Thanksgiving Dinner

Thanksgiving came early. No, it didn't. I just cook for my friends.

Everything I made was homemade.

You see that gravy. When I let it refrigerate it got a little too thick, but it still went over well.

Cranberry sauce. This was homemade. Appreciate it. It went over well :) This was a big hit, actually.

We were too busy eating to remember to take a picture of the bird. I know I'm bad! But it went well. It all went well.

I still have left overs. And a Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow!

Happy Thanksgiving!

the interviews

I got a job
as a host
in a steak house
and then I didn't
I wonder sometimes
all the times
"the plan"
it was for the best
dreams do come true?
i'm not sad
i had another interview
for the dream job
dreams do come true?
i sent thank you cards
i smiled and i was confident
i did everything right
i said everything right
when does that happen?
and here i wait
the day before thanksgiving
for an answer
to a question
i've been asking myself for a decade
maybe longer
what are you gonna do with the rest of your life?
what is your life?
i know too much introspection
but all these thoughts race through my head
as i sit and wait and prepare
for disappointment?
for approval?
what would i do with approval?
i did celebrate with a thanksgiving dinner with friends
i celebrated the dream job interview and the success of it
i took it in
like you should
regardless of the outcome
but what will the outcome be?
four days later
i wonder
31 years and 4 days

MIRROR, MIRROR

Click on the title and it will bring you directly to the trailer.

Julia looks amazing in this. I can't wait for March 16, 2012.

Once Upon a Time...

Once Upon a Time
Starring: Jennifer Morrison, Lana Parrilla, Ginnifer Goodwin, Jamie Dornan, Jared Gilmore, Josh Dallas & Robert Carlyle
Premiere Date: October 23, 2011

"...and they lived happily ever after."

Or that is what the fairy tales have us believe. This show takes on that notion of happily ever after and throws a curveball. We see in the Pilot episode the dwarves standing over a glass coffin as Prince Charming rides on his horse to say his last goodbye. Like in the original version he leans over and kisses his fair princess Snow White and with a gasp of breath she awakens. It is happiness all around as the scene switches to their wedding day, a joyous event. That is when the Evil Queen storms in declaring this to be the last happy day anyone will be celebrating. For she will enact a curse so evil that there will be no more happy endings for anyone. (get your mind out of the gutter Mark!)

How does this curse work? Well, we find out that all of the fairy tale characters have been transported to the real world; our world, to suffer through life frozen in time un-knowing of their lives in the fairy tale world. They won't know who they are, or who they loved. Time will stand still, they will never age and they can never leave the town of Storybrooke, Maine or 'bad things will happen'.

In fairy tale world, Snow White is worried for their lives after the Evil Queen's announcement of the dark curse. She rubs her pregnant stomach as she says she must visit someone to find out how to fix this. Prince Charming (whose name is James) tries to disuade her to no avail. Who is this someone you ask? None other than Rumplestiltskin. He is locked in a jail cell, which we find out in later episodes was done to him by Cinderella. He tells her (only after she tells him the name of the baby) that on the 28th birthday of their daughter Emma, she will come and break the curse. She will be the only hope for them all.

So back in the real world we meet up with Emma on her 28th birthday, and as she blows out her candles a young boy by the name of Henry appears surprising her with the news that he is the baby she gave up for adoption 10 years previous. He convinces her to come back to Storybrooke, Maine with him because yes he was adopted by Regina Mills, the mayor of the town...and also the Evil Queen in the fairy tale world!

The show takes place between fairy tale world and the Storybrooke town. We meet and get to know the fairy tale characters in a way we never had before. We find out a different version of what we have all grown up with. And I can't wait to find out more. Once Upon a Time just grabs you in, puts you under the spell of it's darkness and goodness...you learn never to make a deal with Rumplestiltskin - who is known as Mr. Gold in Storybrooke...and you realize that there is more to the story when it comes to why the Evil Queen hates Snow White.

The acting is stellar! Ginnifer Goodwin's portrayal of Snow White / Mary Margaret is perfect, she gives the sweetness we have all known of Snow White, but throws in a strong independence and fierceness that we haven't seen of the princess. She has made me love Snow White, when previous I did not. Jennifer Morrison plays the character of Emma (the daughter of Snow White and Prince Charming) terrifically, if that is even a word. I like her in the role and can't see anyone else playing her. Jared Gilmore, who plays Henry is just so adorable and a great actor at his young age. Jamie Dornan (Sheriff Graham) and Josh Dallas (Prince Charming) both are pretty nice to look at and are equally superb as their characters.

The two standout performances (for me - although I think EVERYONE is phenomenal) are Robert Carlyle (Rumplestiltskin / Mr. Gold) and Lana Parrilla (Evil Queen / Regina Mills). Robert Carlyle is so convincing as Rumplestiltskin you forget that he's just playing a character, a creepy and scary character! Lana Parrilla has this way about her that makes her portrayal of Evil Queen and Regina different but recognizable to each other. She creates this sympathetic character that you both love and hate, and love to hate!

I highly recommend this show, and I give it 30 out of 10 stars!