A Little Chaos

Australia...the neverending movie

When you take the guy who directed Moulin Rouge, you expect a different take on the idea of an epic film. Apparently, Baz Luhrmann understand's "epic" to mean long, with copious use of really bad special effects.

This movie had no idea what it was about, and took nearly three hours trying to figure it out. The one thing it had going for it was the scenery, much like the Lord of the Rings films had New Zealand, and which exploited it to the hilt. Here, it seemed that every other shot was done on a sound stage, as if they made one movie, realized it stunk, and reshot the whole thing on a backlot, then spliced it together.

I'm honestly just tired of computer-generated effects, and I thought the buzz about this movie was that it delivered the old fashioned movie making approach, but not even close. Just like King Kong, with its laughable cliffside shots, bad effect knock you out of the moment and for me, that's all I can focus on.

We went to see Australia with three other couples. I think one person liked it. Traci hated it as much as I did. "Lots of cheese" was her term. Occasionally, I could hear Quantum of Solace playing next door, and just sighed.

So there. Stay away. Judging by the 12 other people in the theater, most people did.

Slip sliding away

New mower blade from hitting rocks on old driveway: $40

Tar patch to repair holes in old driveway: $26

Decision to replace old driveway with 400 feet of new asphalt driveway: $9000

Realization it's impossible to walk up driveway with 1/32 of an inch of snow on it: Priceless

First snow

The first real snow of the year is a reminder of my big plans for Yoshi Mountain, the 70 or so vertical feet of hill in front of the house. I'd planned to build a rope tow, and had gone as far as walking off the distance. The verdict: 550 feet of rope. That's what killed the project, at least for the time being. I can't bring myself to pay $400 for rope. In truth, it's not about the project's utility, for which there arguably is none. It's more about just doing it. I have no illusions that the kids will be begging me to fire up the tractor so they can ski. It would be nice, but the rational side of my brain knows better. But how cool would it be to have a rope tow in your front yard?  

I do remember those couple of trips down the hill last year. Just the idea that I can do that in my own yard, well, that's pretty cool. Better yet is three houses over, where they have an even steeper hill that drops into the woods and would make a fun little glade run. 

On the upside, I'm taking Riley on his first real ski trip this year, to Steamboat with my parents. He's very excited. Me too, and probably more so. I bought him skis and boots at the ski swap for the unreal price of $55. Good skis, too. 

Let it snow (except on the driveway)!

It's officially weather suckage time

We went from nearly a week of 65 and sunny, with leaves that politely obeyed the leaf blower, to rain and 50. All the leaves are now on the ground, or nearly so. And the biggest sign of the change...we can now see the road from the house. In summer, we are tucked away out of site. For the next six months i'll feel a bit like we're in the fishbowl. I can take that...but i'm not so sure about the endless slate grey skies. They arrived right on schedule.

I told Traci I must have seasonal affective disorder--or something--because all I want to do is crawl in bed for, oh, maybe a week or so. We did have one nice afternoon when the sun was just pouring through the windows, though. A few days like this might get me through. 

Yes We Did.

At the end of an emotionally exhausting day after a night of restless sleep, I lay on the couch watching TV, not quite believing two years of worry had finally turned into a celebration. And what I would have given to join that sea of a quarter-million people in Grant Park, the kids on dads' shoulders, the dancing, the tears and the flags, the outpouring of pure joy. 

Finally Obama walked to the podium. At this point it wasn't a matter of what he would say...we all knew it would be words to unite, a call to each of us to step up, a caution of the road ahead and a shot of inspiration. No, what struck me, choked me up in a sharp surprise that lurched from my gut, was the shot of Jesse Jackson standing in the crowd with his little American flag, tears pouring down his face. My reaction was not for what he represented, for he most certainly spent a lifetime helping pave a way for a moment like this. It was was the visual...he stood, crowded shoulder to shoulder nearly lost in the crowd, a witness to this moment no different than any other in that park. He may have carried more history with him and surely more stories of victories and defeats, but the torch had more than been passed...it had been set down as if to say 'we don't need this torch anymore.' The race has been run. And I know he wept for joy, but I sensed there was more there...the turning of a page, the realization that race never defined this man--at least not to the vast majority of those who cheered him on--and maybe a bit of wonder at what the old warrior does when the war is over.

I have no illusions that racism, xenophobia, whatever ugliness you choose, will be here a long time, and maybe forever. But Tuesday at nearly midnight was the introduction of a brand new world, the handing off--and the shaking off--of the power of old ways, and of the leaders on all sides who carried us on one path with a belief that we would always fight the same fights. It was a repudiation of ideology led by young and old, but especially young, who can't quite grasp the need for dogma in a world that surely needs more karma. 

And I'll weep for joy at that any day. 

You hurt me. You hurt me real bad right there.

So Riley just came upstairs, stomping his feet heavily as he went. Thump thump thump THUMP. He plunked on the couch across from me. "What's up?" I asked. 

I'm mad

Why?

'Cause. 

'Cause why? Tell me.

No. I know what you're gonna say.

This, of course, is a prelude to him asking for something that's A) unreasonable or B) already been decided. 

He pauses... Dora the Explorer is on at 8 and I wanna watch it. 

Well, buddy, we already talked...

FINE. FINE!! I knew it!! I knew it!! 

He starts to walk away. Over his shoulder he shouts...

I'm so MAD. I'm voting for John McCaiiiiinnn.....

Stomp stomp stomp stomp.

And there, for anyone who ever wondered, is why seven year olds are not allowed to vote.