Reading is to be done November 1, 2014 through February 28, 2015.
Here is my list to read....
5 points: Freebie! Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier
10 points: Read a book written by an author who has published at least 10 books. The Girl You Left Behind by Jojo Moyes
10 points: Read a book of short stories. Girls Night In
10 points: Read a book with a food in the title. Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistlestop Cafe by Fannie Flagg
15 points: Read the first book in a series that is new to you. Deja Dead By Kathy Reichs
15 points: Read a book that was originally written in a language that is not your native language. All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque (German to English)
15 points: Read a book written by a local author. Alice I Have Been by Melanie Benjamin (Chicago area author, 345 pages)
20 points: Read a "bookish book." The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
20 points: Read a book with a direction in the title. Murder in the South of France by Susan Kiernan-Lewis (Kindle book, 326 pages)
25 points: Read a book from a genre you don't usually read. From Dead to Worse by Charlaine Harris (fantasy genre)
25 points: Read a book with a song lyric in the title. Under the Boardwalk by Carly Phillips and The Drifters
30 points: Read two books with a different meal in each title. Progressive Dinner Deadly by Elizabeth Spann Craig (216 pages) & Luncheon of the Boating Party by Susan Vreeland
It's Monday again... I hope you all had a good one!
In a nutshell:
Little Miss stayed at my parents to play with her cousin for the night
Ran errands
Grocery shopped
Made pizza
Huskies won!
Bears lost
Finished a book (review to come)
Went to Six Flags
Took some leaf photos
Cleaned house
Caught up on laundry
Started another knit hat
Watched Captain America: Winter Soldier (eh - probably 2 1/2 stars)
For us here in the Midwest (and many other parts of the US), it's harvest time! I love this time of year. However, this time of year is also dangerous for drivers - both in cars AND in farm machinery.
If you come upon a piece of equipment being moved (from either direction), please slow down!!!! Proceed with caution before trying to pass.
Reminder-----bridges and other "road narrowing" objects on the side of the road (ie:mailboxes) will make it so the driver of the equipment has to move more centered on the road so as not to hit anything.
Reminder 2----farmers have A LOT to watch and pay attention to as they move their equipment. Please be cautious as they may not see you, especially if you are coming from behind them!
Be patient and don't get upset because they are going slow (you like to eat, right?). Their commute to work sometimes takes a slower pace than yours. Allow room and time to pass farm equipment!
Wishing all the farmers a safe, prosperous harvest!
TGIF my friends!!! This has been the longest week...
Last Saturday evening, Little Miss & I ran to the store to pick up a few groceries.
The store we go to usually has a small cart of single beers you can purchase. So, I stop and am looking through to see what I might want to try.
Little Miss proclaims (very loudly): "You know Mom, you're not setting a good example for me." Immediately, heads turn our direction.
And where is the giant hole in the earth to swallow me?!
I just quietly took my cart and headed for the check out line.
A couple of weeks ago, I told you about a new wellness challenge that was starting at our workplace. We are now 2 weeks in and I have been doing pretty well.
The challenge is to consume your daily amount of recommended water (your weight divided by 2 = oz. to drink) and 5 servings of fruits and veggies.
I have met the water part everyday so far, except for 1. I have eaten 2-3 servings of fruits and veggies every day. I have had no pop on those 2 weeks, either. Believe me, these are both HUGE improvements on what I was eating and I am much more conscience of what I drink.
I am feeling a little better, more energetic and "lighter". This is easy to do when I have others in our office participating and we can "announce" what glass of water number we are on for the day or share an apple with each other. My hope is to keep this up when the challenge ends.
I have been walking more and started using hand weights this week to start toning my arms a little more. (sorry to those of you following me on Pinterest, I know I've been bombarding the board with workouts and healthy food pins).
Over the weekend, I watched the documentary film, FARMLAND. (Hurry! Hulu is running it for free for a couple more weeks!!!)
First, there is a lot to learn from the ag industry through this film - a lot of it is the day-to-day life of a farmer.
Second, I don't care where you stand on the GMO issue...this film covers many sides of it, so don't judge too quickly-either way.
Third, this film is beautifully shot! (Especially for those of us who love rural settings and farm equipment working in the field)
This film reminded this country girl WHY I love my job and WHO I do it for!
Please, please take 90 minutes and watch this film!
I completed an item on my 40 in 14 list, way back in January.
