Iron Man 2 MCU Timeline Project

And the project moves on. Watching Iron Man 2 today. It is next in the list for me on my project, and this one does a much bigger tie in with the Agents of Shield, Nick Fury, and Agent Coulson.

I am not that thrilled with the plot so far just because the bad guys are mostly in charge, winning and Stark is a pain the butt. I know this is part of the arc but still, I hate it when bad guys are winning...

So referring back to the list I am working from, Iron Man 2 is supposed to be the 5th, but Agent Carter isn't available streaming for free or on Netflix DVD yet so I have put off that side of things for a bit. I also am completely current on the Agents of Shield TV series, so those won't be worked into the timeline for me.

Next up will be Thor which I have moved to position 3 in my Netflix DVD queue.

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Previously on In My Words...MCU Timeline Project

The Incredible Hulk MCU Timeline Project

So the project moves on. Watching the 2008 version of the Incredible Hulk today. It is considered one that can be skipped if you want as it only barely touches on the timeline of Stark, Nick Fury etc.

I had forgotten that this version actually skips over most of the original cause and plot of the Incredible Hulk and picks up after Bruce has been on the run for a while trying to find a cure. It is a nice twist from the original story line and makes watching either version much more enjoyable.

So referring back to the list I am working from, The Incredible Hulk is supposed to be the 4th but Agent Carter isn't available streaming for free or on Netflix DVD yet so I have put off that side of things for a bit.

Next up will be Iron Man 2 which I have moved to position 2 in my Netflix DVD queue.

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Previously on In My Words...MCU Timeline Project

Iron Man MCU Timeline Project

Second movie of my MCU Timeline Project. I was actually supposed to watch the first season of Agent Carter before this and after I watched  Captain America The First Avenger, but the Agent Carter shows aren't available for streaming so I have to get them by DVD, so I will have to fit them in out of sequence.

I saw this movie when it first came out in DVD ages ago, but didn't really get to pay attention because we were at a friend's house socializing.

I really enjoyed this re-watch and think that Robert Downey Jr has a great delivery style. This was fun. Completely forgot that Gwyneth Paltrow was in it too. Loved the visits from Agent Coulson too from the Agents of SHIELD series.

Looking forward to the next segment of this little project.
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Previously on In My Words....My MCU Project

Captain America MCU Timeline Project

Captain America: The First Avenger is the first movie listed in the timeline project that I am working on.

As I wrote before, after watching the Agents of SHIELD on Netflix streaming this summer, I found that I really wanted to know more about how things went chronologically since I was never a big comic book reader as a kid.

This movie didn't get great reviews but I still enjoyed it quite a bit and found that I liked seeing the background to some of the other stories I have seen in recent years. I thought they did an awesome job with making the actor look so small before he becomes Captain America, without it looking ridiculous.

I am supposed to watch Agent Carter's first season next but since I can't get it streaming, I might decide to re-watch IronMan which is actually 3rd in the list first.
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Earlier on In My Words....MCU Timeline Project

Marvel Cinematic Universe Timeline

I am not a huge comic book fan, I really didn't read them as a kid, but just like most people, I have watched my fair share of shows and movies that are related to them. I figured that most of the superhero movies I have seen are from Marvel Comics, which is not the case necessarily and some of the subjects I didn't know were related to Marvel Comics, are. As you can see, this makes things rather confusing.

I was sucked into the Agents of Shield series recently and it started me looking at the timeline of things in the Marvel Universe. They kept referring to things in the show that tied into characters that weren't part of the show.

Obviously, the first thing for me to do was Google "marvel comics timeline" and I found this interesting article on CNET about the timeline that involves the shows and movies that are produced by the MCU. Note that this means that other movies or TV shows that were put out before MCU came to be or are produced by other entities are not included in this timeline. I was a bit confused by this at first because I have seen some superhero movies of both the DC Comics and Marvel Comic characters that are not included in CNET's list, but this is apparently due to the fact that this article is limiting itself to those that fall under the MCU enterprise and were produced by the MCU enterprise. So some might find the list lacking, but I felt like it was a great place to start. I am sure there is a lot more to it and I am sure that true fans of the comic books have a lot more to add to this.

