Life on Mars

Here is another mini series I recommend. A few months ago, Chuck and I watched the British version of Life on Mars. We saw this first because it is the original. Last night we started on the American version. It promises to be just as good. I suppose you could call this science fiction since it deals with time travel and they do try to explain how someone from 2008 suddenly finds himself in 1973. It doesn't make much sense, but that matters little. It is interesting to see what a man from the present reacts to life 35 years ealier. Sam Tyler is hunting down a killer who likely has taken Sam's girlfriend. During the hunt, Sam is hit by a car and wakes up in 1973. Conveniently, he is dressed in appropriate clothes, has a car, ID, and a job at the same police station where he had been working in 2008, only this time at a lower position. He goes a little crazy at first, understandably, but soon settles in to fighting crime while trying to figure out why he is there and how to get back. I enjoyed the British version to hear all the fun slang. In the NYC story, it is a hoot to see things come to life from a time when I was young. They show the twin towers, which gives an eerie feeling of sadness and doom to come. Sam meets the serial murderer he was chasing in 2008 but now he is a little boy. He also meets himself and his young mother. I'm ready to go watch the next episode!

Rain Shadow

I really am trying to post more blogs. Looking at my blog history, there were 30 posts in 2008, the year I began this, 25 posts in 2009, 10 in 2010. And so far this year? Ta da...3. Facebook happened in 2010 and that slowed my blogging down. It stopped some people competely, ahem, my brothers. Still, there is nothing like a blog for ramblings.

Rain Shadow is not a reference to the lack of rain here in Kansas. Our springs are usually quite wet, sometimes flooding, but not this year. Come on rain! Rain Shadow is the name of an Australian mini series filmed in 2007, starring Rachel Ward. I loved Rachel in The Thorn Birds, a mini series we enjoyed in 1983. She was beautiful back then and at 54, is still a gorgeous woman. In this series, she plays a sorrow hardened veterinarian in a region of Australia called Paringa. Think of the Flinthills and you will get an idea of the country. The photography is stunning and worth the watch if just for that. Rachel's character, Cate, runs off assistant vets sent out to help her, due to her prickly personality, but one young woman vet stays and weathers Cate and the locals and the never ending drought. This is the story of Paringa and it's hardy inhabitants, but especially these two strong women, who both love and hate Paringa. It's a compeling drama and one I didn't want to see come to an end.

I'm not much good at movie reviews but I appreciate hearing about good things to see through Netflix. If you discover you like similar movies, then perhaps my reviews will help. If not, then you will know what to steer clear of. Chuck really liked it too and I wouldn't say this is a chick flick, even though the main characters are women and there are some really hunky guys in it. Ok, maybe it is a chick flick. But one that guys can enjoy as well. It's certainly not Lifetime. Men are not made out to look like creeps.

Land - ho!

Since Chuck is in the land business, we thought we should own a parcel for our own enjoyment. So, a few months ago, we began a search for some acerage in the country where we could pitch a tipi and have a private camp. We finally found 40 acres just west of Hutchinson that seemed perfect for we wanted to do and we made an offer. A couple of offers later, we had a deal. And then the deal died due to a lien on the property. We gave it up and planned to keep looking, when suddenly the deal was alive and before we could sneeze, we were signing papers at a closing. Yee haw!!

The land has a pond with dock, storage garage, water well, garden plot, and lots of trees. Chuck, Charis, and I drove out yesterday after church to plant some seeds in the garden and have another look around. Sadly, we forgot a camera so I don't have current pictures, but those will be coming shortly, I'm sure. We have a lot of plans for the place and are excited about jumping in. I will post updates as things progress.

I need to think of a good name for our place.