You're the Best Friends Anybody Ever Had: December

 The last post of 2021! 

I am very glad that I was able to show my friends how much I can about them this past year. I am so thankful to have all of them in my life! 

Now, before I go on, I didn't get the chance to send out the last gifts until today, so if any of my friends are reading this and you don't want it spoiled I would come back later. 

Let's talk about Princess and the Frog.

Now, I am not going to talk about the plot of the movie, that should already be known. However, I am going to talk about how amazing Charlotte is in this movie. She is one of the highest ranking Best Friends in any Disney movie because of how much she love Tiana but is also 100% herself. When we first meet her we know that she comes from Money, and she is spoil because of it. However, she is on the floor listening to a story with Tiana. She is getting a dress made by Tiana's mom and they are talking about the story and you can see that they seem to be very good friends. We find that Tiana doesn't come from money, by any means, but has a family she loves and a dream she wants! When they are older Charlotte is very supportive of her friend. Tiana is not going to take any handouts so she is working her butt off where she can get a job. Charlotte and her dad both go to the restaurant that she working at and buy her good food and tip her. I mean Lottie and her dad could totally give all the money she could want to Tiana but doesn't. We find that Lottie is looking for love in a prince that is coming to town and that is how she helps Tiana get the last of her money for her dream. by offering her the job of catering the desserts. 

We all know that the prince comes to the party, it not the real prince since he is a frog at this point, and things go wrong. Lottie is having the time of her life because she is dancing with the prince but when Tiana gets her outfit ruined she stop what she is doing with the prince and helps her friend out by getting her this new dress. Seeing that it's a different style and color I am let to believe that Lottie had this dress made for her previously but didn't know how to give it to her. 

Anyways, let's fast forward to the end of the movie when Lottie finds out the Prince is a frog and is trying to get Tiana her dream. So, when Lottie finds out that the Prince really loves her, and she loves him, instead of Kissing the frog prince to make her dreams happen, she tries to do it because it's going to make her Best Friend very happy. 

Lottie sacrificed her own dream for her friends because she saw what they had was real. 

Lottie doesn't get the credit she deserves.   

The last bonus gift of the year was inspired by Nora. She said that Late night drives were important. Since I can't go on one of those with everyone at once I had to bring the late night to them. So, late night drives you see the moon and stars. So, everyone got a moon necklace to either wear, or to put on the rearview mirror of their car. 

The last gift of the year was Promises. The one thing you always see symbolized with promises is a Garden. The promise to care and cultivate and things will grow. Well, that is what I was hoping for when it came to the end of this challenge. So, I asked everyone for their favorite flower, and for them to take a Love Languages quiz so I know what their love language is. That way from now on I know how to best love my friends. 

It's was very simple and a very nice ending to the year.

I want to tell all of my friends that I love them and that I hope they have loved all of the wonderful gift they were given. I am so blessed to have them in my life and I can't wait to keep growing older together, and hopefully growing closer. 

Have the happiest New Year's to all! 

Up Inside the Cyclone: December

 Let me tell you I have been stressing about these last few days! I love Christmas and New Year's Eve, but it always makes everything a little crazy! However, we have finally made it to the end of the year and the end of my plot twist! What a crazy ride it has been! I have done lots of thing that I would have not thought I would have done, that includes not only the plot twist but lots of other happenings behind the scenes! 

Let's talk about my favorite plot twist movie The Prestige.

I am going to give you the very short version because I don't want to spoil this movie on accident. Here is what you need to know. In the hopes of making it to the big time, two magicians do everything in their power to be the best there is. However, their paths keep crossing in interesting, and sometimes dire, ways.

Now I love this movie, it's one of those that makes you keep thinking about it once you have seen it. I know that after the first time I watched this movie my mind kept going back to it, even after a year. 

Now, let's talk about the last two plot twist that I got from Nora and Angela! They both came over when Ang was visiting and let's say they never stop amazing me.

Ang was first and she sure did stick to her healthy theme!

  

Nora, came in right behind her with one I was not expecting! However, I didn't get much on film because I am a crazy person!

I would like to say thank you to everyone who helped me to do this. I really did have a wonderful year and I know that you all loved helping to make my life a little crazy! I am really excited to see what the next year holds!

Looking In My Own Backyard: December

 "Here we as in as in olden days, Happy Golden Days of yore".

Can you believe that Christmas is tomorrow? I can't believe that this is the last post of my family tree for the year. I might post more if I find out anything else that I find interesting. The problem is I really want to like look at everything and love all of it and not just look up stories. I really want to learn more but, that will be for another day. 

Right now, we needs to get down to some business and talk about the movie Richie Rich.

Richie was born into a family of great wealth! They have billions of dollars and everything that you could ever want or ask for! When you live such a charmed life it's hard to see what you are missing. For Richie, he was miss friends. There are other kids his age that have some of the same privileges that he does, but they don't really get along. Richie's family loves him too but it's still hard when everyone is very busy. One of his father's employees is a very greedy man who wants to take over all of that money and us it for his own. So, he sets up a plan to murder the whole family so he gets the money. However, when Richie ends up not being on the plane that is set to blow he is now in charge of everything. No the villain must come up with another plan before Riche finds his family. He must also do so with the help of his new friends!

This is one of those very cute movies of families that you just love. It's just super cute and it has a good message about what is really valuable in life and what isn't. There really isn't much to say here other than that. It's cute and funny and I would watch it again. 

So, let's talk about the last member of my family (well it's going to be members but you will see what I mean): George Edward "Old Ned" "Golden Hawk" Sizemore.

Now when I first saw that name I was in a little bit of denial. My dad, and a few other members of my dad's side of the family, have said that they believed that we had some Native American in us. Now, lots of families have said that and lots of people that claim they do no not actually have any. Then I did my ancestry and it shows that I have a small amount in me. Now, if you told me that I would actually come across names of Native American family members a that start of the year I would have been shocked. 

So, here is kind of the problem. Lots of people, who have done way more research than I, think that the Sizemore's are Cherokee Indian. Now, there is lots of speculations about this, mainly from the Government, if this is true. Some, think that he is not originally Cherokee, but maybe something else. There are some stories that Ned saves many Cherokee lives because he hid them in Mountains so they would not have to go through the Trail of Tears. There is an account by one of his Grandchildren that he used to walk around with a pet bear! 

