I must confess...

Somehow the husband and I ended up talking about Chick Flicks. Of course he only admits to liking Hope Floats for the Garth Brooks song. I think that is a cop out and he probably secretly loves Sandra Bullock.

I am not a fan of chick flicks. I despise Lifetime movies. You can tell what is going to happen and they are so unrealistic. I can see how they are an escape for people, but I don’t enjoy them. Yet there are a few chick flicks that I enjoy and will watch again and again.

1. Love Actually

Why: British folks are hilarious. Great cast. Intertwined stories. Good music. Wonderful cinematography.

2. Bridget Jones Diary

Why: Goofy. British folks are hilarious. I love Colin Firth. Hugh Grant looks like a fool.

3. When Harry Met Sally

Why: Billy Crystal. Bruno Kirby. Carrie Fisher. New York City is a character and it sees every season. Spans years. Great dialogue. Funny. Quotable.

So we have a common theme… dialogue and cinematography to excuse my liking specific “chick flicks”.

And I like Bride Maids because it was the anti-chick flick. Of course I laughed harder than the husband, but it was cute.

I don't agree with some of the choices. Aliens is not a chick flick. Yes, it is about a strong, empowered woman. But it isn't sappy like I would say a chick flick can be.

So I went to another site for a top list. I went to IMDB since they are my go to source of all things movie.

http://www.imdb.com/list/nPZaOKosrKw/?start=1&view=compact&sort=listorian:asc

1. The Notebook 2004

2. Moulin Rouge! 2001

3. Pride & Prejudice 2005

4. Sleepless in Seattle 1993

5. The Lake House 2006

6. Kate & Leopold 2001

7. How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days 2003

8. While You Were Sleeping 1995

9. You've Got Mail 1998

10. When Harry Met Sally... 1989

I have seen 6 out of these 10. Yet only one made my top list. Hmmmm.

I tried a different approach. How about the top chick flicks for men...

Askmen.com

http://www.askmen.com/feeder/askmenRSS_article_print_2006.php?ID=914861

Chick flicks for guys

Number 10

Meet Joe Black (1998)

Number 9

Desperately Seeking Susan (1985)

Number 8

Thelma & Louise (1991)

Number 7

An Officer and a Gentleman (1982)

Number 6

When Harry Met Sally (1989)

Number 5

Serendipity (2001)

Number 4

The Craft (1996)

Number 3

Blue Crush (2002)

Number 2

Mean Girls (2004)

Number 1

Bridget Jones’s Diary (2001)

So, no matter what movie you watch or admit to liking, people have different opinions on what exactly a chick flick is.

The Blah Weekend

The only thing we planned to do this weekend was mow the yard. A few hours into Saturday morning it was done. The first mow with the new riding mower. That thing is sweet. I did like the bucking of the borrowed mower on takeoff, but the new mower puts that old one to shame. The new mower can cut anything. The only thing it chugs through is the areas heavy with leaves and acorns.

We cooled down, ate lunch and pondered what to do with the rest of the day. We took off toward the college town and wandered. I read a story rom Marjorie Keenan Rawlings book Cross Creek to the husband while we passed through. I was trying not to send him towards thrift stores for once, but with no destination in mind we had no other choice.

We checked out what was posted on the Domestic Violence shelter’s site as their thrift store. The sign said Consignment shop. We went in leerily. We found it girly and retail priced. Nothing there for us. I saw some of the owl themed merchandise I see so much on the thrift and retro blogs.

Then we tried the Humane Society thrift store. It was right behind the adoption center. It was better than the consignment shop, but we still found nothing that struck us. I was hoping, but I didn’t feel the vibe that something good was awaiting us. I am utterly disappointed in most of what I have seen in Gainesville. The Hospice Thrift Store is the only one I would go back to.

