Knights Of The South Bronx movie review

This was such a feel good movie from start to finish. Ted Danson is a standout as Richard Mason an elementary school teacher who returns to teaching after being fired from his corporate job when they discover he's a whistle blower. As he begins to connect with these inter city students by teaching them the game of Chess as well as mathematics he rediscovers his passion. Strong suppporting performances include Malcolm David Kelley who plays Jimmy a young boy struggling to avoid being forced into the local gang while his father is away in prison. Clifton Powell doesn't get much screen time but he makes the most of it as Jimmy's father Cokey, a hard knocks type offering his son some much needed advice and direction as well as love during a prison visit. The exchange was riveting. Keke Palmer delivers a believable rendition as Kenya a young girl trying to make it despite her mothers drug addiction and shattered home life. A delightful cherry on top is Antonio Ortiz who plays Dawson a kindergartner who follows his big sister to Mr. Mason's class and also learns to play chess and enters the competition, and wins. The best part comes at the end when you learn that this is based on a true story and most of the real kids earned scholarships from their winnings and got to go to college, and the program still exists today. Awesome! So on the Heart Chart... Knights Of The South Bronx gets five out of five hearts. ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Best & Worst

Best: Finally got some long over due blood work out of the way this morning. 4 years over due in fact. Whew! I have the best wife in the world. Worst: Unfortunately said blood work put us out to the tune of $360.00. OMG!!! It's a problem when a cash patient can't get a discount. Maybe if all citizens could get the negotiated rates that the insurance companies do we wouldn't have a healthcare crisis or the need for insurance. We might just be able to afford to go to the doctor? The lady at Quest Diagnostics wasn't very nice to me. She had my arm in an uncomfortable position and she didn't explain clearly about all the documents she was asking me to sign. Entering day 6 of head and throat infection and though the light is now peeking through the clouds I am exhausted from the lack of sleep this last week. sighs.. beautiful wife is exhausted too... from listening to me hack all night long (see best wife in the world above). All of our L girls have gotten this except my sweet Cheri...keeping fingers crossed beautiful wife doesn't get it too. :( Funniest: Mine and Noelle's head butting (three stooges) moment whan she was trying to comfort me. pretty funny. What I learned: That when chicken soup goes in...phlem comes right out. Voila!! Like magic...better than medicine. LOL That I really like the pink grapefruit flavor of Airborne. Yumm.

Wedge Salad & Cindy Sighting

This is a rare occurance here at the L House...

A Cindy sighting...and she's cooking which is

an even rarer occurance...and she's dressed up

while cooking... well you get the picture. We were

all so excited. Miss Cindy can cook by the way...she

just doesn't do it that often. WooooHoooooo

Our fantastic wedge salads made the day. Some cucumber

salad accompanies here, just couldn't get enough salad. lol

Yummmmm

Best & Worst

Best: Cooked up a storm yesterday. Made so many yummy things and my orange cupcakes debuted to rave reviews. Just need to find a better frosting I think. Something more complimentary. My Sweet Cheri started building me a gardening bench. I don't really garden, lol, but she does and it will look exceedingly charming in the back yard when she gets it finished and painted. Got some Angus top sirloin steaks yesterday at Albertsons for 50% off. WooooHooo! I just finished Melissa Gilberts book Prairie Tale: A memoir, and I have to say I wasn't disappointed at all. Very interesting and candid. It was humorous, entertaining, and informative. Loved it. I have started a series of poems based on a childhood friend and our adventures together and they are being well received. Yay Worst: STOP the presses!!!! There is no worst this week. smiles. Funniest: My mistaking the garbage can for the hamper and almost throwing out a perfectly good pair of underwear. LOL What I learned: That Facebook is a great way to catch up with old friends. That you can alter cupcake recipes without ruining them. That my best friend in the whole world has always got my back.

