Thumbs up for Juno. It’s been such a long time since I’ve seen a good movie. Everything I watch on DVD lately is a ‘thumbs down’ so it was nice to watch something that was witty and well done. I liked all the characters, or at least thought they were well played, and that the movie didn’t cop out at the end with some totally unrealistic ‘Hollywood-Happy-Ending’. Thumbs up.
Archive for July, 2008
Thumbs Up
Monday, July 28th, 2008Thumbs Down
Monday, July 28th, 2008Ugh. Thumbs down for I Am Legend. It had me for the first 55 minutes. The beginning intrigued me. I wanted to know more. Then, I just wanted to know how much time there was until the end. I was so disappointed. Thumbs down.
Too Many TV Crime Dramas
Wednesday, July 23rd, 2008I realized the other day … I’ve watched too many Crime Dramas. I love CSI, NCIS, and Bones. I like the mystery, the puzzle, the science, and the pursuit of answers.
Last week I came out of the Westgate branch library. Next to the library is a barber and next to the barber is a Thai restaurant. The restaurant has glass walls, ceiling to floor. It was a couple of hours before lunch and the restaurant was dark – it was closed. A man, heavy set, Asian, and older-than-average sat at one of the tables right next to the front window. He faced out to the world, sat slightly slumped in the chair and it looked like his eyes were closed.
I did a double take. My first thought was that he was sitting at the table at the front of the restaurant for the daylight – perhaps reading or doing the books. But there wasn’t anything on the table in front of him. He wasn’t moving. I continued to my car and thought maybe he was sleeping … or maybe he was dead! A mystery in the making. I went back and forth in my mind: continue to the car or check to see if the guy was alive?
I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to check out a mystery. Walking slowly to the window, I saw his eyes were indeed closed and then observed his chest rising and falling in that slow, easy rhythm of sleep. Mystery solved!
Recent Reads
Tuesday, July 22nd, 2008Breakfast at Tiffanys by Truman Capote: Although I didnt like the story/plot/characters I think Truman Capote certainly had a gift for writing. He is eloquent and its a pleasure to read his sentences. It’s not long, in fact, the copy I read had another short story or two printed in it.
Room with a View by Forster: I hated it from page one. I suffered through the first two chapters and took it back to the library. It was so distasteful I wanted to throw it across the room somewhere in the middle of the second chapter. I wouldn’t have even considered picking it up and only did because it’s the title for our next book discussion group. I doubt any of the book discussion group members will finish it. Maybe Ill watch the movie.
Tortilla Curtain by TC Boyle: This is a title I would recommend if you can deal with a non-ending (as well as an unhappy ending). I think Boyle does a good job at detailing two different couples, their drastically different lives, and the issues of illegal immigration.
Then We Came to The End by Josh Ferris is a strange, funny, and nothing of a book. After the first 80 pages I thought it was a hoot but didn’t think it was going to keep my attention for another 300 pages. I was wrong. I read the whole thing, partially out of interest, partially because I’m the discussion leader next month, and partially out of curiosity. The book is about a bunch of office workers (in an ad agency) and the gossip and, sometimes, weird behavior and perspectives that they have.
Elvis Tribute Performer
Monday, July 21st, 2008In a Midland mall parking lot Daniel and I spotted the Elvis Tribute Performer van near the Taco Bell. So, we went over and snapped a few pictures of him. Daniel took my picture *with* him. He was quite happy to have the attention and quite happy to chat. He was on his way to a 25 year wedding anniversary party where the couple was planning to renew their vows. I didn’t think to ask him if he was ‘officiating’! There aren’t very many places you run into someone dressed like Elvis … Vegas (regularly) and Ypsilanti, MI during ‘Elvis Fest’ every July. Other than that … it’s a rare sighting.
Here are the pics.
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Seven Cycle Day
Thursday, July 17th, 2008It’s been a gorgeous summer in Michigan. We’ve had perfect temps and lots of sunshine. Yesterday was one of those perfect summer days. The kind that make you want to live in Michigan and the kind that make you forget about the cold, dark, long winter. I can always tell which days will (likely) be free of rain. The motorcycle parking area is full when I get to work. Yesterday there were seven motorcycles in the cycle parking spots! I think that’s a record.