Pompeii

Mitchell and I saw Pompeii in 3D. This movie proved to be great entertainment with its engaging plot, fabulous sets, and hot male lead–since it was too dark in the theater to stare at my handsome husband. Pompeii proved to be everything a Hollywood disaster film should be, but it wasn't real.

As someone who has actually been to Pompeii in Italy, the teacher in me screamed, That's not what really happened! So I must correct the plot for all the young and impressionable. I found the historical accuracy so disturbing that a warning sign needs to be posted for students: WARNING. The events in this film are fictional. With sign in place, one may now enjoy this exciting movie. 

Here's the real deal.

When Mount Vesuvius erupted, there was no time to panic and dash away from spitting rocks and slow moving lava. None of the poor souls fossilized in ash appeared to be running for their lives. At most, they found time to shield an arm over a face as lava rushed at them. Furthermore, the city I toured remained totally intact rather the war zone depicted in the movie. 

Although Vesuvius' eruption was totally wrong, I was pleased to see what went right. For example, the ancient pizza parlor operated with smoke from the oven and a circular indent in the rock was correct. Also, the homes with detailed floor designs resembled those I'd toured too, except the movie set contained the beautiful plants and water that has disappeared from modern Pompeii. Also, the movie producers wisely failed to include the swastika signs that symbolized goodness back in 79 AD. They did, however, show the political unrest of the times. One can actually see the dissatisfaction of the people through ancient graffiti perfectly preserved on stones throughout the city.

Also, the movie failed to picture one of the most interesting and disturbing aspects of Pompeii. The city was dotted with whore houses complete with wall drawings for sailors who did not speak the language. One simply entered the brothel and pointed to exactly what they wanted. Yay for Hollywood. For once, they didn't fall into the old sex scenes to sell movies.

#WW: Erica Makes Friends in Australia

#MM: Easy Street

I had planned something else for tonight, 

but after seeing this dance scene on TV, voila!

Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. Rules are simple. Leave ONLY the ACTUAL LINK POST here and grab the code below and place it at your blog entry. You can grab this code at LadyJava’s Lounge Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted without prejudice.






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Dear Younger Self

Ariana Browning, The Blogging Lounge, has asked us to post a letter to our younger selves. Actually, my younger self should write to me. After all, I'm the older one who deserves respect. But it wouldn't happen because she was too busy having fun being wild and crazy. She actually danced with a chair at a bar when no one else would get on the dance floor. She also threw a hat party in the 80s. Everyone wore odd hats to her apartment. I confess, she was way more fun than the old woman who writes memories on her computer. This young person would actually call people to make plans. The old lady is content to sit home and do nothing. 

Me on left and Rhonda on right

I could give the young one advice,–don't waste your money or drink the wine-but why bother? She'd never listen. Being social and having fun was all that mattered. It's interesting how having friends and going out has taken a back seat, today.

Furthermore, although fun, she was odd, too. It seemed that while everyone worked to fit in, she made sure not to and took pride in being different. Check out the shoes. I guess in some respects, she's still like that. However, life might have been easier had she chosen to go along to get along . . . but would it have been as much fun? 

Lastly, why didn't the young girl ever take pictures? Blogging would be much easier had she only used her camera more.

#WW: Floral Suicide

Not Yet, Brainless!

Another One With a Death Wish

Spring in February?

#MM: Somebody to Love

The Monday's Music Moves Me theme this week is "Songs That Inspire Us." 

Heck. All music inspires me,

so I consider this week a freebie. 

Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. Rules are simple. Leave ONLY the ACTUAL LINK POST here and grab the code below and place it at your blog entry. You can grab this code at LadyJava’s Lounge Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted without prejudice.

PS: Because of spamming purposes, the linky will be closed on Thursday of each week at midnight, Malaysian Time. Thank you!

A Harsh Beginning

The Blogging Lounge's most recent assignment is "Begins with," so here is a scene from the earliest moments in the life of a little girl.

The fetus swam in warm water while listening to the soft pattering

heartbeat. The smooth waves rocked the baby to sleep. In her quietness she moved her weight over the dangling cord which circled the child head to foot with its record breaking length. The baby's head spun as oxygen shut off from the umbilical cord. Within moments, the bath water disappeared into a black nothingness. The limp body restored air as the fetus revived consciousness, only to repeat the  pattern again. 

Unfortunately, oxygen loss was not the only problem for the fetus' developing head lodged against a hard hip bone. Yes, the baby would be born. She would face the world with a red heart shaped birthmark on her forehead and a red tint down her face. Furthermore, the constant loss of consciousness in the womb would lead to a propensity to faint easily.

Now, let's perk this post up a bit.

Joke: A man finished baby-proofing his house and his wife says "Aw, honey. You said you didn't want to have kids."

