Wild: She Got Lost on the Pacific Coast Trail and Found Herself Again

This book couldn't have entered my life at a more appropriate time.  No, I did not go backpacking across the Pacific Coast Trail, but have been feeling out of my element and a lot of life changes have transpired (ie. moving to a different city and leaving a city I have known as home my entire 29 years).  So here I was on my one and only week off this summer, laying in the sun along the beautiful west Michigan coastline and I was enthralled.

Cheryl had quite the extraordinary childhood.  Her father was a deadbeat alcoholic who was abusive to her mother and her siblings. Luckily he did them all a favor and abandoned  them, which did leave some internal wounds she would need to sort out in her adulthood.  This left her loving mother to raise Cheryl, her brother, and sister.  The 4 of them lived in the country and grew their food, sewed their clothes, and enjoyed the simple life indeed.  Later her mother met Eddie and he became the father to take them fishing and other things fathers typically do.  It was a charmed life.

Cheryl got older and went to college which encouraged her mother to do the same.  The two ended up going to the same college which sadly got cut short.  Cheryl's mother was diagnosed with Cancer and when she died, this took a part of Cheryl away that she couldn't get back no matter how hard she tried, and believe me she tried everything.

Following the death of her mother, her little family fell apart and she couldn't keep them together.  Add to that the fact that she no longer felt the same about her husband, and Cheryl slowly fell into a horribly dark path.  She threw herself into bed after bed with different men and went as far as heroin to get herself to feel anything.  She hit rock bottom and then got inspired to hike the PCT (Pacific Coast Trail) by herself to find who she was again.  This caused quite a bit of backlash from friends and her ex husband as going backpacking was one thing, but backpacking thousands of miles as a female is quite another situation altogether.

Cheryl did it anyway though and learned so much about life and who she was capable of being. After all, there were so many obstacles to go through such as wild animals, extreme weather from all sides of the spectrum, sketchy individuals, and being so very alone surrounded by mountains and sky.

This book captured her journey in a way that had you walking alongside her as she evolved.  It would be a wonderful read for anyone needing to be inspired to expand your horizons and really live your life.  We all get lost sometimes, but it is up to us on how we find ourselves again.

Theater Review: Harbor Cinemas 8 Carmike Theaters

When you are in vacation and looking for a theater, it can be tricky.  Most up north towns don't have them which cause tourists to travel to the nearest theater location.  For me this week it was a road trip to Ludington whose only theater is the Harbor Cinema 8 owned by Carmike Cinemas.  I have been here before and was reminded today of why having competition is much better for the consumer.   I basically spent the same amount of money if I was going out to dinner and purchasing my boyfriend's ticket.

As you know,  I enjoy my fair share of popcorn.  So when ordering I was disappointed to see that the only free refills were for the Medium Couple's Special (19 dollars) which contained one large medium popcorn with free refills and 2 medium drinks, with no refills.   The other option was 21 dollars and involved 1 large popcorn (Ginormous!!!) with free refills and 2 large drinks which also includes free refills.  I know what you are thinking, maybe just get the smaller sizes and pay for refills? Nope......you are not allowed refills unless you pay for the entire thing.  So we settled for the large, because there is no way I am not getting refills on drinks after consuming that much popcorn.  

Now had this been Studio C, NCG,  or any number of any other theaters,  I could have gotten any size popcorn, pop, refills to my liking and either gotten them for free or paid a small fee.  My usual cost for movie attendance is 17 dollars which includes all the popcorn and pop I can consume and my ticket. I am wiling to budge this to 20, maybe 22.  My cost was 30 bucks!  Which makes sense, it is the only theater within 40 miles of Pentwater (to my knowledge).  Don't even get me started on the 25 minute trailor session! So, my advice is this, bring lots of cash or someone should open another theater so that friendly competition can help us movie goers out.

Tammy: It was either this or Transformers........

Part of being a movie buff for me means that even while on vacation, I still need to find a theater and see a flick.  It was a rainy day in Pentwater, MI,  so the boy and I made a trip to Ludington to see Tammy.  It is 4th of July weekend which usually implies some major releases.   For us it was Tammy or Transformers.  Now I know Transformers was the bigger hit, but I just can't sit through over 2 hours of it.  Not my cup of tea, and for those of you who I enjoy it, that is awesome.  But in all honesty,  I am kind of wishing I had gone with option b.

