Father/Daughter Date Night

Yesterday dad and I went on a "date". We went to see the new film Momma Mia, which was originally a musical stage production. Mom had seen it twice already and just thought dad and I would really like it. Now normally musicals can be corny, and certainly I was hesitant to see it because Meryl Streep was in it. Meryl Streep is one of my all time favorite actresses, and has played in some pretty powerful films, so the thought of her playing in a musical just seemed somehow cheesy to me. However, mom kept insisting I think you guys are going to like it, and Meryl Streep does an awesome job.

So mom came over to watch Amira while dad and I went off to the show. We were suprised actually that on a beautiful sunny, not so warm, summer afternoon to find the theater packed with people, and specifically this show. The scenes are beautiful and all the casting members were great. The music by ABBA was great and really got you dancing in your seat. My mom said that during one of the times she went to see the film these young girls sitting down in front of them stood up and started dancing to the music. She said in fact there was a man sitting next to her that was doing a little dance in his seat....lol

Dad and I did not see anyone jumping up and dancing but he was tapping his foot and I was dancing around in my chair a bit (and it wasn't from the soda either)----couldn't help it.

There were times I started crying in this film, of course trying not to let dad see my cry because I could relate to so much of this film. A single mom, raising her daughter on her own, and her daughter now grown up ready to start her life. Moreover, Donna (Meryl Streep's character) also had these two really close girlfriends that were great. Of course I can't relate to Amira being grown up and ready to start her own life, but so many other parts of the film just hit me so profoundly. The bond between the girlfriends reminded me of my supportive bond between my two dearest friends, Mindy and Vicky. There's just something incredible brilliant between the three of us that I wouldn't trade for anything in this world. I love them dearly.

After the movie we went back to my place to pick up mom and Amira and go to dinner. It was a real treat of an afternoon/evening.

I will definitely get this film when it's released on DVD. I'm not one to buy a lot of films except cartoonish movies for Amira, but this one is definitely worth the purchase in my opinion.

Critics Corner

Well with good news, I'm here to report we survived the crazy storms from last week, alhamdullilah. Winds blowing at unbelievable speeds, loss of power, flooding, and of course the panic people tail-spin into when dealing with anything different than their ordinary daily routine. Truly, those of us that live in California live a pretty blessed existence weather-wise, and when the daily routine shifts to a slightly uncomfortable speed people become a little unglued. But again the long and the short of that tale is we survived, alhamdullilah.

During our isolation period.....lol we rented some movies to pass the time. Although I prefer to read over watching movies, reading children’s books can be taxing. Moreover, sometimes watching movies for Amira and I can be somewhat challenging as our attention span for each other's perspective movie selection is short to say the least.

The weekend started with Strawberry Shortcake Dress Up, which is a cute movie about friends accepting one another for the way they are even if they are different along with a story about dressing up. Dressing up is fun, but to remember it doesn't matter what you look like on the outside but rather the inside. Again sweet little film that wasn't too long.

We then proceeded to watch Happily Ever After (The Snow White Story Continues)----it was a sequel to the original Snow White movie. Again, it had a good message of friendship and how working together many things can be accomplished---even the forces of evil can be destroyed. I'm also rather surprised how darkness plays a part of most, if not all of Disney films. For instance, the evilness that takes place in Snow White, or the evilness that takes place in Sleeping Beauty, or the killing of Bambi's mother, and even the imprisonment of Dumbo's mother. It just seems too much for kids to watch. I recall as a child seeing Dumbo with my family and cousin and crying for days on end over that movie, and how could they take Dumbo's mommy away, etc. I can't imagine what my poor mom had to endear listening to me repeat the same thing over and over a gazillion times.

As for the 'grown up' movies I selected, I suppose in some ways Amira's movies may have been better. :-) The first movie I watched was called Rain, which is based on a novel written by V.C. Andrews, whose books I've gobbled up over the years. I have yet to see a film that follows that exact story line of a novel. More importantly, I've yet to see a film that captures my attention in the detailing like a novel does. Perhaps my mind is more alive when reading......who knows.

