list

100 films for 100 reasons

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Have you seen any good movies lately?

One of my forty before forty goals was to watch all of the movies from the AFI’s 100 Most Inspiring Films Of All Time. I’ve watched +40 so far and some are just meh… I am sure they’re there for reasons beyond my armchair expertise, but regardless, I decided to ditch that goal and replace it with “choose an actor and watch their full IMDB profile.” As I contemplate and research who I will commit to, I thought it’d be fun to make my list of the top 100 films that impacted my life for 100 different reasons. I will admit, some films (actors) are questionable in 2019 but there are many things from our past that we can not hold judgment on and I will ALWAYS standby Grease 2 making my list over Grease!

In alphabetical order, the top 100 films that impacted my life for 100 different reasons

  1. 10 Things I Hate About You (1999)
  2. 500 Day of Summer (2009)
  3. About a Boy (2002)
  4. Adventures in Babysitting (1987)
  5. Alive (1993)
  6. Amélie (2001)
  7. Annie Hall (1977)
  8. Back to the Future (1985)
  9. Beaches (1988)
  10. Beautiful Girls (1996)
  11. Beetlejuice (1988)
  12. Before Sunrise (1995)
  13. Benny & Joon (1993)
  14. Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure (1989)
  15. Boyz n the Hood (1991)
  16. Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961)
  17. Brokeback Mountain (2005)
  18. Brooklyn (2015)
  19. Call Me by Your Name (2018)
  20. Crazy, Stupid, Love. (2011)
  21. Creed (2015)
  22. Dangerous Minds (1995)
  23. Dazed and Confused (1993)
  24. Dead Poets Society (1989)
  25. Dirty Dancing (1987)
  26. E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
  27. Edward Scissorhands (1990)
  28. Father of the Bride (1991)
  29. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986) or Pretty in Pink (1986) or Sixteen Candles (1984)
  30. Follow That Bird (1985)
  31. Footloose (1984)
  32. Forrest Gump (1994)
  33. Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994)
  34. Fried Green Tomatoes (1991)
  35. Garden State (2004)
  36. Gleaming the Cube (1989)
  37. Good Will Hunting (1997)
  38. Grease 2 (1982)
  39. Hair (1979)
  40. Harold and Maude (1971)
  41. Home Alone (1990)
  42. I Shot Andy Warhol (1996)
  43. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)
  44. Juno (2007)
  45. Jurassic Park (1993)
  46. La Bamba (1987)
  47. Lady Bird (2017)
  48. Life Is Beautiful (1997)
  49. Little Women (1994)
  50. Lord of the Flies (1990)
  51. Love Actually (2003)
  52. Love Story (1970)
  53. Mean Girls (2004)
  54. Moonrise Kingdom (2012)
  55. My Girl (1991)
  56. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)
  57. Oldboy (2003)
  58. One Week (2008)
  59. Opportunity Knocks (1990)
  60. Parenthood (1989)
  61. Pet Sematary (1989)
  62. Point Break (1991)
  63. Pretty Woman (1990)
  64. Pump Up The Volume (1990)
  65. Reality Bites (1994)
  66. Return of the Jedi (1983)
  67. Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991)
  68. Romeo + Juliet (1996)
  69. Say Anything… (1989)
  70. Singles (1992)
  71. Sixteen Candles (1984)
  72. Sleeping with the Enemy (1991)
  73. Speed (1994)
  74. Stand By Me (1986)
  75. Surf Ninjas (1993)
  76. Taxi Driver (1976)
  77. The Basketball Diaries (1995)
  78. The Blair Witch Project (1999)
  79. The Breakfast Club (1985)
  80. The Craft (1996)
  81. The Deer Hunter (1978)
  82. The Devil Wears Prada (2006)
  83. The Girl Who Spelled Freedom (1986)
  84. The Goonies (1985)
  85. The Graduate (1967)
  86. The Hand That Rocks the Cradle (1992)
  87. The New Adventures of Pippi Longstocking (1988)
  88. The Parent Trap (1961)
  89. The Princess Bride (1987)
  90. The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
  91. The Sound of Music (1965)
  92. The Wizard (1989)
  93. Thelma & Louise (1991)
  94. Top Gun (1986)
  95. Toy Story 3 (2010)
  96. True Romance (1993)
  97. What’s Eating Gilbert Grape (1993)
  98. When a Man Loves a Woman (1994)
  99. When Harry Met Sally (1989)
  100. Whiplash (2014)

There’s a podcast I listen to that always ends with rapid-fire questions. One being, what’s your favourite movie? It drives me bananas when people can’t name a movie! I love movies and although it’s hard to narrow it down to my all-time favourite, I could at least say something. Say Anything!