The reason that there is a problem is because even though many people have claimed that He lived as a Native American and was recognized by other Native Americans, for some reason the Government doesn't see him as one. That means none of his family is recognized either. One of his Grandchildren tried to petition to be recognized and could not get to. One other member of this family, more recently, has talked to someone is Native American and knows a lot about their history to know the name of Sizemore and still nothing. 

So, here is what it comes down to for me. I don't know. I am more inclined to believe it, but I won't go around saying "I have Cherokee in me" when I really don't know what I do have. I will say that regardless if Ned Sizemore was a Native American, the fact that he saved anyone from that Trail of Tears is an amazing feat. I am, once again, very happy to be related to come of the bravest and coolest people that could have ever walked the Earth.

I have loved going on this journey this year! I would have never thought I would be able to go back as far as I have. I would have never had known how important some of my family members were, and how they all make up who I am. I mean it just goes to show what God can use to make us who we are. God's plans are greater then our own and it show for me even in my family. I mean of the 1000 people I have in my tree I only have 130ish stories. Some I have shared here. The amazing stories that are known here are only a small handful of the ones that I know nothing about! I mean, how much more amazing are the people that weren't talk a story about. 

I would totally recommend anyone to do this. Just start looking and see what comes up. You really never know what you are going to find out.  

Up Inside the Cyclone: November

Finally the last post of the day! I hope that means that I can focus on the other things I have to do and write that stuff quickly! We will see how this goes.

Let's just jump in with the month's movie, Red Notice.

When a CIA agents gets into a lot of trouble for an op going totally out of hand, he must reach out to the second most notorious Art thief in order to catch the most notorious. However, these type of things never go as they are planned. Once you think you know what she is going to do you find that you are three steps behind.

I get it I know this is new and this is a little bit of a cheat. However, I watched it when it came out and saw what it was and replaced it on this list with the one I was supposed to watch. This movie was hilarious, and just a great joy to watch. Ryan Reynolds is just everything and then you throw in The Rock and Gal Gadot it's just a fun ride. I won't say anymore just go and watch it yourself.

So, this was a weird month because it's was supposed to be only Luke doing the Plot Twist this month. However, mom still had her one that she needed to make up for. So, here we go, let's get started.

Luke started off very early on this month and made me get up very early on a weekend. 

Then while we were watching the new Psych 3 movie he gave me the longest of his three. 

As you can see he had a good time in front the camera. The third one was fun but I didn't get any video of me doing it, so here is a video of me explaining it. 

I think I liked the Sunset one the best. It's been a while since I have had the chance to do that so I really enjoyed it. 

Now mom's was not that crazy either.

Over all November was a very chill month for plot twist. Which I am honestly very happy about because it's starting to get very busy here. So, with that I just have two more plot twist left for the whole year and then I will be done. 

We Shall see what happens with those.

Looking In My Own Backyard: November

 We are almost done and I am a bit sad that we are. I will save the sappy for the end of the year, but we will be fist talking about the movie Coco.

The day of the dead may sound scary to those who don't know about it. In reality, it's a celebration of life. Family members who have passed away get to cross the bridge back to the land of the living for one night every year. However, their picture must be on the mantle of someone who cared for them. Never before has someone from the land of the living cross to the that of the dead, until now. When trying to prove to his family that music is not a bad that, Miguel, is someone able to go between both worlds. In doing so he finds the truth about his family, and what it family really means.

I enjoyed this movie the first time I saw it and I love it even more now. Disney has really done a good job in recent years to explore other cultures. They have always done with with legends and stuff like that but actually showing these celebrations and showing what they are really about has been great to see. I really did love this whole idea of Miguel going to visit those who know him but he now gets to understand what has happened in the past. We can't always fully know what lead to were we are now but we can have a better understanding of how things came to be if we know a little bit about the history. 

I think that this is why I have loved doing this so much. I have found out more about how my family has come to be and how I got here. Just like this next story from mom's side. We are going to talk about my Nine times great Grandfather Gabriel Moran. 

Gabriel was from Claire County, Ireland. The reason that they left is because Oliver Cromwell was conquering Ireland for England and they took the Mora's land and they had to come to America. They ended up living in Maryland and that is where Gabriel met his wife. They build a beautiful home there and lived a very successful life by all account. However, there is someone else in this family tree that was able to find exactly where they lived in Claire County, and were able to provide proof that the they lived there. With this information they Moran family can have a Coat of Arms.

We are down to one story left in this wonderful year. 

You're The Best Friends Anybody Ever Had: Luke

 So, we are down to the very last post of an individual person post. I am sad that it's the last one but it's been great doing them. Let me introduce you to Luke.

I wasn't sure if I was going to find a picture that was Luke in a nutshell but then I found this... it's very accurate. Luke is an amazing human being and I love hanging out around him. When I met him six years ago I know that he was going to be in my life forever, he is married to Alain, but I didn't expect us to be as close friends as we are now. It all started when he came with other members of Alaina's missions tour for breakfast and a joke about the movie Singing in the Rain, and that was it. 

Luke is one of the funniest people that I know. He loves puns, jokes, and anything that will get a laugh. If you can make a joke that also includes stuff about the fandom's he loves then you are for sure going to find a friend in him. He is too quick with the puns sometime, and he was ready with dad jokes before he became a dad. It's always great when you finally are able to beat him to a punch or find a joke first (it's very hard to do) because he will always laugh and will always tell you when it's good!

Luke also likes to prank you when he can. This picture is of him and my mom because he loves to take my phone and take selfies for me to find later. he also love to stack the spices and can in my house when he comes over. He is always willing to do crazy fun things and go the extra mile to do those fun things. He is also always wanting to help you do the things you want to do in an interesting way. Like for my plot twists he gave me new experiences to try rather than just make me do funny stuff. He wants you to try everything but he also wants you to enjoy it as well.

As much as he loves jokes and having a good time, he knows when to be serious. When you are have a problem he wants to help fix it. When you need a helping hand, he is there to do whatever he can. That was always proven to me when we both worked for a hospital. He joined the team after about a year or me working there and we saw each other all the time! He made working there so much fun but when things got hard or serious he always tried he best to be the go to person to ask for help. He was always engaged with the patients, and with everyone else we worked with. 

