It's been a little while...

... but now school has started, my hours at work are more stable, and life is interesting!

There is something very interesting brewing... and I might tell y'all about it in a week or so when I get back from a visit to San Francisco! :)

I made it to Florida!

JetBlue turns out to be a great airline to fly. I had a GREAT flight.

First of all - it was almost empty. I'm not kidding. MAYBE 30 people on the flight. I had my whole row to myself... and could have had the 3 rows in front of me, too!!!

We took off on-time... no problems. The flight was fine. No trouble.

And then... then we got to Florida. Oh boyohboyohboy!!
So... I looked up at one point, and on the little "watch where we fly" mappy-thingy on the TV in the next seat over... I saw that we were 1/2 way between Orlando and MIAMI. I mean, we'd missed Orlando by a long shot. And it wasn't just an inprecise reading on the screen... we were OBVIOUSLY off course.

And then the pilot came on and filled us in. Apparently, there was a storm in O-town... and so we had to approach from the South. This redirect has us flying all over central Florida. If you could have seen that map - it was really funny!! Everytime we got close to Orlando and headed in the right direction we would get redirected and make a big swing in another direction. It actually was quite comical.

Finally... we landed at MCO. YAY! We're on the ground. So I called Mom to let her know that we were running late, but I was finally on the ground. While we were on the phone, the pilot came back on the intercom and informed us that we had to sit on the taxi-way for awhile. A ramp that we needed to cross was closed because of the lightening. Yes... I was already on the ground and they grounded us because of 'lectricity.

Anyway.... my 3.45 landing became a 5.10 meet with dad in the atrium of MCO. Then it got good, 'cause my bag was coming around the belt just as soon as we got down there. No damage. No waiting.

Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! Adventures in travelling.

Tomorrow... funness and NIGHT OF JOY!!!!

I'm very excited.

One last thing:

Happy Birthday, Nick!!!

Next 3 Movie Reviews - A Fairy Tale Trio

Akeelah and the Bee

A Live-Action Fairy Tale… complete with fairy tale ending. Sooooo sweet! And well done. I mean, really, Lawrence Fishburn and Angela Bassett?!?! It couldn’t lose. The little girl who plays Akeelah is great as well.

I loved the straightforwardness (is that a word?) when dealing with her life at home. The embarrassment, the willingness to do anything to hide her home life, the way she essentially pretends the pain away… and then how it gets addressed. Yes… totally fairy tale. It wouldn’t have been this neat and clean in real life.

I also like that, despite being a fairy tale, they didn’t go for the easy stuff. No romance between single mom and teacher. No reunion with teacher and his estranged wife. No group hug over the grave of his daughter. That saved it from being totally cheesy and over-the-top, I think.

It fits with my fairy tale obsession and I will probably own this one someday.

Coach Carter (DVD)

This fairy tale is the best because… it’s REAL. This is the slighty-dramatized real story of Ken Carter and the Richmond (CA) Oilers HS basketball team. The draw for me was the “real story” and Samuel L. Jackson! I mean, really, who can pass him up? Ladies, are ya with me on this one?

What I loved is the grittiness of the team, the roughness of the neighborhood… and the triumph in the end. It was cool that they didn’t win the big game at the end (sorry to spoil it, but there it is)… mostly ‘cause it saves it from being over-the-top! (Kinda like in Akeelah.)

I already own it and have seen it several times. The one pivotal scene when Timo stands up and quote the Nelson Mandela speech (see my earlier blog posting) makes me cry everytime! First because of the quote… and second because of the great story-telling that has been happening and what this scene represents to the story as a whole.

Whale Rider (DVD)

Whoa! I seem to have gone on a fairy tale binge! This one hails from New Zealand and is a story about breaking down stereotypes and patriarchal traditions in favor of understanding people and the gifts they have. Learning to look beyond our expectations to see the reality – even if it flies in the face of tradition.

Keisha Castle-Hughes does a WONDERFUL job of playing the heroine. What an amazing girl. And what I like the best is that she is not beautiful in the traditional American movie sensibility… and yet her beauty shines on the screen. She’s wonderful.

While most people don’t like the romantic drivel that I tend to like, what I *do* think people will enjoy is the wonderful story of triumph over adversity. And the quiet, strong way that Paikea leads her people, even before really understanding what is going on in her life.

First 3 Movie Reviews

Serenity (DVD)

An interesting flick that I don’t think I would have ever thought to watch. But Alan, in his wisdom, knew better and invited me over to watch. I really liked it, and think I need to see it again to get some more…

I was totally sucked into the story, and never really had my “suspension of disbelief” broken. That is key for me in a movie… but especially in a sci-fi-western-type (as Alan called it). The sci-fi aspect tends to make me more skeptical, so the fact that this one had me through the whole thing says a lot for the storytelling!!

It’s been awhile since I’ve seen it… so I can’t remember a lot… but I know that I liked it, was surprised at how I liked it, and intend to see it again. Also, it made me want to watch Firefly (the short-lived show that precedes the movie) in order to get the whole story.

All-in-all a good flick that I would see again! (Hey, Alan, wanna have another movie night? :) )

The Devil Wears Prada

This was a fun movie that was a real bit of social commentary on our cultural obsession with looks, beauty and fashion. Anne Hathaway, long one of my favorite actresses, does a remarkable job pulling off the frumpy-to-fabulous look needed for her part. While some of the content might make you cringe, if you take it for the sarcastic, dry-witted, social commentary I think it is supposed to be, you will like it.

Not a classic. Not an award shoe-in. But a great movie that was both entertaining and thought-provoking.

Oh… and there are a couple of scenes where the editing is just beautiful (the editor should get an award or 2, but probably won’t)!!! Totally impressed.

I’d see it again… and might consider owning it. It was that good.

Pirates of the Carribbean: Dead Man's Chest

*swoon* Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom!!! Depp is back as the ridiculous, lovable, and slightly-odd pirate. And I loved it! This one is WAAAAAAAAAAY more dark than the first… and I would NOT take the kiddies to see it. Definitely wanna check it out first, parents, before taking your kids.

There are some fantastic scenes that were absolutely hysterical the first time ‘round! The impact they had on me was amazing. I went back and saw it a second time and they weren’t as funny… definitely more silly-leaning-towards-stupid. But… awesome the first time. I think the power for those scenes came from the shock value in the first viewing.

I’ll tell ya… the ending had me on the edge of my seat and I can’t WAIT for the 3^rd one!!! And not just ‘cause I wanna see Depp and Bloom again. *swoon*