RIDGE MEADOWS DISH...WHITE HOUSE DOWN MOVIE REVIEW

WHITE HOUSE DOWN

Starring Jamie Foxx, Channing Tatum, Maggie Gyllenhaal, James Woods and Joey King.



The stars all aligned in perfect harmony for this action thriller. Jamie Foxx gives a command performance as President Sawyer. The President (Foxx) falls behind enemy lines when the White House is taken over by terrorists led by former 'black back operatives' who have turned rogue against their country.  It is up to Cale (Channing Tatum) who is at the White House for a Secret Service interview, to rescue the President and his daughter (played brilliantly by up and coming starlet Joey King).

James Woods delivers the true goods as the head of the Secret Service. Surrounded by amazing special effects and some truly great explosions. (The Capital building in particular)

With a running time of 131 minutes, this non-stop action will keep you glued to the edge of your seat. Solid performance by  Maggie Gyllenhaal aids in making this a must see for the summer.

RAVENBRAN RATING  4 out of 5 claws

RIDGE MEADOWS DISH.....MOVIE REVIEW

MAN OF STEEL

starring Henry Cavill, Russell Crowe, Diane Lane, Amy Adams and Kevin Costner.



Directed by Zack Snyder, this re-invention of the Superman Series is sheer Gold! Henry Cavill is stellar as the Man of Steel himself. Henry brings an element of compassion and angst to the legendary character. Amy Adams is a solid Lois Lane and gives the character more depth than that of her predecessors.

Kevin Costner, Diane Lane are simply amazing as Jonathon and Martha Kent. Diane's portrayal of Martha Kent is Supporting Actress Oscar worthy. She (Lane) gives Martha a boost of confidence, strength and yet keeps the softness of being Clark Kent's adoptive mother intact.

Russell Crowe gives a command performance as Jor-El.

The special effects, pyrotechnics and stunts really brought this film to life. Excellent script writing and direction have given Superman a new lease on life.

A definite to add to the Summer Movie Watching Season

RAVENBRAN RATING 5 out of 5 claws

Hennesey (Schodenfelt) - Thanks - Welland, ON - Your Life Moments

Hennesey (Schodenfelt) - Thanks - Welland, ON - Your Life Moments

The Loss of my Mother

I suppose everyone who loses a parent feels the same sorrow in its own varied strain. I'm not entirely certain if adoptive children experience the same sorrow. Is it a more profound sorrow? Is it a disconnecting sorrow? Over the last couple of weeks, the answer has been formulating in my brain and this is what I have concluded.

My adoptive mother passed away suddenly on June 22, 2013. She was the only mother I ever knew as I was a mere six weeks old when I was adopted. She nurtured me, she scolded me more often than not. She was there for the trials for the tribulations and for the triumphs in my life and in that of my adoptive brother's life as well. As most teenagers do, I was the rebellious brat that felt my mother knew nothing, wasn't 'with the times' and didn't understand me whatsoever. What she also wasn't aware of, was how much I loathed being adopted. I felt a total disconnect to my mother and brother my entire life. They were the perfect 'Aryan', blond hair - blue eyes and then there was me. The native Canadian with the pitch black eyes and matching hair. (although now it is so L'Oreal enhanced, I have no clue what colour it is anymore). My skin colour was always darker. I went extremely dark while they burned in the summer. I stood out and I knew it.

Sherry, Mom, Dale at her favourite place ''The Mandarin"

I hated everything about being me. I was so different and so angry that my rebellion went to epic proportions which resulted in me finding solace in the bottom of a vodka bottle.

As you have likely noticed, I've yet to have mentioned my father. That would be due to the fact that he is a mere name on a piece of paper and nothing more. While married to my mother, I was too young to have any memories of what he was like as a dad. He split when I went into the third grade. After that, it was years of broken promises, limited visits and a growing disdain for him.

Then my mother met my dad. While step-father is the official title if you want to get technical. My step-father has been more of a dad to me than my father ever was or could be. He came complete with a step-brother and step-sister. All of a sudden I went from being the baby of the family to the middle child. Once again, I was the stand out. My new family members were also extremely 'Aryan' in colouring, leaving me the black sheep title.

When my daughter was born, I suddenly felt connected. She is a perfect clone of me. Sure she resembles her father as well, but she is me. Which for me suddenly gave me a glimmer of what my birth mother may look like. My logic, if my daughter looks so much like me, I have to look that much like my mother. Sounds reasonable doesn't it?

