The Avengers

Tuesday night (actually late afternoon) I went to see

I had avoided going because I figured the crowds would be large this week-end and I would not get my favorite seat.. (enter the left side of the theater sit on the left aisle seat at the very back)  I used to sit down front but that was before I got my glasses.  

Speaking of glasses this movie is in 3 - D so I had to wear glasses to watch it. I don't like doing this because since I already wear glasses this means that I am wearing two pairs of glasses and it is not really comfortable.  But the 4:00 movie was in 3-D so that was the one I went to.  I don't really see the reason for 3-D but there you have it.  Perhaps if I sat closer. 

There are really too many characters to suit me in this film. I was not a fan of the Marvel Comics when I was growing up.. choosing the Superman, Batman, Tarzan, Scrooge McDuck ones over these.  Oh I probably occasionally read them but I did not become a fan until the Iron Man Movie.  I really like Robert Downy, Jr.  If he is in a movie I will go see it.

But the three in the picture above?  I was completely unfamiliar with them.  I did enjoy the movie and it was well cast and the actors really all did great jobs. I tell you any movie that can lift me out of this decrepit 70 year old body with all its aches and pains (I won't delineate them) and make me think I am young again is worth the price of admission ($7.50).

The action and the graphics were realistic and exciting to watch. There were some good one liners throughout to break the movie and keep the mood lighter. When Thor said "He's adopted!" about his brother Loki it cracked me up.

Wikipedia has a good article (synopsis) on the film and they go through every character and actor ( Robert Downey, Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Tom Hiddleston, Clark Gregg, Cobie Smulders, Stellan Skarsgård and Samuel L. Jackson) so you can click here to go read it.

There are two post credit scenes - One of them sets the stage for the next film and the other is depicted below in the poster.  You can read the explanation for them here.

So I do recommend the film. I think you will enjoy it.  However with the $200 Million opening week-end most of you have probably already seen it. Thanks for stopping by. Hugs,  j

It is Teacher Appreciation Day.

Time to watch this again.

Currently this is my favorite commercial on TV.  The idea of adopting a Rescue Panther for home security and then seeing the panther lick its lips just cracks me up every time.


There are two commercials (really a lot more) which just drive me to drink.  The all time worst commercial on TV is the 

Verizon Commercial with the two girls crying.

I won't show you the commercial because I truly hate it. The minute it comes on (and it comes on several times an evening) my hand goes for the mute button.  I googled it and found a place where someone said they had cancelled their subscription because of it.

I used to hate the Progressive commercials but Flo has kind of grown on me so I leave them up.  Not that I plan to change my insurance. I got it through my teachers association when I still taught and they have saved me hundreds of dollars since I got it.

The other commercials that I turn off immediately are the one with the actress being told "break a leg" and the two women discussing coupons and finally the one in which the woman says she quit smoking by using such and such a medicine and then goes on for what seems like 10 minutes about how and why she quit. Oh yes and all of the warnings about drugs and the side effects that can happen if you take this medicine or any medicine drive me up the wall.  I do not understand why anyone would take any of them.

Commercials are the price we pay for television. Sometimes the price is just too high and I really appreciate the DVR which allows me to skip the damn things.

Molly on Monday

 Well, as you know we have been spending a lot of time on the back porch.  I like it out there and so does the Big Guy.  He reads and watches the birds (wrens in the wren house) and I sleep and get my neck rubbed.  The lawn guy and his wife were here on Sunday and mowed the grass.  It is nice to have it mowed.  I went out for an excursion after they left and ate

 some grass and sniffed all around my back yard.  The weeds up next to the house were all chopped off.  I heard the Big Guy talk about getting the lawn sprayed and some weeds killed.  That will be nice.

I don't like it when the grass is too tall.  I do like the variety of green things growing.  They all smell different.  Cousin Jon has a prairie and there are some little yellow flowers growing there.

 It is fun to walk around my yard.  I haven't tried to escape lately. BG watches me closely.

Today he gave me a special treat.  He poured a glass of ice water into a bowl.  I lapped it up.  It was cold and delicious.  I much prefer it to water that has been in the bowl for awhile.

 Once I have made my rounds it is time to come back in and retire to my (BG's) bed.  I like it because it is big and comfy.

When the big bad cleaning lady came on Thursday and the BG was gone I got scared and ran back into the bed room and hid from her.  I am shy around strangers.  When BG came home he introduced us so I think things will be all right now.

Thanks to everyone for stopping by to see us. Have a wonderful week and stay healthy.

Sunday Salute VII

Bishop Gene Robinson  is a brave man.  His life has been threatened almost on a daily basis because he is an openly gay man serving as a Bishop in the Episcopalian Church.  I remember seeing him give a prayer called the Franciscan Fourfold Blessing (at the bottom of this post) and it impressed me greatly.  I admire his courage and his willingness to serve his people in his church.  I admired President Obama for including him in the Inauguration Ceremonies almost as much as I was disappointed in him for including Rick Warren as a participant.  The Bishop did a better job and it is unfortunate that his part was not publicized more widely.

“If we were to start talking about the racism that continues to exist in this country, our legacy from slavery, do you think that wouldn’t make people mad? I think if you scratch just below the surface of the Tea Party movement, what you find is racism. But if we started talking about that, we’d be in trouble.”

— Episcopal Bishop V. Gene Robinson of New Hampshire, talking to the Boston Globe about his scheduled retirement in 2013 and the issues he still plans to speak out on.

My conservative brothers and sisters seem to argue that God revealed everything to us in scripture. Ever since, it has simply been our difficult but straightforward task to conform ourselves to God's will revealed there and to repent when we are unable or unwilling to do so. For me, there is something static and lifeless in such a view of God. Could it be that even the Bible is too small a box in which to enclose God?
Interview for the Guardian.. Dated: 12th July 2008

I believe God is doing a new thing in the world. God is always moving us to include more people in the kingdom. God has taught us that about people of color, about women, and now I think God is teaching that about gay and lesbian folk. And I am humbled and privileged that I might be playing a very small part in that grand and wonderful plan of God's.


It's not about me. It's about not having to be ashamed.


Sometimes there are things worth risking your life for. It was Jesus who said if you want to save your life, you have to lose it.


The bees learn where they live by landmarks. If they're moved within their home range, they get confused.

Happy Cinco de Mayo - Saved for Saturday

I saw something that reminded me that Saturday is Cinco de Mayo. It is an interesting holiday.  It is celebrated in the USA  as a celebration of Mexican heritage and pride, and to commemorate the cause of freedom and democracy during the first years of the American Civil War.  This is probably not going to be celebrated in Republiscum households where the idea that anyone other than white tea party types have any value is non existent.  But the rest of us will celebrate.  I plan to eat Mexican food and watch the Kentucky Derby (which has nothing to do with the day but I thought I would mention it.

Below are some things  I found during the week. 

There are Christians and then there are "Christians."  I have learned the difference.  I love and respect true Christians but the "Christians" will never receive my respect.  They use religion to bully and bash and are not worth the sweat off my... well I will be a gentleman and not continue that thought.

Republiscums continue to show that they have no respect for persons.  They care about nothing but their own greed and have no compassion.  They are not like the true Republicans that I grew up with.

How anyone can even consider this person as a viable candidate continues to amaze me.

Bless you Mrs. Clinton for this strong statement on Bullying.