*...in which we patronize the Museum of Science and Franklin Park Zoo (and their concession stands). A montage of stand-up comedian robots, characteristically somnolent lions, nifty strobe-light-and-water-droplet exhibits, ear-splitting laughing gulls, less-than-authentic recreations of animal habitat odors, cheetahs sporting palpably disaffected expressions...
*Viewing: "Wild Reeds" -- the usual volatile mix - love, sex and politics - done in the inimitable French way. OK, that's cutting it way too thin, given the wrenching (yet often underappreciated) effects of the Algerian conflict. Somehow, though, the ending felt like a letdown; a mild puff of smoke instead of a conflagration.
May 28
Viewing: "Waiting for Guffman" -- not completely faithful to the mocumentary/cinema verite style, but a howl in its own right. Christopher Guest's characterization might well raise some ire (not completely without reason), but it's hard to be too judgmental when most everyone else is being held up to ridicule. And in any case, "My Dinner With Andre" action figures?; "Remains of the Day" school lunchboxes? Laugh, clown, laugh.
May 27
In typical act of indulgent, self-sacrificing school parent, I make cameo appearance as Elvis-type performer during 4th and 5th grade chorus presentation of "Shades." If this shows up on the local cable access channel, heads will roll.
May 24
Viewing: "Reality Bites" -- Enjoyable, but if I were a 20something person, I'd be getting a bit miffed at the continual depiction of my generation as having little grasp or appreciation for any pre-1970 history and culture. By the way, "His Girl Friday" had roughly the same love-triangle idea.
May 23
News of the Irish peace accord referendum makes for promising start to Middlesex Morris Day of Dance 1998, which proves a resounding success. Stints on Salem's Pickering Wharf and downtown mall area, and later on Nahant beach, are spirited as they are well-performed. Even managed to resurrect Bledington "Black Joke" on the spot. A most pleasant form of exhaustion afterwards.
May 22
*Brief but sweet reunion with well-traveled and now-returned mom, who is preparing to join the cyber community.
*Juxtaposition: In Oregon, yet another lost child destroys lives at his school, while in Ireland the lives of many, many lost or nearly lost children hang in balance at the voting booth.
*Viewing: "Ed Wood" -- what a wonderful goof this is, mixing gentle ridicule with almost respectful affection. A moving depiction of the Lugosi-Wood relationship, for all its quirks (plenty of them). Selected exchange:
"I thought you were a fag."
"Naw, I'm just a transvestite."
May 17
Lilac Sunday festivities offer a mad kaleidoscope of New England weather: cloudy but comfortable at first, giving way to steady rain and noticeable dip in temperature, then sun and humidity. Proud to say, OD and I stuck it out. Middlesex had good outing, too; a bit ragged on "Steamfitters" but spirited renderings of "Tie That Binds" and "Gallant Weaver." Quote of the day, from son of morris dancer on whether dancing should continue in spite of rain: "...the audience has all gone home. And what's the point of doing it without an audience?"
May 15
Book completed: "Smithereens" by Susan Taylor Chehak -- tawdry teen trailer-trash tale? No, not entirely. Some very familiar ground, though, and a very cinematic feel to it (I wish she wouldn't, but Juliette Lewis somehow keeps appearing in my imagined cinematography). Odd, though: While it seemed to be set in contemporary times, there was a '50ish sensibility in there.
May 14
Elegy for "Seinfeld" -- no way the finale could've measured up to the hype...and it didn't. But nothing can dilute nine years of grade-A kvetching.
May 11
Viewing: "Mystery Science Three 3000: The Movie" -- sorry, guys, this shows _belongs_ in video format. The cheap-thrill immediacy simply does not translate well to film. But once Mike et al are actually engaged in their "MYST"ing, everything's fine.
May 9-10
*Rainy weekend includes enjoyable round of "Monopoly" (you can stop rolling your eyes now) with family, festive pre-Mother's Day Mother's Day dinner, and outing with YD and long-time friend Amanda to old fave Children's Museum -- which includes "Arthur" exhibit featuring unfortunately repetitive spelling rap: "A-A-RD-VARK!" Also includes...
*Viewings:
=="Fairy Tale: A True Story" -- well, no full-frontals for Harvey Keitel in _this_ one. Seriously, a moderately restrained and sympathetic, yet whimsical take on the WW1 home front zeitgeist. Elizabeth Earl has eyes that you cannot ignore, especially if you're a soppy grown-up.
=="The Fifth Element" -- sigh. Just when you're ready to let this one carry you along in all its absurdity, Luc Besson has to change the tone and make An Important Statement. Hard not to like a sci-fi villain with a Southern accent, but I could've done without so much of Chris Tucker's "Prince in the 22nd Century" routine.
May 6
What can you say about a day which starts with newspaper photo of postal workers cavorting in traditional Mexican garb to celebrate the Cinco de Mayo stamp? And continues, barely half an hour later, with a sign on a local church promoting a "Youth Clown Service" this Sunday? On another note, I was gratified to see I am currently in the .sigs of not one, but two Kibologists.
May 5
Book completed: "The Wild Colonial Boy," by James Hynes -- makes an interesting counterpoint to the atmosphere today, given it was written in the late '80s. On its own terms, it does tend to show just enough intelligence and ambiguity to rise occasionally above potboiler-type material (such as in the section describing the physics of a bomb explosion). LeCarre for The Troubles?
May 3
'90s-type anecdote: In midst of crowded passenger bus, commutin' buddy notes -- in not particularly hushed tones -- that he recently underwent vasectomy. Stumbling through social mores, I try to come up with appropriate short response: "Congratulations"? "I'm sorry"? After further conversation, however, about personal choices and how they can close one part of life while opening another, most suitable reply appears to be, simply, "Best wishes."
