What Are The Odds?

My thoughts on The Hunger Games... before they hit the big screen...

PLEASE DO NOT READ THIS IF:

*You have not read the books.

*You have avoided information about the movie, because you don't want anything to be "spoiled".

*You have never considered the possibility that I might be capable of getting so caught up in a series that it is pathetic, and you'd like to keep me on that pedestal.

SPOILER WARNING! STOP READING NOW!

I would never... in a million years... had thought to pick up the books if my friend and walking partner hadn't mentioned them (almost in passing) last fall. I am a self described "pop culture moron" (PCM). Had I not read the books, I would have chalked this series up as the next Harry Potter or Twilight (as it is sometimes being referred to even now, and neither of which I have read or watched), and that would have been that... End of story.

But as it turned out; I had a little bit of extra time on my hands one evening when my aforementioned walking partner was out of town and I wasn't going to have to get up before the crack of dawn to meet her. So I headed on over to amazon.com and took a look inside the first book... read the first chapter... had the whole trilogy ordered and on the way (and, yes... please take note we do have a Kindle... but it's just not the same - PCM)...

Well... 1,155 pages... and 1 week later, I think it would be mild to say that I was a fan. If we're going to compare The Hunger Games to other series', it ranked right up there for me with Star Wars and Lord of the Rings.

The problem with reading something this intricate, this fast is that you miss stuff. I turned around and picked the first book back up and re-read the series at a more leisurely pace. Still just as good. I was actually surprised when I started asking people if they had read the series and most of them said no... with many of them never having heard of it at all or assuming it was a collection of children's books. The most common questions people asked me were, "Is it a Christian series," and then, "What is it about?" When the first thing out of my mouth was consistently, "It's kind of about kids... killing other kids..." the reactions were fantastic. Apparently the general consensus is that I only read stuff that incorporates rainbows... unicorns... and butterflies. Hmmm... I guess tracker jackers don't count...

At any rate, it's been a hard sell to get anyone to read this series. But let me reiterate that these are not children's books... Seth and Grace do have friends who have read them. I am actually kind of appalled by that. Not that I won't let them read them... eventually. But my current thinking on that is age 16. Any way you look at it; I would absolutely not recommend these to any child who isn't old enough to be a tribute in Panem. If you haven't read the books, I guess you'll have to if you want to know just how old that is... It should be noted, also, that this series is not really just about kids killing kids. That description just made for some phenomenal jaw dropping...

Then came the realization that The Hunger Games would soon be a movie...

After about 3 seconds of excitement, I thought, "They are totally going to ruin it". This begins with the principle that books are almost always better than movies anyway. But there's more to it. In the entire trilogy, the author used the word, "hell," in context maybe half a dozen times and out of context once. If we want to talk about profanity in The Hunger Games... that's it. But what are the chances that they're going to throw 24 actors up on the screen to fight to the death and no one's going to curse? I'm going to call that slim to none, before the movie ever comes out... Then, there's the issue of nakedness. It's different to read a book and know that someone is naked because they're changing clothes or dressing wounds. For me, anyway, it doesn't elicit an explicit image. In a movie, this is going to be more difficult. I think it can be done, with careful positioning... and maybe underclothes... but I am certainly left wondering how much skin will surface. I guess I am less concerned about this with The Hunger Games and more concerned about how this will all play out in Catching Fire... because you can't really get around Johanna Mason... (I mean... unless you eliminate her completely... like Madge... which I'm still kind of smoldering about, and I'll tell you why in a minute...) Of course, you've got the violence factor too, but to be honest; I feel that I sort of lack the ability to offer a moral compass on that. Maybe it should bother me more than it does. I guess that remains to be seen...

I have been following news about the movie pretty closely, and I understand that certain changes have to be made to fit the whole thing into 2 hours and 22 minutes (that's the official time as I understand it, although I would have been just as happy with a 4 1/2 hour movie). I have seen some "added" scenes that I think are going to make for a fuller, more developed story on screen. If you haven't viewed the scene with president Snow and Seneca Crane yet, I think there is actually some allegory there that can become an incredible teaching moment, if we let it. And I'm excited that it has been alluded to that there will be scenes of Katniss' mother, Prim, and Gale watching the games, as well. As a sidenote, I don't think they would have been able to fully develop a following for "Team Gale" without that... Of course, for those of us who have read the books; I think that following will be rather anemic, anyway, don't you?