I am very glad to have Luke in my life. I told him at his wedding that he answered my prayer by being the person Alaina need to marry but I didn't know at the time that he would also answer another prayer of being a great friend to me. I knew that I wanted to like whoever Alaina married but I didn't know that we would be such good friends. God knew what he was doing when he put Luke in all of our lives, and I would not want it any other way.

You're The Best Friends Anybody Ever Had: November

 Am I going slightly mad because it's the end of the year and I'm behind on everything? Yes. Am I stressed because I have two more gifts to give that are not ready and the last day of the year is going to be here before we know it? Yes. Does it worry me tat we are so close and I don't feel like I am going to get everything done? Yes. 

Will all of this be worth it? 

I hope so. 

I love this time of year. I always have. I have loved it the best the last few years because I have had everything, Christmas gift wise, done months in advance. I am there on that front. Honestly, the biggest problem right now is that I keep adding stuff to my calendar. I am only on here doing this today because I took of work because I wasn't supposed to be home from a mini vacation until today. However, stuff happened and we came home last night instead. Totally fine! However, I almost went into work so save a vacation day. I took it off though so I could write all of these blogs and be back on track so I can spend that rest of month doing the other blogs and doing the other projects. So, with that lest talk about my friends.

However, you know we have to do the movie first! 

This is the story of a reluctant adventure. Frodo is thrown out of the world he knows and into a much bigger fate than he could imaging. After the responsibility of an evil ring is placed in his hands, Frodo must travel the world in search of how to destroy it. He is joined with his friend Sam and other from his village and it also joined by fellow men and women who wish for this evil to stop. However, this band of brothers must face their own worries, fears, and temptations to do what is best for the world. They find that sometimes you must fight together and apart in order for everyone to be successful.

Look I know that my description is terrible. I get that It's not near what it should be. However, if I were to right more it would just be spilling the whole move, so let's move on. 

This fist time that I have ever watched this movie it was for the Best Picture Challenge I did a few years ago. I loved that movie. I thought it was beautiful, and well thought out story. However, I didn't pay as much attention to the relationships between the characters as I did this time. I cried. There are so many people who joined to help Frodo from the start. I know that they became (and will become) friends later as we go. However, I mean I can not believe that I took me so long to just love Sam the way I did. I remember Sam being the best guy for Frodo in the third film. I forgot how great he is for him in this movie as well. 

I also love how sometimes it's hard to be a friend when you are going through things. Like I have never heard anyone in this Fandom say that Frodo is a bad friend. Frodo has the weight of the world on his shoulders, and he is now in a constant battle for his mind and soul with the new ownership of this ring. We all get to a point in our lives that we are not capable of being the best friend we can be. We get to the end of ourselves just to survive day to day that we can't always be there the way you want to be. That is why being a good friend when you can be is so important! That way the people that you love know that you love them. That when you have been there for people they know that when you say you can't that you really can't, not because you don't want to. 

Frodo does try to leave the group at the end of this film, not because he doesn't trust them, but because of the situation that his has been put in that has caused death and destruction around the fellowship already. He is trying to save the people that he cares for. He is trying to be a good friend by not having them suffer anymore with what he is dealing with. 

Sam. Some is truly a great friend. Not only does he go on this trip, that he never wanted to go on, but he follows Frodo to the scariest places that he has been! He knew that he was not made fur such adventures and still went on them anyways. He was scared, and wanted to go home, but literally still almost died to keep his promise to not loose him. Sam is the kind of friend that I admire to be be.

Speaking of admiring. That was this month's theme! This was actually my favorite present to give everyone. It was also the hardest to find a gift for. I was having a hard time showing someone that they are admired without throwing them a party or something. That is until I read something about awards being a way to show that they are admired for an area they work in or their expertise. Then I felt stupid because I enjoy watching the Oscars. I mean I should have known this one of the top of my head and I didn't. 

Anyways, this month's gift was a little statue that had a man holding a star. It just makes my heart happy but I love doing it. I love that little statue and I am very happy I found it. 

Up Inside The Cyclone: October

 Hello! So, October's plot twists were very sweet and simple... and one that contained a plot twist with in a plot twist. I am making it sound more interesting than it is. You'll see what I mean in a second. 

This month's move was Arrival.

Ok, look... I didn't like this movie. I didn't pay much attention... Here is what I remember. Aliens come from space needing help. Dr. Amy Adams is good with languages tried to figured out what they are saying. She is sad because her Daughter died. She saved the world, and then come to find her daughter didn't die the aliens made he see the future and it hasn't happened yet. 

To be honest I have not idea why everyone loved this movie so much. I was bland, and boring, and I really wished I picked a different movie. However, what's done is done and let move one to the fun part. 

We got literally all the way to the end of the month to go my plot twists from my Mom and from Beth. Beth got to hers first.

I will be eating ice cream from here again. Not sure when but it will be soon because it really was super good. Mom's was the plot twist in the plot twist. 

I am really shocked that it's only happened once this year! I thought it would have happened more often with everything that is going on. However, she did have stuff happen that gave her a pass. So will will see what November has for me!

You're The Best Friends Anybody Ever Had: October

 I feel like everything I write one of these it's time to write another one. Thankfully, this one was not centered around one person. So instead of two blogs I just have to write the one. Since this is the first of the last three month that we have left in the year, it's gonna be over before we know it. However, we can still talk about how awesome friends are and this month's theme. 

First, we are going to talk about Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. 

The last 16 years of their lives have been filled with heartbreak, love, excitement, fear, wonder, discovery, anger, and friendship. All of these things have been fought through their whole lives. Before their whole loves actually. These four young women have grown up with each other. They mothers met in a yoga class while they were pregnant and gave birth all in a week of each other. Now upon their 16th year of togetherness they will have to spend their summer apart. Soccer Camp, Family visits, new jobs, and a whole world waiting for them to take on is more than enough for any friendship to be strengthened or destroyed. While on a last shopping spree before they all leave they find a pair of pants that magically fit all of them even with their different heights and body shapes. They buy the pants and use them as a way to keep in touch through the whole summer. 