This image explains a bit how the character rights are set up right now...note that Daredevil currently falls in the MCU. This explains the reason the X-Men are not included the CNET article.

Source: "Visual Guide to Marvel Character Movie Rights" Infographic by The Geek Twins [Infographic]

I have adjusted my Netflix DVD queue to reflect the list from CNET, and I have the first one, Captain America: The First Avenger sitting in my living room. I plan to rewatch those that I have seen before and I am a bit undecided if I will include the TV series' if they aren't ones I have already seen. Should be a fun adventure.
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Ten Years Ago on In My Words...Truth or Dare

Ground Control

Fun day with my sister. It brought back so many childhood memories for me. We used to go to a couple different arcades when we were kids with our dad.

All the games at this place were standard prices (so for the most part, just a quarter), and were on original machines with original software.

We played all the games we could find from our childhood and had a blast. As you can see from the pic, I did well enough, on my first try on DigDug in years, to get on the high score list.

So much fun...I could have stayed there for hours.

On another note, we had super good parking karma and also were able to check out the Pride Parade on our way home.

This place didn't have our dad's favorite game so next time we are all together, we'll have to go to the other arcade because they have Missile Command.
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Three Years Ago on In My Words...Bananagrams

Winter Bloom

A few months ago when we were going to get our first freeze, I brought some of the plants I had put on the back porch to be repotted indoors so they wouldn't be killed. They have been sitting on our kitchen counter since then because it has just been too cold (or dark, since I sleep days) to deal with them.

This guy is a group of starts I got from my SIL that she had in a class jar at home in some water. I brought them home and put them in a pot, but decided later that I wanted to have them in a different pot.

A few days ago, I noticed that a new shoot was starting to come out from the spider plant and soon after that I noticed this pretty flower. I grabbed the camera because I wasn't sure how long it would last, and I am glad I did because within a day, it was gone again.

I wish my Christmas cactus would bloom...but I am happy with what I have so far.
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Ten Years Ago on In My Words...Getting There

2015 Reading Challenge

Didn't quite get there, but with starting to work full time this year, I still made a pretty decent dent in it.

I am going to start the 2016 Reading Challenge with a goal of 40 books...we'll see if that is too ambitious or not.

Reading is one of those things I try to make time for each day...it is what I do right before bed if nothing else. Working nights and sleeping days for the last few months has thrown that pattern off a bit but hope to get back at it.
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Three Years Ago on In My Words...2012 Reading Challenge (got it done)

Second Sprinkling

I was on my way home from work but decided I just couldn't pass up the photo opportunity. The sky was so cool looking and everything was covered in white.

I thought this drive way looked really cool. I had stopped here because there is a pond nearby and a good view of the surrounding hills.

I also found a gaggle of geese...which is amazingly actually called a gaggle...who knew. They were walking through the snow...probably wishing they could find some water that wasn't frozen over.

I told myself that next time it snows substantially, I am going to go downtown and see about getting some pics in the park as well.

The weather this year so far has been very normal winter which is nice because that means the ski mountain is open and our snow pack is at a level that might mean we don't have a horribly dry summer.
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Eight Years Ago on In My Words...Snow Updated

First Fire

Tonight is the first night in a while where I have not had too much of an agenda, so I thought this would be a good night to put a log on the fire.

I wasn't able to burn any fires last fall/winter because of all the unpacking that needed to be done and the fact that the fireplace was hidden behind a pile of boxes.

Our fireplace doesn't put out a lot of heat, but the ambiance is definitely there. With a few fall smelly candles burning and a big cup of hot tea, it was perfect and definitely worth the wait.

Fall is here, in fact you might even say that winter is here, so I hope to get more logs burnt over the next few months, but none of them will feel as good as the first one does.
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Two Years Ago on In My Words...POTD Day 20 I'm Listening To

RA Peak

Met a friend from work for a hike this morning. We had plans to get to the top, but traffic and time constraints limited that. I had never been there before so I felt like just knowing where to start from was an accomplishment.

