The List: #6, 60,133, and 136

 I have over 200 items on this list of mine. A list that I have been curating for nearly 15 years. Longer if you count how young I was when I wanted to do item number one on my list (one day it will be crossed off). However, There are very few items on this list that will be a surprise to me. Like I can't crate my own surprise birthday party, or run into an old friend by surprise. Other than that everything on my list really needs some sort of planning on my part in order for it to happen. 

So, have four items crossed off in one day, without much planning on part at all, is something I would have never have dreamed off. 

It all happened in less than 24 hours. 

The lest few years I have gone to Youth Convention in Nashville as a chaperone for my church. This year was not different. The plan was to get to Nashville right before the start of service on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, and then stay for the few days leaving very early in the morning the day of Thanksgiving. You sprinkle in the fact that Pastor Ronnie is awesome and always has fun things for all of us to do while we are there, you usually always leave with a smile. Then you have Thanksgiving, where you stuff you face and then take a much needed nap. All of that pretty much happened that week as planned. 

That is until I got unexpected call from Nikki Day. 

Nikki Day never calls. 

So, I answer the phone, half panicked, and her casually asking me what I was doing this weekend. I told her that I did have stuff going on and the plans were pretty solid. Then she asked the one question I have waiting for someone to ask my whole life.

"Do you want to go to Disney World?"

  

#6: Go to Disney World

How in the world do you say no?! 

You don't...

Long story short. Nikki's family has annual passed. Nikki's nephews didn't want to go, after the begged to go, and they asked me if I wasn't to go instead. The hotel and gas would already be paid for, I would just have to foot the bill for the park ticket and food. They were only able to go into the parks on Sunday, so it was only one day at Disney. After being racked with guilt of having to call out of work on Monday, it didn't last long don't worry, I said yes! 

My chill Thanksgiving turned into a mad house. After coming back home I had to repack a bag, shower, and run out the door. Went to my parents house for dinner, a nap, and was off to meet Nikki Day at her job at 3pm to drive to her house and then 6 hours to our first hotel. Got up on Friday and drove the rest of the way to Florida, and went to Disney Springs. 

We shopped and spent some time looking around there for a few hours and then went to hotel number 2 and chilled out. The Saturday was walking all around Disney Springs, and meeting Santa, and taking a lot of pictures. We went to our new hotel for the rest of our stay, Bay Lake Tower, and got to watch the Magic Kingdom fireworks from the balcony of our room. I was then asked like 3000 questions of what I wanted to do at Disney. I told them a few things that were on my bucket list, but seeing that I didn't plan the trip just being at Disney World was going to be great for me. 

Little did I know what I was about to get myself into.   

We were awake at 6am for out day to begin. We got the park at 7 am to be let in, so we can head to rope drop. When Tiffany, Chris, and Nikki were all shocked at how not busy it was! Apparently, going on the day that we did was a slow day cause everyone was going home and it was the start of a new week! 

When the rope dropped, I was whisked away to go to the Snow Write ride, Peter Pan, Haunted Mansion, and It's a Small World and did it all in under an hour. Then we got to meet some Disney Princesses! I got to meet my all time favorite Rapunzel! 

Now, meeting her was not on my official list but the fact that I got the chance was amazing! 

#60 Meet Belle at Disney World

Some of the things that I have wanted to do during my time at Disney were not a feasible as I wanted them to be when I first wrote them down. Belle doesn't do normal meet and greets like some of the other do. She does have her own story time attraction that you can meet here at. I got a video of her talking with me but that we really it. The video it too long to put on here but I did get it crossed off of my list. 

The other two were something I didn't think was ever going to happen. 

So, I told Tiff that one of the things I have wanted to do, since it was announce that it was coming, was eat at Beast's Castle. That was not on the official list but it lead to the other two things being crossed off. 

#133 and #136

Tiff somehow was able to last minute reservations for Nikki and I to eat at Beast Castle the day before! So, we went and at our delicious meal! The best part was ever so often they start playing "Be Our Guest" and the Beast comes out and greets everyone! 

133 was to have dinner served to me while the song was playing and 136 was to meet Beast at Disney and have a picture of me dancing with her. Now, no one was allowed to go and talk to the Beast, there are many people there, but this is as close as I got and I am very happy with it! 

The meal that Nikki and I had was so good! We both tried some new stuff and we had a great time.

After dinner I was finally able to try the new ride they have called Tron. The coaster was awesome and I want to ride it again so much! 

The only problem that we had the whole time were were at Magic Kingdom was the Belle Storytime broke down and the Tron ride broke down. We had to move some stuff around but we were able to get it all done and do it all in enough time to run a meet Mickey Mouse before it was all over!

I do not know why I didn't have Mickey Mouse of my list but he was there. I will also say that I wasn't super excited to meeting him. Not that I didn't want to but I had other people I wanted to meet more. When I got into the room I was so nervous! I wasn't nearly as nervous as meeting the other characters as I was him!

When them go on the bus and made our way over the EPCOT and did some rides there and watch their fireworks show. 

I did no have any of this on my 2023 Bingo card! I am so happy and blessed that I was able to go. I know that was one of those things that God allowed to happen just because he knew it was something that I wanted to do, and I would not have made it happen myself. 

After a 17 hour day at Disney I do want to go back again! I want to go back and do all of the parks and experience without a one day time limit. I know that I got a taste but it was a sweet taste of something I love. I pray I get back there again soon, and have the most fun doing it! 

Thanks Tiffany, Chris and Nikki! I will never forget this magical time that I had!

 

Tom Hanks Hustle: Asteroid City

 Welcome back to a long awaited Tom Hank Hustle! It has been over a year since the legendary Tom Hanks has been on the silver screen! The last movie being A Man Called Otto. That drama drove me and my friends to tears when we saw it and today we are getting an opposite effect. 

The always impressive, Tom Hanks stars in a straight faced comedy called Asteroid City.

The star studded film is about an oddball group a people the come together for a space and mathematics type of competition. The geniuses that compete are teenagers from all over the country coming together in the middle of no where, a place name Asteroid City. The city is named after the object that feel from the sky over 5000 years ago and is still sitting in the middle of the sand where it first landed. Well, that is what they play is about. The movie is actually showing the play and how the play was made at the same time. You get the story of how it was created and the creation simultaneously. 

The characters are a string of eclectic people become an odd group of friends, and government hostages for a little while? There is a movie star a family that lost their mom, teenagers that are trying to be noticed, and soldiers that are there to judge the competition. As they are all getting to know each other a strange thing happens on the day of judgment when an alien comes down and takes the asteroid. No talking, no crazy attack, just come out of a spaceship and awkwardly picks up the rock, and leaves. Sending everyone in the city into confusion and, ultimately, lock down. 

All the while this is happening the star of the show how no idea what the purpose of the show is. So, he leaves the play and talks to the director of the show, who really doesn't have an answer for him. The star asks "Am I doing this right". The director doesn't really give him much of a helpful answer and then they go about the rest of the play. 

It's been a long time since I have been genuinely confused by a movie that I didn't understand why it was made. Asteroid City made me question what was happening the whole way through. Even when you think that you are going to get an answer it just leaves you more confused about everything than you were before. 

I will say this, the film is hilarious. Yes, you are confused but at least you get to have fun while you have no idea why you have subjected yourself to the insanity. The humor is as dry as the desert it's set in, but every line is delivered in such a way that you can't help but crack a smile and roll you eyes. When the cast not only has the Tom Hanks but Scarlett Johannsson, Edward Norton, Bryan Cranston, Jason Schwartzman, and Steve Carroll it's got to be able to deliver that kind of humor without falling flat. Again, you fall into confusion as to why this film was created but you enjoy almost every minute of it. 

While Mr. Hanks was not the soul focus of the film he is great at helping to move the plot forward, and delivering utter frankness and logic to the other characters that help to reach conclusion faster. However, there is one shot in the film when they are introducing as the character in the play where his is sitting in a director's chair that he looks amazing! It's a very quick look of him but it's a beautiful shot and one that will last in my mind for long time.

Would I recommend that movie to other people? Yes, if they are someone that likes artsy type films and wants to do more a study. If someone wants to escape for a few hours and not have to think about a movie I don't think this is the one for them. If you are someone the wants a solid conclusion, a happily ever after, or just to not leave the theater questioning the movie, I would pick something else. However, if you want to ponder why you gave a few hours of your life to a movie I would say that you would enjoy this film..  

The List: #179- See A Movie At The Theater My Parents Met

Most of the items on this list is stuff that I have thought was never going to happen, or something that I think is a dream almost too big to dream. However, 179 is a different story. 

I have know for a long time that my parents met a movie theater. They both worked for the theater and that is where their story begins, and then leads to my story. When I found out a few years ago that the theater is still standing I knew that I had to go! The theater business is odd. One day that theater and thriving and you think nothing is wrong and then all of the sudden it get shut down. It doesn't look the same on the inside, but it's the same building. 

My mom called me a few weeks before our trip and told us that the rest of my family wanted to watch the Barbie Movie. I took the opportunity to ask mom if the thickets have been bought yet. When they hadn't I asked mom if it was possible to see the movie at Ronnie's. It worked out and they bought the tickets for this theater! 

Now, would you have ever told me that I would see this movie with my whole family, at that theater, I would not have believed you. We took a ton of pictures and just enjoys a very weird movie. 

It's really fun to go down and talk though a part of my family history. I know that there are lots of people who can't say that they know where their parents met, or that they can go and visit. I know that this building is special for that because there are a few places that are part of mom and dad's story that no longer exist, like where they got engaged.  

I know that that is not the most exciting thing on my list but it was wonderful to be there. You just never know where or when you will mee the love of your life. The fact that It's at this movie theater explains a whole lot about me.  

Best Picture Challenge: Everything Everywhere All at Once

 You know there haven't been that many movies in recent memory that really got talked about quite like Everything Everywhere All at Once. There have been many a great movie to come out, lots that have been talked about, but those are mostly popular movies like the Marvel movies. If you know me you know that I do love me a good Marvel movie, however, nothing has garnered attention of the masses like this film. 

What happens when the multi-verse opens? What do you think that you will be doing during that time? Do you think you will even know? Do you think that your life matters enough for anything in the world to even matter? What if it was you who was called to save the world from a darkness unlike any other? That is the question that Evelyn is faced with. One moment she is working very hard to keep her family laundry mat afloat, and the next she gathering abilities from other forms of herself to fight of a darkness that wants to consume the whole of creation. She must confront her own fears, and her own circumstances, in order to face the terrifying darkness that seems to be following her across all universes. 

This movie is bonkers! 

It's one of those movies that you watch questioning if this movie is even real. You sometimes think that you are having a fever dream and trying to make sense of what you are watching. However, in the end it doesn't matter how wild the ride is. All that matters is if the journey is worth it. I will say that this movie is well worth in insanity that sometimes happens on the screen. 

You would think that I would have learned by now. How many times have I said that here? The moment that this movie came to the big screen, it was literally the only movie that anyone was talking about! Every influencer, every critic, and all the average movie goers instantly fell in love with this movie. The creative perspective, the immersive plot, and the sometimes insane places that we see in the movie really would have made the film going experience well worth the trip. I made the crucial mistake of not going to see this movie when it was in the theaters. 

This movie is also one of those movies that fell into the unfortunate fate of having a trailer that doesn't explain anything. Most movies I feel like today are like that. The trailer comes out and there is supposed to be enough explosions, color, crazy, and laughter to get people to come. I want trailers to do their job and tell me what the general plot of the movie is. I don't want just the wild stuff that I could see, I want to know what the movie is about so that I can go and check  it out. Why is this movie worth my time and money to go and see. Thankfully, the word of mouth was good enough for me to be excited to see the movie, even before it won Best Picture. That may also play into why didn't see it before if left the theater. 

Why was the word of mouth so good for this film? Not only was the script superb, but the heart of the film is something that just about everyone can relate to. We are told in movies all of the time that we need to be kind to each other, to look out for each other, and consider others when we are living life. However, in the chaos that is this film, that message vibrantly stands out. Kindness does not equal weakness. The fighting back darkness with light is admirable and often overlooked. Kindness is far to often seen as a means to walk all over a person. The someone being nice means that they are easily manipulated. In reality, someone who is always kind, always there, always stepping out of their way to help people are usually some of the most strong people on the face of the planet. They take all of the ridicule, stress, and harsh words and still show all people love. That they don't let other people attitudes effect theirs. They often don't tell people of the stress and worry that they go through in their lives. Just because someone doesn't fight the same way as you do doesn't mean that they aren't fighting. 

The cast in the film was also phenomenal! Michelle Yeoh, Ke Huy Quan, and Jamie Lee Curtis star in the film, and make the whole thing look effortless. That fighting in the air with hotdogs fingers and just a normal everyday thing for them. It's no wonder that all three of them won Oscars for the performances in these roles. Ms. Curtis was able to show all all of her acting skills in this film. She has been in comedies, horror, and dramatic roles in her time in front of the camera. This film was an incredible way of showing all all of her abilities at once. She got to play feral, heartbroken, happy, and hopelessly in love. Ms. Yeoh was inspiring as she explored hopelessness, loneliness, bravery, and peace in the same film. I was most impressed with Mr. Quan's performance. Which I didn't think that would be case going in. I have seen far more movies with Ms. Yeoh and Ms. Curtis than I have with Mr. Quan. Yet, it was his performance that gave me goosebumps and just stare in awe at the screen. His role was two fold. He was the loving, supporting, and heartbroken husband who had to switch to brave, confident, and stern in the same breathe! I am still trying to figure out how he went from the verge of tears and then jump to fearless in a blink of an eye! His performance is truly something to behold!

Everything Everywhere All at Once is a movie that makes you believe in the movie experience again. It's a movie that when you are watching you know that you are seeing something rare and spectacular. That there has never been anything like this movie and there will be nothing like it again. People may try to capture the same magic but will ultimately fail in doing so. It's a film that you can't afford to miss. I am giving it 9.5 out of 10 stars, and the note that it does live up to all of hype is was given. It has taken it's rightful place as of of the Best Pictures ever made and will continue to be something inspiring for the rest of time.  

Rest: The Craziest Challenge Of All

 Happy 2023........ five months late.....

Yeah, so let's talk for a minute. It should be no surprise at this point, but I am not doing any challenges this year. Ok, so that's not 100% true. I am going to keep doing some of the stuff like the Best Picture Challenge, No Place Like Movies At Home, and the Tom Hanks Hustle. I will be doing these when I get the chance, or when the opportunity comes up for me to do them. 

So, here is what happened. I usually get hit by inspiration for the next challenge like right int he middle of the year. This is use the rest of the year to finish the challenge(s) that I am doing in the current year, and then I also world out all of the kinks that I can foresee on the upcoming challenges. Well, at about November of 2022 I realized that I didn't have anything planned. I will tell you that I tried so hard to make something, anything, work for my challenges this year. I really tried to make something happen. I tried to push the issue. However, nothing that I was coming up with was working out. I then go stressed because I was so far behind! I know that I have all of the challenges from last year finally posted, but I have been writing the last six in the last month! I got really burnt out by all of the pressure that I was putting on myself, while trying to do other things that I was very clearly more interested in. 

I even started doing once of the challenges at the start of this year but it died very quickly. 

So, after taking a few weeks to get my head right, and wallow in my own self pity because I felt like I failed, I realized that I very much needed a huge break. So, I am going to take the year off of doing more challenges, except for the ones listed above, and see what happens. Do I hope that I will get hit with inspiration again soon and prep for the challenges next year? Yes. Do I know with 100% certainty that this is going to happen? No. 

I have been full speed ahead of these challenges over the last few years but not doing one has been very weird and very helpful so far this year. I have other dreams that I am wanting to pursue that have come to me in the last few month, and not having the weight of a challenge on my shoulders has really helped me to understand this new dream. It's something that I can actually focus on and really throw myself into without having to add it to the current load. 