Tell me your favourite! Fight with me about my list (I feel like I am missing a few). Tell me which actor I should pick? I’m leaning towards Christian Slater, Michael B. Jordan, Winona Ryder, Ethan Hawke or John Hughes.

xomeg

regrets, i’ve had a few

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In the final decade of his life, my grandfather woke up every single day at 7AM, picked a fresh wildflower on his morning walk, and took it to my grandmother. One morning, I decided to go with him to see her. And as he placed the flower on her gravestone, he looked up at me and said, “I just wish I had picked her a fresh flower every morning when she was alive.  She really would have loved that.” – 10 Regrets Too Many People Will Have in 10 Years

Sorry friends, that was heavy.

We all have regrets. Some are big. Some are crushing. Here are ten of mine:

10 things I regret

  1. Not picking a “thing” to always seek out on holiday like pottery or a Christmas tree ornament. I have a nice collection of tea towels but the inconsistency kills me.
  2. Dropping out of sports after back surgery. I wasn’t heading to the Olympics in anything but I quit swimming, ringette and paddling. Although I picked up running in my late 20s, I wish I had the credentials to be an overaged lifeguard this summer.
  3. Not waiting tables. Although Ben & Jerry’s was the best.job.ever. I should have waited tables. It sounds cooler than retired sandwich artist.
  4. Not listening to more stories from my grandparents before they passed away. Luckily, we’re still getting some good ones from Nanny. David is at a great age for inquiring about things like war and the Halifax Explosion so he’s always curious.
  5. Not patening my highschool invention: the PeanutButter Machine. Basically, it was a baggie filled peanut butter for on-the-go snacking. Damn you, Justin.
  6. Not doing more school. I got into the PR program at MSVU but didn’t go, I choose to start a career instead. It’s working out great.
  7. Not having a wedding cake… actually, it would have been pies. I love pies.
  8. Not asking Santa for the Sony Walkman with the radio. I bet I’d know more music lyrics from the 80s had I made a better choice.
  9. David’s first year. I didn’t have maternity leave and tried to continue freelancing. I was a mess, David was a mess, it was rough.
  10. Naming my computers MacDaddy and DaddyMac. When I send PDF to clients, MacDaddy is my name and I am too lazy to fix it. Guys, it’s not really a regret, who doesn’t like Kriss Kross? I just wanted an excuse to post this… For all y’all suckers that don’t know, check it out:

But, despite what you may think, I do NOT regret choosing team Milli Vanilli over team NKOTB. I stand by some life choices.

To clarify, I grew up on a street with six girls the same age… we legit had an epic fight over Mili Vanilli and NKOTB. Looking back, I’m not sure why we couldn’t like both – it had to be one or the other. Kids are weird.

psst. If you like what you’re reading, please subscribe and share. xomeg

top 10 look-a-mikes

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Do you have a Doppelgänger?

I am not one of those who gets mistaken for someone famous but sure Mike is. And often! So, I thought it’d be fun to share the Top 10 Mike look-alikes:

  1. James Reimer (hockey player): On more than a few occasions Mike has been mistaken for James Reimer. Not sure why Reimer would be shopping at a local sporting goods store or running in the Bluenose Marathon but, I’ll take his NHL pay cheque.
  2. Marc Kennedy (Canadian curler): My mom thinks they’re practically twins…  
  3. Michael Rapaport (Beautiful Girls): Not the accent, maybe the hair? Definitely the hair.  PS. If you haven’t watched Beautiful Girls, what’s your problem? 
  4. John Krasinski (The Office): John-Jim has come up more than once and I can see it. I’d happily be mistaken for Emily Blunt but I don’t think that will happen. 
  5. John Petersik (Young House Love): I think it’s because they have the same hoodie (see below). Mike also used to do a lot of work around the house. Perhaps if I say it more often, our basement will miraculously get finished.
  6. Andy Samberg (Brooklyn Nine-Nine): There are similar features… Right? 
  7. Kevin Connolly (Eric from Entourage): This was what came up in a celebrity look-alike generator. I think Eric is shorter and has a larger entourage. I also think that app was crap, I had to keep watching commercials to get coins. 
  8. Prince Harry: This is Mike’s pick. Let him have it.
  9. The Coca-Cola Bear: His friend’s sister thought this way back in Junior High School days, and I know we can all totally see it. (Side note, in high school, someone said I looked like the Trix Bunny and I still haven’t recovered – still won’t go near that stuff.) 
  10. Ben Affleck: Mike was asked if he was Ben Affleck at a beer tent in Pugwash. The woman who made this assumption had likely been hanging out at the beer tent for several hours, if not days. Mike spent the rest of the afternoon declaring “Ben Affleck wants a beer!”

