Hoarders

I am completely obsessed with the show Hoarders. This is one of those reality shows that I watch and can't get enough of. Do you know what hoarding is? Hoarding is when people can't get rid of things, no matter what they are, and the stuff just takes over their home.

For the most part what covers every square inch of the home is trash. I don't know whether it's laziness or really a compulsive need to hang on that causes people to keep garbage. It just blows my mind. I have seen episodes where children have been taken away from their parents because they just can seem to keep their home in livable conditions. There is one thing in common with all the hoarders and it seems that everything stacks up and then all they have is a small pathway that leads from room to disastrous room and have one tiny spot that they usually spend there time in.

I saw a case so bad that the house was so full of stuff that when the family happened to get bedbugs they had no way of fumigating the home that the critters just took over. The family, instead of cleaning up their mess decided to just start sleeping in a tent in the yard. They had 4 kids. It was just shocking to watch. One recent episode said that the crew emptied out somewhere around 8000 lbs of trash from one room. One room! Eight thousand pounds! Unbelievable!

Needless to say it does make me feel better about my home. My home does not always sparkle but we are never covered in garbage. I'm glad to know that we don't have any issues with getting rid of things.

Here is a short clip from one of the episodes so you can really see how these people live. I really don't know how they do it.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Once More with Feeling

I have a soft spot for musical TV episodes. I am drawn to them and will watch them over and over again. Netflix has helped in this. The entire Buffy series is on Netflix. I had never watched it before watching it last year. I had no idea of the awesomeness that was waiting for me in the sixth season. The musical episode has become a favorite in our household. I love every single song but since I can not choose which one to play for you I will give you Michael's favorite:

Joshua

I'm already falling behind on my goals for the rest of 2011 but I have finally finished Joshua. I'm going to have to start speed reading through if I want to finish by December 31st.

The book of Joshua is about Joshua the son of Nun. After Moses dies Joshua takes over as leader of the Israelites. Joshua was given the honor by God to be the man that lead the Israelites to their Promise Land and help them defeat the people living there and then to settle there.

The most famous story in Joshua is about the fall of Jericho. God gave Joshua instructions on what the Israelites were to do to bring down the walls of Jericho. It involved walking in circles, blasting trumpets for days. (This is one story that Michael and Sidda act out on a regular basis, stacking pillows and marching around them 6 times and then 7 times again before knocking them all over.) And here is a little treat for you, a song about the battle of Jericho.

But soon after the fall of Jericho came Achan's sin. I had never heard this part before and found it fascinating. Soon after the fall of Jericho they had sent a group of 2000-3000 men to Ai to take the land but some of the men were killed by the men of Ai. Joshua was devastated. God was suppose to be with them but his men had been killed. God told Joshua that Israel had violated their covenant. They had taken things from Jericho and lied about it. They had hidden it away. They found that Achan had taken a Babylonian robe, shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold. (The Israelites were told to burn everything and keep nothing of the places the conquered.) His sin not only punished him but his family as well. Achan was stoned, also were his sons, daughters and his livestock then they were all burned. After they had taken care of Achan the Israelites were able to take Ai with the blessings of God.

Most of Joshua is about how the land is divided between the tribes of Israel and ends with the death of Joshua. And now I am on to Judges!

Book Review: Cinderella Ate My Daughter

Cinderella by Peggy Orenstein was a very interesting read. I read this book over 2 days and could hardly put it down.

The book is nonfiction and about what the princess phenomenon could be doing to our daughters. How girls are getting older, younger and they are being sexualized while losing their ability to understand sexuality in themselves. That girls do things because it's what you do, not because it's what they want, or what they feel, it's just what they do.

Girls are caught in an in between of wanting to have it all and wanting to be rescued. They feel that their identity is only in the way they look and lose out on so much on the inside.

There is so much to this book that I thought was great. There a few things that I didn't agree on with the author but most of the book made me think about what I desire for my daughter. I want Sidda to have a solid identity that is not based on looks alone (or clothes, make-up or accessories). I want Sidda to have a strong sense of self. I want her to know who she is and know that it's ok if she decides to have a career or be a stay at home mom, or tackle both as time comes.