Best and Worst

Best: Our trip to Alcatraz island with our good friends Dee & Erika. We had a blast. It was a long drive, but so worth it. So much fun. Cross another thing off of our bucket list. smiles. Even saw some ghosties in the photos afterward. Wooohahaha. Having dinner with our son Joshua and his girlfriend Tiffani and learning about his plans for his future first hand. Very proud of him. Reading a new book Atheist Manifesto and finding some validation for many of my long held beliefs. Knowing that all but one of my sons are not sheep! Yay! Getting 4 blu-rays at Best Buy with my reward zone credits for only $6.00. You can't beat that with a stick! WoooHooo Worst: Making our deposit late at the bank and not having access to our funds for 4 days....ugh!!!! Really?....really?...I mean come on!!!!!! Funniest: Well it wasn't funny at the time, but falling flat on my face while entering the super market in front of all the little kids selling stuff for the YMCA. So embarrassing. sighs... That's leaving some bruises! What I learned: A slew of new vocabulary words...lol Just when I was feeling smart..? It's never too late to broaden your horizons. smiles.

A much needed getaway....

Another trip to Casitas, our favorite campground so far. Unfortunately this time we got caught in a rainstorm on this last minute outing. But our luck held out and the tent trailer weathered just fine. We had a great time and enjoyed some much needed relaxation and peace. The weather was nice, even the rain. The landscape beautiful and refreshed as were we. smiles. We have always loved our time here. Nature never lets you down. winks.

Best and Worst

Best: Our holiday potluck lasagna dinner with the L girls. Very low key and relaxing, no pressure or ugliness that the holidays sometimes bring. Yay! Sunday brunch after Christmas with our good friends Erika and Dee. Always a treat. smiles. Planned an overnight adventure with Dee and Erika that we are very much looking forward to...more on that later. It's almost 2011 and I know it's going to be a great year. Worst: Our TV broke on Christmas day, and we had to exchange it the day after Christmas and stand in line. Wow Who would have thought, but hey shit happens. Clean up after the holiday dinner...lol...never the fun part, but everyone pitched in so it wasn't that bad. Holier than thou people who use Facebook as a pulpit to spew their bullshit... sorry just had to get that off my chest...lol. Funniest: Sharing with Lianne at our holiday dinner all of our L House antics. What I learned: Margerine (formerly known as oleo) was an experiment gone wrong...and was an ugly shade of grey before they realized it's potential and added a bit of food color.

Holiday Potluck December 2010

Miss Tori caught by Noelle coming down the stairs...

Tori hates her picture taken...and Noelle always has

to catch her off guard...lol

Miss Tori's response to Noelle's kodak moment. It doesn't get any clearer than this...ROFLMAO C.j. and Cheryl

Wine, snacks, and great conversation. All the

right components for a fun time.

The desert plate.... smiles.

I am not entirely sure why Noelle wanted pics

of our asses, but hey here they are...lol

Fun table settings

Tami & Cindy discussing the shot.

Miss Tori caught again....lol

Tori, Tami, & Cindy

The three Lasagnas

Tami & Cindy

Mincing the garlic

Layering the first Lasagna, a chicken, spinach,

cheese, and mushroom masterpiece. Yummm

Merrying the spinach, cheese, and mushrooms

Slicing up the kicked up chicken. Bamm!!!

Mushrooms sauteed.

Kicked up baked chicken fresh from the oven.

Getting the ingredients together...wow just like the

cooking shows do it. smiles. Too fun!

Getting together with the girls is always a good time. This year we decided to do a holiday potluck here at L House. An untraditional dish of Lasagna was our choice, well actually 3 Lasagnas. smiles. yummm. I have taken pictures of our preparations and some of our antics. LOL I hope you enjoy. smiles.

Best and Worst

Best: Had a very fun L House potluck dinner for us girls. We laughed and drank and laughed and told stories and welcomed our newest member to the L House. smiles. Peace and tranqulity have returned to the castle, but also lots of fun and laughter. We are forging new friendships and working out life's little dramas all with humor and compassion. Life is good. Had lunch with our good friend Joyce at Sharkys. Really need to do that more often. Good conversation, good times. Worst: Woke up achey this morning. Not feeling my best and I need to be focused on some financial stuff today... sighs.. Haven't written anything in a while. Someone talking on a cell phone nearly ran into me the other night. When will people get a clue? Funniest: Miss Vikki getting her pants ripped off by Noelle after calling her out and saying she was all talk. LOL . Absolute hysterics. What I learned: That lower heat settings in the dryer prevent some fabrics from wrinkling.. sighs... I know it seems as though I should have already known that... but hey, thats what I learned. That my broccoli stuffed chicken thingys have way too much sodium in them.... scratch another food off the list...sighs...