The view is amazing and I can totally see why more houses are being built up this way. It was a bit scary driving up because it was straight into the sun and there were spots in the road where I couldn't see in front of me and I thought I might hit something. It would probably help if I cleaned the windshield a little better...lol.

Anyhow, now that I know where the trail head is, I plan to get over there after work for a workout more often before it gets too cold or dark in the mornings. Can't wait to take pics from the top!
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Earlier this year on In My Words...First Time Up

Pretty Sunsets

I do have to say one thing for the smoke in the air....it makes for some gorgeous sunsets. This first one was two nights ago with the air relatively clear (nice break from the last week). My cousin and I were out walking around our grandma's neighborhood trying to work off some of the huge dinner we had. I love how the rays are coming out of it.

This second one is from last night. I had visited my grandma's again and was driving home right at sunset. I could see the amazing sun in my mirrors as I tried to get home before it completely set. I had to drive up a different road from where we live to catch this one because our road is behind a hill and the sun was already gone there. I just didn't want to miss this beauty.

Last Year on In My Words....POTD Day 9 Natural

Memorial Day 2015: Wear Blue

You too can own a shirt

Wear Blue: Run To Remember is a great organization started in Washington State by two military spouses following a deployment of the unit to Afghanistan. One of those spouses lost her husband during that deployment.

The group is now nationwide and helps to bridge the gap between civilian and military communities as well as create a living memorial for those that have given the greatest sacrifice.

This Memorial Day, I was determined to get out and get a few miles in, even if it was a time crunch to do it. The weather was absolutely perfect and while I didn't run (too out of shape right now), it still felt great to get some exercise and support such a great organization as well as show my support for our friends and family members that have given it all in service of our country.

I am back on track to achieving my own fitness goals and this day was a fantastic option to honor myself and the day!
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Last Year on In My Words...POTD Day 11 - Something Good

2015 PB 5K

Yesterday, I managed to compete in a 5K in one of our local towns. I didn't train for it, even though I should have so I wasn't able to do as well as I would have liked but I did do better than I expected.

The weather was cooler and cloudy and we had heard there were threats of rain. I have to say, we got lucky and it only sprinkled a bit near the end of the race.

I forced myself to run more than I had in ages, and it paid off on my time. Even with the extra weight I have put on this year, I matched my time from last year with no training other than walking a few 5k distances in the last few weeks.

After the race, I changed clothes and volunteered to work for my employer to help relieve some of the other volunteers when they needed it (the race is only one small part of a big festival that my employer is deeply involved with). The rain did come down, but it didn't damper the spirit of the day.
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Last Year on In My Words...Smile 11/100 Bib

In Memoriam Grandpa Davis 1921-2015

Golfing with Gpa in Minnesota 10/2014

Today, a light in our family went out. We all lost one of the most special people in our lives and I personally lost one of my favorite humans on this entire planet.

I only got to have him as my grandpa for the last 22+ years, but that never changed how much I loved him and enjoyed spending time with him. He made me feel loved from the very first day we met.

He is the reason I ever gave the game of golf a chance. We were in California for our cousin's graduation and family get together and a lot of the family was heading to the course, and I decided to go. I didn't have any of the equipment and I think I only hit the ball about 25 ft per swing, but I fell in love with it right there. My feet were so sore after the round because I rarely got back in the cart with my short shots...LOL. As soon as we got home, we purchased for me, my first set of clubs and shoes. Years later, I play now with a set that Gpa made for me. Since we used the same size clubs, even over long distances, it was convenient for him to create clubs for me that would fit perfectly. I am so grateful to him for all he has done for us.

Due to distance, I wasn't able to spend as much time with him as I would have liked. I was able to see him at least once a year the last few years and on a couple of years I got even more visits in. During one visit last year for a memorial service, a bunch of us were able to go through pictures and albums with him and hear some of the stories/dramas of his young life in Nebraska. This past year we had 3 visits, the last one in October in Minnesota after his big move from Nebraska. The weather was amazing and we managed to get in three days of golfing in the short 5 days that I was there.