I do recommend this book to people with young daughters. It talks about how things are marketed to them and how the princess craze began. I enjoyed it. It was worth my time.

Movie Review: Something Borrowed

Wow! What a Mother's Day! My mother in law Selina, my sister in law Sabrina, Grandma Las Vegas and I went to see Something Borrowed as our mother's day gifts to ourselves. It was a two hour period where we could sit back, relax, and give full child responsibility the boys.

Something Borrowed is the film adaptation of Emily Giffin's novel of the same title. The film stars Ginnifer Goodwin and Kate Hudson as the lead characters. I had recently reread the novel and saw the difference in the film to book but over all thought that the movie was out together nicely.

Something Borrowed is about Rachel and Darcy who have been friends since childhood and are now venturing on to their 30s. Rachel is an attorney who hates her job, Darcy is a PR rep who is going to get married in the next couple of months. Darcy is spoiled and selfish and always gets her way even if it is at the expense of Rachel her best friend.

On Rachel's 30th birthday she ends up sleeping with and falling in love with Dex, Darcy's fiancée. The story is left to deal with do you choose love over friendship, or friendship over love. Do you do what is right or do you do what you want?

I think the movie was well put together but could never stand up the greatness of the novel. Emily Giffin's narrative style is simple but wonderful. She adds background that complicates things. Even the simplest things have meaning in the story.

I do recommended seeing the movie, it is funny and very entertaining, but I also suggest in reading the book. It will become more alive, it will become more real It will become one of your favorite stories.

Book Review: Search for Senna

Search for Senna by Katherine Applegate was slightly disappointing. I've read other books by her in the past and felt that this one really fell short.

Search for Senna is about David. David likes Senna. They are in high school together but there is something different about her. Something that is not right. One night David sees Senna at the end of a pier at the same time that as three other friends happen to be coming around, one Senna's sister, another her ex boyfriend.

As they all watch Senna the world shifts and they are transported to Everworld. This is the new dimension that the Gods of our world created as they left us. This is where the Greek, Roman, Egyptian and Norse Gods went to. It seems though that the story mainly focuses on the Norse Gods, and though we never see him, Thor is mentioned a few times.

I've never taken so long in my life to read a book. It didn't get even a little interesting until the last 30 pages or so and then the book abruptly cuts off. I knew going into it that it was a part of a series. Applegate's book always are, but I did hope for some kind of mini-conclusion to what was going on. There was no conclusion just a pause in waiting for the next book. I do not know if I really want to move on to the next in the series. If I do it is a commitment to read all 12 books in the series. I don't think I'm really interested enough in the story to read it all. Maybe one day, if I really have nothing else to read I will pick up next installment. But somehow, I doubt it.

Johnny Test

You gotta love Netflix for introducing my kids to cartoon they would have never watched otherwise. One of these shows is Johnny Test. It's an awesomely funny, ridiculous show that entertains all four of us. The lyrics to the theme song tell you exactly what the show is about:

(J-J-Johnny Test) (J-J-Johnny Test)

Got a head of fiery hair and a turbo charged backpack!
(Johnny Test)
His genius sisters use him like a lab rat.
(Johnny Test)
A neat-freak dad and a super-busy mom!
(Johnny Test)
The boy's best friend is a talking dog.
(Talking dog!)
Extreme team teen and an air breathing shark,
Mega-action game controller skating in the park,
pheromone booster, Bling-Bling, what do you think of this?!
(What do you think of this!)
Johnny Test!
Johnny Test!
This is a life of a boy named, "Johnny Test"!
(huh-huh)
Johnny Test!
Johnny Test!
This is the life of a boy named, "Johnny Te-e-e-e-est"!

Now you see the greatness just from the song, but it leaves out when his sister turn him into a super hero and his power is Super Power Poots. I'm sure that you can you use your imagination to figure out what that entails. If not, go to your Netflix and watch some Johnny Test. It's awesome.

I will leave you with the theme song!