Girls Write Out
Monday, July 23, 2007


When life hands you lemons, where do you go for comfort? What's your place of rest in this world that helps your forget life sucks at this very moment? I'm struggling with my MS at the moment; my body is numb, my eyes are funky and all I want to do is curl up like a cat and sleep. Have I mentioned I have four kids?

So I go into coping mode. That's something different to all of us, but to me, it means doing something really low-key that my kids can do with me while I revive. Saturday, we watched "Pillow Talk". Is there anything so uplifting as a Rock Hudson/Doris Day movie? My kids laughed at Rock Hudson's lies and said, "Mom, he's a player!"

Friday night we went to see "Hairspray" -- which we all loved, but there was a commercial for "Becoming Jane" about Jane Austen and Elle (6) got all giddy and whispered, "Dad, that's about Mr. Darcy!" Then, she giggled, like a precious schoolgirl with a crush. All I could think was, "Train them up in the way they should go! My work is done here." LOL

So when life sucks, here's the movies that make me grin no matter what. The ones I can watch again and again and feel that schoolgirl thrill:

Bridget Jones's Diary 1 & 2 (love the fight scene in two!)
Pride and Prejudice (Colin Firth version)
Notorious
Pillow Talk
So I Married an Axe Murderer
Moonstruck
As Good as it Gets
Romancing the Stone

What about you? What cheers you up when life looks gray? And ps., I'm feeling better. Laughter is the best medicine.




--
www.kristinbillerbeck.com
Kristin  
posted at 12:09 PM  
  Comments (29)
 
 
Delicious Delicious
29 Comments:
At 11:02 PM, Blogger Rachel Hauck said...

Laughter is the best medicine.

When my gall bladder had me up one night, sick as a dog, I put on remember the Titans. I love that movie.

Gall bladder came out two days later!

I also love Send Me No Flowers. I've seen it half dozen times and I laugh every single time.

Feel better, Kristin!

Cyber hugs, Rachel

 
At 11:16 PM, Blogger Sabrina L. Fox said...

Ah, Kristin, I married an axe murderer is one of our favorite movies. We saw it years ago when we were either dating or newly married. Remember that scene where she says something like "What if I stuck a needle in your ear?" We still say that to each other all the time. Gotta love sick humor. LOL.

Praying you're feeling better soon. ;)

 
At 12:23 AM, Blogger Crystal Laine said...

Oh, Kristin, I hope you're better soon.

I think nothing is funnier than watching a funny movie with my four boys. Their comments are enough to crack me up and my Max(the youngest) does a mean British accent for a Hoosier boy.

But I love Groundhog Day. My favorite scene is when he kidnaps the Groundhog Phil and is having Phil drive. "Don't drive angry!" is my favorite line (you have to be one of my kids to appreciate this line--they've ridden with me.)

Oh, sigh, I still love Roman Holiday as a fav "old" movie with Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn. Sigh.

I love movies and your list is good!

 
At 12:27 AM, Blogger Julie Carobini said...

So sorry about your setback Kristin. Movies really are a great way to pamper and relax(less fattening than eating a bag of m&ms,too, lol) I also like While you were sleeping & Sleepless in Seattle. Gotta see that axe movie, though. Sounds like I'm missing out ;)

 
At 1:50 AM, Blogger Kayla said...

Singing in the Rain NEVER fails. It's just wonderful. Ahhh. :)

Ever After is great. I don't know why I love it, because I normally dislike Drew Barrymore since she plays herself in every movie...but that one gets me every time.

The Sound of Music, Charade, and Breakfast at Tiffany's are good, too :)

And of course, a good Ashley Stockingdale book helps matters greatly.

 
At 2:15 AM, Blogger Pam Sanderlin said...

NORTH BY NORTHWEST
REMEMBER ME
THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST
ROMAN HOLIDAY
SENSE AND SENSIBILITY
WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING
ON GOLDEN POND
PRINCESS BRIDE ("As you wish...")

But...this last weekend when I was really discouraged, I re-read WHAT A GIRL WANTS to cheer up. That helped a lot.

Hope you are feeling 100% soon. Prayers for you... :)

 
At 8:03 AM, Blogger allen etter said...

Rain. When I get bummed, a good down pour gets me feeling better. That's probably why my movie involves rain and storms during 95% of it. Keeps me happy!

 
At 8:15 AM, Blogger Unknown said...

