While I was in hospital recently, I had the pleasure to read a few books. There's always an upside!

I finally started AND finished State of Fear by Michael Crichton, as well as I got to read two of the books from the Covert-ONE series by Robert Lodlum - The Hade's Factor and The Cassandra Compact.

State of Fear was excellent - a thriller regarding a global conspiracy (is there anyother kind) and the threat of global warming. The tsunami reference was chilling. It was a LONG read but really enjoyable.

The Hade's Factor was the first of a series of books that Robert Lodlum has been producing. It features a classic hero Jon Smith who gets embroilled in a global conspiracy (really? another one) regarding a killer virus outbreak. I liked the characters that popped up in the story, such as Marty Zellerbach, the computer genious who has Asperger's Syndrome. Hmmm, now I know why Antony suggested I read this book.

The Cassandra Compact is the second of the series and introduces us to the secretive Covert-ONE organisation, while pitting our hero in a global conspiracy (again?) regarding an outbreak of smllpox and the use of biological weapons. Hmmmm.

Actually, I can't wait to read the other's in the series as they were a good read. I found it a good way to pass the time while I was lying in bed.

[listening to: Pet Names - Smash Mouth ]
11:43:00 AM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • My Interests

It has been a slow and lazy week at home. On Monday, Moira was complaining to me that we didn't have any interesting DVDs!

So, I went onto Amazon and ordered a few new ones. They arrived this afternoon (Thursday). We now have some new movies to watch. Moira, I hope you are happy.

• DodgeBall
• Garden State
• The Manchurian Candidate
• The Terminal
• Anchorman
• Napoleon Dynamite

Now, to get Antony to update the DVD collection.

[listening to: Microsoft CES - Microsoft ]
2:23:21 PM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • Family • My Interests • TV

We all love Sponge Bob Squarepants. The kids like it, I like it. What can I say, it just rocks.

When we found out that a SpongBob movie was in production, we counted day the days for it to open here in Australia.

Well, today was the day.

We lined up outside the theatre waiting to get into see the movie. When they finally removed the rope, I was first in line to buy tickets. Then the boys raced up the stairs, made a mandatory biological pit stop, and then we all ran inside into Cinema 2.

90 minutes later (give or take) we left Cinema 2 feeling very satisfied. Yes, Brice had sat still *AGAIN*. The movie even had a Deus ex machina in the form of David Hasselhoff. (Antony told me that)

We all walked out singing the SpongeBob theme song (download it here).

Ahh, good times.

[listening to: Veronica - Elvis Costello ]
1:56:29 PM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • Family • My Interests

Today was a overcast humid miserable day in Sydney - even the cricket was delayed by rain, so we decided to take the kids to the Powerhouse Museum to visit the recently opened Lord of the Rings exhibit.

The exhibit consists of props from the movie (costumes, jewellery, armour, models, digital effects etc..) as well as a bunch of video interviews (kinda of like the stuff you find on the extras section of a DVD), as well as some special events, such as the Shire playspace where hobbits under 10 can dress up an elf or create a sword.

Well, when we got there, there was a queue snaking out of the museum. Looks like the rest of Sydney had the same thought as we did. Since we are Powerhouse members, we went in the express lane. When we got in, we found another queue to get into the exhibit! 30 minutes later we made our way into the exhibit. Phew. It took a lot to keep Brice entertained in the queue - three more corners to go. Oh this is the last corner before we can get in, yada yada yada.

Now, I like LOTR, but I am not that really crazy about it. Seeing the clothes and the walking tree, and touching the swords was kinda ok, but not worth the time it took us to get into the place. To make matters worse, Antony freaked out when he saw the crowd and spent the whole time complaining and wanting to get out. This set Emma off as she complained she never watched the whole movie and the monsters were ugly.

In the end we rushed through the exhibit bumbing into the other freaks and geeks who made the pilgrimage to middle earth.

Finally we exited via the obligatory tour via the LOTR gift shop - luckily for me no one wanted a plush talking Gollum doll.

[listening to: Poison Moon - Elvis Costello ]
8:13:08 PM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • Family • My Interests

My kids gave me a copy of State of Fear for Christmas.
I have yet to start it. It is a really big book. I feel intimitated by it.
Besides, as soon as I start reading this, I am sure that Brice will want me to build blocks with him, or Moira will need me to take out the rubbish, or Emma will want me to take her for a bike ride.
The book has left *ME* in my own state of fear

[listening to: If Every Day Was Like Christmas - Elvis Presley ]
8:00:24 PM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • Family • My Interests

Oxfam collected more than $1.1 million for the victims of the Asian tsunami as millions of New Year's Eve revellers gathered in cities around Australia to see in 2005.  more

[listening to: (They Long to Be) Close to You - The Carpenters ]
12:43:48 PM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • My Interests