Going to the Movies

Does anyone else get a headache from going to the movies? It happens to me now almost all the time. I don't know if it's the noise (which comes from every direction) or the lights (the flicker of the light from the film, not the overhead theater lights--although those are annoying, too) or both. Since I go to the movies so rarely I haven't really tested either theory, although I think a nice quiet movie--not Cars--might help me in determining sound or light. It doesn't happen at home, so I'll just need to make a list of the movies I think I might like to see in the theater and wait for them to come out on DVD.

We did go to see Cars while on vacation. I liked it a lot (notice the correct spelling of these two words)! I especially liked the Italian fork lift in Radiator Springs, and Doc Hudson. But, it did give me a headache.

Road Trips & Mix Tapes

A favorite pastime of many folks is creating what use to be called "mix tapes". Mix tapes are all but dead, having been replaced by "mix CDs" and more recently iPod "playlists". Regardless of medium the concept is the same; take music from multiple sources (albums) and "mix" them together in a new list, a new album. Many people take for granted the ease of this, using today's technology, and haphazardly make new "mixes" that don't mix and result in a mismatched hodge-podge of sound. Mixing is an art.

Papa, many will remember, introduced this idea to us as he put together tapes for us to listen to while he was over seas. Still, every time I listen to Africa by Toto I think of that mix tape. Pop took mix tapes to a whole new level using them as a way to speak to us. Not just by recording his voice, his prayers, his thoughts between the tracks, but in the very lyrics of the songs; "It's gonna take a lot to drag me away from you. There's nothing that a hundred men on mark could ever do..." I don't think Papa purposefully picked songs that would sing of how much he missed us, but he picked songs that would tell us how much. That's what most people miss with their mixes. Mixes should say something, they should make a statement.

There's a film I really like about a man who understands the world through his analogy of a "mix tape" (I won't tell you the name of the film because of the premises surrounding this analogy). He knows that a good mix tapes takes work, takes heart, takes passion. Mix tapes are art. So be creative, make a mix (and if you're going to Colorado with me, make it a good one).

Vacations

We're getting ready to leave for vacation tomorrow. One last trip to Wal-Mart before we go; a double-check of the younger ones' back packs; putting the cold food in the ice chest and we'll be ready.

A couple from church who own a house on Deep Creek Lake in western Maryland have kindly offered us the use of their place. It comes with a canoe and a rowboat and is right on the water. There's a sandy swimming beach at one of the several local state parks we plan to check out, although I imagine the children will jump in anywhere, muddy bottom or not. We're prepared with extra shoes.

I've got several books for myself (Agatha Christie and Tedd Tripp--how's that for a spectrum) and books on tape for the children. I'm still deciding on one read-aloud for the week. It won't be
The Lord of the Rings since we just finished that in May.

We leave tomorrow afternoon and return next Saturday. I'm looking forward to a change of scenery and a change of pace--Pop says he'll do half the cooking!

I'm also looking forward to many posts about the Colorado odyssey. Matt, Ben and Michal, Jon, Nate and Thomas are all heading for Peter and Jess's at the end of the month. What a great reunion and, for some, first time meeting. Don't overwhelm Aravis or Michal! (or Jess! Where are you going to put everybody?)

66... 2006

Alright everyone, I know that this is a day late, but it's so good it was worth waiting for. Actually I have been having computer problems and this isn't really my fault that my timely posting is now going to have lost its punch, but here it goes anyways. Most of you probably have seen the trailer for "The Omen" or at least know that this remake came out yesterday, on what the movie advertisers were claiming to be 6, 6, 6. Now here's where my thought process comes into play. If yesterday really was 6, 6, 6, then why in the world was there only one creepy, scary, demonic movie released? Seriously! This was one of the biggest missed oppurtunities in the history of the world. There will never again, ever, be another day that could be claimed as 666, never ever. Well maybe in the year 2066 we'll have a whole month of 666, and then in 2666 we'll have a really bad year, but not until 3006 will there be another day of 666. Well, back to my point, where were the good old fashioned Hollywood horror movies to celebrate this wicked day? Too late now, somehow on the next Friday 13th or on Holloween, it will seem anticlimactic.
The reason I wanted to post yesterday is so that I could get my concept for a great 666 movie in on time. Although I failed to meet the deadline, here's my idea anyways.

It is a warm day in the glamorous Hollywood hills. People are sunbathing on the beach, Porches are cruising up and down Rodeo Drive, and poodles are being trimmed and styled in plush salons... Then suddenly, nothing happens. Everyone continues as if everything is normal. Movie stars party and mingle, marketing executives lounge while drinking cocktails and tele-evangalists tape next Sundays program... But where's the housekeeper? The vacuum is still on, but she's nowhere to be found, maybe she took the afternoon off. THE END

Happy Birthday Crum Boys

We are in the middle of one hot season. No, I didn't watch Al Gore's new propaganda reel, I'm referring to the hot-season for Crum birthdays. When people find out how many siblings I have one of their first questions is often "so, do you know all their birthdays?" They're usually surprised when I can rattle off most of your birthdays just from the top of my mind (I won't do it here because you would either think I was looking on a cheat-sheet or be offended that I don't remember yours!). I think the official hot-season starts with William's birthday in mid-may (though traditionally it started with Matt's at the end of May). I don't know when you would say the season ends. Stephen ends the hot streak, but then you have Jesse and Mom close on his heals. Anyhow, I just wanted to take a moment to say happy hot-season, one and all. Oh, and save some fettuccini and strawberry shortcake for me.