After barely escaping work, (our California clients don’t realize that it is almost time for us to leave when they get back from their lunch break and finally decide to approve their orders..) I picked up Amy at the Easton Marriot and we proceeded to walmart. It was very weird seeing someone for the first time in person like that after seeing so many pictures. Weird because you can finally understand how it all fits together…and fits together well 😉
On Friday we tried to see Fahrenheit 9/11, but as it was opening night every showing was sold out. We instead decided to see The Terminal. We both like the Speilberg/Williams/Hanks combo and thought it would at least be an interesting movie from a directorial point of view if nothing else. Bad idea. It took about half an hour for both of us to nod our heads together and proclaim it Speilberg’s worst film. I don’t understand how the reviews for this movie have been lukewarm…they should be downright freezing. The character development was horrible, the timing was off, etc. We only learn that Hanks’ character has been in the terminal for 9 months when Zeta-Jones says “I’ve been waiting for you for 9 months” or something similar. When we finally get around to figuring out what is in the magical coffee can that is so important, nobody cares. After several cute but failing attempts to unite Zeta-Jones and Hanks only to have Zeta-Jones go back to her married lover our only consolation is that two other airline employees get married seemingly out of the blue.. Several times we could hear a sigh of relief from the audience as the shots would fade to black/white and we all thought we could go home. But, no…we had to see Hanks go to the jazz club…Gupta get deported…and on and on… Usually I’m a big fan of Spielberg’s epilogues (i.e. Minority Report, A.I., etc.), but this was one movie I prayed would stick to the “general viewing audience recommended” 90 minute format. Alas…it struggled on for another good thirty minutes. Perhaps the worst parts of the entire movie were the failed attempts to make the audience laugh on the expense of Hanks’ “Kracochia” (a fictitious eastern European country) accent and poor understanding of English which miraculously turns into a perfect understanding in only 9 months time, with only airport documents as a teaching tool. After leaving the movie we decided to have a short tour of campus, ending at Mirror Lake, using the romantic setting in a way I never did in my five years as a student.
On Saturday we went to Marietta for the wedding of Amanda Nolan and David Bruce. I think my mother wanted me to stay at the house longer than the short time we were there, but we were very tired after staying out so late on Friday, so we headed back to Columbus quite quickly after the reception.
Sunday was spent giving Amy a general (driving) tour of all the Columbus locales (short north, arena district, etc.). Then it was off to Cap City (hmm…how predictable I am..) for dinner.
Then today we ate lunch together and I dropped her off at the airport after work (once again barely getting out in time thanks to some California clients).
My remaining time in Ohio can now better be realized in weeks rather than months. My calendar is actually filling up. Amy may return as many as two more times before I take my leave of this state for good. I also have a family reunion, B’s visit to Dayton, etc. all within the next 7 weeks…and then I’m off to the lonesome crowded west. Although…now I’m sure it won’t be so lonesome.
Speaking of which… I procured a copy of Good News for People Who Like Bad News. It is growing on me, but overall it is a little light, a little too deliberately produced to mirror the new “it” bands like Franz Ferdinand than capture the brilliance of previous efforts. Nowhere on this album is there a Life Like Weeds or The Stars are Projectors.
