Life, the Universe and Everything

Douglas Adams told me that the Answer to Life, the Universe, and Everything was 42.

Now that I have made it that far, I would have to say I will need to take him on his word. I am as happy as can be expected, but not anymore enlightened than my younger self. I find that I am at an age where I am still young enough to enjoy things, but old enough not get too excited about them. I am old enough to know better, but young enough to do it anyway. I am at the halfway point at which to the young I am old and to the old I am young.

I guess it will be smooth sailing until I hit 46, the average age at which 10% of middle aged adults experience a self-described midlife crisis which lasts about 3-10 years in men.

I certainly hope not, I don't tan very well and since the price of gas has gone up, I couldn't afford to refuel a Corvette with Premium very often.

The Partly Cloudy Patriot

After listening to Sarah Vowell read from The Wordy Shipmates at Book People last month I decided to drop past the Round Rock Public Library and checkout the Audio Book The Partly Cloudy Patriot. 

The book was an interesting mix between a history lesson and a blog. Sarah mentions her family and friends almost as much as historical places and events. It helps put a handle on past events for regular people to be able to relate to. There were several celebrities that read quotes from famous and some not so famous people, and original musical interludes were provided by They Might Be Giants.

Listening to an author read their own words is never as dramatic as when read by a professional actor, but it somehow gives you a little more insight on who they are. Sarah is a bit of an odd duck, but I enjoy what she has chosen to share with the world.

Bolt

Another weekend, another Kids Movie. This weekend we saw Disney's Bolt. Bolt is the first Disney movie that was overseen by Pixar's John Lasseter. The movie has a simple plot like you would expect from a Disney movie, but it has the visual texture of a Pixar film. I had thought that the stunt casting of Miley Cyrus and John Travolta would be distracting, but it was not too bad. I wish they had cast George Gray as the agent because he looks like he was the model for the character. My favorite character was Rhino the hamster who was voiced by a storyboard artist that did such a great job in the rough track audio that they could not find anyone better to replace him. I expect that when the DVD is released it will include a short starring Rhino. Backgrounds were so photo realistic that I spent half of the movie not even watching the characters, but their surroundings. 

Time for me to see the latest 007 flick and get out of this Kids Movie rut.

Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa

Last Saturday we spent the day as a family of three, just Mom, Dad and Kid. We ate lunch at the brand new Mimis Cafe in Round Rock near the Premium Outlets Mall. The food was very good, and I especially enjoyed the Strawberry Lemonade. Since lunch went longer than we had planned we missed the 2:40PM showing of Madagascar 2 that we were aiming for. Since the temp was hovering around 50 degrees and we had left the house wearing only short sleeve shirts, window shopping the Outlets was out of the question.

We opted for the 3:30PM showing and sat in the "warm" theater and "enjoyed" the on screen infotainment/ads for half an hour. I laughed more at this movie than I did it's predecessor, but I was shocked at how much they borrowed from Disney's Lion King , including a version of Uncle Scar sporting a pompadour haircut. Part 3 of the Madagascar saga was green lit before Madagascar 2 even premiered, and opening weekend grossed more than the entire theatrical release of the first film in the series. I also heard that the penguins will soon have their own TV show.

All that aside, I am just pleased that David Schwimmer can still get work.

Zack & Miri Make a Porno...With My Brother

Saturday evening Tawnya and I saw Zack & Miri Make a Porno at Alamo Drafthouse in downtown Austin on 6th Street at the former Ritz theater. My brother Ron and his wife Lisa were in town for the weekend, and they joined us for their first Alamo experience.  The Alamo Drafthouse serves a full menu of dinner and drinks to your seat while you watch the movie. The theater is laid out like a traditional movie theater, except every other row of seats has been replaced with a long narrow table for your food and drinks. I chose the “PORKY’S” Pepperoni Pizza and a Frozen Margarita.

The movie was not as graphic, but much funnier that I thought it would be. I am a big fan of Kevin Smith, but I was worried about others in my party who were not very familiar with his previous work. Everyone seemed to like the movie as much as I did, although the 3 Coronas that Ron had during the show made him visit the loo with 20% of the movie to go.

We wandered up and down 6th Street long enough to see a drunk girl fall off a curb, Leslie Cochran wander by in a denim mini skirt and a disturbing fella in women's underwear in front of Ester's Follies .

To round out their Austin visit we also visited SoCo for Amy's Ice Creams and a drove across the Congress Avenue bridge so they could see the great view of the Texas State Capitol Building.

Taylor's 9th Birthday

My daughter Taylor just had her 9th birthday. I remember birthdays from years past, thinking that she was so grown up. I look back at pictures of those birthdays now and she seems so young. I know that I will soon enough look back on pictures from this party and my big, grown up girl will again seem like just a baby. My biggest wish is to one day do this all over again with grandchildren.

Parties for kids in the past have included Chuck E. Cheese, Build-A-Bear and Pump It Up. This year I came up with the great idea of having the party at home and have the theme revolve around our new Nintendo Wii. Taylor thought the idea sounded good so I guess I can mentally write off some of the cost of the Wii to what we could have spent for a shopping party at Justice for Taylor and a hand full of friends.

The first half of the party went as planed, the girls creating their own Mii and playing each other in Tennis, Baseball & Bowling. Once the Pizza came, it was a whole different party. With a belly full of Pizza, Soda, Cake & Ice Cream they tore into the presents. After the presents it was decided that there must be a Dance Contest. The dance contest then morphed into feats of flexibility and gymnastic prowess. At the peak of their sugar fueled frenzy, the invaded the front yard where they charged wildly at each other in a no holes barred game of Red Rover.

Taylor received many gifts, including gift certificates to Justice and Cash. Neither lasted until dark. Tawnya took her shopping and brought back the best gifts a 9 year old girl can get; Clothes.