Letters to Juliet

What a refreshing movie to see in today’s world of over-sexed, potty-mouth, shoot-em-up flicks.  I’m a self-professed clean movie die-hard that so appreciates the film industry making movies that are endearing, romantic, humorous, inoffensive and beautiful.  Of course I know not all movie goers appreciate this type of entertainment…. one review I read said Letters to Juliet was a “witless ninny of a movie.”  So I assumed that reviewer would consider me a witless ninny, but that’s OK.  I thoroughly enjoyed two hours of witless entertainment. 

The summary of the movie is hopelessly romantic… a chick flick to the nth degree.  A wall in Verona, Italy, is known for Juliet’s stone balcony.  Yes, Juliet of Montague and Capulet and Romeo fame.  Lost souls leave letters in the wall of love gone wrong, and love missing in action, and lovers needing advice, and love stories lacking love.  A group of Juliet’s secretaries answer the letters.  Yes, it’s true… in real life, not witless ninny life, in Verona.  Club Juliet is actually functioning as the movie tells it, answering letters left at the wall.  A modern-day Dear Abbey in motion.  Ah, hopelessly romantic!

Sophie helps collect the letters one evening and knocks a block out of the wall only to discover a 50-year-old letter written by an English woman.  Sophie answers the letter encouraging the woman to follow her lost love, whom she jilted and returned to England.  A few days later, the “Gran” shows up in Verona accompanied by her grandson (the cold fish), determined to search for her Lorenzo from 50 years previous…. and the journey begins.

One of the eye-pleasing additions to the film is the unequalled views of the lush countryside in Italy.  Not many films can inspire vacations to Europe like this one.  If you happen to be a male reading this, let me give a few hints: you will score major points if you take your sweetheart to see Letters to Juliet, but be forewarned that she will also add to her bucket list “Trip to Italy”.

It’s the Holiday Season

After all the pictures of my messy house in pre-home visit haphazardness, I decided to let you see a glimpse of our Christmas house decor now that things are put straight and purty.

Jesus and his posse are on the piano this year.  There is far more room in the stable now, because there was no room in the inn.

My favorite part of getting ready for Jesus’ birthday is getting out all of our ornaments and reminiscing of those who gave them to us, or where we purchased them.  When we go on vacations, we try to remember to buy and ornament for the tree.  This is our first year where we’ll have two trees, but the real one that will inevitably drop pine needles in my shag carpet is not being purchased until Dec. 19th, the day after Rick and I get home.  So the fake Jenny Craig blue and silver tree is up and shining, but the remainder of the not blue and silver ornaments are still in their boxes.

My second favorite part of getting ready is finding the on-sale decorations that I bought last year.  I never remember them!  It’s like opening surprise Christmas presents to myself.  This year was no exception.  I found these silver balls and pinecones in their packages… all ready for the silver snowman basket.  So cute… and there’s mirrored disco balls too.  Perfect for the Crosby Christmas Dance-Off.

Because the Nativity scene took over the piano top, the Christmas village moved to the entry table… and of course, any pilot’s Christmas village has a hangar and an airplane or two.  Duh!

Here’s the love birds that are sitting behind the lit archway… it’s so cute.  He’s playing his accordion and singing to her…. probably “All I Want for Christmas is You.”

All we need is a roaring fireplace, some hot cocoa with marshmallows and some snow outside.  Well, one out of three ain’t bad.