Kacey Honors the Olympics...

Okay I had this whole plan of finishing this post like a week ago and post it in honor the ending of the Olympics (which I greatly enjoyed watching with all my free time)…however that time has come and gone…as it so often does… but I still am posting this in honor of the Olympics, because the Olympics made me cry… and they are awesome… and sports movies make me cry…and they are also awesome. So in honor of the 2012 Olympics and all great sporting events that bring people together in an outstanding way I present my favorite sports movies. (WARNING: Do not watch more than 3 of these movies at once as massive amounts of sobbing may ensue.)

Mighty Ducks Trilogy: Classic. We loved Pacey before he was Pacey (or Peter).  I don’t really know much about hockey, but because of this movie anytime I watch hockey I wait for someone to do the “Flying V”. 

Remember the Titans: Football bringing a community together to overcome small mindedness.  As you can see from the glossary this is one Jamie and I quote often and have seen many times.  Also there is a little girl who loves football as much as I do and gets almost as crazy as I do while watching.

The Replacements: This is actually Dad’s favorite, but one I find very entertaining. I have to say the sob factor isn’t so high… but the tears may fall because of the laughing. Very funny.
 

Rudy: Who doesn’t love Rudy? Even if you don’t like football, this is a great film about never giving up on a dream. And as Jamie mentioned in her last post, it is the reason people may silently chant “Rudy, Rudy” at the end of the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

Hoosiers: Great small town story. Basketball team does the unexpected and coach does not give up his beliefs because of outside pressures. But really I still don’t know a Hoosier is.

The Sandlot: This has to be about the third time we have mentioned The Sandlot on this blog. So watch it already. Rag tag group of kids hanging out playing baseball...awesomeness ensues.

A League of Their Own: This is a family favorite. Baseball is pretty much an Emerson family religion (hence the number of baseball movies chosen) but when you combine baseball with girl power, it pretty becomes the Emerson family motto. And although we say no crying in baseball… there is crying in baseball… just not while on the field.

Field of Dreams: Thought about hard enough, this is really a strange movie. But that’s what makes it great. Voices from the sky, dead people coming out of corn fields and baseball… ending with a simple catch between father and son…what’s not to love?

Bull Durham: Again not so much about the crying as it is about the laughing. But you’ll never look at a meetings at the pitchers’ mound the same way, but you’ll better understand the church of baseball.

Cool Runnings: Only movie to make the list that is actually about the Olympics. This movie is hysterical… Jamaicans learn to bobsled…based on a true story… and even though it’s funny it will get you in the end with a slow clap... tears, lots of tears.

So what have we learned? Sports movies cool. The Olympics are cool. And crying is cool.

Coming Soon: Sarah writes a rap about Greek Gods to the tune of Fresh Prince of Bel Air.

Kacey's Summer Music Part 2…

Jamie- you are on a role. So much said in such a short amount of time. Well I've got another one! (Personal best- 3 blogs within 1 week, I guess being unemployed and totally unsure what is coming in the fall for me has its perks- more free time for blogging!)

Summer update: Spent one evening playing four games of Settlers of Catan with my parents. I went berry picking. Practiced the ukulele (it's coming along). And I finished one book and then I laid in a hammock and started another.

Can't wait to see what week two has in store for me!

Inspired by my summer movie list I created another music mix. This is a list that I would consider “family friendly.”  Not in the Disney “family friendly” way but meaning it will be played this summer while hanging out with my family and is less modern than the last mix.

Summer Music Mix #2

School’s Out by Alice Cooper- Only fitting, right? Also from Dazed and Confused

Tequila by The Champs- Consuming tequila is very much a summer activity. Plus it's in The Sandlot.

Here Comes the Sun by The Beatles- Because living in the Pacific Northwest the sun can be hit and miss in the summer so when it does appear it needs a theme song.

Iko Iko by The Belle Star- Not sure what my motivation was other than this song just says summer.

Brown Eyed Girl by Van Morrison- A lot of my mixes these days have Van Morrison and this is totally summer worthy.

Summer of 69 by Bryan Adams- It has summer in the title. And I know we all have a summer we could write a song about. With all my ukulele playing this might be my summer for that!

Free Falling by Tom Petty- Great group sing along around the camp fire. Everyone knows the words (or at least the chorus).

Great Balls of Fire by Jerry Lee Lewis- The Stand by Me soundtrack is awesome and this has always been a favorite of mine.

Coconut by Harry Nilsson- It’s almost a requirement to listen to this song sitting in the sun with a drink in hand.

ABC by The Jackson 5- Because I know the girls from Now and Then danced around to this song.

Centerfield by John Fogerty- Summer mix without a song about baseball?! Um, not gonna happen.

Highway to the Danger Zone by Kenny Loggins- This is mostly for my dad… he digs Loggins and I know when it comes on he’ll say “oh, good song.”

Weather is Here by Jimmy Buffett- This song is two-fold: 1- No summer mix is complete without a little Buffett and 2- No family friendly mix for my family is complete without a little Buffett for mom.

Hitchin’ A Ride Vanity Fare- Riding a bike (without a helmet) down some back road with good friends… in 1970s.

Rock and Roll, Hoochi Koo by Rick Derringer- One Dazed and Confused song is not enough.

Green Onions by Booker T and the MG’s- Great Sandlot scene... scrappy poor kids and rich uniformed kids hurling insults at each other all accumulating with “you play ball like a girl!” Which normally I would take offense- but it’s just so funny.

Stand By Me by Ben E. King- Not really an upbeat fun song, but it is the theme song for a great summer movie.

Tiny Dancer by Elton John- Another great sing-along, because all problems can fixed with a sing-along.

Time of My Life by Bill Medley and Jennifer Wanes- Because nobody puts baby in the corner.

Coming Soon: It preparation for her trip to Greece Sarah develops an error proof plan to save the Greek economy involving sacrifices to several Greek Gods and lots of Ouzo.