Busy weekend...

One of the things I’m trying to accomplish this summer is to finally watch all those movies that I couldn’t see over the past year when they were in the theatres. I keep a spiral notebook that I stuff all sorts of things into – websites to visit, books I’d like to read, information that might be important when it comes time to buy a house or apply for colleges and DVDs to pick up at the library. The Upper Arlington Library is usually my preferred spot to pick up new(er) films, but I just learned that The Grandview Library has a boat load of new ones too with fewer customers!

I’ve been doing fairly well this month! I bet I’ve watched about 10 movies already. I usually watch them on my laptop while I iron a big pile of laundry. It helps the time go by. Every now and then I can get Brian (or the whole family) to actually sit down with me to watch a film, but usually it’s just me. This week I watched Martian Child, No Reservations & The Jane Austen Book Club. Of the three, I would really recommend the last one.

The Jane Austen Book Club is one of those ensemble cast films…which often means a bad movie, but in this case, it works. Perhaps this is because the cast is filled with mainly B-list stars that you know but can’t recall their names. This allows you to relate to their characters and not just see the actor (such is the case with a movie like Oceans Eleven). I really got caught up in this sweet little film and was surprised how many times it made me laugh out loud. Plus it included one of my new favorite movie lines: “He’s like a spoon…and he looks at me like I’m a big dish of ice cream.” Who wouldn’t want a guy to long after you like that?! The cast is likeable and their issues are relatable.

Martian Child stars John & Joan Cusack – both of whom I adore - but the film was slow, predictable and anti-climatic. The title child is more than a bit creepy too. If you cannot live without seeing every John Cusack movie, you will spend a pleasant but bland couple of hours with this one.

No Reservations was a guilty pleasure film. There was no way I was going to pay money to see this Catherine Zeta-Jones film, but to get it for free at the library – well, that’s different. It actually surprised me. I liked this movie and I definitely felt like I didn’t just waste two hours of my life on it. I suggest watching it when you are in the mood for a nice chick-flick (warning: it is rather sad in some parts so don’t watch it when you are depressed!).

Summer is slowly chugging along. June is nearly gone – which means Pride time is here. This year we are only walking in the Pride Parade on Saturday (June 28th). We nearly decided to nix the whole thing this year, but I didn’t want to break my streak. This will be the 5th year that SpeakOUT will be in the parade. Most every member we have will be walking with other groups or they will be volunteering elsewhere…so Brian and I will be walking with Knox County GSA - the new GSA I helped form out in Mt. Vernon. But no table this year! It was too costly and I had no help. Truthfully, I could have done it alone but I just didn’t want too. Who wants to pay $80 for the privilege of baking in the hot sun and lugging all your crap to and from the festival? Since I couldn’t get anyone to pitch in, Brian and I decided to just enjoy the day instead. I’m not sure how to relax at Pride – but I’m going to give it a shot! I think a nice cool adult drink might help. :o) I might even go to a club! Watch out…

Did you hear that next year they are moving Pride to the third Saturday of June AND the festival will be in Goodale Park and not at the Riverfront? Seriously! I love the idea of Pride and Comfest being on two separate weekends, but how do they expect to get 100,000 people into Goodale Park for Pride? Also, where are they supposed to park? What about the parade route? Will we start at the river and march backwards to the park? This may be either the best idea Stonewall has had in a long while or the worst – only time will tell. Personally I prefer the park with all the shade and grass…but I bet the neighbors in Victorian Village are going to have a cow! They hate Comfest and now they will have Pride to deal with the weekend before it.

On my list of things to do this week is to drop in at Origins. The big gaming convention will be in town starting the 25th and go thru the end of the weekend. I won’t be able to play, but I do want to go in and walk around the exhibit halls. They have $3 tickets availble to browse the exhibit hall on Sat. & Sun. this year. That's a bargin! I wish I could play - I miss my gaming fix. Maybe another year...

Then, of course, we also have Comfest this weekend. I hope to go to that on Sunday. Hope to see some of you out at Pride this weekend! Get your freak on my fellow allies! Otherwise, check out Comfest or Origins…both are always a good time.

Family Updates:

Meaghan's softball season is coming to a close...thank goodness! Two games a week is just too much. Her team is in second place right now and has a chance to inch into first if the top team manages to lose another game or two. We have a double header tonight...wish her luck!

Brandon is in a band! They call themselves The Four Tatoos. The mix of kids ages 6-9 lip-synch to classic rock songs. Brandon "plays" the electric guitar and drums. They have band practise most everyday and have had two shows so far. :o)