How do we do this?

So, I am trying to figure out a way to get you all (all of our many, many readers) to be able to post your own lists on this here blog.

See, Gib and I really want this to spark conversations for others, and it feels a bit self-serving and self-involved to just tell you our lists. We want to know yours!

I know there's the comments section, but not everyone reads comments. Can I put up a poll or something to allow audience participation? I don't know how to do it.

Also, as a PSA for the lists: please do not blame the Penningtons for any marital or other arguments that result from sharing said lists. For example, if you learn that your spouse's salvation is in question because he/she is not a fan of Jesus (aka Jim Caviezel), remember this is not our fault. WE like him. (cough cough...Nick V...cough cough)

Just kidding...we know Jim Caviezal is not the real JC. (But do you think his initials helped him get hired for the movie?)

Coming up

Okay, so we have our first lists up. Guys, it is annoying looking for and posting pictures like that. But I'll do it.

Here are some lists we have coming up:
Bands
Solo musical artists (as in, they're not in a band)
Ice cream flavors
Meals
Cities we've been to
Places we want to go

We want your suggestions! What else should we list? (Keep it clean, people.)

Gib's Top Ten Dramatic Movies (No Comedies Allowed!)

1) "The Count of Monte Cristo" One of the best storylines of all time. This movie has it all: sword fights, true love, betrayal, revenge… On top of all this the acting in the movie is dynamite. If you haven’t seen it, stop what you are doing and go watch it now.
2) "Stranger than Fiction" Quirky story with quirky characters. Just enough twists to keep you interested and just enough comedy to keep a smile on your face. The killer cast of Dustin Hoffman, Emma Thompson, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and Will Ferrell is icing on the cake.


3) "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl" The classic case of going to the movie theatre expecting to be underwhelmed and walking out saying, “holy crap, that was awesome!” Although the recent avalanche of sequels have put a damper on my love for this movie, I still think seeing it in the theatres was one of my most pleasant and surprising movie-going experiences to date… 4) "Forrest Gump" One of three movies to ever make me cry. All three are on this list. Tom Hanks as Forrest Gump has to be one of the best acting performances I have ever seen. The story itself is the perfect blend of emotion. It is happy, sad, frustrating, silly, angering, and entertaining all rolled into one movie.



5) "The Shawshank Redemption" Also one of best storylines I have ever had the privilege to enjoy. The Warden in this movie would have to be near the top of my “Top 10 Most Dastardly Villains” list, and I can remember few movies where I rooted more for the success of the main character than I did for Andy Dufresne. The cast of Morgan Freeman, Tim Robbins, and Bob Gunton isn’t too shabby either…
6) "Saving Private Ryan" My favorite “war movie” of all time. It is real. It is tough to watch, and it makes me dang proud to be an American. Tom Hanks is incredible once again.



7) "No Country for Old Men" Not a “feel good” movie, but it has another one of what consider to be the great Hollywood villains of all-time in Javier Bardem as Anton Chigurh. He is so terrifying to me that I still sometimes have to convince myself that he is not real when I close my eyes to sleep at night.

8) "Glory" One of the three movies that I have ever cried while watching. The cast is one of my favorites: Morgan Freeman, Matthew Broderick, Denzel Washington, and Cary Elwes.




9) "Apollo 13" Tom Hanks again makes the list. Ed Harris is also dynamite in this movie. I believe this movie captures the “never-say-die American spirit” that has helped make our country so great.


10) "Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark" The quintessential action/comedy movie. This movie never gets old, and is one that I will enjoy showing to my kids one day.

Honorable Mentions (in no particular order):

1) "Up"
2) "Man on Fire"
3) "Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring"
4) "Little Miss Sunshine"
5) "Iron Man"

[All images from imdb.com]

Katie's Top Ten Dramatic Movies (No Comedies Allowed!)

1) "The Shawshank Redemption" Beautiful story, excellent acting, just the best.

2) "Forrest Gump" Tom Hanks is amazing in it, and (spoiler alert) I cry EVERY TIME during the scene at Jenny's grave.



3) "Schindler's List" An unbelievable story, and the acting is superb. I also love the use of color (or lack thereof).


4) "Steel Magnolias" I know this movie is funny, too, but I think it counts as a drama. Sally Field is amazing. This is my go-to "need a good cry" movie, for sure. Again, the graveside scene makes me cry every time. (I am noticing a theme here...hm.)



5) "La Vie Est Belle" ("Life is Beautiful") Heartbreaking and beautiful. I love the portrayal of the power of love and family in the midst of horror.

6) "Up" I know it's weird to have a cartoon on my list, but this movie made me laugh and cry. I love the story and the lesson. And the animation is unbelievable.



7) "It's a Wonderful Life" Classic story and movie. Not just for Christmas time!


8) "The Count of Monte Cristo" I love a good redemptive story. Even though I thought it was "Monte Crisco" for the longest time...which sounds gross.


9) "Memento" I love a movie that makes me think. I distinctly remember watching this for the first time and then talking with my friend (shout out to Meli!) FOREVER figuring out what happened. (And no, the mystery was not "Was that or was that not Tom Cruise?" Guy Pearce just looks a lot like him.)

10) "Man on Fire" Another redemption story, and I love Denzel. Great story with a twist, too.

Honorable Mentions (in no particular order):

1) "Harvey"
2) "The Silence of the Lambs"
3) "A Beautiful Mind"
4) "Stranger than Fiction"
5) "Juno"

[All images from imdb.com]

What the list?

So, Gib and I started coming up with "top ten lists" a little while back. We came up with a topic each week (favorite funny movies! favorite bands! best meals ever!). Then we would write our individual lists throughout the week (secretly! no peeking!), painstakingly moving items around and arranging order of preference. Sometimes we added Honorable Mentions because there were just too many choices to narrow down to ten.

[Actually, I think we only actually did two or three lists...I am pretty bad at 1) coming up with my lists and 2) finalizing my lists. I am sort of indecisive, and naming my top ten whatevers of ALL TIME is kind of stressful. Lots o' pressure.]

Then, at the end of the week, in a very dramatic fashion and with much to-do, we each read our list to the other person. And then we laughed at each other's choices or said "I never knew you liked THAT!!" or said "Hey, pretty good list, there. Your opinions are right on." Things like that. Mostly, it was fun just getting to know one another a little better.

I mean, we discussed these things when we were dating, when we wanted to know EVERYTHING about each other and wanted to just talk and talk for hours...

But we kind of stopped doing that when we got married. We thought we knew everything about each other. But, you know, we didn't. And we shouldn't stop asking.

So Gib thought: hey, why don't we put these lists on a blog for all the world to see!? That would be super awesome!

And I thought: hey, maybe. Okay.

So here it is.

We are thinking maybe you could also participate. Make some lists and talk about them. It's fun.

This is a blog.

Team Pennington = Gib and Katie's awesome name for themselves. We don't do the Brangelina-type combo. Team Pennington is better than "gitie" or "kib", no?

This blog = a way for us to keep track of our top ten lists (which we like to compile and talk about), among other things.

Top Ten lists = a way for us old married folk to continue getting to know one another. And also to argue about who's opinions are correctest. Now that they're on the internets, you all can help decide who wins. But it's not a contest...*wink*