Allen, I'm with you!! Love a drenching rain. For a cheery movie, which includes several episodes of downpours set in Ireland, see "Waking Ned Devine." Like Ax Murderer, you'll laugh every time you watch it. That reminds me, it's been a few months..... :)

Katy McKenna www.fallible.com

 
At 8:15 AM, Blogger Lisa Jordan said...

Chick flicks all the way, baby. Or else my Alias DVDs.

My favorites include:
My Big Fat Greek Wedding
Hitch
How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
Never Been Kissed
Two Weeks Notice
While You Were Sleeping
Under the Tuscan Sun
13 Going on 30

 
At 8:18 AM, Blogger Unknown said...

Commenter "Doug" is really Katy McKenna. Really.

 
At 8:52 AM, Blogger Sally said...

So glad you're feeling better!

I also love So I Married an Axe Murderer...hilarious!

Another fun black comedy that I love is Grosse Point Blank.

And what about these?

13 Going on 30
Breakfast at Tiffany's
Sweet Home Alabama
Pretty in Pink

...and all the other chick flicks people mentioned! =)

 
At 9:47 AM, Blogger Jaime Wright said...

My husband has lymes disease this week and can hardly move. I feel soo bad for him, so I guess i have a tiny glimmer of what you're experiencing, Kristin.

He's not a movie guy. But if I had Lymes, I'd be watching:

Indiana Jones Trilogy
Harry Potter (don't anyone shoot me!)
Ever After
Little House on the Prairie!
and the Bourne Identity duo (can't wait for #3!)

 
At 10:29 AM, Blogger Kristin said...

mhWow, you guys, thanks! I'm totally filling my Netflix queue with some of these I'd forgotten about. Sixteen Candles. Now there's a great movie. SOOO politically incorrect, but hysterical. Ned Devine, that's a great one too. Never Been Kissed (I own that one). I was bummed when that guy got famous for Alias because he was such a fabulous lead in that movie, he should have stayed in romantic comedy. Then, his poor, hot self got dumped by Alias girl. Sigh.

On a happy note, I am WAY better. RAN last night!!! Still slow this morning, but slowly...surely...

 
At 11:26 AM, Blogger Jenny said...

okay, a day late and a dollar short but glad to hear you're doing better, Kristin. Almost all my movie favs have been listed, except for a few.
In the more contemporary line I can watch Fools Rush In and Ocean's Eleven over and over.
For oldies but goodies I like The Philadelphia Story, Angel on My Shoulder and It Happened One Night or any old Perry Mason rerun. Can't help it--Raymond Burr reminds me of of dad and I used to have to watch those shows when I went to my grandma's to visit because she could only get CBS on her TV. Fun memories.
Sending hugs!

 
At 12:26 PM, Blogger Cara Putman said...

I return to:

You've Got Mail & the original Shop Around the Corner
Sleepless in Seattle
Thin Man -- any of the 6 -- William Powell and Myrna Loy
Forget Paris -- sweet
Hitch...I could go on :-) But I won't.

 
At 12:27 PM, Blogger Cara Putman said...

Oh, And how could I forget Ocean's 12, 13, 14 :-) And then the Bourne movies...can't wait for the Bourne Ultimatium to release.

 
At 12:41 PM, Blogger Southern-fried Fiction said...

Kristin, I borrow something Maxine says:

When life hands you lemons ... stick 'em in your bra. Can't hurt. Might help.

;)

Praying you're feeling better soon.

 
At 12:43 PM, Blogger Southern-fried Fiction said...

Oh, and my faorite movie is Young Frankenstein - a guaranteed laugh!

 
At 1:20 PM, Blogger Annie said...

Oh wow... honestly, what cheers me up the most is reading the Psalms, in addition to watching a good movie. There's something about reading God's Word that can lift me up no matter what my mood. Also, there's something about getting a hug from a child that always makes me happy. I dont have children, but my mom always told me that nothing beats the hug of your own child.

When it comes to movies... ooo... many of the ones listed and mentioned are fantastic. I love the old romance Random Harvest with Greer Garson. Roman Holiday is a favorite. I am a huge Alias fan so diving into those seasons, especially season 2, helps me to get away from my own problems for a while. A temporary adventure.

 
At 2:28 PM, Blogger Kristin said...

Ane, I love Maxine. My mom collects cookie jars, and I got her a Maxine cookie jar. LOL Annie, good for you getting to the Psalms, I have to say those kind of depress me when I'm down, oddly enough. I like the Proverbs when I'm feeling bad, or Ecclesiastes because I know it just looks bad in the moment.

 
At 3:53 PM, Blogger Kristy Dykes said...

