North & South

When Margaret (Daniela Denby-Ashe) and her family move from a rural home to an industrial mill town, they struggle to adapt.

Margaret is very spunky and soon finds herself fighting for workers' rights and clashing with mill owner, John Thornton (Richard Armitage).

This BBC movie is beautifully cast and photographed.  The coloring is so appropriate, it really captures the era.  The tension between lovely Margaret and the brooding John Thornton will satisfy all romantics and those interested in the early years of industrial growth will also be fulfilled.   

A Necessity For Life

Have you ever thought how blessed you are to be able to turn on a faucet and get good, clean water in response to your action?  What if you had to walk three hours to fetch a pail of water to quench your thirst or cleanse yourself and that water was dirty, but the only water available?  Well, this is the situation facing almost a billion people on this planet.  This is why I donate to Charity: Water.  Since operating expenses are paid by private donors, every penny donated by the public goes to the project of digging wells in areas around the world that are so desperately in need of something we most likely take for granted.

You may choose to donate $20, which will provide clean water for one person for 20 years, or you may decide to donate to a special project that is funded every September; either way, you will be giving the gift of a more healthy life to others not as fortunate as yourself.  

On A Clear Day

After working for many years as a shipbuilder in Glasgow, Frank ( Peter Mullan) loses his job at age 55.  Already burdened with the emotional scar of losing a young son years earlier, his relationship with wife, Joan (Brenda Blethyn), and other son (Jamie Sives) is distant; now, really too young to retire and knowing that finding a new job will be difficult, he enters a state of depression.  One day, at a local pool, he sees a physically challenged child bravely swimming and, in a burst of inspiration, he decides that to regain his self-respect he will attempt to swim the English Channel!

A nice mix of drama, humor and wonderful characters, this is a film worth viewing.  

Something the Lord Made

This film is based on the true story of white surgeon Alfred Blalock (Alan Rickman) and his African American lab assistant Vivien Thomas (Mos Def) who, together, invented both the instruments and the procedure necessary to correct the heart deformity that resulted in "blue babies".

The time was the 1940's and the two men were confronted not only by racial prejudice, but by a medical community who believed heart surgery, of any kind, was impossible.

This beautifully acted and soul-stirring drama gives an insight into the medical profession and shows that, when a man believes in himelf and follows his dream, nothing can stop him. 



  

Help A Soldier, Save A Dog

When my sister, Connie, and I were children, we did have pets, 2 box turtles, Inky and Blinky (he only had one eye), which we would allow to race down a hallway in our flat, a canary, Billy, who was a great singer and a parakeet, Tippy, who would fly and sometimes land on us.  We had a puppy once, but it didn't get a name because when it began to lick our faces, my dad returned it to the shelter.

I didn't need to worry, because my entire adult life would be filled with dogs.  I married the reincarnation of Saint Francis and our children inherited the gene..."Mom, the dog just followed us home from the beach.  Can we keep it, PLEASE?"  I guess my children knew a pushover when they saw one; I can't bear to see an animal suffer.  Naturally, all of the dogs had to be neutered and given the necessary immunizations and we don't believe in keeping pets outdoors.  Our house must have had a neon sign flashing "FREE ROOM AND BOARD FOR STRAYS.  APPLY WITHIN."  Yes, dog hair became our clothes constant companion.

So, you can understand why I fell in love with this particular charity, Freedom Service Dogs, which rescues dogs from shelters and trains them to be service companions to wounded soldiers.  The dogs who do not make the grade are adopted out to loving families.  It's a win-win situation!

Little Manhattan

Gabe (Josh Hutcherson) and Rosemary (Charlie Ray) have known each other practically their whole lives, but when they meet at a karate class, Gabe sees Rosemary in an entirely different light.  It's LOVE in all its wonderful yet heart-wrenching glory!

This film, narrated by 11-year-old Gabe, is both charming and humorous.  The clever dialogue, musical score and New York scenery make this a movie the whole family can enjoy.  Perhaps it will take you on a sentimental journey back to memories of your first crush...there's nothing wrong with that!

Georgiann's Big Adventure

My daughter, Laura, and son-in-law, Scott, entertained me royally at their home this past weekend.  In celebration of Mother's Day, we were joined by good friend, Erin, and her delightful mother, Clare.

After a wonderful brunch at the Icosium Kafe, a Middle Eastern restaurant that specializes in crepes, both savory and sweet, we went to an Italian bakery to purchase some delectable pastries to be enjoyed later in the day.  So we would not starve, (you must be an eager eater to be a member or friend of our family) we made a stop at an imported food shop where Laura picked out baba ghanoush, roasted red pepper dip, yogurt dip, pita bread, etc. etc.  I won't step on a scale for a few days!

For viewing pleasure, I was given a tour of Laura and Scott's garden, we watched a movie, (The Namesake) which we enjoyed and the Blackhawk's game, which we did not. (the Hawks lost)

And there was THE MONOPOLY GAME, which was won by Little Miss Lucky, Laura.  When telling my youngest daughter, Jennifer, about the outcome of the game, she said, "Oh, Laura is so cold and you know she cheats don't you?"  We laughed... my girls love to tease each other and I love that.

Well, I'm back at home now.  My two cats are happy to see me and I am left with some happy memories of a weekend away.