Let me know if you agree or disagree or have someone else to add.psst. If you like what you’re reading, please subscribe and share. xomeg

hello 39

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Remember last year on my 38th birthday when I decided to publish a forty before forty bucket list? Yeah, maybe I was a little too ambitious… I mean, how does one master and perform the Footloose dance annnnnd get bangs in only two short years?

Perhaps I should change it to fifty before fifty and add ten more items to the list? Regardless, I am trying, slowly plugging away at my list and since today is my 39th birthday, I thought it’d be fun for a little update on progress.

  1. Take piano lessons (I quit after one year – my sisters are beautiful players, and I’ve come to regret dropping out).
  2. See Hawaii – it has been my dream to take David to Hawaii for his 10th birthday since the day he was born. He will turn 10 less than two months before my 40th, so the timing will be tight, but I am sure Mike can make this happen.
  3. Make some pottery – take a class.
    YES! And it was so much fun. I really want to find the time and go back and make more bowls. One can never have too many deformed bowls.

  4. Visit all of the National Parks in Atlantic Canada. There are 10, I’ve seen 5 (can you go to Sable Island?)
  5. Get a tattoo. Hah! Where the heck did that come from?
    YES! Thanks to Jodie, I actually got a real tattoo! It may be the smallest tattoo, but still, it’s legit, and I love it.

  6. Make a move. Not sure if it will be career or school or a move to the country, but I like the idea.
  7. Sail away – even if it’s just around the Armdale.
  8. WALLPAPER my itty bitty bathroom.
  9. Bangs. Try them out.
  10. Rent a cottage with some lady-friends for +2 nights and drink way too much wine.
    Can I count Savannah? My lady-friends and I rented an Airbnb and tried a variety of southern drinks. Please weigh in.

  11. Scuba dive. Ideally off the Florida Keys. With Kyle Chandler.
  12. Win something.
  13. Buy a silk blouse. I’m thinking a nice deep midnight blue button down.
  14. Try Whole 30. It’s just 30 days… how terrible can it be?
    YES! I am not going to sugarcoat it (because sugar is not allowed), it was terrible, but I did it. See the full recap here.

  15. Sip sweet tea in the South like a Georgia Peach.
    YES! Y’all, sweet tea is SWEEET (dare I say too sweet), but Savannah is amazing. I highly recommend it for a girl’s weekend getaway. We had the most wonderful time, and we also had a lot of fried green tomatoes.
  16. Take tennis lessons.
  17. Sign up for a Yoga session.
  18. Get eyelash extensions.
  19. Make a batch of wine. I promise, it won’t be low class, and I promise I will not force you to drink it.
  20. Run a Spring marathon (I’ve run September, October and Novembers only)
  21. Get a new personal best in a marathon (which would be sub 3:56:00)
    YES! 3:45:45 – bam. I ran the Wineglass Marathon in the fall and can’t say enough good things about this race. Actually, I did say a lot, you can read all about it here.

  22. Learn and perform the full Footloose dance.
    Currently in training. 
  23. Try snowboarding *again.
  24. Buy watercolours. Watercolour.
    YES! I bought watercolours, and they’ve been sitting in my desk drawer for months, but I was determined to get one painting done before this week. Just like art school, all the best work happens right before the deadline. 
  25. Attend an epic festival, concert or event (like Mardi Gras, The Beach Boys in California, Running of the Bulls, etc.)
  26. Donate plasma.
    I should have done this before the tattoo. 
  27. Ride in a helicopter (ideally while visiting #2)
  28. Volunteer.
    YES! I joined the Youth Running Series board this year, and it’s been fun. Getting kids active is something I am pretty passionate about.

  29. Get a reading done by a psychic medium.
  30. Go to a drive-in movie.
  31. Explore a new country.
  32. Read a novel in one weekend.
  33. Take a solo vacation.
  34. Host a holiday dinner or a murder mystery party.
  35. Change a tire. Change the oil. Learn these skills.
  36. Scoot around on a scooter and end up at the ocean.
  37. Attend a retreat or workshop of some sort.
    YES! Amanda, my mom and me attended a macrame workshop last June. It was a great time and much to Mike’s distaste, we now have a happy fern hanging in our living room.

  38. Watch all of the movies on the AFI’s 100 Greatest American Films of All Time (I’ve seen about 40 so far).
  39. Dip my toes in Lake Louise.
  40. Party like it’s 1979.

As you can see, that’s 8 out of 40. I’m no mathematician, but I don’t think that’s great. Like I said, I am not giving up and even have the following 8 items on this year’s 100 Day of Summer list:

  • Buy a silk blouse
  • change a tire. Change the oil. Learn these skills.
  • visit Kouchibouguac National Park
  • get bangs
  • go to a drive-in
  • explore a new country
  • learn and perform the full Footloose dance
  • go sailing

So wish me luck! Forty is coming.

psst. If you like what you’re reading, please subscribe and share. xomeg

10 things that make you go hmmm: poding and blogging

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These days it seems like everyone has a podcast.