When I was younger I did read the book. I read it poorly because I had to read it for a class or something and just read it for the sake of saying that I read it. The movie is good and I love all of the people that they chose for it. I will say that I think that this hit home for me is that a lot of time, especially as we get older, most friendship have to be done far apart instead of closer together. I was very fortunate that my friendships started out close and still survived as distance widened. I know that the friendship that I have are the ones that most people had. I know this, and because I know this is makes me determined to keep them close and to keep them strong. 

This moth we had another bonus gift along with the theme gift. The Themed gift was Intelligence. So, this one was one of the easier gifts to come up with. The reason is because at the time of creating the gift ideas I was working on Sudoku puzzles. I figured that we can do almost any puzzle book and that would have been great! So, I picked up a pack and sent them for fun is they wanted to. I got a mixed batch so I am not sure who got what but I am sure they will use them if they wanted to. 

The bonus gift this month was inspired by Luke. His funny quality was Witty. So, that one was easy enough because the man loves Puns. Any time he can find a pun to say or do he will say or do it. So, I found the great page of "tearable" puns to print off. I cut the slits and everything so that you can tear one off and read it as you go. I thought Luke would get a kick out of that. I will say that the next round will happen sooner than people think because I already have the stuff. I just have to send it out. I hope that I can get it out on time! 

Looking In My Own Backyard: October

 We are getting closer and closer to the end of the year. I was starting to get worried at the start of the month that I was going to be running out of stories from members of my family. Ancestry has been a real help, but a lot of the stories that are on there are from other family members, and sometime they are only like a sentence to two long. I was worried that I wasn't going to have enough. Well, I ended up I ended up finding out a whole lot on my dad's side and I am excited to share with you some of what I found. 

First, let's talk about Meet the Robinsons. 

This wonderful tale about family follows a boy named Lewis. Lewis is a young man who loves science and inventions. He loves to create new things that no one have ever come up with before. Lewis is also an orphan who inventions usually ward off potential families. After many interviews, he is inspired by trying to see if he can find out who is real mother is. In his search to create a memory machine, he finds meets another young man by the name of Wilbur. We find out right away that Wilbur is from the future and comes from a place with all sorts of amazing inventions! He ends up meeting all of Wilbur's family and falls in love with them. However, he can't stay there no matter now much he wants to. We might find that it's all for the best. 

This is one of those Disney movies that I forget how much I love them. I always enjoy watching this film and all of the wonderful jokes that are told. I love the story in how, again, family is not always the people you are born into. However, this movies does pose a new way of thinking about family that many of the other movies I have watched have not done. That the family can love you enough to do what's best and leave. We never find out why Lewis's mom left him at the orphanage. We may never will. We do know that she did it out of love (because of the snuggle before she leaves). Doing what is best is not always the easiest thing and leaving is not always the wrong choice. Sometimes choosing to love family is choosing to let them go. Not easy but sometimes what is needed. However, when you find the right people to call family, it all can make a lot of sense.

I feel like in the last few month's of this journey I have meet a lot of people on my tree that have been influential in some way when it has come to American History.... I never thought it would be World History. 

Meet my 8 times Great Uncle, Samuel Pepys. 

Now, I have never heard of him until about four days ago. I was just going along and trying to find some more people in my tree and see if there were more stories that popped up. There he was... just sitting there waiting to be discovered. Samuel Pepys is best known for diary that he kept from January 1 1660- May 1669. He wrote about many historical events that happened in England in the 17th century such as the execution of Charles I, the The Great Plague, The Great Fire of London, The Anglo-Dutch War, and even some interactions he had with Sir Isaac Newton. I got this picture of the Wikipedia page, because there is a whole page about the man! He was a royalist (not to Charles the I he did not like him) However, he fully supported King James II and was actually one of the barons that held the Canopy at King James's Coronation. 

His diary from that time is one of the most revealing personal accounts during this time. There have been several books written about his writing and what his life is like. His diary is actually held at Magdalene College at Cambridge. 

The funny about all of this is the fact that Samuel Pepys also has a blog. Yup, a blog. The site is run by a gentleman by the name of Phil Gyford. All of the entries are available for free on his site because they are made available by Project Gutenberg. So, you an read all of what Samuel Pepys had to say. I thought I was the only one in this family with a blog... come to find out I'm not. 

I know that we hear stories all of the time about how people find all of these crazy stories about our ancestors. The stuff I am learning is stuff I would have never dreamed about. I would have never guessed that anyone in my family would have had such an influence on the world. I would have never believed that there would be so much to learn. I am glad that I finally did. I know that there is more to learn that just talking about one person every month for a year, and I don't plan on stopping after this year is over. However, I am so glad about what I have found so far and I can't wait to see how much more there is to learn. 

Up Inside the Cyclone: September

 You know what usually happens this time of year is that August is busy, September is a little bit more chill, but then in October to the end of the year is fun chaos. Well. not this September. I was busy doing something or going somewhere from the very start of the month to the very end.... and I mean the very end.... 

The reason as to why my month was so insane was because of the Plot Twists presented to me by Nora. Nora is currently the award winner for the most time consuming plot twists for the whole year! I will be diving into that once we discuss this month's plot twist movie Once Upon A Time... in Hollywood.

Plot Twist.... this ended not being a plot twist movie.

1969 Hollywood was starting to undergo a lot of changes. What once it was best known for was not selling as well, and the moments of yesteryear were going dark as the "new and now" started to rise over the horizon. Some tried very hard to hold on to their prime. and kept pushing forward to stay ahead of the rising sun. Staying current is harder than getting started it seems. That is what Rick Dalton is trying to do. He is trying to stay in the mainstream but without being type casted into what typically happens to old "past their prime" movie stars. He is also trying to do so with his stunt double, and best friend, Cliff Booth. We follow their story has they try to hustle the movies while, also trying to get to know Rick's neighbor, Sharon Tate.

Now this is why I don't think that this movie is a plot twist movie...

