What I Watched -- Cool Hand Luke

S couldn't believe I had never seen Cool Hand Luke, his favorite movie. He wasted very little time before remedying that situation. And it worked out for me too, because Cool Hand Luke is one of those movies that I've heard about for years but never got around to seeing.

But somehow, despite having heard talk of the movie for so many years, I knew nothing about it except that Paul Newman played Luke and his character was a troublemaker.  And that's really enough, because the movie isn't about what happens; it's about that character.

Until the last few minutes of the movie, I wasn't sure I was going to like it.  I won't say why, because if you're one of the three other people on the planet who has no idea what the movie is about, I don't want to ruin it.  But the closing scene is just right, and that saved it for me.

Bottom line: definitely should have seen this one sooner.

Goal #48

Goal #48: work.

I took last week off, and there is now so much to get done.  I just have to keep telling myself that I'll feel better once I've accomplished some of it.

Recap of goal #47: a final thanks to Thanksgiving, for being such an awesome holiday!

Random Links

A notorious killer plays croquet.

Onion futures?  Really?

The national gingerbread house competition.

Some interesting facts about the solstices, if you have a couple of hours and a degree in astrophysics to spare.

Something unusual in the night sky.

Tired of having your bike stolen?

SLIFF

I had a very busy fall, and only managed to make it to one SLIFF showing.  (I know, I'll do better next year.  Otherwise how will you find out about all the weird movies you'll never see anyway?)  The screening of choice was a compilation, so it should really count for more, I think: "Narrative Shorts: Leading Ladies."

The link above has a quick synopsis of each of the films, so I'll let you read about them there.  But in case you're wondering, my favorite was Falling to Pieces, a moving story about a woman who seeks out the recipients of her husband's organs in an effort to cope with his loss.  I also liked Beverley, about an adolescent girl in a rough neighborhood in Britain struggling with her racial identity and family responsibilities.

Those are both pretty traditional stories - like real movies with a real plot, but shorter.  As far as weird head scratchers go, I liked Career Girl (a bit in the realm of magical realism) and The Little Death (a normal story, but one of those ones that just makes you go, "huh?").

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope everyone is enjoying their food, glorious food!

Goal #47

Goal #47: be thankful for all the things!

So, obviously,Thanksgiving is this week.  That's cool.  I like Thanksgiving an awful lot.  And I get to see K and E and Dad and D this week, so that makes it even better!

Recap of goal #46: know what was awesome about this week?  I erged.  And I didn't hate it!  It's still early in the winter season and there is plenty of time to remember why I hate erging, but I had a couple of really great workouts, and I'm thrilled about that!  I did not get to ride any of my bikes, and that makes me sad, but there's time.  So many bikes, so much fun to be had.

I didn't do quite so hot at eating well, but, eh, it's hard when you haven't had time to grocery shop for a while.  Such is life.

What I'm Reading Now -- Ella Minnow Pea

Because I need another book to read (how many am I up to now?), I've started a new one.  I believe this is K's book, and she sent it to E, who also read it.  E sent it to me a while back, and I'm getting started on it.

Believe it or not, this is not one of our postal book club books, although it sounds like it should be!

The premise: Ella lives in a small community which reveres the guy who came up with that famous alphabetic sentence: "the quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog."  As the letters start to fall off a memorial to him, the elders forbid the use of those letters by the citizens.

I imagine it'll be an interesting read the further along I get.

Goal #46

Goal #46: the simple things.

It's almost Thanksgiving.  I will save next week for thinking about what I'm thankful for (although I try to do that regularly).  This week, my simple things are the tasks of daily living.  Eat well, work out, run errands.  Sleep.  That's a big one for me. 

If I can spend this week getting those things done that I need to, next week will be much more restful and less stressful, and that's my real goal.

Recap of goal #45: I did better!

Microbrewery: Square One

I'm not sure how I've gone so long without talking about Square One Brewery and Distillery, which is without question the microbrewery that I visit the most often.  The reason that I go so often is because it's pretty close to the climbing gym I go to, so it's a convenient place to stop in afterwards to rehydrate and get some dinner.