Don’t worry; I’m not here to announce my new career in radio (can you imagine, I’d be the worst host!)… I’m just a girl who enjoys listening to podcasts. I go through about 20 episodes a week mostly while walking, running, cooking and sometimes at work. Actually, I am listing right now. So, if you’re new to poding, here are my current favourites plus a few honourable mentions. Let me know if there is an episode that is on your must-listen list.

  1. Hurry Slowly
    Hurry Slowly is a podcast, hosted by Jocelyn K. Glei, about how pacing yourself is the key to being more productive, creative, and resilient.
    Every episode makes me question my life… mostly in a good way. I consider it free therapy/life coaching.
  2. Death Sex and Money 
    Death, Sex and Money is an interview-style podcast hosted by Anna Sale that discusses the big questions “often left out of polite conversation.”
    Anna is a great interviewer, and the topics are very diverse but yet always about death, sex and money… go figure.
  3. Criminal 
    Criminal is a podcast, hosted by Phoebe Judge, about crime. Stories of people who’ve done wrong, been wronged, or gotten caught somewhere in the middle.
    I vote Phoebe Judge the host I’d most like to have coffee with – She can tell a damn good story.
  4. Forever35 
    Kate and Doree are two friends who love to text each other about serums. On Forever35, they talk about sheet masks, serums, exercise, nutrition, meditation, anxiety and stress, Kate’s favourite drugstore mascara, Doree’s addiction to restorative yoga, and much more.
    It just makes me smile. These ladies are a hoot and talk about stuff I often waste too much time thinking about. I’m pretty sure we’d be friends if I lived in LA.
  5. Ear Hustle
    Ear Hustle brings you the stories of life inside prison, shared and produced by those living it. Hosted by Nigel Poor, a Bay Area visual artist and Earlonne Woods, currently incarcerated at San Quentin State Prison.
    If I were to write a letter to a prisoner, it’d most likely be Earlonne (or Adnan Syed – see Serial below).
  6. Ologies
    Take away a pocket full of science knowledge and some insane stories about what fuels these professional ologists’ obsessions. Hosted by humorist and science correspondent Alie Ward.
    Ologies is my newest addiction. Check out the episode on Thanatology – death and dying.
  7. 99% Invisible
    99% Invisible is about all the thought that goes into the things we don’t think about — the unnoticed architecture and design that shape our world.
    The episode about the athletic brassiere was excellent.
  8. Radiolab
    Investigating a strange world. Created by Jad Abumrad and hosted by Jad and Robert Krulwich.
    Not every episode is to my liking, but there are some goodies. Worth keeping on my subscription list. 
  9. Sasha Answers
    Lainey and Sasha sit down to discuss relationships, love, sex, work drama, best friends, former friends, and other life issues. 
    It’s raunchy and enjoyable. Since I don’t read Lainey’s Gossip as much as I’d like, this is a nice dose of smut.  
  10. This American Life
    When it’s not too political/American, This American Life, hosted by Ira Glass, is a classic must-have that chooses a theme and puts together different kinds of stories on that theme. Check out their archives for the best of episodes.

Plus a few honourable mentions and short-lived pods:

  • Serial (but only season 1): An investigative journalism podcast hosted by Sarah Koenig, narrating a nonfiction story over multiple episodes. I am STILL thinking about this.
  • The short-lived but delightful The Mystery Show: A podcast where Starlee Kine solves mysteries. Binge-worthy, friends. Do it.
  • Love + Radio (The Living Room). I’ve gone back and listened to this episode a few times… it’s very sad, yet I feel like I could easily be (have been) the women telling this story.
  • Making Oprah. And now there is a Making Obama podcast which is in my queue.
  • Women Of The House with Lena Dunham and Never Before with Janet Mock. I’m really into these ladies and their podcasts.
  • Reply All. The hosts can drive me crazy, but there are some great episodes. I am a big fan of Sruthi Pinnamaneni.
  • The Habitat. Just me or does going to Mars sounds like the worst idea ever?
  • Missing Richard Simmons. I didn’t know he was missing!!!
  • The Ali on the Run Show is a good one to check in on for running inspiration. Did I mention my bestie Des was interviewed?
  • Circle Round, a storytelling podcast for kids ages 3 to 10, tells carefully-selected folktales from around the world with an eye towards inclusivity. This one is for David; we often listen on the way home from the pool.

Next up, my favourite blogs.

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psst. If you like what you’re reading, please subscribe and share. xomeg