He responds "I know. Let's see them get in now."
Joke provided via http://goodriddlesnow.com

#WW: Sad News

Judy Haughton-James

Missing your thoughts from a Twinless Twin. 

We love you.

RIP

Judy left us on January 1, 2014. Although I never met her personally, I enjoyed visiting her blog and having her come see me. There is a definite hole in the blogsphere without her.

Had I not read Callie J'American Spice's post, I would have continued wondering where she's been. Here's the sad answer to all of our questions.

's

Musical Monday: We Can Dance - Hollywood Movie Dance Tribute

What's your favorite Hollywood dance scene?

 It's just might be here.

                                     

Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. Rules are simple. Leave ONLY the ACTUAL LINK POST here and grab the code below and place it at your blog entry. You can grab this code at LadyJava’s Lounge Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted without prejudice.




PS: Because of spamming purposes, the linky will be closed on Thursday of each week at midnight, Malaysian Time. Thank you!

Dogwood Loves Dogs

Hello, peeps! I know I usually post Wordless Wednesday pictures on Tuesday nights, but I'm so excited to tell you about my school, that I figured I'd go ahead and spread my story right now. I'm participating in Fenced in by Love's Campaign to find the organization of the year that makes a difference in surrounding dogs with tenderness and affection.

Although Dogwood Elementary School's mascot is the dolphin, maybe it should

Ms. Pittman gives treat to Penny

be the dog for there's no shortage of love for these furry animals at this school in Germantown, Tennessee. For the past two years, dogs who accompany their kids to school receive a tasty treat and multiple pats on the head through the car window. These same dogs can gobble up a second goody at the end of the school day. 

This Dogwood tradition provides a fun human/animal connection for fourth and fifth grade safety patrol members, staff working the car line, and the dogs as well. The kids eagerly watch the cars to see if Cookie or Max will be pulling in soon. When the dogs arrive, students must learn compromising skills for determining who will be the lucky kid to give out a treat. The kids know all the dogs by name and what kind of car they will arrive in. As a staff member, I too enjoy visiting with our fur babies. I've especially enjoyed watching one puppy triple in size.

Kona

Many parents have reported stories about their dogs waiting at the door to go to school on Monday morning, as if they instinctively know the week end is over. Our snow day (or rather freezing rain day) proved to be a huge disappointment for Penny, the dog pictured above, without her twice daily visit to school. She arrives each morning with a puddle of drool dripping down the side of the van. Although her owner must constantly wipe the side of her car, she still brings our friend to school. Penny even brought donuts to car lane workers to celebrate Christmas one December morning.

Kona at Work

Dogwood Elementary School also enjoys a therapy dog on Wednesdays. Kona has been certified as a therapy dog and as a reading dog. He tries to visit school each week to allow special education students to read to him, as well as some struggling readers. The children light up at the chance to read to Kona. His services also provided a popular auction item at the fund raiser because every kid wants a chance to read to Kona. 

So what's next for Dogwood? Get this: Hollywood Feed Pet Store plans to donate the biscuits for the dogs and two aprons with treat pockets for the lucky school auction winners who will get to feed biscuits to our friends during the morning drop off. This should be a great way to continue the dog love at Dogwood Elementary School.

This post was sponsored by Fenced In By Love by Dog Fence DIY 2014 at Dog Fence DYI as part of their Fenced in By Love Award.

Musical Time: Grow Old With You

Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. Rules are simple. Leave ONLY the ACTUAL LINK POST here and grab the code below and place it at your blog entry. You can grab this code at LadyJava’s Lounge Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted without prejudice.




PS: Because of spamming purposes, the linky will be closed on Thursday of each week at midnight, Malaysian Time. Thank you!

Sick of No Snow

I'm sick of no snow. The white stuff never sticks to the ground or whitens our world. We peer out the

window at drab, weedy grass. Every night, the news reports of the massive snow storms across the country, but nobody talks about us. The snow swept north across Missouri and blanketed Atlanta to the south. Even the Sunshine state saw white. It's as if there's a little ring of nothing surrounding Memphis, Tennessee.

It's the same pattern over and over again. Cold enough to change precipitation into a powdery white, but noooooo. Our skies are as dry as Gun Barrel City, Texas on a Sunday morning. As soon as the temperature rises above freezing, rain pounds the city. In fact, it pounded so hard at 33º, we figured it would ice over at night and keep us out of school. Ya think? The temp rose to the forties until all moisture was gone. Now, we're down to 23º. What's in store for the week? 

Cold enough to snow if it weren't for the sun symbol peaking out behind the clouds. When the temps drop that low, we might as well get snow and stay home. Precipitation will return as soon as the temperature warms up, and I will have to go to work another day.

It's not just kids who dream of snow days.

But wait . . .
     driving home from work tonight, I saw a few flurries.

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                    It's already stopped, and this isn't pretty. :(