He was always so fun to take out to eat, because you could be guaranteed he would play games with the staff, thoroughly confusing them while giving us all a good chuckle. During my most recent visit, he convinced the manager at the pizza joint we were ordering from, that he wanted a part time job as a delivery boy. They even gave him a little tour while the manager threatened the teenagers working for him that Gpa was going to be their new boss...LOL.

He really did try to live life to the fullest, even when he was not feeling so hot. At times, he would get frustrated on the course because he couldn't hit the ball as far as he used to, and I would tell him that if I was still able to play golf at 93, I would be thrilled. He never let his age stop him. He was definitely an inspiration.

I know that he had a long good life and I am glad that he isn't in any pain or dealing with the frustrations of his progressive conditions, but selfishly, I am going to miss him so much. I really hope that I live up to being half the person that he has been to so many.
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Three Years Ago on In My Words...Surprise Bday Gift

Upper Table Rock Hike

These two mesas have always loomed in the distance. They are very distinct fixtures against our landscape to the northeast of my home town.

They are covered in poison oak and are rumored to have lots of rattle snakes on them as well...which is part of why I had never attempted to hike either of them.

Recently, I had seen some great pictures that my uncle took a few years ago during a hike in the spring and I got the urge to see the views for myself.

A few weeks ago, one of my co-workers mentioned that she was going to climb the Upper one (which means it is up river from the other), and I decided to jump on the chance.

This morning we made the trek. And even with my terrible fitness status, I did make it to the top (just had to take a couple of breaks along the way). The view was just as awesome as I imagined. The top itself was covered in green, wild flowers, and baby poison oak...LOL. It was quite beautiful. I am hoping to get to the top of the Lower Table Rock (seen in the distance of this image) before the poison oak gets too big as I am highly allergic to it.
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Two Years Ago on In My Words...New Hike

Work Tulips

The beds out front at work always have some cool plants in them...I am not sure if the tulips are left in year around, and some of the other seasonal stuff is just brought in and taken out when it dies, but the tulips are in full bloom now and I was determined to remember to get a shot of them before they disappeared.

I walk past them each day on my way for my break walk and of course, I am in a hurry then and rarely have my camera and then by the time I go back in, I have forgotten about them...but not today. I finished my walk a little early, went straight to my desk and grabbed my camera to get a shot in the morning sun.

Tulips are such a happy flower and always feel like a true sign that spring is on its way.
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Five Years Ago on In My Words...Ikebana Lesson #1

OSF: Fingersmith

Thanks to my awesome uncle, I got a ticket to see this play in preview during one of the matinees. It was my first play of what is supposed to be a great season. It was amazing. A story I really didn't know anything about, I was immersed immediately in the life of 19th century England. I am kind of glad that I hadn't read the book before I saw this play because it allowed the twists and turns to unfold in real time for me. I do have the book on my "to read" list now though.

After the play, one of the actors came out to talk to us a bit. He was really fun, answering questions ranging from his character in this play to questions about his career and favorite theaters to work in. Overall a very enjoyable experience and I highly recommend this play this season!
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Two Years Ago on In My Words...My Fair Lady

Spring Has Sprung

This is the pretty Phlox in our front yard...it is super cute and fuzzy. The other big one we have isn't doing as well because it was entwined with some weeds during the winter and getting them out was kind of a pain in the ass. It has been done now though, so hopefully it will bounce back okay.

A lot of flowers are starting to make their appearance in the yard which just reminds me how much I need to get done before the good weather gets here...

It seems the tasks are never ending!!
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Two Years Ago on In My Words...Pop Spring Visit

The Untouchables

via IMDB

I just rewatched this movie today, and it is still one of my all time favorite movies. Love the actors in it and the story and how well it was done. It stands the test of time too because watching it today, it doesn't feel like a movie that came out in the 80's.

This movie is the one that completely won me over to Robert Dinero being one of my favorite actors. He plays Al Capone so well, just how I imagine he might have been in real life.

The train station scene is just done so well...the tension, and timing were so great and right after having two of the main characters killed, it felt good to have the good guys get back some.

I am pretty sure we own this one, I'll have to check our DVD cabinet so I can watch it again soon.

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Two Years Ago on In My Words...Jaws