But the things they've deleted... Those are the most disturbing. My primary concern is the elimination of Madge, which changes the entire significance of the Mockingjay pin (at least the way I see it). In reality (well... I mean... if this was reality, right?), they may have made a change in the story line that helps to develop the characters of Prim and Katniss and the relationship between them. OK. I get that. But I hope they've thought ahead to the rest of the franchise, because I think they've damaged Haymitch's character and story with this move... and let's face it; Haymitch can't withstand a whole lot of damage. The Mockingjay pin is what connects Katniss to Haymitch's games. Without it, you've lost the history. Now, granted, none of that comes into play in the first book. Maybe the screenwriters are going to somehow weave Maysilee Donner back in during Catching Fire. I suppose it doesn't necessarily add anything to the story for Maysilee to have a niece who is friends with Katniss. Maybe Maysilee leaves the pin to Katniss' mother instead of her songbird. I could go with that. But the prevailing feel of the previews is that Katniss somehow purchases this pin... out of the blue... for Prim. If that's the case, we have a major disconnect, because how Katniss gets the pin matters...

It occurred to me that maybe the worst part of this for the filmmakers is that if they don't connect the pin to Maysilee... and to Haymitch... they have completely shot themselves in the foot for a prequel. And come on... who has read the books and doesn't want a peek at Haymitch's life and games, in full? In Hollywood, this translates into lots of money lost if they don't somehow reconcile this plot error.

The other thing is... I'm still not sold on the cast. As I re-read (again) the series for the third time; I am trying to put the actors and actresses in the scenes in my mind. Haymitch... Cinna... Rue... I think I've got them there. I must admit that I did not imagine Haymitch looking, at all, like Woody Harrelson when I was first introduced to this series, but the more I thought about it; the more it worked. I originally imagined Haymitch as a grumpy old man, but realistically, if he won his games 25 years ago at age 16; he's only 41 at the beginning of the series. This is actually 10 years younger than Harrelson, but I think they'll make it work. Of course, if you grew up in the 80s, Harrelson is probably firmly embedded in a bar, in your mind, so that works just perfectly for Haymitch. I think it's the choice of hair, though, that finally sold me on this casting decision. Which probably means anybody could have played him. But Haymitch's hair is going to be awesome.

I'm not sure why so many people have been opposed to the idea of Lenny Kravitz as Cinna. He's too old, but that's the way it's going with the entire cast (almost). Other than that, I think it works. Rue... and the other tributes, for that matter... seem to have been well cast, but so many of them have such small roles, I'm not sure it would be worth the time to go through any possible pros and cons, age notwithstanding.

I don't imagine President Snow looking anything like Donald Sutherland. I guess the real problem, though, is that I kind of imagine him looking like Ron Paul. Of course Dr. Paul and President Snow have such vastly different political views on war that I guess I wouldn't have made a decent casting decision with this one, either. (Try to imagine me collapsing in laughter as you read this, because I'm really not looking for a political debate)...

Gamemakers? I never really thought much about Seneca Crane, so I guess I doesn't matter to me all that much who plays him. In the one preview where I've seen him speak, though, I was less than impressed. I do, however, think the larger oversight is that there is apparently no Plutarch Heavensbee? The information I've gathered seems to allude to the fact that he is unnecessary until Catching Fire, so am I to assume he's not going to fall in the punch bowl?

And for all of my complaining about the cast being too old... I think they've cast Effie too young! Or maybe it's just all of the plastic surgery in the Capitol? But I don't know about Elizabeth Banks as Effie Trinket. And I don't know about the white wig, either...

Before I dive right in to the main characters, I am also slightly concerned that Katniss' father has been cast. This either signifies that we will have dream sequences or flashbacks (and all I can think of is Gilligan falling out of the hammock onto the Skipper while the screen morphs and blinks) or maybe postmortem communication (uh... was he a Jedi?) At any rate, there have been no clues to this, so I guess I'll have to wait and see like everyone else.

Now... Jennifer, Josh, and Liam... What to say? Suzanne Collins' reaction has been that they are phenomenal in their roles. I hope that means something. I haven't really seen it in the trailers and clips, but I'm trying to give them the benefit of the doubt. I am, perhaps, having the most difficult time placing Josh Hutcherson as Peeta. I imagined Peeta to be... different. But you know who I would have cast? Doug Brochu (as in the kid who plays Grady on So Random - PCM). So maybe this is why no one asked me to do the casting. I have to be honest and say that I have never seen Jennifer Lawrence or Liam Hemsworth act in anything, so maybe I just need to wait and see what I think after the movie...

If I go see it.

As of the moment, it looks like the midnight showing in my area is sold out. And I'm having trouble coming up with a suitable movie viewing partner, because I really don't want to see it with someone who hasn't read the book... and I'm not sure I want to see it with a kid (certainly not one of mine)... and I don't want to see it with anyone who will make fun of my Hunger Games Sesame Street shirt (if I buy it)... and Phil will make fun of me for being a part of "Team Pita Bread" (although he hasn't read the series, he got a real kick out of the fact that Peeta's family owns the bakery...) And I can't see it alone, because it's going to be scary... and I need someone to keep me from turning tribute-like if a bunch of teenage girls sit in front of me and scream every time Peeta or Gale makes an appearance...