In order for there to be a plot twist you know to think you know what is "supposed to happen". A plot twist would be a movie a movie booked as a romantic comedy, and starred Matthew McConaughey and Kate Hudson, right. You're watching and everything is going great. They are flirting, fighting, falling in love. It's funny, it's light hearted this in the last minute of the movie they are eaten by a shark and "surprise" they are the first victims of the shark in the movie Jaws. You are not supposed to see it coming. Something changes what you think you know. 

The reason Once is not a plot twist story to me was because I had never heard of the murder of Sharon Tate. I have never even heard of her. I have heard about Charles Manson but I had no clue about this murder or the people involved until this movie. Meaning that this movie was a attempted murder gone wrong by not going after the original targets. They went into Dalton's house and were met with Dalton and Cliff and died. 

You know when you light a match and when the flame goes out, because you don't allow it to burn the whole stick? You know that long drag of smoke that seems to go one forever, even though you would think that the wood would have lost it's heat? The smoke is silk like as it goes through the air and dances a little when it catches a draft. How pretty it is just staring at it? That is what this whole movie felt like to me. It's so pretty and mesmerizing to look at, but once the smoke cleared there was nothing there to keep you warm, or a light to help you to see. The whole movie I was wondering the heck Sharon Tate was and why we were spending so much time on her and her life but not doing much with her. She took us to a movie, a party, and book shopping and that was really about it. I had to do the research after the movie in order to understand why it was a plot twist and not just Quintin Tarantino wanted to play with guns at the end of the movie. 

I guess you can say the plot twist was that it's wasn't really a plot twist for me. 

Now, what was a plot twist to me was all of the stuff that Nora made me do this past month. She did start us off really early with her first one. 

It took me forever to read that book. I am not sure if she was waiting until I was done with the book to give me the next one. I finally got the second one on the last full weekend of the month.

I was put through a panic on the last one because of the timing of it. I explain the third video why it was so hecktic.

The best part about that last one was I told the group chat with Nora and Angela that I added them and Ang went to watch it. She laughed and thought it was hilarious that Nora made me wait so long to get the puzzle done. Come to find out Nora thought that I would just do the puzzle, no matte how long it took, and just keep going. She didn't realize I had to finish it in that whole month's time! Ang got a huge kick out of that one.

Hard to believe that we are in the last few months of 2021. I only have one more person who has a whole month to themselves. I know that they have been waiting a while to get to theirs and we will see what they come up with. However, we both have to get through this month before that happens! 

You're the Best Friends Anybody Ever: Nora

 September has been one busy month for me! One of the reason's that I have been going crazy is because of this month's highlighted friend, Nora. We will be getting to her plot twists later, because they have been taking up most of my time. However, I am going to introduce to you one of the happiest, crazy, energetic, and wonderful people I know.

The brilliant Nora.

If you remind yourself all that way back to the month of March I had talked about our lovely friend, Angela, and how we played Power Puff Girls on the playground. Nora was the Bubbles to our Buttercup and Blossom! The three of us have been friends for 21 years, and that is a fact that I still con not fathom. I know that I am very blessed because there are many people who have friends for that long and I have two.

Nora is one of the most confident people that I know. She has never been afraid to be nothing less that who she is. She doesn't care what you think of her she is just going to be her. She loves Disney, puzzles, movies, and she is obsessed with reading. She always seems to have a book within 5 feet of her. She loves sharing her passions and obsessions. Anytime that she gets the chance to share a good book she is in her happy place.

Nora is someone that just loves spending time with the people that she loves. She is always up for big adventures of going out of town, however, she also is down to go on random car rides late at night when you are heart broken. She will go all over to celebrate with you, and then will also go to the McDonalds drive in cause all you can eat are French Fires after wisdom teeth surgery. So long as there is good music on the radio who will go almost anywhere with you. 

She is also someone who love to laugh and will also want you to laugh. She can give you great advice, but is the person that will "bury the body first" and give advise later. She has great timing. She knows when something needs to be said and when. We all need to hear something we don't like hearting, but she will not saying when she know you won't listen at all. She know when you need to be cheered up and when you need to be pushed in the right direction. This is always followed with some sort of amazing food and lots of smiles and laughter. 

Nora is loyal and wonderful in so many ways! I know there are not many out there like her and I am so blessed to be counted as one of her friends! These days is so easy to loose people that you love and God has blessed me by keeping her and I together all of these years. We have been "seen each other everyday" friends and "long distance" friends. I have been very blessed to call her one of my best friends and I am so glad that I get to honor her. I pray that we have many more years to come and I hope we will have a lot of fun doing so! 

Looking in My Own Backyard: September

 This story of today is one that I have found out a while ago. I was reasons that I didn't share but now I feel like I can. 

A per tradition, we must talk about this month's movie first. So, let's talk about Annie.

If you have not heard about the plot of this movie by now, you have been living under a rock! This is the story about a little orphan girl, who does not believe that she is an orphan, who finds her family in a peculiar way. She is trying to leave the orphanage one day near Christmas to go and find her real parents. The clues she has are have a locket necklace and a note saying that they were going to come back to get her one day. Once the police return her to the custody of the evil Ms. Hanagan, the secretary of Millionaire Oliver Warbucks comes to pick a child to spend Christmas in his home. Annie is introduced to a whole new world of how people but also to what it's like to have a family. Mr. Warbucks tells her that he wants to adopt her but Annie refuses because she is waiting for her parents to come back home. Mr. Warbucks starts the search for her parents. However, the search is met with many impersonators who are out for the $50,000 award to the parents of Annie. One of those scoundrels being Ms. Hanagan. 

Now, I know that some might be mad that not only did I not pick the original but I also didn't pick the newest one. I know but Honestly, this is the first movie I experienced this story with. This is also the only movie that I could pick out Kathy Bates and Victor Gardner out from for a very long time. Watching this movie again and seeing so many other stars names in this movie I was shocked I could not pick them out from here either. However, I love this movie because it shows that everyone can have more than enough room for family. I also love that Mr. Warbucks was willing to give up Annie and help her find her parents even if it broke his heart. It's a sweet story and it one of my favorite childhood movies to watch growing up.

Now let's talk about my 5 time great grandfather, on my mom's side, Alexander Kennedy. 