#23 - Try to be a movie/TV extra
At the time I did it, we were asked to please not post anything on social media (due to fear of someone posting a possible spoiler). So I didn't, and hence - it was tucked WAY back in my files so I never posted about my day being an extra for the TV show, Chicago Fire (and if you have read my blog for any amount of time - you know I like my Tuesday nights!). My blogging friend, Wendy, [check out her blog!] asked me about this a few weeks ago, so here is my self-declared "day of fame".
(FYI - it was Season 2, Episode 14 - "Virgin Skin") - see trailer below:
I had been trying to get an extra part on the show for quite a while (thanks to the Chicago Fire Extras Facebook page - check it out if you are looking for something like this). The casting company called me Wednesday at 3:30 in the afternoon and asked if I was available the next day. I almost fell out of my chair. I quickly called my boss, asked if I could have the next day off; got his blessing then called them back.
They gave me the wardrobe specifications and when to call to get the final details for the following day. I had to work my second job that evening, so after job #2 was done that evening, I went home - picked my wardrobe choices and packed a garment bag. I threw a book in too, called to get the details and got some sleep.
The next morning was an EARLY one - up to get ready; fight Chicagoland traffic and head to location. I got to the location really early but that was ok - I watched all the trailers being brought in and set up. I read my book a little and just relaxed.
One of the assistants came through the parking lot to "collect" the extras and they shuttled us off to a holding room. I gave another assistant my information and had a seat to wait. It was one of those "hurry up and wait" kind of days. We watched the snow fall outside (yes, it was a snowy winter in Chicagoland) as we got to know each other and sipped coffee.
I met some fantastic people and had some pretty entertaining conversations with several of my fellow extras. (A few of them had been "regular" extras in a few shows shot in the area at that time) All of the staff that we had contact with was fantastic - very friendly and entertaining. The wardrobe gal came around to check what we had on and what we had brought.
We had "breakfast" about noon - standing outside in the freezing cold. The food was fantastic and if you left that area hungry - too bad!
Anyway - I was picked to be in the first scene they were shooting. So onto the shuttle van we hopped and off they took us and shuffled us off to a very small holding room. We were given this warning - "do not talk to the actors, they have to stay in character". Um, ok. They slowly picked a few of us (there were probably 15 of us) at a time to start filling in the background of the scene.
My job in the scene (where Shay and the fill in paramedic save a man's life in an office), to walk back and forth on cue in the hallway. I wasn't in frame when it aired, but hey...what are you going to do?! We were at that location for almost three hours. They shuttled us back to the big holding area, where the rest of the day's extras had changed from their office attire wardrobe to their factory worker wardrobe. They had us change then sent the ones who hadn't been in the first scene to start "marking" the next scene.
One of the production assistants (PA) came in and said for us to plan on being there until about 2 a.m. (Insert my 'oh crap' face here) I texted the Mr. and let him know. He texted back that with the snow and time, he booked me a hotel room down the road. Bless his heart! I would just get my butt up early the next morning and head right to work from there.
We sat and watched TV and visited. They fed us an amazing dinner about 5:30 - pasta, fish, steak. Kraft services has some amazing cooks! Some of "the" actors were all eating when we went through the line and most of them were cordial to us. I would eat there ANYTIME! We (the extras) ate together and shared our stories from the day, so far.
The extras involved in the scene being shot had to eat quick and hurry downstairs (that's the warehouse scene in the trailer above). About 7:00, the same PA came in looked at the about 10 of us sitting around and said "How would you all like to be wrapped for the day?" Seriously? Sounds good to us! So we were dismissed. As one of the other ladies (who writes for CMT's website) and I were leaving, in walked Jesse Spencer (Matt Casey on the show).
He gave a quick nod and hello. We both returned his hello - then proceeded out the door and giggled like a couple of junior high girls in the hall when the "cute boy" walks by. (Ok - not my most mature moment...)
They shuttled us back to our snowy cars and my "day of fame" was over.
I drove to the hotel, cancelled my reservation and was home by about 9:00.
A couple of my observations:
*I was surprised how "short" most of the actors are. (Most were about my height)
*A lot of the production staff is "doing their time" hoping to move up to higher positions and "bigger" things
*There is A LOT of waiting and down time in TV production
*I am glad to say I did it but don't know how anxious I would be to do it again... OK - who am I kidding? I would do it again!
Have you been an extra in a movie or TV show? What was it? Should I be looking for you?