And I find myself, now, almost hoping that no one has read this far, because it's sort of pathetic that I'm this wrapped up in a storyline...

Happy Hunger Games...

Lisa

The Parting of the Blue and White Sea...

I'd be lying if I didn't start by saying that when I walked into the gym, this morning, and saw that the two kids who have guarded Caleb most closely this season were already playing in the game before his, I didn't let out an almost silent, "yes!"

Not that I had huge, high hopes that he would score today, but the kid has been taking advantage of this beautiful weather and shooting hoops in the driveway when he has a chance. So there was at least a little part of me that hoped the hard work and pointers from Dad might pay off... just once...

For the first four periods, I stood, perched on a folding chair, in a corner of the very crowded, almost electric (again) gym, and took pictures... Caleb's team played well. They played as a team. They continued in their quest to get him a shot, just like last week, creating play after play that at least put him in position to try. I heard later, that at halftime, one of his teammates had vocally made it her plan to pass the ball to Caleb every time. And I continued to appreciate these kids... and these coaches... and these parents who somehow understand that basketball is secondary to loving people. But at some point I realized that Caleb was just exhausted. He was literally skipping around the court at moments. And the kid who was guarding him... I don't know where he came from, but his defense was good.

A foul was called that sent Caleb to the free throw line. I didn't have a whole lot of faith that he'd sink any of those... and he didn't... but I just kept thinking, "They sure are giving him every opportunity!"

And then the fifth period started, and I knew this was really the last chance for a basket this season, because there is no way they could play him all game. There does come a point at which we need to be fair to the other players, too. And I have no idea why it took me so long, but I finally started to pray, "God... could You please just let him hit one?"

And then something happened that I never expected in a million years. Having observed these people for weeks... knowing these people as I do now... I probably should have expected it. But I didn't. Caleb had the ball and was dribbling it toward the basket, and every kid on the court moved to the side. Every kid. And there he stood... with the ball in his hands... and he shot... and it was nothin' but net...

So at this point, of course, I'm screaming... and trying to ensure I don't fall off the folding chair... and watching Caleb's happy face so intently that I actually forget to take a picture. And Caleb is so happy. So of course now, I'm crying... and still trying not to fall off the chair... And let's be honest, even if he develops into a fantastic basketball player and scores the winning goal in the last seconds of the NBA finals; it won't mean more to me than Caleb's basket today...

I cannot begin to tell you how many people congratulated Caleb for his shot after the game. He finally looked at me and said, "Everybody is saying nice job! Like... everybody!" And that was all really, super great. But the team meeting was the best. Each of the kids got stars based on what they did well all season long. There were stars for offense... and defense... and effort... and sportsmanship. And then Caleb got his star... the star for Christ-likeness... and his coach said, "You persevered all season long, and that's part of Christ-likeness!" And it is... Don't we know it. And I couldn't be more proud if I tried. And I cried again... because apparently that's one of the things I do best...

The rest of the team also received stars for Christ-likeness, and they were very well deserved. And I should take this moment to offer a word of thanks to Caleb's coach who mercifully used the phrase, "stack play," because it gave me something to spit at my older children (who shall remain nameless and are grounded for life) when they had the audacity to ask if Caleb had actually made a basket or if they just let him shoot it... ("Weren't you watching? Didn't you see that stack play?")

It's been a good season.

At the current moment, we are back home. It appears that we have transitioned from the court to the house rather seamlessly. March 17th is an interesting day, of sorts, in our history, and I have to say that this March 17th has been a whole lot nicer than the one we experienced 8 years ago. But to be completely honest, we could use just one more "stack play" today if it's out there...

Lisa

Romans 12:1-2 "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will" (NIV, 1984).

You Can't Make This Stuff Up...

It's been a challenging week...

With no hope of things slowing down.

Last weekend, we had a great time with Brad, Sheri, Abby, and Noah. We dragged them around to all of our various activities, and they were wonderful guests. I posed them in ridiculously tight spots and funny body contortions, and we came out with some great portraits. The weekend was great... until dinner time...

At which point, Seth choked on some shells and cheese... and I mean really choked. But he wasn't having trouble breathing or anything, so although we were concerned, we decided to just kind of observe him for awhile.

Well... by midnight, he still hadn't been able to get anything down... not food... not water... not even spit.

I took him to the ER.

To make a long story, and a long night, short... After a CAT scan, 8 hours in the ER, about half an hour of sleep that nearly resulted in me falling off the chair in the ER, listening to a police officer scream at an inmate who was there for some medical reason, watching some seriously sick and injured people come through, hearing the medivac helicopter, seeing Seth endure an IV and watching him spit and puke all night... Seth had to have a scope put down his throat to have the macaroni and cheese removed.