Tammy (played by the wonderfully hilarious Melissa McCarthy) is extremely down on her luck.  She hits a deer, destroys her car, gets fired from her job, and finds out her hubby is cheating on her with the neighbor..........all in one morning!   She needs out of this life and it appears the only one with the money and transportation is her alcoholic grandmother (Love Susan Sarandon!).  The two make a road trip to Niagara Falls and make some discoveries along the way.  Grandma learns to stop drinking and Tammy finds true love after all.  The end.

Not my usual blog?  Yeah, well.......I honestly don't know what to say.   First of all, Melissa and Susan, you are better than this!  Each of you should have run after reading the story line.   Tammy was pretty much Melissa doing some outlandish things over and over again.  It had a few funny parts but that was literally it.  The character development was lacking and had very generic plot development.  I'd say this and All About Steve (Sandra Bullock and Bradley Cooper) are both in the same category.   So my friends,  save your money!

Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand

Louis Zamperini was a trouble maker growing up,  luckily for him,  he had another skill.  Running.  Louis was fast and soon learned that he could outrun pretty much everyone he encountered.  This later lead him to his destiny of running in the Olympics.   Unfortunately,  his destiny had other things in mind as well.  You see this was during World War 2 which meant a draft was inevitable and Louis would join others in our battle with Japan.  What he didn't know and couldn't possibly imagine was just how much he would endure and what costs it would have on the rest of his life.

Louis' horrific tale begins when his B 24 takes off heading for Japan over the Pacific Ocean.  Not too soon after is it knocked down by a fighter plane leaving Louis and his team fighting for their lives in shark infested waters.  I mean literally shark, infested waters.  These guys are hungry and pretty much stalk these men for weeks.  Time continues to pass and it seems as if there is no way for anyone flying over to see them on their flimsy raft.  The only thing keeping them going is their imagination and heart.   Finally rescue is insight, but unfortunately it isn't the rescue they are hoping for.   They do escape the isolation of being stranded in fierce, oceanic waters, but are now POW for the Japanese.

There are a litany of events that occur at which I will not disclose as I want you to read and get a firsthand experience of what Louis went through.   He was beaten,  starved, and downgraded to nothing and just when he thought he might get some relief at a different POW camp, he meets his match.   They called him The Bird.  The Bird was a self absorbed lunatic who gained pleasure in the destruction of others and for whatever reason, he chose Louis as his prime target.  Maybe it was the fact that Louis refused to let him take him down.  Don't get me wrong, he did beat him to a bloody pulp,  help him back to his feet and do it all over again,  but Louis did get up every time.  Which would cause him to experience defeat in ways no human being should ever have to go through.

Louis did eventually get out.  WW 2 ended and the United States was able to retrieve Louis and others in similar situations.  Louis found love and married later, but had no idea the mental issues he was about to endure.  You see The Bird may have been out of sight, but he was still very real to Louis.  Louis saw him in his dreams as well as his drunken stupor during the day.   Louis was loosing control and falling fast.  Lucky for him, he made a promise to God back on the raft so many years before that he would serve God if he helped him survive.   It was this promise that came back to him when he was at the lowest point of his life and it did indeed save him.

There is so much to this book that I left out because I didn't want to takea away the realness of it all.  At first the language and vocabulary gave me a hard time really getting into it, but once I understood it, nothing could stop me from reading it.  Louis Zamperini experienced such awfulness and yet he still came out on top.  I also must say the author did a fantastic job of including details from this time that give the reader a real image of what such events must have been like.  One example is the details included when the U.S. dropped the atomic bombs, no history book can create for me the picture in my mind as I read word for word,  Louis' account.  For more details and  a truly deep, true story regarding survival of the mind, body, and sprit,  I encourage you to read this book.

The Fault in Our Stars: I dare you to see this and not "ugly" cry.