May 2
*Gig at Somerville Garden Day with Middlesex brings back some of the old gang, and segues into very pleasant luncheon. For some reason, that Greg Brown song "Who'd-A Thunk It?" kept surfacing.
*Viewing: "Michael Collins" -- Neil Jordan as Oliver Stone? Well, that's a little overstated, but then again, the Croke Park massacre scene with the footballer and the tank had a Tiananmen Square quality to it. In any case, An Important Story Which Needed Telling, and Liam Neeson was just the man for it. You never reckon just how big he is 'til he cradles someone's face in his hands. Julia Roberts, by the way, was a waste of space.
May 1
*Observed May Day by the Charles with OD and a few dozen morris dancers, assorted family and hangers-on, and the (very) odd would-be pagan. A great way to ring in the season and all, but I'm glad it's on the weekend for the next two years.
*Viewing: "The Full Monty" -- don't know why, but halfway through it hit me: an Ealing comedy for the '90s? Good ensemble acting and writing, industrial/lower-income setting...More importantly, though, is the message that the human body, no matter how overweight or past its prime, can still be celebrated as a sex object.
April 28
Peace accord in Northern Ireland, and perhaps a similar process unfolding in Afghanistan. Changing national, and international economies. So what's gripping the American fancy this week, especially including editorial cartoonists? Whether Jerry Springer is the devil incarnate, or offering fanfare for the common man.
April 25-26
Weekend at NEFFA, first with Middlesex and then with Banbury [further reference]. Iffy weather, especially on Sunday, but strong, enjoyable, spirited dancing. Think I'll stay with this stuff for a while.
April 24
Send-off for LW and OD (on Girl Scout troop weekend bash) segues into emergency dental work for abscess-beset YD. After that, a generally quiet day...in a very quiet house.
April 20
Viewing: "The Lotus Eaters" -- another argument for impulse selection at the library video display. The archetypically well-done period piece (isolated British Columbian island in the mid to late-60s), with equal amounts of affection, absurdity and nostalgia.
April 19
Here's why I'll always like Peter Gammons. OK, you can criticize his analysis, assessments and predictions -- but how many other baseball writers make references to Moby Grape songs in their columns?
April 18
Viewing: "Paulie" -- actually had some moments of near-lyricism, to go along with the wise-ass animal thematic elements. Good acting turns in between, too, notably Gena Rowlands and Cheech Marin (still can't used to the idea of him as a pillar of respectability).
April 17
Ah, the first official visit of the year to Dairy Joy: slushes, sherberts and shakes the order of the day. Then a frolic out in The Park, and not home 'til 7ish. Ah. All this and Pedro Martinez, who could've gotten his third win if he'd pitched Brian Giles a little better and the Sox would score some freakin' runs for him.
April 16
Excerpt from a certain 8-yr-old's school report on bats, and their method of attracting mates, speculates on whether "Mom and Dad might really be bats, and maybe Dad impressed Mom with the bumps on his face." I rather think it was my considerable charm, dear.
April 15
Viewing: "Mary Shelley's Frankenstein" -- actually, more like "Kenneth Branagh's Frankenstein." Whatever else you can say about it, Ken certainly didn't keep things bogged down, pace-wise: His trek through the mountains to meet The Creature seemed more like a trot through the foothills. While the philosophical discussion between Branagh and DeNiro in the ice cave was fairly compelling, the danse macabre with Helena Bonham Carter was just this side of revoltingly comic.
April 11
*Northern Ireland accord turns thoughts to Fermanagh, and the Maguiresbridges and Brookeboros, as well as the Enniskillens (not just the Derrys and Armaghs). Wonder if this'll be the one.
*New toy discovered on local department store shelf: "Bedtime Bubba." Battery-powered doll in night garb who, with gentle Southern drawl, says stuff like "Hey, are yew messin' around my flashlight?" Maybe there _is_ a conspiracy.
April 10
Viewing: "Grease" -- If you had told me 20 years ago, etc. Actually, it _is_ all good fun, and with the exception of the MAD magazine-esque animation during the opening title sequence, quite well-done. Our junior film critics shrewdly observed how old everyone looked for high school students, and the preponderance of smoking.
April 9
Recent musical acquisitions, purchased direct from Harbourtown Records in Cumbria, UK.
*"Bee's Knees," by Hamish Moore and Dick Lee -- a great idea, seldom (if ever?) tried: pipes and saxes. Terrific arrangements, especially on "The Easy Club." Hope they've got a follow-up album somewhere in the works.
*"Harbourtown Sampler" (various artists) -- quite a few familiar names (Pete Morton, House Band, Frankie Armstrong, Hedy West) with some less so. The Boat Band would appear to be a must-see, and I wouldn't mind seeing Jungr and Parker either.
April 8
Book completed: "Call for the Dead," by John LeCarre -- earliest of his I've read thus far. Stripped down in a sense, but the combination of world-weary moral ambiguity and the days-and-works approach to spycraft is unmistakably there.
April 4-5
Another landmark event: kids' last joint appearance in a school production, at least until we reach the 6th-8th grade split. Unabashed hams, they are, but I have to say they do light up the stage.
April 2
Recent articles in NY Times and Boston Globe speak of a new "moral ambiguity" suffusing professional wrestling. Those starkly drawn good-evil characters are apparently no more: Instead, all wrestlers -- even those with generally positive qualities -- grapple with inner demons which threaten their personal as well as professional lives. Geez, it must be enough to make Killer Kowalski strangle his kielbasa.