Oh, Jenny, thanks for mentioning It Happened One Night with Claudette Colbert and Clark Gable. HAven't seen it in years but it's good.

Kristin, glad you're feeling better.

 
At 5:32 PM, Blogger Kay Day said...

I put in some praise music. If the weather is cool enough I take a walk.

As for movies, I love O Brother Where Art Thou, but I have to be alone. I won't let the kids watch it yet and my hubby doesn't like it.
Princess Bride, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Big Fish, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and the remake. Second Hand Lions, any feel good old movie. My Fair Lady, ("He done her in")-- cracks me up!

 
At 9:48 PM, Blogger Suzanne said...

The Princess Bride always works for me! So does Better off Dead ("I want my Two dollars...."!)

The Nanny (named fran) cracks me up, but I won't watch it if my kids are around.

Plugging my iPod into my head and cranking up the tunes workds well too. Nothing like some good Amy Grant or ZoeGirl to life my heart.

Hope you're feeling better soon!

 
At 1:53 AM, Blogger Julie Carobini said...

Just rented and watched So I Married an Axe Murderer, on your recommendation. Charlie's dad sounds like Shrek, lol.

Teen daughter figured it all out 1/2 way through the movie. Just so you know ;)

 
At 2:06 AM, Blogger Kristin said...

Julie, I don't think it's the mystery that's too difficult now, but it is so funny to me. Oh my gosh, the scene where they're making fun of the brother's head. "Head, go get my pants!" Oh my gosh, an orange on the end of a toothpick. Those lines are just so classic, and then the Piper Down! At the wedding. I'm making myself laugh all over again. LOL Classic.

 
At 9:59 AM, Blogger T. Forkner said...

So glad I'm not the only lover of the movie So I Married an Axe Murderer!

Also, did I say I LOVED Split Ends. Love it, Love it Kristin. Your love of the old movies really came out and that was fun. :)

 
At 2:33 PM, Blogger Rhonda/WA state said...

Kristin,

Netflix is the best. For me, Ozzie & Harriet, anything with Cary Grant and any movie funny and old. Does that say too much about me?

I'm right there with ya with the age thing and raising another generation. I have two older kids, 27 and 25. The youngest two are 15 and 11. I'm 50. For me, it's a second life that God graciously gave me after screwing up the first one. (Me not God!)

I'll pray for you. I'm sorry that you're dealing with MS. Wow. Someone who makes me laugh so much....makes me sad to hear you are stricken with this disease. God is using you girl! Hang in there.

 
At 6:11 PM, Blogger Steph said...

Kristin, I struggle with a lot of health problems of my own. One thing I've found that helps cheer me up are your books! I love to read in general, but usually your books are good at keeping my mind off things.


Other ways included the DVD box sets of "That Girl" and "Gilmore Girls." And sometimes I just have to make myself do something to have fun. I made my myself go to Hairspray last weekend. I loved it. Great movie.

Feel better soon!

 
At 10:51 PM, Blogger Kristin said...

Thanks for the niceties, I am really doing well right now. Slightly tired, but really nothing huge like last week, so shew! Dodged a bullet, but my Netflix queue got longer with all the suggestions. I LOVED That Girl. Sigh. And Mary Tyler Moore!

 

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The Authors
Kristin Billerbeck
Kristin Billerbeck is a proud Californian, wife, mother of four, and connoisseur of the irrelevant. She writes Christian Chick Lit; where she finds need for most of the useless facts lulling about in her head.

www.KristinBillerbeck.com

Colleen Coble

Colleen Coble writes romantic suspense with a strong atmospheric element. A lovable animal of some kind--usually a dog--always populates her novels. She can be bribed with DeBrand mocha truffles.

www.ColleenCoble.com

Denise Hunter

Denise Hunter writes women's fiction and love stories with a strong emotional element. Her husband says he provides her with all her romantic material, but Denise insists a good imagination helps too.

www.DeniseHunterBooks.com

Diann Hunt

Diann Hunt writes romantic comedy and humorous women's fiction. She has been happily married forever, loves her family, chocolate, her friends, chocolate, her dog, and well, chocolate.

www.DiannHunt.com

Hannah Alexander

Cheryl Hodde writes romantic medical suspense under the pen name of Hannah Alexander, using all the input she can get from her husband, Mel, for the medical expertise. For fun she hikes and reads. Out of guilt, she rescues discarded cats. She and Mel are presently taking orders from four pampered strays.

www.HannahAlexander.com

 
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