Their beer is good.  There are a few stalwarts on the menu that I have with some regularity (Single Malt Scotch Ale, Bavarian Weizen), but I especially like trying their rotating seasonal selections.  They also distill a line of their own spirits.  The only cocktail I've ever ordered there was a gin-based one, and I liked it -- which is saying something, for those of you know know how hard I looked to find gin that I liked.

What's nice about Square One is that their food is really good too, and fun.  On Tuesday nights, they have a build-your-own-burger menu.  On Mondays they do the same with mac 'n cheese.  Both excellent options.  They do a darn good Scotch egg, if that's your thing.  In truth, I rarely order from their regular menu, so I'm a little short on description.  I did have the pulled pork sandwich recently, which was tasty but needed a sturdier sandwich bun.  It disintegrated in the barbecue sauce.  But it was delicious as it disappeared.

What I Watched -- The Martian

My boyfriend, Matt Damon, is hilarious. In his latest movie, The Martian, he plays an astronaut botanist named Mark Watney who gets stranded on Mars because the rest of his crew believes him to be dead.

The film is adapted from the 2011 book of the same name by Andy Weir.  He self-published his book on Amazon, with a list price of $0.99, and it took off like wildfire.  It made the Amazon sci-fi bestsellers list, the New York Times bestseller list, and got a movie deal.  But his exhaustive research and reader contributions began before that.  Weir began publishing chapters of his book on his blog in 2009, and his science-minded readers helped him make sure the science was accurate.

But it's not boring, at least not in the movie.  (By all accounts, it's not boring in the book either.)  As Mark Watney, Matt Damon is funny and smart, and that makes the movie worth watching even if you're not a hardcore sci-fi fan, which I'm not.

Bottom line: everyone should go support my boyfriend!  Because he's awesome!

What I Watched -- Interstellar

I stopped in at the library not too long ago to pick up an audio book, and sitting there on the shelf of recently-returned DVDs was Interstellar.  This was one of those movies that could have gone horribly wrong, so I decided to wait and take the temperature of the general population before I decided whether to watch it.

The general consensus was that it was worth the $15 price of admission in theaters, so surely it would be worth the $0 cost at the library and the two dollars I would invest.

And it was. 

Bottom line: there was nothing about it that was particularly unexpected in the plot or filming, but it was satisfactorily done.

Happy Birthday, Dad!

What I Watched -- Mr. Holmes

A long way back, I went to see Mr. Holmes.  (Which I'm sure is long since out of theaters.)

In any case, Ian McKellen, who plays the titular character, is wonderful as usual. The film is about the relationship between Holmes and the son of his housekeeper, through which you learn about Holmes's past. But the only other character of emotional significance is the housekeeper, played by Laura Linney, who is wonderful as usual. (I feel like I'm repeating myself.) McKellen and Linney, as the heavies, are well-matched. The boy does a fine job, but it's an easy one, and as a consequence he is somewhat foregettable. 

Bottom line: not your typical biopic due largely to the lack of plot, but the enjoyable characters make up for the meandering story.

Goal #45

Goal #45: blogging!

So, as many people have noticed, I have not been a very good blogger lately.  But I miss blogging, and I would like to get back to it.  And a couple big things have recently happened that are blog-worthy!  So, back at it.  I hope.

Recap of goal #44: it was a good week last week!  G&G's party was a smashing success, I got to see some cousins I don't see terribly often, and G's surgery went well.  Success all around.

Goal #44

Goal #44: G&G.

This week is a big week for G&G.  It started out with a bang - the big family party - and it's not going to let up (though it won't be so fun or celebratory).  Thankfully dad is here to help, but I'd like to see them a few times too!

Recap of goal #42: I got half of the clothing deliveries done, but everything that I have weeded out so far is all packed up for delivery to the other location, I just have to get it there.  Easier said than done, obviously.