A Day at the Movies

More like an afternoon at the movies. My local lady friends with whom I usually watch movies and dine were unavailable this weekend so I was on my own. Or so I thought…When working at my desk, I sent Linda a text message reporting I was watching “Nights in Rodanthe”. She wrote right back to report she was also watching it, on Lifetime, the network forbidden in my house!, and was also boo hooing. I love it! We were watching movies together, but 1200 miles apart! How cool is that?

Linda had planned a dinner and movie day with her sister, Georgia, since Tommy is out of town, planning to watch the movie, “Courageous”. I had bought the movie, too, with plans to show it on a Dinner and Movie night. Last weekend Anne H. sent me a message saying she watched it and cried almost the entire time. She said she thought of me, and the family from Victory who lost a child to cancer a year or so ago, and cried her eyes out. Anne recommended I watch it first by myself, which was wise advice.

Well, I sort of took her advice but not entirely. Linda, Georgia, and I all watched together, or, should I say, at the same time, with me here and them, in Manty! In my “picture eyes”, as Justin used to say, I could see them sitting in Linda’s family room with a box of tissues between them. We kept up with each other via text message on the cell phone, with the sisters being a few seconds ahead of me in the movie.

Not to give too much away, (you may have gotten the gist of it from the previews shown on TV) the story involves policemen who vow to be better fathers, become men of honor. One man lost his young daughter and begins a journey toward being a more dedicated parent to his son, a better husband to his wife, a better man all around. Others get on board and then reflect their vow in their workplaces, etc. This movie is done by the same Baptist group in Albany, GA that did “Fireproof” and “Facing the Giants”. It is nicely done, has a healthy dose of decision theology in it, but the movie as a whole, was great.

In between the “…Rodanthe” movie which stars Diane Lane, and the other movie, I popped in “Under the Tuscan Sun”, also with Lane as the star. I remember when Justin and I were at Blockbuster after “Tuscan…” came out, looking for movies to rent. I read the description aloud: “Recently divorced author with writer’s block takes a Tuscan vacation and never goes back…” Justin did not want to get it because of that, and I said, “I don’t have writer’s block!” We were planning a cruise that summer and he was worried I would stay behind. It was very tempting, believe me! But he would not let me stay there without him and that wasn’t possible. As Katherine says in the movie: Terrible ideas----they are always the best ones! It turned out that he fell in love with the movie and the scenery as well, and to this day occasionally calls me ‘Francis’, the character in the movie, which is, in fact, a true story! I have since read another book written by Francis Mays about her life and cooking in the Mediterranean region.

Here is a girl truly outstanding her field! In Tuscany!

Prior to watching the movies, I was watching on TV and reading on-line the various speeches from CPAC, taking place in Washington, DC. The keynote address, always the highlight of the conference, is being delivered by Sarah Palin. Should be a good one! Last year was Alan West, a powerful man with a powerful message. I wish he would consider running for president, perhaps in 2016 if things don’t work out for GOP, or the country, in 2012. At one point, one of the websites was shut down by having too many viewers so I had to go elsewhere for information. So glad to know others care or are interested in this event!

Justin was home all day and I had him vacuum my floor, the hallway and the kitchen. I just went through the hallway to the kitchen and couldn’t help but notice more dust under the decorative table below Timmy’s portrait. I think I need the dust mop for jobs like this. It never ends! My books on the end of the bed are coated in white dust, clearly visible from my seat here. Only last weekend all was dusted, and now, all is dusty!

For dinner I am making country-style ribs bathed in golden mushroom soup, plus buttered noodles, and peas. We are dining-in! Earlier I told Justin that if he went anywhere, I would give him some money to pick up a bottle of Jack Daniels from the store, so I could make myself the delicious drink which I had enjoyed poolside this past summer. I had the other ingredients on hand, since Lynn and Linda were here in August, but not the alcohol. He turned on his heel and I could hear him clanging around in his room, moving boxes and such, banging bottles together, etc. Soon he came out with a half bottle of Jack, moved with him from his bungalow. I teased him about having a secret stash in there and he said, “I even forgot I brought it with me until you asked for some!” I might make myself a nice summery drink tonight, when the temps are dropping into the 20’s!