Who doesn’t love a long weekend?

Posted on June 30, 2013 by Charlotte Copper

As it says in my bio, I live in Canada, eh!

Born and raised in Toronto, Ontario, I have always lived in and around what we call the GTA…Greater Toronto Area. I currently live in Stouffville, which is just north-east of the city.

This weekend marks Canada’s 146th birthday. Admittedly our July 1st celebrations are not as extravagant as the US’s July 4th parties, parades, and fireworks, but we try.

I volunteer much of my weekend at the local Stouffville Strawberry Festival. I think there are a lot less strawberry farms around Stouffville than there used to be, but it’s still a fun weekend to get the summer started.

Main Street is closed on Saturday, while vendors line the street selling food and crafts, and I always make sure I get my ice cream with strawberries from one of the church booths. Although Main St is only closed Saturday, there is plenty to do all weekend. The long weekend includes the movie-in-the-diamond (baseball diamond, that is), a comedy night, lots of music, and of course a few carnival rides for the kiddies. As with any good Canada day celebration, there is also cake & fireworks.

So to my Canada Friends…Happy Canada (long) Weekend!
And to those south of the border…Have a wonderful July 4th!

What do you plan to do with your long holiday weekend?

Roll the film…

Posted on June 22, 2013 by Charlotte Copper

A month ago I wrote about my love of summer movies, and I’ve seen one movie a week since that post.

The first movie after my May 18th post was Fast & Furious 6 (rated 71% on rottentomatoes.com). I think 71% is about right. I’ve seen most of the F&F movies except 2 & 3, which didn’t have Vin Diesel, in which case what was the point? I have to say I was surprised at the “exit” of a couple of the cast at the end of the movie, but I still can’t wait to see what F&F #7 has in store. I also can’t help but be amazed that both Vin Diesel and Dwayne Johnson can walk around with their muscles flexed for that long. (Not complaining about it, just amazed.)

Next was Now You See Me, the movie about the magicians that pull off a huge bank heist while on stage. The movie only got rated 49% on RT, which while considered a failing grade does mean that 1 out of every 2 people liked it. The Daughter and I were both in the LIKE category. (Didn’t bother bringing The Husband, because I know his taste and he would have been in the DISLIKE.) I wasn’t prepared for the trick ending (magicians = tricks, get it?) but I’m also not the kind of person that tries to figure out the end ahead of time. When I’m at a movie (a good movie) or in a good book, I…AM…THERE. I’m not looking ahead, I’m actively involved in what is going on.

This is the End, although not my usual kind of movie, was next. The Seth Rogen/James Franco comedy got 85% on RT, but I’d probably rate it closer to 70. Again, however, I don’t usually go for funny, guy humor movies, and that is exactly what it was. I think I laughed hardest at all the penis and ejaculation jokes that seemed to be pervasive.

We went to an early showing of World War Z last night, opening night. (The Husband won’t admit to it, but I think he has a man-crush on Brad Pitt.). Anyway, RT had it at 66% which I think is typical for a zombie movie. I saw Warm Bodies at the start of the year that got 80%, and I think WWZ was much, MUCH better.

Also on my list but which I didn’t make it to were Man of Steele (56%), Hangover 3 (20%), After Earth (11%) and The Bling Ring (58%). I still might make it to Man of Steele and The Bling Ring, but at 20% Hangover can wait until its free on t.v. I was also VERY disappointed that After Earth got 11%. That is a case of a movie I REALLY wanted to see but just couldn’t justify the $$ on THAT bad a rating.

Next up? Heat (with Bullock & McCarthy; Bullock being my girl-crush) and Whitehouse Down (with Channing Tatum, need I say more?) are both due out at the end the month. I know I’ll be going to see both with The Daughter, leaving The Husband at home.

How old is too old for YA?

Posted on June 7, 2013 by Charlotte Copper

In the last few years, I’ve found myself more and more drawn into Young Adult (YA) novels. I got started because I was buying books for The Daughter, and wanted to read them to make sure they were appropriate. That led to me wanting to read them because…well, because I wanted to read them.

I think it started with Rachel Vincent and her Before I Wake Series. There was also Gena Showalter’s Intertwined, Julie Kagawa’s Iron Fey, Cassandra Clare’s The Mortal Instruments, Suzanne Collins’ Hunger Games (of course), and my latest find, Maureen McGowan’s The Dust Chronicles.

Quick note here, I thought Deviants (#1 in The Dust Chronicles) was amazing. So much so, that although I promised myself no more books until some of the existing supply was read, I had to buy Compliance (#2) this week when it came out. (I might have mentioned this in a previous post, but willpower is NOT one of my strongest characteristics.)

Why YA? I’m not sure.

Maybe because I turn 48 this week, and when I look in the mirror I see my grandma’s arms and some old woman’s knees. (Surely, they aren’t mine.) Maybe because I’m tired of what other authors tell me my sex-life is supposed to be like. (No, I have not read Fifty Shades.) Maybe because when I hear my fifteen year old daughter complain about school and boys, I would openly welcome a life where those were my biggest issues.

Or…maybe it’s just because there are some pretty awesome writers out there who write YA, and I enjoy a good book!