Alexander is someone who really did help to influence the history of our country. However, it's not going to be in the way that you think. Alexander is from Moore County, North Carolina. Actually, he was there to help give the county it's name. Alexander, and his son David, operated a gun factory that made guns to Revolutionary War soldiers. I mean out independence was fought from the soldiers that dared rise up to conquer it. There are many different types of fight in the art of war. There is the use of words, politics, books, and weapons. Even the weapons were varied when it came to the fighting but guns were one of the most prominent. I have known for a while about dad telling me about some people he found during the Revolutionary War. I have also said on here that I was not sure about what to find on mom's side of things. However, finding that my grandfather was one of the top names in producing guns during the time our country fought for our initial freedom was not on my Bingo card. Not only that but members of my dad's side of the family could have fought using a gun that was produced by a member of my mom's side of the family is amazing. I guess you never know how entwined everyone really is with each other until you see something like this.

 

You're the Best Friends I've Ever Had: September

The air is starting the cool, there is a lot more rain, the color on the leaves are just barley started to change to a lighter shade of green. The pools are closing and the dreaded Pumpkin spice everything has already hit the shelves. It only means that we have made it to September. That's right. It's that time of year where spooky season is about to start, followed by the biggest dinner or the year, and then the holiday season. The best is still yet to come this year so we are going to keep trucking on.

We are about to get to the most magical time of the year we need to have a little magic added. This month's movie was from Nora, and she chose TinkerBell and the Pirate Fairy.

In the land where fairies come together to find out their powers, some get a little bit more curious than others. We come to know Zarina as she is working with the Pixie Dust. Always wanting to know more about how it works and what more can be done with it, she takes one drop of the precious blue dust and start to experiment with it. When she discovers that she can create different color dust to use to work with all of the different powers that all the fairies can have, things go awry. In her embarrassment, she runs away taking a little of the dust with her. A year later, she comes back to get more dust to bring back to a pirate ship, in which she is the captain. In he escape, she ends up switching our hero's powers. Can they save the dust, the fairies, and their friend?

I really did enjoy this movie. I was really shocked that this is the movie that Nora had picked. I wasn't really sure about this at first but it's actually really cute. It's a great story of still being there for your friends when they have lost their way. We all lose our way sometimes and it's great to have friends there for you when you have gone down the wrong path.

This month's theme really lined up with the theme rather well. We talk about Understanding. I did go a little cliché this month. The saying "walk a mile in someone else's shoes"? Well, I bought everyone shoes. I bought everyone a pair of flip flops from the dollar store, and told everyone to really put themselves in someone else's shoes this month. The reason that it's needed in friendship is because we don't all always walk through the same season of life at the same time. Some of us are married, have kids, working all the time, have deployed spouses, have grandchildren, sick parents, and number of different things. Some walks of life are going to be things that some of us may never understand, or something we will walk through later in life. When the walk get's hard it's good to know that someone is there to help your or guide you. We all need that understanding. 

We also had a bonus gift this month as well. This bonus gift comes from Nikki Day! She is by far the hardest person that I had to figure out a bonus gift for. She only gave me 10 items on her original list, and hers were all really serious! Except for one. she simply wrote "Cubs Fan". Now, usually, I don't condone those types of words cause I am not one! However, I did get creative. I was going to buy everyone something from their favorite sports team, but money and time were not with more. So, I simplified it. I bought a pack of those hand held fans paper fans and got a stencil. I wrote "cubs" on everyone fan and gave them out. All except for one. My mother, a St. Louis Cardinals fan, would have murdered me if I did that to her. So, I gave her the red one and wrote "Cardinals" on it. 

I can believe in a less than two weeks we will be in the last three months of the year.    

Best Picture Challenge: Nomadland 2020

It's funny to me that after I have watched so many movies, and have pushed myself to watch many that I never thought that I  would, that I still get worried about new ones. Last year was hard for a movie lover because there really weren't any new movie coming out. If they were they were coming out on all of these different platforms that made it hard to keep up with the latest thing. It's more expensive to keep up with movies if you have to have a subscription to every streaming platform in existence. A lot of movie went under the radar because of this. 

The other problem is that rules for the Academy Awards qualifications had to change in order to get a nomination for any award this year. I am sure that some it will be the same this year too since movie theaters opened so late. However, these qualifications made the picking slim for the 2020 awards season. I can tell you that I had not heard of a good majority of the movies that came out with a nomination. As well I didn't really care for any of the nominations to really want to go out of my way to search to watch any of them. However, I have worked this hard in recent years to watch every Best Picture Film ever made and I don't plan on stopping just because of a bad year. 

The 2020 Best Picture went to a movie called Nomadland.

This story takes us along on a journey with a woman named Fern. She was living a peaceful and happy life until a local factory shuts it door. That factory put not only everyone that worked there without work but it eventually killed the town. Not long after the zip code was discontinued because no one was living there. Fern goes off to live in her van and travel and get some work here and there. However, she meets others on the road who are in a similar situation as she is in. she lives her life as a Nomad and goes where she pleases and meets lots of people with lots of stories along the way.

Here's the deal. When this movie was announced the winner I was annoyed. There seemed to be a few other movies that seemed more interesting to watch than this one. That fact alone made me put off watching this movie for a very long time. I didn't want to watch it. It really didn't interest me. 

It had it's moments. It's a great story about a woman trying to figure out a life without her home, her husband, her job, and really just trying to carve our a new life for herself. However, it was slow. Not the slowest movie I have ever seen, there are many more who hold that title. However, it's slow. 

I can put it down to a few words. I probably won't watch it again. I really won't recommend you watch it. There are other movies I would have rather watched. If I didn't start this challenge a few years ago and made it my goal to keep up with it, I would have not watched it at all. 

You're the Best Friend Anybody Ever Had: Jeannie

 So, this month we are talking about my have had a wild ride! I have been super busy running around with this girl trying to get everything set up. I have known her for quite some time. Say hello to Jeannie. 

Jeannie is Alaina's mom and I have known Jeannie just as long as I have known Alaina. When I first started going to church I had to have people take me. My parents worked odd hours during this time and could not take me. I did have someone else that I use to know doing it, but when they were no longer able to take me Jeannie and Carl (her wonderful husband) stepped up and started picking me up along the way.