We discussed how when we drove through Micanopy and saw it was mainly antique stores how the husband has no interest in those stores. I must agree. I go into an antique store and rarely see anything I like, let alone something I would buy. I want to know it’s a good store before I venture. I guess I would be more open to it is the husband was willing. So far he puts up with the thrift store trend. Plus he find just as much as I do in them.

We wandered home and watched TV.

Today we slept late and the husband cooked a good breakfast. We had no idea what we wanted to do. I showed and dressed. We headed out to free style. The husband had been sniffling. We ate lunch, and then went on our way to nowhere. We tried the Goodwill in town thinking it was closed on Sundays. We found it open with a handful of customers. He found a 99 cent tennis racket. I found a book on Freud and women which I passed on. I figured it would be a boring read. I will just talk to my Freudian ex-supervisor for the topic of roles.

We drove around the quiet country roads talking about how I felt blah and he felt drained from his cold or whatever it is he has. Driving around didn’t hold the fun that it usually does for him. He decided to go home and rest. I decided to go online and live vicariously through others’ blogs. We both agreed that we needed to have something planned for next weekend.

Drop it like it's hot...

(Not actual ceiling, but dang close)

Last week we spent all day and night putting up a drop ceiling. I know, everyone does that on their weekends these days. We live in an old double wide trailer. The previous owner did a lot of things to the house. I am not sure what and if any of it was any good. But he was a contractor. For some reason only the living room and dining room had vaulted ceilings. Between the ceiling and the tin roof there isn’t much of anything. The roof could literally fry bacon. We have fans all over the house and an old AC unit. We are still sweltering and many times it is cooler outside than inside.

We have talked about drop ceilings for the past year. Then last month the husband found ceiling tiles for $5 a box. Yes, you heard me, Five Dollars. The boxes regularly sell for fifty some dollars a box of 16 tiles. These tiles weren’t selling and the store lowered and lowered and lowered the price the longer they sat. The tiles were waiting to come home to live with us.

About a year back the husband saw the ceiling braces for a great deal at the Habitat Restore. He didn’t get them then since we weren’t ready for the project. Now the Restore sold them all 3 weeks before we checked back on them. We paid full price for the braces etc but it was still a deal.

The ceiling looks like the house came with it. I don’t even feel boxed in like I worried I might. The ceiling fans are doing a better job since they don’t have to fight the wasted space above them. Yet the extremely hot weather this summer makes it remain in the 80s inside the house. The husband is peeved since he thought it would be more comfortable. The next step will be insulation above the drop ceiling. After that the plan is to save our pennies for a new AC.

Have I mentioned my new obsession?

I have been nesting for the past year, ever since we moved to the house. I went from reading about home design and decorating online (and finding out somewhere I picked up a mid century modern preference)to thrifting. I have been an occasional shopper at Goodwill and Salvation Army, as well as a donator.



I have had an interest in the Habitat Restore since it was so close to the old house. Months back I found bright blue commercial composite floor tile for $15 a box for my future kitchen remodel and have been searching for more flooring. A trip to a Charlotte NC Habitat Restore found the same tiles for $30 a box. I was appalled. After such a deal there was no going back for me. They had a zillion color choices, but the deal wasn't there. I had to go all the way to the Habitat Restore in Jacksonville, FL for $18 a box pale green tile that will soon cover my sage green living room. I also found that the Jacksonville Restore has kitchen cabinets, even whole kitchen sets. I know where I want to go when I go to purchase cabinets.

I also found a amber swag light at the Restore. It was so 60s/70s I just had to have it for my living room. The husband rewired it for me. It takes a grand place in my living room with its long chain cord.

(not actual light, but similar)

At the same store I thought I had found a $2 car 8 track player. Ended up I must have seen what I wanted to see and it is just an am/fm tape player. It is still an awesome deal.