I am the type of person that needs to keep going. I am always on the move and going somewhere and doing something. Not having a challenge was something that really made me crazy at the start of the year. Rest is a four letter word for me. It's so hard to stop and rest. However, it's also biblical. In the old testament the Bible talks about how the field that the you grow your crops in are changed every year. You don't plant that same crop in the same field two years back to back, and on the 7 year or your harvest you don't use the crop at all. Well, 2023 is the seventh year that I have been doing these challenges. So, 2023 is going to be a Sabbath year of rest for these challenges. Has it been very weird to not keep up with doing a blog monthly, or making sure I have time to get everyone done really quick? Absolutely. However, I have had so much on my plate this year that I really haven't missed the challenges. I miss them but like I don't feel like that I have gone without of that I don't have enough to do without them. 

So, far the thing I can say that I have learned the most about this year is the rest is not bad. Not doing something doesn't mean that you are not doing enough, it means that you are learning on what needs to take a priority in your life. That just because you can do something doesn't mean you should add it to you plate. That taking a breath and saying "I love doing this but I just can't" is perfectly ok. 

It means hopefully next year, when I am able to get back to this, that I will come back better, ready, and much improved on how to execute my challenges. I have no idea what is in store for the rest of this year, but I'm excited to see where God is going to lead me and why he had me take a break.  

Tom Hanks Hustle: A Man Called Otto

 So, Tom Hanks has had a very good year. This is the fourth movie that he has come out this year! I mean if you are gonna pick anyone to watch all of their movies from start to finish it might as well be someone who is as wonderful, and fantastic, as Mr. Tom Hanks. 

This is the story of a Man Called Otto  who is trying to figure out his life after the death of his wife. Otto is trying his best to continue living after the great love of his life passes, but finds that he is struggling a lot more than he thought he would be. He is so devastated that he tries to take his own life through the whole film. However, unlikely characters come into his life during the darkest moments and inadvertently saves him from himself. Through these characters he learns that family may not be the people who you chose to be in your life, but sometimes they come from unexpected places. 

I know that this is a remake of Swedish film called A Man Called Ove. That film was based off of a novel with the same name written by Fredrick Backman. I got the opportunity to see this film twice while it was in theaters, and I loved it. I wasn't really sure when I was going to think about this film. It's the first really serious dramatic role that I can remember that Mr. Hanks had in recent memory. I was really surprised by how much heart this movie had. I was also shocked by how funny it was as well. It's not overly comedic but it balanced out the seriousness of the film. I think the film did a great job of showing what life is for those in mourning. I have been told for basically my whole life that healing is not linear. Truth be told, very few things in life are linear. It seems nothing really is at the point anymore common core math has become a thing! You can find a different kind of love and family even if the person you love most has passed. Loving more people doesn't mean that you loved one person less. I mean, if we are going to be honest, just because someone is not in your life anymore doesn't mean you stop loving them. That could be that you are no longer speaking, or in death, you can still love someone from afar. Love doesn't really know any bounds. It might change how you get to love someone, meaning that if they are not near you physically then you can't talk to them, or hug them, everyday. It just means you have to be more creative about the why you have to show them love. Once way Otto does it in the film is by visiting his wife's grave at least once a week. "Not even death can stop true love, it only delays it a little while" is one of my favorite lines from the movie The Princess Bride. The old I get the me I realize that that is very much true. 

The more films that I watch by the great Tom hanks the more I find him to be one of the most versatile and inspiring actor that I have seen. He has done just about every type of genre that you can do. The only movies that he has been in that have been "bad films" are ones where the writing is not up to snuff, not his acting capabilities. Mr. Hanks' abilities as an actor has really become the hallmark of a great movie over the years. He has been part of so many special classic movies, and the fact that he does an amazing job of bringing characters to live, it's almost guaranteed that any movie he is in is going to be a great film. There are not many actors that you can say that is true for. Not even for the classic actors that I love so much. 

I know that we have a little bit before the next Tom Hanks for comes out but I know that it's going to be well worth the watch when it does come out. I feel like that's one thing I love about movies, you never know when one is going to change your life, or your perspective.