Gofita's Pages

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Cat Thursday (4)

Welcome to the weekly meme that celebrates the wonders and sometime hilarity of cats! Join us by posting a favorite LOL cat pic you may have come across, famous cat art or even share with us pics of your own beloved cat(s). It's all for the love of cats! Enjoy! Hosted by Michelle of The True Book Addict.

One of my friend's cat Sadie Snowflake and my son Gabe. The other is just a classic of Grumpy Cat! Happy Cat Thursday!

Sunday, April 28, 2013

Life and Death

I lost two very important loved ones these last two weeks. My eldest brother died from suicide on April 17th. My beautiful brother who was in so much pain from constant depression and severe anxiety. I'm lucky to have been apart of his life for my 32 years. I will miss him so much but I know he hurt so much and that in death he is now at peace.

Just a few days later one of my very close friends went into a coma following elective surgery and was taken off life support a few days after that. I am heart-broken for those she leaves behind. I have a hole in my heart and soul that will never be filled again. With her death she took part of it.

My friend was a giver. She gave her whole heart. She made everyone feel how special they are. She gave hugs and her laugh was intoxicating. She sent her love to all in any way she could. She loved dark beer. She was insightful. She babysat my son so my husband and I could go out for a few ours for our anniversary. She was always willing to listen to others despite the shit going on in her own.

She had lost her younger sister just 6 weeks earlier and she was there for me for the few days when I told her about my own brother. She told me she'd be there for me, maybe a bit drugged up because of the pain meds, but we would grieve for our siblings together. I told her I loved her and I'd see her after her surgery. I never got to.

My beautiful Sarah, you are a giver and a lover. Forever in my heart and soul.

How do I move on? I take care of my family and hug my son and husband a bit more. I appreciate more my friends and don't take them for granted. I breathe in life as best I can and live it. Each second I have is amazing. It's a very short time I'm alive. I gotta live it.

I take her beautiful girls and give them hugs and memories of their beautiful mother.

Life is not fair. But life just is. The good, the bad, and the in-between. Gut-wrenching and awe-inspiring all in one. That's the risk we take in living is loving. We give pieces of our hearts and soul to those we love and in turn they give is theirs. That's what makes life worth living is the ones we love and love us back. Humanity. We are here for each other and to me that is the most meaningful part of life. We take our memories and live our lives and our loved ones live on in our hearts and minds.

Our memories build a special bridge

When loved one have to part

To help us feel we're with them still

And soothe a grieving heart

They span the years and warm our lives

preserving ties that bind

Our memories build a special bridge

And brings us peace of mind

----Emily Matthews

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

One Line Movie Reviews (6)

1. The Hobbit (2012): I wanted more of the story but it was still beautifully done!

Rating: A

2. Hope Springs (2012): Fabulous movie focusing on relationships with those we love.

Rating: A-

3. Mamma Mia! (2008): (I've seen this before but have never reviewed it on my blog :)) It's just a fun and happy film focusing on a mother/daughter relationship.

Rating: B+

4. Lincoln (2012): Intriguing behind-the-scenes look at how the 13th Amendment to the Constitution was eventually passed with everyone kicking and screaming, unfortunately.

Rating: B

5. Argo (2012): Amazing rescue but had a dark undertone that still haunts.

Rating: B-

Thursday, April 11, 2013

Cat Thursday (3)

I have to share one of my most favorite cat videos ever. It always brightens my day! Happy Cat Thursday!

Monday, April 8, 2013

One Line Movie Reviews (5)

1. The Iron Lady (2011): Meryl Streep shines in role but not a fan of the Iron Lady myself.

Rating: C+

2. One For the Money (2012): Cute and forgettable story about a recent divorcee finding love with an old flame while chasing him down bounty hunter style.

Rating: B-

3. Wreck-It Ralph (2012): Bad guy shows he can change his stripes and make his own "good-guy" destiny.

Rating: B+

4. Cave of Forgotten Dreams (2010): Beautiful and thought-provoking documentary on the earliest pre-historic art caves in the world.

Rating: A+

5. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004): A bit on the creepy side sci-fi movie about finding love with the same person again....and again?

Rating: B-

Thursday, April 4, 2013

Cat Thursday (2)

My theme this week is my cuddly kitty. Most of the time she's a psycho and won't let anyone pet her without biting and just wanting to play very roughly :) But yesterday she plopped on my tummy and just cuddled. It was so adorable, so I snapped a couple of pics.

Shadow being unusually cuddly today :)

Monday, April 1, 2013

The Stepsister Scheme by Jim C. Hines

The Stepsister Scheme is a fun fairy-tale retelling where the princesses take their own power and lives into their own hands and rescue the prince for a change!

Danielle (Cinderella) has been married to Prince Armand for under a year when he goes missing, her stepsister Charlotte tries to murder her and she finds out that her "maid" is actually Sleeping Beauty, a fairy-cursed assassin. They join up with Snow White to rescue Prince Armand and fight their foes in Fairy Land. With the help of Rose's combat skill, Danielle's ability to speak with animals, and Snow's magic they are a deadly force.

