh!

It was an older woman and I began thinking, does she have a son or grandson? And if she does did would she (or his parents) name him Fitzwilliam so he could be Fitzwilliam Darcy?

How cool would that be if you met a “real” Mr. Darcy? If you married a “real” Mr. Darcy!

I have always said to my friends if I ever married someone with a last name Stewart, and I had a son I’d name him Jimmy, so it was James Stewart. Marry someone with last name Wayne? The son is going to be Bruce. And the same goes for girls; last name Fisher, first name Carrie. And on and on. I think it would be hilarious!

Well whether he is a real Darcy or a “Mr. Darcy”, one day I’ll find him.

For more on Mr. Darcy, go to Waiter, There’s Some Disney in My Jane Austen

For more on Pride & Prejudice, go to Bridget Jones’ Diary (2001)

For more Austen men, go to Captain Wentworth’s Diary

I Made My Own Teabags

So I don’t know how many of you remember, but I went to Teavana and became addicted to loose leaf tea.

Yes, loose leaf tea is so much better than the bagged one. It is richer and just tastes amazing.

Now there is a problem with it, unlike the bagged tea you can’t just stick the loose leaf tea in your purse or bag and take it wherever you go. You have to have the infuser, keep your tea dry and cool in an container, have a dish to hold the infuser afterwards, etc. It can be a lot of work.

I mean a good infuser is hard to find, one that the holes are small enough the tea doesn’t come through. Once you find one, you protect it and make sure that it doesn’t get damaged. I like having my tea throughout the day and at work, so I’ve been buying loose leaf for home and carrying the packaged ones with me for travel.

But this was starting to rack up in money and I knew there had to be an inexpensive way to make tea bags. But what to do?

I checked online to see if there was anything I could do. I found a way to make teabags using coffee filters on The Make Your Own Zone. The directions and guide were super easy to follow and do. I made two bags and thought I would test them out at the nearest tea time.

I stuck the bag in, and I think I folded it wrong as it had a ton of air in it and floated to the top. I had to use a spoon to weigh it down so it would steep. It tasted alright, but not as good as a regular infuser. I think it is good of you want to take your tea on the go.

But either way, loose leaf or bagged: I love tea!

For more on tea, go to It’s Always Tea Time

For more Jane Austen Quotes, go to There’s a Cyclone Coming: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz