The next day, my friend and I checked out Thomas Jefferson's Monticello. I'd always wanted to go. The house tour was informative and the grounds were so beautiful and well-kept. The history was eye-opening! The house had a little snack shop and their chocolate ice cream was good stuff!
Cafe at Monticello was also impressive with the variety and quality of food. Mmm, the lemon bars!!!
I was super impressed with the Shops at Monticello. They had everything from sweet potato butter to pottery to flower plants and seeds grown at Monticello. Oh, and the sweet potato butter is so good!
Time at Monticello was well-spent and a step into the past.
I love a feel-good movie with a happy ending. I haven't been a Kevin Hart fan, but the previews for his new movie looked so good.
In addition, to Kevin Hart, it also stars Bryan Cranston and Nicole Kidman.
Kevin's character, Dell is out of prison and jobless. He must get signatures to show that he's looking for a job. Cranston's character, Phillip is a quadriplegic whose is filthy rich. Kidman's character is Yvonne a woman who works for Cranston.
Dell is just trying to get his needed signatures when he walks into the interview's for a Life Auxiliary for Phillip, essentially someone to help with Phillip's care and take him around. Phillip hate's all the applicants. Dell barges into an interview after waiting for hours. Phillip likes his straightforward nature and offers him the job to the horror of Yvonne. Dell isn't sure he'll take it, he just came for a signature. Phillip tells him to think about it overnight.
The pay convinces Dell to take it. He's at odds with his son's mother and son. His son, Anthony and baby mama live in a crappy apartment. Dell hasn't helped with anything.
He takes the job, which comes with a live-in apartment. There's definitely a learning curve for both of them. Dell must help with physical therapy, transportation, and changing Phillip's catheter, which proves to be very awkward. Along the way they become friends and have fun together. Their friendship has a lot of bumps, but Dell brings life and fun into Phillip's dull life.
I was reminded of Bruno Mars' fun song, Perm during Phillip's birthday party scene. So good:
Watch the movie; you'll love it! My friends and I sure did!
I love powerful, uplifting music that helps point me to God and remind me of His truths. This song definitely does that. I so enjoy Tori's rich, soulful voice. Remember we are never alone, God remains with us.
Never Alone Lyrics
In my time I've traveled some roads
A rolling stone
Nowhere feels like home
And I've seen people come, then they go
Life is just a story of some highs and some lows
Tell me do you believe in miracles?
I'm standing here before your eyes
I've cried many rivers
I've walked through some pain
I've seen my world crumble
And I'll carry the shame
But I know somebody, He calls me His own
I can hear heaven singing out
Oh-oh-oh, you're never alone
Oh-oh-oh, you're never alone
Everybody wants to be king
We put all our hope inside material things
In Your light I now understand
That everything I have ain't everything that I am
Oh, but sometimes I feel like I'm not good enough
But that's when love says You're mine, oh no
I've cried many rivers
I've walked through some pain
I've seen my world crumble
And I'll carry the shame
But I know somebody, He calls me His own
I can hear heaven singing out
Oh-oh-oh, you're never alone
(Oh-oh-oh, you're never alone) no, no, no, no, no
Oh, I may have took some time
But now I realize
My imperfections were a part of Your plan
And if all things work together in the end
The broken will be beautiful
There's not a hole too deep
That God's love is not deeper still
You've come too far to give up now
Let's go!
I've cried many rivers
(I've walked through some pain) oh, no
(I've seen my world crumble)
(And I've carried the shame) and I've carried the shame
But I know somebody, He calls me His own
Can you hear heaven singing out
(Oh-oh-oh, you're never alone) oh, you're never, oh yeah
(Oh-oh-oh, you're never alone) oh, no, no, no, no, no, yeah
(Oh-oh-oh, you're never alone) oh, no, no, no, no, no, yeah
(Oh-oh-oh, you're never alone) alone
This August, I was able to go visit friends in Virginia. I'd never explored this part of Virginia before and I relished the opportunity.
The night I arrived, a friend and I went to meet other friends in downtown Charlottesville, Virginia. I enjoy checking out the downtown areas of the places I visit. After doing some research, my friend found Bebedero. The decor at Bebedero was warm and cute with light yellow and orange lanterns on the ceiling. The food was not my favorite. My tacos were too spicy to enjoy. The margarita was way too strong too. I'd skip this place.
After dinner, we walked to the Draft Taproom for drinks. I've never seen a bar like it. You go in and they give you a card that you can put onto each tap to track how much of each you select. I tried all the ciders and really enjoyed them. I liked that I could try an ounce and see if I liked it before getting more. I wish there were more places like this.
I recently finished the seven books in the Gender Games series by Bella Forrest. It took me roughly nine months to read all the books. Previously, you may remember my great addiction to the Hunger Games series. I've also read the Divergent series. The Gender Games series reminded me so much of the other series' that I so enjoyed.
The premise was that there were two countries; Matrus and Patrus. Matrus was female-ruled and dominated. Males living there had little to no rights. Patrus was male-run and women living in there were essentially property with no rights of their own. Each warred against the other.
Violet is an orphan along with her brother in Matrus. Her brother, Tim has failed the test given to males to only keep passive males. She doesn't want him sent away to some sort of work camp, so she tries to smuggle him to Patrus, but they're caught. He's essentially sent to work camps and she's sent to a youth prison. She loses track of him from there. She's deemed essentially a criminal and lives in a detention center where she fights to the death for her life. She keeps getting in more trouble. At one point, to try to get her brother back, she agrees to go to Patrus to work undercover with a guy named, Lee to steal back an egg stolen from Matrus.
So she heads to Patrus, where she gives up all her rights. She "marries" and lives with Lee and his dog, Sam. Lee works at science facility that houses the egg. Violet can't go anywhere by herself during the day. Lee asks Patrian warden, Viggo Croft if Violet can hang out with him during the day for pay. A warden is essentially a law enforcement officer. She shadows him to the gym where he trains and around as he does his job. He seems quiet and rough around the edges. They fall for each other.
With Lee's help, Violet does some recon on the area in preparation for their mission which will be several months away. Violet hates waiting. Over time she comes to know and like Viggo. She hates that Lee wants to make Viggo the fall guy for their mission that now includes blowing up the science facility with King Maxen in there while stealing the egg.
They carry out their plan and head to Matrus. Lee has Violet wait on the room while he visits the Queen. After Lee comes back, he sends Violet to visit the Queen and her advisor, but Violet walks in the see that Lee has murdered them. She runs to the roof and Lee is taking off without her, trying to pin the murders on her. Violet catches the edge of the airborne vehicle and won't let go. She shifts the balance and Lee topples out to his death in the gardens below.
Violet tries to assess the situation. Did Lee really try to set her up? Who was he working for? Who can she trust? Violet grapples with trying to learn how to navigate the vehicle. She finds a note that helps her understand what's going on. She ends up in the Green, a dangerous area with deadly air and animals. She crash lands in a tree and falls out. She uses Lee's gear to survive. Finally, she sees what's going on. All the rejected boys of Matrus are housed in a building in the Green for HORRIFIC scientific experiments which enhance their skills. She finds her brother, but can't get him and the other boys out. She needs help.
Patrus pays Viggo to find and murder Violet. He now hates her as he feels lied to and used for her egg-stealing mission. They find each other she convinces him that she was also lied to by Lee.
If I summarized all SEVEN books we'd be here all day, so check out your local library and read the books for yourself. They'll leave you on the edge of your seat. The ending wasn't all the closure I ever needed, but it was a good end to this terrific series. I sure hope it's made into a movie.
This fall, I've been loving the new Crowder song, Red Letters.
Crowder shared on Multitracks.com, "'Red Letters' is a moving testimony of the way Jesus has freed us from our sin and shame. It utilizes significant imagery as it walks through our desperation to the moment when Jesus took our place on the cross and we received His gift of salvation." Red letters bring to mind that the words of Christ are written in red in the Bible.
The day after I got back from Chicago, I went to the KC area with my mom for one of her doctor's appointments. While there, we checked out Blue Koi, a restaurant that that she saw featured in Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives. There we enjoyed their terrific dumplings. I also tried bubble tea for the first time and loved their almond joy one. I can't wait to visit Blue Koi again!
On our way home to Manhattan, KS, my mom was craving a burger. From my explorations of Lawrence, KS in May, I recommended the Burger Stand at the Casbah. They have grass-fed beef, which is a requirement for my mom. Mom ordered and enjoyed the Classic burger and I ordered and loved the Black & Blue burger. My burger came with Maytag blue cheese and granny smith chutney; so good, especially since I love sweet and tart flavors! The fries were also good. The Burger Stand makes all kinds of unique sauces, which I think helped them stand out. My mom talks about going back there soon.
No trip to Chicago would be complete without a visit to Navy Pier. I was so excited to finally be there. We were there in the evening and the views were beautiful!