The next movie I watched was called La Vie En Rose which was based on the life of a famous French woman by the name of Edith Piaf. This was a pretty dark movie as well. Why does it seem that so many famous people have such depressing lives. This woman's life was really one of survival and struggle, like so many others I've heard about before. My life's struggles seem to pale in comparison to hers for I had my parents with me at all times living in a stable environment, alhamdullilah. She does fall in love, which I think may have been the only person she may have ever truly loved, a Moroccan who ends up getting a plane crash. :-(

The last movie I watched was The Kingdom, which had some good car scenes in it. It's an action film, which if you just leave the incorrect politics and perceived religious negativity out of it, isn't too bad. :-) I realize there's probably many that would have a hay-day depicting everything that was incorrect about a movie for the sake of being able to point them out, but on the other hand sometimes it's just nice to watch a movie for what it is......a movie. However, on the other hand, I should know better than to watch movies that may be anything other than a comedy because I usually find myself crying about something in them, which is true about all three movies I mentioned. :-) The only movies I didn't cry in were Strawberry Shortcake Dress Up and Happily Ever After---although I found the second one a little too dark for my taste. Although a little kids movie can go a looooooooooooooooooooooong way before you want to see another one. ;-)

So, all and all, I'm ready for the sun to come back out so we can go outside. :-)

MusicLover Recommendation

The other day MusicLover posted a comment on one of my post regarding a movie recommendation. After doing some research, I was not able to find this movie at my local movie rental place via their website, and was disappointed.

Tonight, however, after work Amira and I went to the movie rental place to pick up a couple of movies to watch over the long Thanksgiving holiday, and low in behold the movie, Away From Her, was starring right at me as soon as I rounded the corner. Of course, I immediately picked it up along with a few others. When we got home we had to watch Amira’s movie first which was Mickey Mouse’s Christmas….LOL It was cute. After finishing her movie, I immediately popped in Away From Her. Oh my goodness, what a perfect movie for the holidays. For the matter, it’s the perfect movie anytime. It will definitely be one of my favorites. I should caution to keep tissue nearby because it’s a very powerful movie.

I cannot and hope I never have to experience what both these people experienced, inshallah. But, how I would love to be able to spend 44 years with a beloved, inshallah. This movie is a great reminder of how we should be ever so grateful for every moment we have on this earth, and every moment we spend with our dear families, friends, and people will meet in the future. Truly life is the most precious gift on this earth, alhamdullilah, and we, as humans should cherish life as if it were a rare and precious gem. Moreover, we should always remember to never take advantage of the wonderful relationships we have with every human that crosses our path, inshallah.

MusicLover, thank you for the recommendation.

Musical

Well this weekend was musicals galore.

On Saturday after dance practice, I picked Amira up at my parents’ house. I just knew the first thing she was going to ask me (as she had been asking for 4 days in a row at this point) if she could go to Charming Child's house and play her piano. Now to the best of my knowledge she had no knowledge of Charming Child even having a piano, but with Amira nothing surprises me because she's extremely intuitive. So on my way up to my parents house, I contacted Mixed Up Me and told her I was being proactive just in case Amira asked about the "piano" again, and Mixed Up Me said to call her once we left my parents house.

So loaded up in the car, waving "bye-bye" to grandma and grandpa, Amira says, "Can I play Charming Child's piano?" I told her I had to call Mixed Up me, to which she said, "Ok, call her NOW Momma". I responded that my phone didn't work right NOW because grandma and grandpa live in the country and Momma's phone doesn't always get resception, to which she responded "it's ok Momma - you can try in a minute".

As soon as I had service I called Mixed Up Me and told her that Amira hadn't even waited for us to pull out of my parents driveway before asking is she could play Charming Child's piano, and we both laughed. Mixed Up Me stated that we best let her play the piano otherwise she'll never stop asking us, so we made arrangements to go to their house.

We walked in the door and immediately went to the piano, and Amira assumed the position of pianist and the following are snippets from her performance.




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On Monday evening my dad and I had a date to go see the movie Hairspray. My parents had seen it the week before and my dad just cracked up, so I was thrilled to be seeing it with him just for the mere fact of hearing him crack up. I love it when I hear someone genuinely laugh so hard. Just as I suspected, he laughed so hard to which of course I couldn’t help but laugh at both the movie, which was great, and my dad for being so tickled. It was a great evening.