Jeannie is one of the people in my life that I have come to to prayer and advice. She is always very patient and will to help me when I have been at my worst. She is always ready to take me in, give me a cup of coffee, and let me vent. She is one of the sweetest people in the whole world and I love her for that.

Jeannie is someone who will always go out of her way to help someone. She is the first to volunteer for projects, parties, events, or even move. She is very inspirational when it comes to this because when you gives it her all to help someone it's always above and beyond to help. She goes out of her way to make every event feel extra special. She always uses her keen eye and enormous talent to being a smile to everyone's face. 

 

I love that she always makes me feel welcomed in her house. I am welcomed for every holiday and birthday. She makes me feel like I am part of the family. The moment that Alaina and I became friends I was treated like a daughter. I won't lie I am not sure any of us at the time that Alaina and I bunked together at camp that we would have been so close for so long. I didn't think that I would have been this close to her either. Most people aren't friends with their friend's mom but it's  really a friendship that I needed in my life.

I have learned a lot from Jeannie. How to be a good friend is one of the things that I have learned. She doesn't give up on people. She is always willing to help anybody when they need the help. She loves to the best of her ability. She will be the first one there to help you when you are down. The first one to check on you. The first one to bring food. The first one when you send out the SOS. I love her for it and I inspire to be her.

God knew that I needed a friend like Jeannie and so He gave her to me. I am thankful that He has put us together because she has helped me to become a better person. I pray that one day I get to be as wonderful as she is. She is the friend that I never knew I was gonna need and the one the God so graciously gifted me with. 

Up Inside the Cyclone: August

 This is the time of year that things start to become very busy. I had several birthday to celebrate this month, and lots of other stuff happening around me. Jeannie was in charge of the twists this month and when I tell you that they came down to the last minute... they really did. 

Let's start with this month's movie however, Atonement. 

In the year's leading up to World War II, two lovers find that they are caught in a terrible crime of misinformation and misidentification. Cecelia and Robbie find that they have feels for each other and start to show each other in little ways. How one day can change both of their fates. Cecelia's little sister misreads a situation about Robbie in Cecelia, which makes her believe that Robbie is a sex addict. She find them later in the library in a compromising situation. A few hours later, during a search for her missing cousins, another cousin is sexually assaulted and the culprit is misidentified as Robbie. Robbie is tried as guilty but later has a chance to lessen his sentence if he fights as a soldier during the war. He takes his chances to be with Cecelia again and goes. Cecelia is a nurse in a hospital in London, not longer talking to her family after they thought that Robbie would do such a thing. Cecelia shows up to be a nurse as well trying to reconnect with her sister and tell her that she realized the mistake that she had made. The question is can she get to them in time before all hope is lost?

I will say that there is a plot twist t the end that I didn't see coming, but it's not like most movies that have plot twists in them. It really is worth the watch as shocking as it is for me to say it. 

So, Jeannie cut it really close to the end of the month her with her twists. I got them all within three days, with the third day getting two of them. The first one happened during small group and there was lots of participation.

One Saturday, during my niece's 1st birthday party no less, Jeannie made me to plot twist number two.

Just wen I thought that I was out of the clear for the day, Beth tricked me! She told me that she wanted to go to the Mall and go to Yankee Candle and get some stuff. Se doesn't live close to one. Looking back now, we left the party really quickly. Usually we stay and talk after but she wanted to leave quickly... I know why now. After being lured in by candles she wanted to go to Chick-fil-A and get some food. Surprise... look who was there waiting in the food court..

I will say that Jeannie had some good ones. Jeannie was also the only one, so far, to make me do a plot twist publicly. She did surprise me, and I did have some fun. 

I will say that I am sad that August is over, and I'm excited to see what Nora has planned for me next. 

Looking In My Own Backyard: August

I have an amazing story from my family tree this month. I new that there was drama but I think this one takes the cake. However, we are going to talk about another amazing story first. That would be the story of Mulan. 

We all remember the story or the girl who saved a nation right? Well, the remake of this movie is just a fun and beautiful as the first. Mulan one of the only two children of her family. Both children being girls, be best way to bring honor to the family is by marring and being a good wife and mother. However, Mulan's path is not what every one else things it is. When war breaks out in her country, and her father is called back into the line of duty, Mulan decides to take her father's armor and pretend to be a man. She is successful and quickly becomes one of the be recruits that they have. She does this for the love of her family and finding out who she really is. 

When this movie was first announced I was not happy. The reason was because all for the other live action remakes that Disney has done over the years have been true to the animated movies, for the most part. One of the best parts about the movie Mulan is the music. The remake was told from the start that it was not going to be a musical and Mushu was not going to be in the movie. Couple that with the fact that the movie came out in 2020 on Disney+ instead of in the theater, I didn't hear much about how good or bad the movie was. However, it's truly a beautiful film that you should see.

Now for some drama! 

So, My 9 times great grandfather John Gatchell has a crazy story. Not much is known about him before he came to America but There is a Gatchel family plaque on a church in England. He has some history. There is a hours that he built that still stands in Massachusetts, and he has earned it still being there. In March of either 1683 or 1684 a group of locals went into the home of George Corwin to steal a whole lot of money. While John was not part of the group directly he got caught as being accessories to the theft. John, his wife Wibera, and son Thomas were all sentenced to either be whipped 39 times or pay 10 euros. I am not really sure which what they ended up doing. 

However, things just got more interesting. So, John is my 9 times great grandfather, his son Jonathan is my 8 times great grandfather. Jonathan's brother Jeremiah is my 8 times great uncle (I think the number confuse me). Anywho, he married 3 times. He died during his third marriage. His first and second wife both died during their marriages. However, his second wife, Elizabeth Boude, is very interesting. She was actually a witness in the Salem Witch Trails. She attested to the good character of Mary Bradbury, who was accused of being a witch. Mary was found innocent. However, that is not the only interesting thing I found out about Elizabeth.

You see Elizabeth is cousins to some royalty.... English royalty. Elizabeth's parents are the 7 times great grand Parents to Diana Frances Spencer, Princess of whales. The world knows her better as Princess Diana. YES, HER!

I am related, by marriage, to the English Royal Family..... How weird is that? 

Yeah nothing is going to top that, and what all of that means, for a while...... 

