I've seen it!

I did go and see the new Star Trek movie and I loved it! I thought it was fantastic. It was different to the book in some aspects (ie the Admiral Archer's dog incident) but it was very enjoyable.

*Spoiler Alert* just in case I tell you stuff about it you didn't already know...and *Geek/Nerd Alert* because I'm probably going to discuss the whole AU-ness (alternate universe-ness) of the movie.

I really enjoyed the opening sequence of the movie where you met George Kirk. In fact, I almost think that Chris Hemsworth (who plays George) should nearly have been James T Kirk. He is (IMHO) better looking than Chris Pine (who was James). Anyway, that part of the movie was really well done. (It was very definitely AU, as George and Winona Kirk were potato farmers in Idaho in the Shatner Kirkverse. )

My favourite character in the whole movie was...Scotty. He was funny and I just enjoyed his whole situation; punished by being sent to the middle of nowhere for being too smart. I also really liked Dr McCoy. Ben thought that he was almost more Bones than the original. Karl Urban really nailed it. At least he still had the same reason for going into Starfleet as in the original universe, as we found out when he meets Kirk for the first time. (The dialogue in the movie novelisation was much wittier for this scene than in the movie.)

It was a surprise to see Real Spock (Leonard Nimoy) in this universe, but it worked well in the plot development. A nice touch, and I think that this picture at the top sums it all up, tongue-in-cheek... (thanks to roflrazzi.com for the caption!)

All in all I loved this movie and I would see it again and own it on DVD. (If only for the entertainment value of irritating my husband...*smirk*)

Movies

I am so very excited. This Saturday I might finally get to see Star Trek! I can't wait. I've read the movie novelisation and I loved it. I just realised that there's kind of a bittersweet bit in it for me. Most of you who know me, know that I adore Star Trek: Enterprise. Especially the character of Captain Archer. Well, he at least gets a mention in the new movie, and one of his pets appears in the movie, right at the end. I realised the other day that he never gets to see his favourite beagle again because of *insert spoiler*. That made me kind of sad. :'( However, I still want to see the movie. I can't wait to see Scotty! Woohoo for Simon Pegg.

Cars. *sigh*

As many will know my husband has a hobby. Cars. Restoration and racing, although both may not apply to the same vehicle.

At the moment I have six cars in my driveway. Six. There's my little, everyday car (a Peugeot 306), Ben's work car (a dual cab Hilux, supplied by his employer), Ben's old work car (a Ford Falcon RTV ute), Ben's restoration project ( a 1967 XR two door Ford Falcon, left hand drive), his racing car (a white Peugeot 405 Mi16) and the new car, a donor car (a black Peugeot 405 Mi16).

As for how we came by so many cars, I really don't know. It just happens. I should never let the man look on ebay motors! That's where we (and yes, it was partly my fault) found the XR and the black Peugeot.

On Sunday Ben went down to Phillip Island and took his toy for a spin. He did okay, he wasn't the fastest, but he wasn't the slowest either. He was really happy with the way that the Pug cornered and braked, but he just didn't have enough get up and go for the straights.

On Monday, he was trawling Aussiefrogs (an Australian Peugeot site) and various other motoring sites for parts to correct this problem. I said: "Let's have a look on ebay motors." So we did and I found a 1992 Mi16, just like his toy except that it was black. It was going cheap, and the sale ended the next day at about 9pm. So we kept watch on it.

On Tuesday, we checked out the auction and it was still cheap, so we placed a bid on it. Then we had to go out to dinner (see previous post) so it was down to Mike to keep an eye on it. And he did. And he placed bids for his father. And we won! Oh joy! Another car!

(Really, I do not begrudge my husband his hobby. At all. He can have as many cars and parts as he wants, as long as he still loves me at the end of the day. )

So yesterday Ben went to collect his prize. He says that the car body isn't as good as his toy's, but the engine is better. So hopefully, soon, I'll have five cars in my driveway, not six.

Tuesday Night

As many of you know, we've had some communities devasted by bushfires over here in Victoria. A lot of people will have heard of Kinglake and Marysville but less about Callignee and Traralgon South. There were fatalities there too, just nowhere near as many as Kinglake and Marysville.

Well the local Rotary groups decided that the people who fought the fires there in Callignee and Traralgon South and the people and groups who are helping to rebuild these communities deserved some public recognition. So Rotary went and caught up with Max Walker and asked him if he would come and be the guest speaker at an awards night for these people. And Max said yes, and he wouldn't charge them an appearance or speaker's fee. So on Tuesday night Ben and I went off to dinner, dancing and Max Walker.

It was a really good night. The band was great (loud, but great) and both Mike's music teacher and Gabi's music teacher were playing; the singer was an impersonator who did really good impressions of Dean Martin, Tom Jones and John Lennon (we left early, so we didn't see if he did anyone else) and Maxie was really funny. Everyone who got a certificate of recognition (or thanks) also got their photo taken with Max. It was a good night.

I've found it! I've found it!

AT LAST!!! There's a release date for 5 Greatest Warriors! Woohooo!!!! 20th October, 2009. On Matthew Reilly's blog (http://www.matthewreilly.com/reillyblog/09-03.htm) it even has cover art! *swoon*. I think the shield shows the Great Machine personally...
WOOOOOHOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!

Cross Stitching

At the moment I have several UFOs (unfinished objects) hanging around my house. I am working on a dragon design from the creator of the Dragon Musings blog (she creates wonderful designs, some of which she lets you download for free!) in blue for my daughter. I am also working on an embroidery of a cat in a garden called The Cat nature's beauty and I have a Tatty bear design to finish as well. (The Tatty bear came as a kit with a magazine.) I have also just ended up with some 11 kits from Spotlight (see my last post) that I would love to do and a Sorceress chart that I will have to buy the material and floss for that I really, really want to do, but it will take me ages to get it done, because it's just so detailed.

I love doing it though. I like seeing a project come together, and having something that I made to share with others. *Passes out warm fuzzies for everyone* I will have to post some photos soon...

I love Spotlight

Hey! Long time no blog, I know! In my defense I have been busy, being a mum and doing the odd bit of temping and research...but I just have to tell you about the Spotlight store in Sale. It was having a sale! It had two big clearance tables out the front, and when I visited Sale yesterday, I gave them the go over. Found loads of stuff that I would have liked to buy, but it was still too expensive...so I went in to have a browse...and while I was in the store they announced that if you went and got a bag from the staff member out the front who would write $8 on it, then you could have as much stuff from the clearance tables as would fit in your bag, without overflowing or breaking the bag! Well, did I have fun! I ended up with twelve cross stitch kits and at least eight charts/books, two copies of a DMC programme to convert photos to charts, a mini scrapping tote, an organiser bag, several expandable folding wallets and more stuff than even I could poke a stick at! (I later added up the price tags on the items and found I had bought about $200 worth of stuff, at sale prices, for $8!) It was amazing... *sigh* I may even post photos of my haul later...