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Welcome!
This is the place for friends to talk about books, movies, music, food, and everything fun!

Thursday, May 28, 2015

Lilly Faye's Movie Review: The Theory of Everything, starring Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones


Dear Readers,
My friends and I recently watched the film, The Theory of Everything. It's about the relationship between the famous physicist Stephen Hawking (Eddie Redmayne) and his first wife, Jane Wilde Hawking (Felicity Jones).

Stephen and Jane met as students at Cambridge in the 1960s. Stephen was soon diagnosed with motor neuron disease, also known as ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease, and given two years to live. Despite his dire prognosis and progressively debilitating disease, Stephen and Jane were married and remained together for more than twenty-five years. They have three children.

The movie is based on Jane Hawking's book, Traveling to Infinity: My Life with Stephen. Like the book, the movie focuses on the personal side of Jane and Stephen's life together, and the heavy toll his disease has taken on both of them.

Stephen Hawking is sometimes referred to as the Einstein of our time. He has written several books, including the huge bestseller, A Brief History of Time.

Eddie Redmayne won an Academy Award for his portrayal of Stephen. It truly is a remarkable performance.



Lilly Faye: Frank, please tell our readers what you made for our movie night dinner.



Mr. Frank: Since The Theory of Everything is a very English movie, I served baked cod with chips and roasted sprouts.




Alfie Cat: Your cod really hit the spot, Frank.



Dizzie: Your chips were almost as good as my old man's. And we got to eat outside, which makes everything taste even better!



Lilly Faye: I loved your roasted sprouts, Frank. Nobody else's sprouts are as sweet as yours.



Mr. Frank: Aww, thanks, Doll.



Lilly Faye: Now in his seventies, Stephen Hawking is still working in theoretical physics.  He has recently warned of the potential threat of artificial intelligence, and the possibility of robots taking over the world.



Dizzie: If Hawking is right, robots could take over the blog and put us out of work, Boss!



Lilly Faye: But they wouldn't be as cute as us, Diz!


You can see the official movie trailer here:  The Theory of Everything

Time to rate the movie, boys!

Dizzie: Two Paws Up! I'm not sure, but I think I might have learned something.

Alfie Cat: Two Paws Up!

Mr. Frank: Two Paws Up!

Lilly Faye: It's unanimous! Two Paws Up!

DearReaders,
The Theory of Everything is a fascinating look at a difficult marriage, and Eddie Redmayne's portrayal of Stephen Hawking is truly amazing. I recommend seeing this one!

Love,
Lilly Faye

Monday, May 25, 2015

Memorial Day 2015


Dear Readers,

The last Monday in May is Memorial Day in the United States. It's when Americans pause to remember all those who died in service to our country. We honor the memories of those brave men and women, and thank their families for their sacrifice.


Mr. Frank: Hi, Doll.



Lilly Faye: Hello, Frank. I was just thinking about all the people who have given their lives for our country.

I was also thinking about dear friends who have passed away. SweetPea, and Busty Cat, and of course my beloved fiance, Jakey Wakey, the greatest Briard who ever lived.



Mr. Frank: I know you miss them all, Doll. 

Lilly Faye: I'm sorry, Frank. I didn't mean to be insensitive by bringing up Jake.



Mr. Frank: It's okay. I know you had a life before we got together. I did, too. Of course, it isn't quite the same for me. Crystal is still alive, so I could see her anytime I want.



Lilly Faye: Wait. What? Who?



Mr. Frank: My former girlfriend, Crystal the Basset Hound, from my old neighborhood. Didn't I ever mention her?



Lilly Faye: No, you certainly did not. That's not something I would forget!



Mr. Frank: It was just a crush. I used to tease her by pulling her long ears.



Lilly Faye: I didn't realize you prefer long ears, Frank. I could let the hair on my ears grow longer. I only had them bobbed for the summer heat.



Mr. Frank: It's nothing to get upset over, Doll. I love your cute little ears! Besides, I haven't thought of Crystal once since you and I got together. You believe me, don't you?



Lilly Faye: I suppose so. It's just a lot to take in. I could use a little time to myself, Frank.

