Becoming Jane / The Queen

Becoming Jane and The Queen both star James Cromwell of Babe and 24 fame.

Becoming Jane is an attempt at a semi-biographical telling of Jane Austen's life and quite wonderful views of the quaint and quintessential English countryside. The scenery draws me in and pulls at me to return to a long ago time of peace and quiet. Maggie Smith, a marvelous character actress, and Anne Hathaway also star in this film. Wow! I enjoyed this movie.

The Queen is a story about Queen Elizabeth II's handling of the events following the death of Diana, the former Princess of Wales, and how she manages affairs of the Royal Household. The report presents her as non-emotional at the delivery of the news of Diana's death. However, by the end of the reel, the viewer sees Elizabeth's attempts to maintain the dignity of the monarchy including precedent and yet bends to the persistent requests of Tony Blair and the people to make a public statement about the Royal family sentiments, their reluctance to speak and their concern for the welfare of the Nation. More than that, the family returns to Buckingham Palace only to see vile and violent sentiments about her and the others of the Windsor family along with all the flowers left at the Palace Gates for Diana's memory. With great composure the Queen turns to the crowd, sees a little girl with flowers, asks her if She could place the flowers and the little girl responds ... "No, .... they're for you." This drama earned the critics approval and now I understand why!

Recommendations on both of these movies: Yes and Yes. Both of these are ones I would see again.

Knit Knot Tree

The Associate Press carried an article in the paper the other day about Yellow Springs, Ohio that has created a "purl" of a tree by knitting fabric around it. The Knit Knot Tree has become a tourist attraction of sorts. Quite the colors have hung around even through the winter and the tree hasn't really felt the frost this year. Check out the AP link.

Pacific Coast League 2008 Season

The 2008 Pacific Coast League Season comes to the plate next week on April 3. This year we are commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Joe DiMaggio 61-game hitting streak. What a record! This will be my 8th march through a baseball season, and each year I come to appreciate the depth of the history, strategy and mechanisms of the game. The other day a lady at Office Max informed me baseball was her favorite sport because one, it was a "thinking man's game" and two, the defense controls the ball and the pace of the game.

Maybe someday I will appreciate the pitching strategy but mostly I enjoy watching the batters winning the showdown with the man on the mound.

Pikes Peak Knitting Guild Luncheon

The Pikes Peak Knitting Guild is holding a charter member luncheon April 19, 2008 from 11:30 - 2:30. Amanda Berka, a former president of the Guild and recently with Interweave Press will be our speaker. Guiseppe's depot is the site of the luncheon and the cost is $15. All current, past and want-to-be members of the PPKG are invited.

Weight Loss

Hooray! I've been working out trying to lose weight and today the scales indicated there has been a loss of ten pounds. Yes! Just hoping the pounds don't play a good game of hide and seek.