This was by far one of my favorite books on the buzzfeed.com's list of books to read before they hit the big screen.  John Green has a writing style that just clicks with my personality.  For me, the big thing was, who they would get to play Hazel Grace and Augustus Waters.  To be completely honest, I was concerned that Shailene Woodley (Divergent girl) and Ansel Elgort (Divergent girl's brother) wouldn't be able to master the true connection and love the characters had, let alone the intensity of love and loss.  But I am here to tell you, they proved me wrong, dead wrong.

Hazel has had cancer since her early teens and is very realistic about the whole thing.  She knows she will die and is content watching reality TV and making her parents happy by doing whatever they suggest.  Such as a Cancer support group.  This whole idea seems cheesey to her and she puts up a fight, but in the end does what she always does, concedes for her parents.

Her first meeting is just about as bad as she imagined.  They meet at a church basement and the leader of the group sings Jesus songs that do not make Hazel, who doesn't know if this whole life after death thing is believable, want to stay.  Her second meeting, however, changes her whole world.  This is where she meets him.

Hazel and Augustus literally run into each other on their first greeting and it's evident an attraction is there.  Augustus can't keep his eyes off of her throughout the meeting and it doesn't go unnoticed.  Hazel finds out though the meeting that Augustus had Cancer and is now Cancer free from the removal of most of his leg.  Following the meeting, Augustus is persistent and wins when Hazel agrees to come over to watch a movie.  As much as Hazel doesn't want to admit it and can't understand why, Augustus is very much into her.  He even agrees to read her favorite book in turn that she reads one of his.  The next day, Hazel realizes Augustus has not texted and she feels dismayed.  Trying not to, but without much success, she plays the whole wait by the phone routine until finally he texted her a series of texts expressing his shock at how the book ended.  She is reassured Augustus is going nowhere and so begins a romance that can be compared to sleep as she says, "it starts slow at first and then falls fast."

Augustus wakes Hazel up from her dreary, depressing, and cynical outlook on life with Cancer.  She begins to live again from picnics, strolls, and a trip to Amsterdam to meet the author of her favorite book to find out what happened.  This trip is a major turning point for this couple as it contains the first I love you, first night together, and Augustus admitting his Cancer has returned......

After they come back to reality, the tables are turned as Hazel looks after Augustus in some extremely low and trying times.  Augustus' passion for living a life of heroism and meaning something to so many turns him sour as he realizes his mark will not be as big as he'd had hoped.  There are still moments when he is back to the guy she first met.  Alive, passionate, and hopeful.  Unfortunately that last good day would be the last good day and days later Augustus Waters would leave this world, but not Hazel's.

I left out a lot of what happened in the movie because I want you to see it and feel every part.  It is going to be rough and you WILL cry, and I mean cry a lot.  But there are so many messages to take away from this couple's small infinity.  They love each other undoubtedly in the purest way.  Death is at both of their doorsteps but it doesn't stop them from living, from feeling.  Lastly, it reminds you to live each day as if it were your last.  I now that sounds cliché but you truly never know what could happen and should appreciate each day as another day to live, love, and be loved.  An inspirational story that will make an impact, even if it is an "ugly" cry.

Malificient is Magnificent

So Sleeping Beauty was one of my favorite movies as a child.  I mean seriously,  true love's kiss to break a spell?  Count me in on that romantic notion!  However, apparently true love's kiss got a bit misunderstood,  as did many parts to this tale. 

As a young fairy, Malificient was the protector of her enchanted and once beautiful land.  One day, a curious boy crosses over and so begins a friendship that will change her life forever.   You see, as they grow older and more fond of one another, Stefan kisses her and to her gives her a true love's kiss.  Unfortunately,  this is not the case because he ends up breaking her heart twice.  The first time he does this is when he becomes more involved in his land and the way of his kingdom with his attempt to go from poverty to royalty.  The second time is when that desire brings him back to Malificient,  only to steal her wings in his attempt to convince the king he has killed her so that he may be the king's successor.   This naturally devastates Malificient, so when his daughter is born,  she puts a curse on her.  This curse makes it so that on her 16th birthday, she will strike her finger on a spindle and fall into a sleep so deep that only true love's kiss can break it. This causes the king to go into great desperation,  so he sends his  infant to live with the fairies deep in the woods for protection.