This small piece of information gave me hope and purpose. It also spurred on my desire to find out more about who I am and where I come from. 

My mother was more than just a grandmother to my daughter. She was part of a security net and a large part of her universe. The loss to my daughter, I think is far greater than anything I feel.

So that leads me to right now. The devastation I feel over the loss of my mother is overwhelming. Not only because she was the only mother I've ever known, but she was also my link to my past. My childhood memories are so limited that I relied on my mother for a great deal of my history. Now that is gone. Sure my brother will still have his memories but we are both aging too and I'm certain some things are gone from his memory as well.

Where does this leave me now? I'm a motherless child. Yet I feel like an orphan. I've always had abandonment issues and this is probably the worst possible scenario to endure.

While I'm glad that I came home two weeks prior to her death to celebrate my parents 25th Wedding Anniversary (actual anniversary would've been July 2nd). I'm also thrilled that we as a family - a wonderfully blended family got together and did a family portrait. The first our family has ever done and as it turned out the most important. 

Since my mother's funeral last Friday, I have been staring a great deal at the family portrait. It became apparent to me that I didn't really stand out anymore. I took notice of all the dark hair. It was a revelation that was likely way overdue. We had always been a family, I just didn't see it.

To answer my question, my sorrow is profound, disconnected and immense. No one will ever replace my mother. Even if I was to locate my birth mother. She would never have the memories that my mother had. Some questions will never truly be answered but for now, the answer I have to give is simply this:  I miss my mom today, tomorrow, forever.

http://yourlifemoments.ca/sitepages/obituary.asp?oId=717207

 

Gail W Hennessy - Obituaries - Welland, ON - Your Life Moments#.Ucn2u-Q16JU.facebook

Gail W Hennessy - Obituaries - Welland, ON - Your Life Moments#.Ucn2u-Q16JU.facebook


I LOVE YOU MOM

Balance....excerpt from "Thoughts from the Talons" (c) 2004

Balance

Night and day unite as one

Sun and moon dance in harmony

An equal balance of earth and air

The solstice brings forth unity

Songs and dance honor the goddess

Prayers for wisdom strength and prosperity

Tribal drums wake the corners

Spirits to guide the path ahead

Symbiotic energies merge in the twilight

Dynamic forces enhance the heavens

Of earth air water and fire

The elements in perfect balance

Longest day into longest night

The stars and seas align

Displaying the beauty and majesty

Of the balance between god and goddess

Sher B......06-03-2004 (c)

A Simple Goodbye....excerpt from "Blood Stained Talons" (c)

A Simple Goodbye

In the stillness of night

Tears flow like a tidal wave

From memories of a life gone by

Glancing over a marble stone

Reading the words over and over

Staring down at the wilted flowers

A simple goodbye not enough

Writhing hands and shaking flesh

Wishing fate had not wielded its hand

A portion of life ceases

Acceptance of past events and the road ahead

Not an ending but a new beginning

A transformation into a new entity

Angel eyes gazing down from above

Pain eases to a remindful hurt

Days slip into weeks into years

Marking anniversaries with tears and flowers

Passing on to next generations

A history of a life taken too quickly

A simple goodbye was not enough

Gone but never forgotten

Always in the heart forever in the soul

Missing you today tomorrow and forever

Sher B….2010-06-02 ©

VICTIMIZED SOUL...excerpt from new book "Blood Stained Talons"

Victimized Soul

Childhood thoughts begin to surface

Wrinkles reveal an aged soul

Tried and tempted through the years

Weathered by all life’s experiences

Memories escape of days gone by

Barely remembering a given name

A friendly face soon forgotten

Crippled by a malicious disease

What was once a vital life

Now a shell of its former self

Feeble minded but body strong

A family’s anguish is great

The simplest of tasks now difficult

Unable to survive in the world

Sheltered within sanitary walls

Protected from harm and pain

Altziemers does not discriminate

Damages all it touches

Leaving a plethora of victims in its wake

Tears the only solace

Soon death will come

Easing the pain of existence

The victimized soul rests

Family finally at peace

Sher B…..20-06-2013 (c)

Ps. I love you Baba - Annie Fedikow Nov 19 1921 - June 18 2013 

This is dedicated to all the families touched by the horrors and  trauma of this wretched disease. May you find peace and hope. 

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