You're the Best Friends Anyone Ever Had: August

 I'M EARLY! What is the world coming to? I mean really? 

Truth be told I had to be early because this month's gift had to be given to everyone before the first of the month. I was actually able to do that. Also, I have next month's gift bought I just need to put them together. It should not take long but we will see. 

As per tradition, let's talk movies! This month's movie was picked by Jeannie and it's one of my personal favorites: When Harry Met Sally.

This wonderful, romantic comedy is a classic film that everyone should see. Harry and Sally are two wildly different people who meet because they are both going to New York. They are driving across the country to start their lives there. However, they are have never met before the car ride. A mutual friend is the one who put them together to travel. They don't really get along well the first time they meet. They get to New York and they thing that is the last time that they are ever going to see each other again. Five years later they run into each other at the Airport an make small talk and see where they have been the last few years. They part ways better than they did the last time, however, it takes them another five years before they see each other again. They are at similar points in their lives now. Both of their relationships fell apart, and they are both a little lost and looking for someone to understand what they are going through. Third time is a charm and they hit it off right away and start to crate this wonderful relationship to last them a lifetime. 

This is one of those movies that was an instant classic when it came out. It still holds up today and I love every single second of it! This movie is just a great example of how friendships can develop over time. That there are many times when we meet people we get the wrong impression and it takes a while to really see who they are are. Sometimes, the relationship changes because we are still trying to figure out who we are ourselves. I love this movie because it shows that friendships do not have to always be friend right out of the gate. They can come up at any point in time in our lives.

Now, lets talk about this month's theme. 

Encouragement was the word of the month this month. So, how do you physically show that word in a gift? Well, you painstakingly hand write 31 encouraging statements on paper and put them all in a tiny mason jar. You do this for all 8 of your friends, and pray they can read your handwriting. I had to make sure they got them on the first so that they can have them for the whole month! I am very happy on the feed back I have gotten from some of my friends. This month was probably one of the first gift that I knew that I was going to do. It's was the easiest Idea to come up with but that was a lot of writing and it took most of my day off to do it in. I am glad that I can be encouraging to my friends and I hope that they love all of the words of love that I have come up with for them. 

We still have like half of a month left and I'm starting to get a little nervous.... I have not received one single plot twist yet this month.... usually I am done with them by now. However, it's been quiet..... too quiet....

Up Inside the Cyclone: July

 Hello and welcome to what might be the last month you hear from me! The reason being is the person doing next month plot twist has been sharpening and refining her skills, and has been WAY too excited about her month. Thankfully my last month here on Earth my dear friend Beth was the one who gave me the plot twist this week! As always though we have to talk about the movie for this month.... Shutter Island.

When a patient goes missing off of a island for the extreme mentally ill, Teddy and his new partner are off to go and find where they could have possibly gone. They also, find a new mystery while they are there. There are clues to a patient that does exists, find the one that is missing and these very odd headaches that Teddy is dealing with. Everything comes to a head when Teddy starts to question who he is and why is he ever there.

Truthfully, I need to watch the movie again. I was really scared the is was a scary movie so I didn't pay that much attention to it. However, It's not scary, but it's a thriller. Also, I can't give you more that what I wrote because of the fact that I will give away the whole movie. I will say that, while I didn't stick with it all the way through, I did get enough to know and be shocked by the end. I would have never guessed that what was going to happen. It's brilliant and you really should just see for yourself!

Now for possibly the last plot twist that I will write about before I die of embarrassment this month! Here is Beth's Plot Twist for me.

The first one I had to be like a child at heart to get this one right.

 

Plot Twist two was probably the easier (and best tasting) plot twist I had to do so far this year.

Now, this last one was hard! I have not patients for (personal) artistic ability, and I also don't have any artistic ability. So, having to do this was difficult. 

Well, I hope that you got a kick of me making a fool out of myself.

I will be here being scared every time my phone goes off for fear of this month's plot twister....

You're the Best Friends Anybody Ever Had: Beth

So, apparently the month of July is the month of Beth! Her plot twists are the ones I am going to be writing about, the bonus gift for this month is inspired by her, and she also gets today's post. Let me introduce you to Beth!

Now, Beth and I can not narrow down exactly when we first met. I do know that we met at least during 2009, because both of our boyfriends at the time were brothers. We knew each other before either one of us started dating the pair of brothers, however, we both were dating them in 2009. Fun fact, the brothers both broke up with us on the same weekend! We actually met through a mutual friend first and became closer during that dating of said brothers. 

Beth is an amazing human who I love talking too! We have been very blessed to have known each other all this time! I mean sincerely I was worried for us a bit there when we were younger. Beth got married when she was 19, and she moved out to another town to live with her husband. That was in 2011, and I wasn't sure how we were going to keep in touch and stay close. I can stand here and tell you that God has done some crazy things! Beth and I have seen more of each other in the last two years than in the other 8 combined! She has come here, I have gone there, we have met in the middle once or twice. I have stopped by on the way to Nashville, she has stopped by when she has come to Dollywood. We even got to go on a tried together this year! It's was a hilariously good time!

Beth is my cheesy hallmark movie buddy! They are not always hallmark but that feel of movie we both love. We have had several conversation about these types of movies over the years. We love to talk about how cheesy they are, or how odd they become! Anything that is super sweet or romantic we are always down to watch. We don't get to watch them together but we love telling each other but the latest one we have watched was. We are always talking on Marco Polo about the fun things we see. 

Beth is also one of the move kind people I have ever met! She is always there to listen to me when I am struggling, or to encourage me when I am feeling down. She love these challenges I give myself every year and is interested in what I am doing and where I am at with them. She is supportive and and always willing to help! She comes to Knoxville as often as she can to do birthdays, baby showers, fun weekends, and just to come and hang with us. She is great to help when planning parties, weddings, and for anything else! She has great ideas to make everything as special as it can be!

I am so very glad that God has put Beth in my life. We always have an amazing time when we are together and when we are just talking on Marco Polo. We have the best heart to hearts or just the best time laughing at the most random things. Going anywhere with her is an adventure, even if it's just to Walmart. I know that God put us together and I know she has been nothing but an absolute blessing since the day we met. I love you Beth and I can't wait to see what the future holds for us!