If the medical staff thought I was nuts at first, they were very nice to me afterward, and even showed me the evidence that I was, indeed, correct in my original assessment that my 11 year old had pasta stuck in his esophagus.

It wasn't a very good night.

This was followed by a sleepy day (that did include a nap, but not a long enough one), and then we plunged in to the "regular" activities of the week...

I am currently taking two classes this term (which lasts 6 weeks). After that, there is just one more to go and I will have my B.S.M. in Business Management. If I survive that long. Because if Senioritis is bad in High School, let's just say it's at least 8 trillion times worse 15 years later.

In addition to our regular weekend activities, this week, Grace also had her Junior Festival performances. Thank goodness that was scheduled for the same town in which the kids participate in basketball and cheerleading. Otherwise, I don't know how we would have pulled it off. Grace played very well and received Superior or Super Superior ratings in each of the categories that required her to play pieces on the piano. Theory was another story altogether. I just had to watch her... sort of helplessly... through the window to the room, as she actually held her head in the hands over the stress. The ironic thing about this is that I think she actually understands the theory. She just gets really tense when it comes to "testing" over it or putting it on paper. The ironic thing about this whole festival is that I watched parents run around in an almost panicked frenzy, some even commenting on how they just couldn't listen while their children played because they were so nervous. I thought back to my own solo and ensemble days and my festival performances and realized that I had been extraordinarily nervous during each of them, myself. But I just didn't feel that way on Saturday. I think I have learned a few things about Grace and her piano performances. #1 She is very good, and she's "got this". #2 If she makes some mistakes... at age 10... it's probably not going to set her whole life on a path of failure or anything. #3 I can check the scores, privately, after she goes to bed.

Later in the day when we arrived home, I watched a movie with the kids, Phil set our clocks ahead, and we proceeded to try to go to bed at a decent hour. Unfortunately, Grace came to us around 10:00 or so, if I remember correctly, and had thrown up all over her bedroom floor (in my defense, I think this must have been right when the tooth fairy came to the window, thus resulting in her lack of ability to leave money). Grace is typically our "healthy" child, but she has been sick 3 times this winter. Considering the rest of us have basically been sick all winter, I guess that still makes her the healthy one, but she is like her mom and doesn't "do sick" well. I cancelled my plans to go to The Naz. this morning.

As it turns out, Grace has felt pretty good all day today. So, I am chalking the vomit up to our eating habits yesterday (which we declared National Donut Day... or something like that...) and hoping that she really wasn't contagious... particularly because she and Seth have to go take the ISTEP tomorrow, and if either of them is sick, I think they'll get kicked out of the school or something...

And here I sit... and it's past 11:00pm... and I still have a whole counter full of dirty dishes... and I have to leave the house before the sun comes up...

But I think I might get a break on Thursday...

Lisa

And the Epic Story Continues...

The story of Caleb... and his basket... or the lack thereof... has grown over these past few weeks.

Today I was reminded, for at least the 178th time this season, of why we choose Upward sports (and specifically the Upward league we are a part of).

Caleb still hasn't scored in a game, and we are nearing the end of the season. By halftime, his coaches were running every play in such a way that Caleb might actually get the ball to make a shot. By the 5th period, one of his teammates (who is very good) was screaming for him every time down the court and passing him the ball, even when she had a good opportunity to shoot or could have passed it to another teammate who would have been more likely to put another 'two" up on the board. By the 6th period, another one of his teammates (who is also very good) was sitting on the bench, even though it was really Caleb's turn to sit, just so that Caleb could have more chances to score.

And the gym was electric (at least it seemed that way to me), with coaches... and parents... and leaders... and kids... shouting Caleb's name. He had one shot that I think we all really thought he was going to sink, but it just didn't quite make it. I wish I had switched my camera to video mode in that moment, because some of the reactions were just fantastic.

I think that was the moment, though, when it dawned on me (and on Phil, who actually said the words) that it doesn't really matter if Caleb makes a shot this season... or ever. Not that we don't want him to. Believe me, if he puts that ball in the hole next week, there's going to be a loud celebration in our corner. To be honest, after today I wondered if I should supply the whole gym with noisemakers. We want him to score. But Caleb has already gained something so much better than a couple of points in a game. He is part of a team. And he has a whole gym full of people who love him. I'll take that... every time.

So to all of the kids and coaches of the Junior 76ers... You undoubtedly get the "Christlikeness Star" from Caleb's Mom...

Lisa

P.S. If you coach one of my kids, I am so sorry that you have to wonder what I'll write about you all season long... but I guess I'm not that sorry... because I do keep writing... L.