Mr. Frank: Sure, Doll.




Mr. Frank: I gotta make it right with Doll Face.



Lilly Faye: Oh, Frank, I'm so glad you came back! I'm embarrassed about the way I acted earlier. We're not young pups. Of course you've dated other girls before me. I let the green-eyed monster get the better of me. But it's only because I love you so much.

Mr. Frank: No need to be embarrassed, Doll. You're the only girl for me! Here, I brought you some flowers. I picked them myself. My sister Ceecee had the idea to dye some of them blue.



Lilly Faye: I'm the luckiest girl in the world!

Thursday, May 21, 2015

Starting Summer Off Right


Lilly Faye: Should we spread our stuff out here, Frank?



Mr. Frank: No, this isn't quite it.



Lilly Faye: What about here? This looks like a nice spot for our picnic. There's plenty of shade.



Mr. Frank: This is the first big weekend of the summer, Doll. It's got to be just right.



Mr. Frank: Let's keep looking.



Lilly Faye: This spot seems fine, Frank. Besides, I'm getting hungry. 

Mr. Frank: Wait! I've got it!



Mr. Frank: Follow me, Doll. I see the perfect spot for our picnic. I'm gonna unpack our stuff.



Lilly Faye: Thank goodness! 



Mr. Frank: Now come on over here and sit by Mr. Frankie.

Dear Readers,
I hope your summer gets off to a perfect start!

Love,
Lilly Faye

Monday, May 18, 2015

Lilly Faye's Movie Review: Interstellar, starring Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, and Michael Caine


Dear Readers,

Interstellar is set in the near future, when worldwide crop failures, drought, and a 1930s-type Dust Bowl have humanity scrambling to find a new habitable planet for the human race. A secret NASA project sends Cooper (Matthew McConaughey), a former astronaut, now a farmer, on an interstellar search mission via a wormhole.

What did we learn from the movie, boys?



Mr. Frank: Gravity seems to be the answer to everything.



Alfie Cat: Big deal. Cats have been defying gravity for eons.

THUD!



Alfie Cat: Oof! What happened?!



Lilly Faye: I think love is the answer, Frank. Interstellar is all about love as the motivation for survival against all odds.

Interstellar isn't just about science and space travel. It's also about multi-generational family relationships. I found that heartwarming.



Dizzie: I found myself invested in the characters, Boss. And I couldn't figure out how the movie was going to end, which is unusual for me.



Lilly Faye: That's true. Thirty minutes into every movie, Dizzie predicts how it's going to end.




Dizzie: And I'm usually right! 



Lilly Faye: Interstellar is an intense and suspenseful movie. It has magnificent visuals, and an excellent musical score by Hans Zimmer. The music alone kept me on the edge of my seat.



Mr. Frank: Aren't we going to talk about the dinner I prepared?




Lilly Faye: Of course, Frank. Tell our readers what you made for us this week.



Mr. Frank: I made Cajun Shrimp and Rice with Andouille Sausage. I also made homemade corn muffins, as an homage to Matthew McConaughey's character, who grows corn in the movie.




Lilly Faye: Too bad Dizzie ate most of the corn muffins before the movie even started!



Dizzie: It's a long movie, 2 hours and 48 minutes! I needed to keep up my strength. Think about bringing more muffins next time, Frank.



Lilly Faye: You can watch the official Interstellar trailer here.

The moviemakers did an excellent job of recreating the look of the 1930s Dust Bowl. You can learn more about the actual historical event here: Ken Burns' The Dust Bowl.

Time to rate the movie, boys!

Dizzie: Two Paws Up! I really liked it.

Frank: Two Paws Up! Although, the subject of crop failure and lack of food diversity is the stuff of nightmares for a chef, like me.

Alfie Cat: Two Paws Up! For its focus on time, space, and relativity, subjects near and dear to any cat's heart.

Lilly Faye: Two Paws Up! For themes of love, and the triumph of the human spirit.

Dear Readers,
If you like movies about families, adventure, and space travel, you'll enjoy Interstellar.

Love,
Lilly Faye