The beginning was a bit slow and I didn't quite know where Hines was going to take it. But by the middle I was won-over and ended up loving this fem-fantasy. Retaking their power, each one, is a powerful story. I'm excited to keep reading this amazing series!

Thursday, March 28, 2013

Cat Thursday (1)

A weekly meme all about cats. Hosted by Michelle at The True Book Addict.

Here is one of my own (Frodo napping):

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

One Line Movie Reviews (4)

Silver Linings Playbook (2012): Love makes things better, even for those with mental illness.

Rating: A

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2011): You're never too old to love, live, and dream.

Rating: B

End of Watch (2012): Powerful story of the dangers, trauma, heroism, sexism, racism, etc all rolled up into being a cop in L.A.

Rating: A-

Salmon Fishing in Yemen (2011): Finding your dreams, making the impossible possible, learning to love, and learning to find hope in humanity all make this an amazing movie.

Rating: A-

The Hurt Locker (2008): A day in the life of a bomb diffusion company in the army...the deaths, fears, isolation.

Rating: B

Friday, March 1, 2013

Flight Behavior by Barbara Kingsolver

Kingsolver opens her book with a delightful and imaginative first chapter. I was really drawn in. What did Dellarobia actually see? We finally find out that her "vision" was a completely natural, or at least one that shouldn't be natural. Butterflies have landed on her family's land when they're actually supposed to be hanging out in Mexico.

Kingsolver really combines the consequences of climate change with how it effects those who still make their living on the land. She gives us characters to love, who change, reflect, and think ahead. She mixes a story of faith and science and how the twain can meet. And for that reason alone, this is a book worth reading.

But alas, I only give it a 3ish star because it wasn't a page turner. It took me awhile to read the book and it dragged in the middle. So I didn't love it but I like it and it was worth reading because it's an important topic and needs to be addressed.

Some of my favorite quotes:

"Hester wasn't the only one living in fantasy land with righteousness on her side; people just did that, this family and maybe all others. They built their tidy houses of self-importance and special blessing and went inside and slammed the door, unaware the mountain behind them was aflame." p.22-23

"But being a stay-at-home mom was the loneliest kind of lonely, in which she was always and never by herself." p.59

"When she walked among these girls (ewes) they parted slowly like heavy water and looked up at her with an outlandish composure, their amber eyes eerily divided by horizontal pupils." p. 332

"...citizens of their own cheerful universe despite their full awareness of its unraveling." p. 341

Friday, February 15, 2013

One Line Movie Reviews (3)

Adventures of Tintin (2011): Surprisingly fun adventure/mystery story!

Rating: B+

American Pie (1999): Finally saw the "modern-classic" and am glad I did because it was funny, overall, but really misguided in a few scenes.

Rating: C+

Game Change (2012): Amazing and insightful portrayal of the McCain/Palin 2008 campaign...crazy!

Rating: A-

Frankenweenie (2012): Heart-breaking story about a boy and his dog told "Frankenstein's Monster" style.

Rating: A

Bourne Legacy (2012): Boring and uneventful side tale about how insidiously evil and power-hungry Treadstone has gotten.

Rating: C-

Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier

Juliet Marillier did her homework. It was a beautiful and magical and romantic experience while reading her book. She really did take me away to another time and place. Granted, I never ever want to return to a time where I didn't have indoor plumbing or the Internet...that being said I wish I lived in a place where I grew up around Nature. Becoming to in tune with Nature that you feel her talking and walking with you. You know how to survive and help heal others.

I loved the magic associated with Paganism. I've been studying a lot about Paganism and I find it beautiful and I love reading about it like this. I recognized so many elements of circle casting and calling the elements, leaving gifts for the Spirits and Faeries. And also the clash of culture and religion between the Celts and the Christian Britts.

I cared about all of the characters. Sorsha's brothers. Each one had his own personality, and there were a lot of brothers. You could feel the pain of their father. You could feel the EVIL of the new wicked step-mother.

Even her love interest. I didn't even realize who was going to be THE one for a bit. But boy, such a pleasure to see her and Red's relationship blossom and grow. The love for her forest, her mother, brothers, and Red was palpable.

Just a beautiful story about humanity and love.

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Wow. This was a fast-paced thriller. Lots of twists and turns. I really didn't see where this was headed. It's worth a read just for the sheer craziness of it all. Before you pick up this book to read, you must commit one whole day. You will not be able to put it down till your are finished. Your kid and/or loved one could be choking and honestly, you will not notice ;)

Moving on...we meet Nick and Amy Dunne. They take turns with chapters so we get to see this fabulous couple and how their marriage and their lives went down a rabbit hole. On their 5th anniversary, Nick comes home to his wife missing. Did he do it? Who else could have done it?

I think Flynn has a lot of human insight that she expresses through the characters and how they deal with the world. The suspense is palpable and addicting. I really loved that. And I really wanted to love this book! But the ending ruined it for me. I feel it was a cop out of epic proportions. But oh well. It is worth the read and I'll recommend it to anyone.

It's worth the ride.