Now when we are riding around on the weekend I use the phone GPS and find any thrift or Restores in the area. Some weekends I wish we drove a large vehicle so I could get more stuff. Mainly we look. My sister in law came to visit the other weekend and we spent all day Saturday going to every thrift store we could find on Beach Blvd in Jacksonville. We decided that the best deals was at the domestic violence shelter, Hubbard House's thrift store. I knew it would be good when the sign out front said 50% off. Oh yeah, we found the most stuff there. The husband surprised me with a practice putting green to help me with the backyard mini golf course I am planning.



What I have learned since being thrift crazy these months is that I am still more of a looker than a buyer. The husband likes a deal, but isn't into looking at housewares and decor. My father in law has gone out with us several times. Although he is an long time thrift store shopper, he doesn't buy things. The husband likes the drive and spending time with us. I like the hunt. I like to check out the stores and deciding if they are worthy of another visit.

The problem is that most areas have at least a few thrift stores. Within a couple hours from us are a lot of cities. This may be a dangerous hobby. But rather than just drive and see the sites through the car window as we have done for years, now we have stops and searches for locations that may not be there. The GPS lady is notorious for sending us on goose chases.

Other things I have learned is that there are a buttload of people who write blogs about thrifting. Some are quite entertaining and I already have some favorites. Most are repetitive. As in, how many people can there possibly be that are obsessed with Pyrex? I have yet to notice a Pyrex anything at a store. There are people who are on a quest to make their whole home look like it came out of the 950s/60s and/or 70s. People who dress the dress, walk the walk and talk the talk. Many of these folks also sell on Esty, Ebay and/or Craigslist. I don't have this type of determination or focus.



Occasionally I pick things up that I wouldn't normally, but obviously the sites I read have gotten into my head. So I need to refocus and remind myself on what my objective is. The husband thinks I have an obsession with electronics since I brought home the car radio/tape player, a console with record player/radio, clock radio and a school slide viewer. I have pondered this and yes, I do like an old school working electronic. Yet it also is about finding things that remind me of my youth. Growing up my parents decorated the house in antiques, early century antiques. In my own way I am decorating in antiques, but more of a 50 years old or less version. Also, I think the stuff just looks cool.

NASCAR Vacation

The husband loves him some Nascar. He has far too many Jimmie Johnson hats and now is up to 2 JJ tshirts. A few years back I chose a driver. I used scientific calculations to choose... Scott Speed. His first name is the same as the husband and come on, how can you not do well with the last name Speed. Plus no one I knew previously claimed him as their own.

In 2010 the husband, his Dad and I went to the Daytona 500. We were there from morning, through the 2 hour wait to fix a pothole (who knew that could happen outside of a regular street). I was able to see Scott Speed lead laps. It was fun to see a race up close and to have someone to root for. Then at the end of the season my driver was laid off. I have yet to pick another driver. I have hope that Scott Speed will comeback. The husband even bought me a little Scott Speed car last year.



So months back the husband had an idea of taking his sister to a race for her birthday. Ironically the race was near her home near her birthday. Thus began my Nascar weekend. The first day we walked the track and received free burgers and drinks. I love free stuff. Day two we went to the Nascar Hall of Fame and walked around Speed Street in Uptown Charlotte. The Hall of Fame was very interactive. Just a shame all I wanted to do was sit down with a bum ankle. Speed Street was just companies hawking their stuff and giving away free junk.

Day 3 was the race. Our hosts were all about getting there early and tailgating. They also liked walking around in the heat trying to get free stuff. I turned back and cooled down. The race was awesome because somehow we lucked into front row seats. It was being practically on the track. I went home smelling like tires and fuel.

Day 4 I got to check out Value Village, which we don't have where I live. We also went to IKEA where I scored $1 shelves. We ate lunch at Iron Thunder, which s the best Buffalo Chicken sandwich in the world. It is huge and I swear they double bread it. The boys like the skimpy dressed waitresses.

Day 5 We went to a couple more Value Villages. I found ten 8 track tapes and a holder for them for $4. I saw a few home 8 track players. I found one miniature golf club. I was estastic. Another step closer to the backyard mini golf. We met up with the husband's nephew.