The fairies, well intended as they may be, do not fair so well raising a baby.  It is the great Malificient that takes care of Arora in her distant way.  Once Arora is old enough, she ventures off and attempts to enter the land that Malificient gaurded for so long.  Malificient lets her in to see how she will fair and is mesmerized.   Arora surprises her by knowing of her presence not just here, but her whole life.  She considers Malificient her fairy godmother.  As much as she doesn't want to admit it, Malificient knows she is right and is quite happy when she finds out Arora wishes to live with her forever.

Arora goes to tell the faries her plan and then they inform her of the curse Malificient has placed on her.  Malificient tries to explain things to Arora, but she is too hurt and runs to the castle.  It just so happens to be her 16th birthday on her return and the curse, no matter how many times Malificient tried to revoke it, reveals itself.   Arora is then under a deep sleep.  Fortunately,  Arora found her prince charming during her time in the enchanted land.  Malificient brings him to the castle seceretly, in hopes he will awaken the princess.   Sadly, the kiss does not work, and Malificient's worst fears of true love not existing come to life.  It is in this moment that Malificient says her goodbyes and professes her sorrows to Arora, giving her a final kiss on the forehead.  This was the true love's kiss Malificient never expected.  Here is Arora, eyes open with her forgiving smile,  calling her godmother once again. 

The king is set in his ways to do what he sought out to do many years ago and that is kill Malificient.   There are even times you wonder if he will get his way, until she is saved by the lovely girl she so much wanted to hate.

If you liked Wicked, you will love this.  Angelina plays a wonderful Malificient.  You feel her pain throughout the film as you can see what started this whole misunderstanding in the first place.  The pace was perfect, the effects enchanting,  and film gave a sense of nostalgia for seeing the original Sleeping Beauty.   I have heard and have to agree that the trailor is no indication of how awesome this film is.   So go see it for yourselves.

A Million Ways to Die in the West: If I laughed........you will too.

The fact that I am blogging this is crazy to me.  I remember seeing the preview in theaters and saying to my boyfriend that he would be seeing this with his guy friends.  It just seemed like stupid humor that would gross me out more than crack me up.  Then the weekend came, and I had seen everything else.  I also really wanted movie theater popcorn so I really had no choice.  I can admit when I'm wrong, and my fellow moviegoers,  I was dead wrong.   I seriously laughed my ass off.

Albert lives during the frontier days in the wild west and hates everything about it.   His beloved Louise was the only thing getting this lack luster sheep farmer through the days and she dumps him for the manly and fully mustached, Foy (NPH!!!!!).  After all, she needed somebody more rugged and cut out for this whole living on the western frontier thing.  Albert, the guy who backed out of a gun fight to save his life, just wasn't cutting it.  So now that Albert lost his will to live, he goes through this whole depression thing where he drinks himself silly and becomes slightly suicidal, that is, until the lovely and mysterious Anna enters his world.

Anna and her brother have moved into town to start a farm.  Her first meeting with Albert is interesting as he rescues her from a ridiculous bar fight over spilled beer.  After that their friendship grows closer as he accepts a dual with Foy in order to get back his Louise.  Anna knows her way with a gun and helps Albert to win her back.  Albert begins to enjoy the dysfunctional ways of the frontier as he and Anna make fun of it together.   Little does Albert know about who the real Anna is.

Anna's husband is the most evil villain in the west and when he finds out his lady, who was supposed to be in hiding, is getting friendly with another man, all hell will break loose and Albert will surely die.    When Albert finds out she is married he flees only to realize she was trying to escape a terrible marriage.  Anna gives Albert some advice that helps him defeat her husband in the end. Then, just as he realizes his feelings for Anna, he is pursued by Louise.  Which gal will he choose?

I seriously loved how much this movie made fun of the west back during the frontier days.  I am not into the whole cowboy,  country western thing, so seeing this was exactly what I needed.  The cast is perfect in this comical rendition of what I would picture it like back then.  For a good laugh, you won't regret it.