Thursday Thirteen

Yesterday marked Sean Penn's 51st birthday, so in celebration of such a talented man, I'm picking my thirteen favorites of his movies.

1. I Am SamThis is my cry movie. You know, the movie you can pop in and know 200% that you're going to cry to. I pretty much cry throughout this entire film. The relationship between Sam and Lucy makes my heart ache.

2. Dead Man WalkingLike a lot of Penn films, it's a hard movie to watch, but both Penn and Sarandon give amazing performances in this.

3. The Falcon and the SnowmanThis drama/thriller marked the first serious Sean Penn movie I ever saw, and while it's flawed, there are glimmers of the talent he displays in later works. I actually watched this the first time because I was so in love with Timothy Hutton (who I still adore and finally get to see on my TV in Leverage lol).

4. Fast Times at Ridgemont HighNo list would be complete without his breakout role, but it's funny seeing the new posters of this movie. He was nobody in a throwaway comic role, and yet, he is the one everybody remembers. Can you remember the other actors in this movie?

5. Milk.As far as I'm concerned, he owns this movie.

6. Mystic RiverThere's much I love about this movie - the cinematography, Clint Eastwood's direction, the ensemble. But again, Penn is brilliant.

7. The GameI like this for the movie's twists rather than specifically for Penn's performance. It's not aged well, but I still enjoy it.

8. 21 GramsThis is not an easy to watch. It's not told linearly, the performances are raw, and the emotions more so. But it's worth it anyway, for Benicio del Toro as much as for Sean Penn.

9. Carlito's WayThis movie is all about what a chameleon Penn really is. It's a fantastic gangster movie on its own, but Penn's performance is just as strong as Pacino's in my opinion.

10. State of GraceI'll be honest. While Penn is good in this, my fond feelings for this film arise from his costar. Gary Oldman is one of those actors I've been obsessed with since his Sid and Nancy days. I've even sat through Coppola's Dracula too many times to count just because of him.

11. Racing with the MoonI know. It's not really a great movie. But it was one of those gentler movies I fell in love with when I discovered it in college. Elizabeth McGovern was stunning, Nicolas Cage hasn't gone overboard yet on some of his acting shtick, and Penn is solid.

12. The Thin Red LineI'll admit I've only watched it once, but that's not the movie's fault. It's a mesmerizing war movie, but war movies and I don't always get along. I find them difficult to live with, to be honest, and can't deal well with the emotions they churn. That being said, this is one of the better films in Penn's catalog.

13. HurlyburlyOkay, this one's cheating. I don't really care for the movie, but I love the play so I have to include it.

What's your favorite Sean Penn movie?

Thursday Thirteen

With all the unrest going on in the UK, today's Thirteen was an easy one. Thirteen things I am grateful for in this world.

1. My husbandWe met online in 1997. I was an American finishing school in Florida, and he was a Brit working in Annapolis. I wasn't in a great place, but meeting him gave me a best friend, the return of my self-confidence, and a whole new world to explore.

2. My kidsThey drive me crazy sometimes, and they're getting too big to cuddle, but every day they find ways to astound me about the people they're becoming.

3. My dog, LucyThis is our Boston Terrier, Lucy, in the most common position you'll find her in. I complain about Lucy all the time, but the truth of the matter is, she's the sweetest, most docile dog you can imagine, and I'm so lucky that she's part of our family.

4. My iPadIn 2010, my husband surprised me with an iPad for Mother's Day. Having one pretty much changed how I do a lot of things. It goes almost everywhere with me, and has saved me from boredom too many times to count.

5. LoseItOkay, this one might seem odd, but hear me out. I suck at measuring stuff, or counting calories, or anything like that. I've always hated it. When my husband started using this application to track what he was eating this last spring, he almost immediately started losing weight. So I gave it a go. And wouldn't you know it, but it's been a godsend. I've lost 18 pounds since May 30, and this app is a big part of that.

6. BooksIf I didn't have stories to lose myself in, I'd go mad. Every day I'm grateful there are people out there creating them for me.

7. Working from homeMy husband and I always knew we wanted someone home full time with the kids if we could work it out, but I've always worked my entire adult life. I needed something else to keep my brain engaged. I'm so thankful I have a job that allows me to satisfy both needs.

8. Our jet tubWhen we got our new house a couple years ago, one of the things we splurged on was our bathroom. The husband wanted a jet tub, and while I didn't think it was all that necessary, he let me get the backsplash in the kitchen without any argument so I figured I owed him the same. Fast forward two years later, I'm the one who uses that tub the most, lol.

9. Where I liveI've lived in the San Francisco Bay Area since 2004, when we moved back to the US from the UK. I grew up in the Midwest and lived on the East Coast prior to getting married and going to England, but I have to say that I don't want to live anywhere else right now. I love that I live in a part of the country that recognizes and accepts love isn't restricted by gender. I love the moderate weather, too.

10. People who smileIt takes so little to smile at someone - your partner, your kids, a stranger you pass at the store. Getting a random smile in response to one of mine always lifts my mood.

11. Starbucks Mocha Light FrappuccinosWhen I want to reward myself, or when I've had a crappy day and need a boost, this is my treat of choice. It always works.

12. The InternetWithout the Internet, I wouldn't have my husband, or many of my friends, or my life, really. It's introduced me to people and information I never would have had otherwise.

13. Mornings I get to sleep inAs someone who was never a morning person, having kids really messed with my body clock. Any time I get to sleep in past eight is a godsend.

Thursday Thirteen

Since I've been struggling to find my schedule this week with the kids back in school, this week's Thursday Thirteen are things that suck away my time...even when I know they shouldn't, lol.

1. Facebook.I wasn't even on Facebook until a year ago when my sister whined at me for the millionth time about how that was the only way to keep up with our scattered family. Now it's got its own window open all the time, lol.

2. Buffy the Vampire SlayerI was a huge Buffy fan back in the day, and one of my very good friends told me last year she hadn't seen it yet and wanted to. So we planned to start watching it together once the kids went back to school. It's hard to limit ourselves once we get started!

3. New babyThat same friend just had a baby five weeks ago, which means I have been doting, let me cuddle that baby for hours, mode. It's hard to give her back when it's time for the visit to end!

4. School runsI've got a daughter in middle school and a son in elementary school, which means lots and lots of running around.

5. Twitter Twitter is my social platform of choice. It's more succinct and I can do it on the fly. I'm far too addicted to it.

6. Making jewelry I've become obsessed recently with beading and making jewelry. I'm currently in the throes of education because what I really want to do is make chainmail jewelry.

7. Email We've got a blog tour going on for our latest Jamie Craig release, A Line in the Ice, which means answering a lot of interview questions and responding to emails.

8. Gardening It's that time of year when my tomatoes are going nuts. So I'm spending far too much time trimming, watering, and picking tomatoes. Good thing we love them!

9. Skype None of my family nor my husband's even lives in the same time zone we do. Skype is the way we stay in contact.

10. Reading I've never been able to stop reading, no matter how busy I get. I always have at least two or three books going at a time.

11. Knitting I've picked up my knitting again, since I have a new baby to actually make things for.

12. Netflix When they started streaming, I was doomed.

13. Michael's Michael's gets its own category. Time seems to disappear when I'm there.