Being Neighborly:

Here is a drawing created by one of Rachel's friends. Lydia is also a neighbor. Rachel has hat tacked this drawing to her bedroom door with much pride. Luckily, no siblings have tried to remove and or destroy the art work.




_{Black background from Studio Chic by Shabby Princess, Crayon Doodles by Ida, Faux Jewels by Shabby Princess, Artistic Borderlines 4 by Sande Krieger, Font: Jane Austen/ Taylor Mackenzie.}

:::::::::::::::::::::::Gladiator::::::::



We watched the edited for television version and I continue to marvel at the cinematography and excellent performances of the cast. Russell Crowe is wonderful in leadership roles. I really loved his performance in "Master and Commander" as Capt. Jack Aubrey. Crowe's ability to show strength of character in these roles is captivating. Derek Jacobi has been a favorite of mine since I was a teenager watching Public Television. He played the monk, Cadfael, in the mystery series based on the books by Ellis Peters. Jacobi's role as the senator from Rome, Graccus, is superb. Connie Nielsen as the daughter of the murdered Marcus Aurelius and forced to marry her brother, Commodus, plays the role with the perfect blend of strength and repulsion. She is strong for her son and is revolted by her brother/husband and must work behind the scenes to keep her son alive and have her brother killed.
The cinematography for the dream sequences and death are fantastic. The use of the mulitple 360 degree spin works dizzingly well for the the coliseum scenes.

One of the messages of the movie about giving the people a diversion, so you can run the country as you wish is quite deep. The other message of maintaining your integrity was a thread throughout.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::Pirates of the Caribbean::::::::

I plan to take Aaron to see that today. Should be a rip roaring time!