Thank goodness I have hobbies and interests and family, not to mention a sense of humor, to keep me engaged and occupied during months like the one we've just had!

This morning, our below-zero Fahrenheit temperature landed us tied in the record book for the most number of below-zero Fahrenheit days in a winter. People. That's not the kind of record we're interested in even meeting, never mind beating.

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So, arguably, the thing about a Best Picture Festival is that there's hardly a dud in the bunch... one might find reason to complain more about a movie that's not on the list than one that is! Sometimes a movie doesn't find it's place for a while, but it is what it is: 9 movies nominated for Best Picture at The Oscars!

Here are my nutshell reviews of the movies we saw last weekend:

I loved Nebraska -- Bruce Dern is amazing -- it is relevant and relatable; it could be called Wisconsin or Rhode Island. Some of the characters are over the top (okay, the shrew... I mean wife), but I think everyone can relate to that, too.

I enjoyed Captain Phillips a lot more than I thought I would... again, the actors/characters, and there was a lot of action! One of my fellow movie-goers got a little seasick, though (just a heads up for y'all).

I wasn't really looking forward to a 3D movie -- the only other 3D movie I've seen was Beauty and The Beast with the girls (meh, why mess with stuff like this?) -- but if you're going to see a movie in 3D, Gravity would be the one. The story is so-so/predictable, but the scenery... WOW! And, okay, Clooney.

And The Wolf of Wall Street. Leo just knows how to play those fellas, doesn't he? That was a wild, debauched ride. I didn't count, myself, but trust that whoever's job it was to count the f-bombs was accurate at 506!

Except for Nebraska, none of these were really on my To-See list. Tomorrow's Best Picture Festival line-up is the one I really look forward to:

• Philomena
• Her
• 12 Years a Slave
• American Hustle
• Dallas Buyers Club

I'm so happy that I'll have seen them all by Sunday night -- The Oscars with Ellen!!  :)