Sunday, January 8, 2023

Love And Movies

Last night before I got supper on the table (and by the way- french fries made in the air fryer are supremely delicious) I went to check on Miss Moana. I was so hoping she was in the hen house where I could close her in most safely but I knew that at Jessie's, she had been refusing to go into their roost at night. But there she was, drowsy and safe on the branch that Mr. Moon put up in there for the chickens who did not want to sleep in a nest. So I was able to close the sliding door between her and the coop run which made me feel secure, and I hope it made her feel that way too. I keep telling Mr. Moon that I think she remembers being here when she was young and he says, "I know you want to think that." 

He's right. 

Anyway, this morning when I went to let her out she was waiting right by the sliding door and hen-strutted into the coop and proceeded to peck at the treats I gave her. I hope she's happy. Or at least as happy as a cooped, single chicken can be. 

A few days ago, I asked Glen if perhaps he'd like to go to a movie today. I had a yearning to go see "A Man Called Otto" with Tom Hanks based on the book, "A Man Named Ove" by Fredrik Backman. I had read the book and as so many people did, fell in love with it. It's been so long since I read it though, and because my memory sucks so much, I could not remember a whole lot about the book except for the basic plot and of course it was set in Sweden while the movie is set somewhere here in the US. 

Up until a few minutes before we had to leave to get there on time, I was being wishy-washy about going. We go to the movie so seldom that I always want it to be a true movie experience, popcorn and all, but we'd just finished our Sunday big breakfast and the idea of popcorn wasn't that appealing and I thought, well, we should just stay home and I'll do some yard work, but then I thought, what the hell? So we went. 


That is not from "A Man Called Otto" but from a preview of some Kelsey Grammer movie supposedly based on a true story about some pastor opening his heart and church to hippies. 
Hard pass on that one for me. Thank you. 

We did get some popcorn. Just a little bag but it had to be done. The man got an Icee and I got a root beer and he had to show me how to make my seat recline so that I could use the footrest. 
Jesus but movies have changed. I still remember the worn "velvet" seats that flapped up when you got out of them at the Ritz in Winter Haven so that they could be swept under. The popcorn is still delicious though, covered with fake butter, and a root beer is a root beer. The prices are astronomical now, of course. You could probably get a decent motel room for what two tickets, a small box of popcorn and two drinks cost. But hey- if you only go once every four years or so, it's not such a sin. 

None of the previews looked like anything I want to see. Who comes up with these ideas? Adam Driver and a little girl on some distant world where they have to kill dinosaurs? Jesus returns as a hippie? Okay, there was another one that didn't look so bad but I'll be happy as hell to wait until it comes on Netflix. 

We held hands and I even put my hand on his THIGH and thought about how doing that in high school would have totally ruined my reputation. 
I don't know about Mr. Moon but I got a frisson of excitement, being so daring in public. 
I liked the movie. A lot. I'm one of those people who pretty much love Tom Hanks in whatever he does. But the woman who played the second leading role, Mariana Trevino, was so good. I fell in love with her. The plot is hardly groundbreakingly original. A bitter older man discovers that his life still holds worth and meaning. I think that Bill Murray did it far better in "St. Vincent" but it was still a moving film. I cried in quite a few parts and Glen got a little teary too. At the end, I was almost afraid I was going to start sobbing out loud but I am a very emotional person and cry all the time so that didn't mean a whole lot. I do not like movies that I feel jerk my tears but I felt that the emotional scenes were fairly organic in this one. 

I had a really good time, and I have gratitude towards my husband for taking me to see a movie that probably would not have been his first choice to watch. I just told him that I really appreciate him taking me to see it. "Wasn't that fun?" he asked. "But it made me cry too much." 
"You know I fell in love with you because you could cry," I said. 
Then I thought for a second. 
"Well, partially." 
"I know," he said. And he does. 

I do love that man. About an hour ago he made me laugh so hard I almost choked. I'd tell you what he said that made me laugh but that would not be appropriate. Or prudent. Private joke and all that. I could write a novella on why I laughed so hard. Maybe someday I will. 
Long time love can surely be a fine thing. As can going to a movie on a Sunday afternoon. 
Both can make you laugh, both can make you cry, if, it's a good love and if, it's a good movie. 
That's my opinion, anyway. 

Love...Ms. Moon






 

38 comments:

  1. Sounds like a fine way to spend an afternoon. I'd take a hard pass on the root beer and popcorn. I think you have to grow up on it to appreciate it.

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    1. Oh, I do like root beer and popcorn! But yes, I've been enjoying them my entire life.

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  2. I keep forgetting to thank you for changing the header picture to your house. Water is traumatic to me and I had to rush past that previous picture! Now I can just come in and read, and it's lovely.

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  3. I missed yesterdays post for some reason (damn time differences) but was thrilled to see a chicken! And so pleased Maggie had a lovely birthday.
    Your day today sounds perfect. I agree with you about movies jerking your tears. What a brilliant way of putting it.
    And long time love is just the best.

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    1. Yes. One lonely little hen. But I do get the chance to admire her.
      I have no idea what movie inspired me to first say that - that my tears had been jerked - but I do resent being emotionally manipulated by a second rate film.

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  5. Good to see a chicken on your property. That just seems like the right thing. Maybe it's a sign of things to come? Whatever, nice to see Moana
    happily roaming around. She'll have a wonderful home.
    Your story about the going to the movie was great. It reminded me of a time when my husband and a friend all went to see "My Dog Skip". All of us are suckers for dog movies. At the end when Skip died, we were all bawling.....loudly. We were dabbing our tears with the napkins from the popcorn. When we went out into the lobby, people were staring at us. And I mean STARING! I thought, good Lord, do we look that bad? It's like we entered the lobby naked. We all noticed the stares. When we got outside we looked at each other and cracked up. Here, those 'napkins' from the popcorn had all these hulls and whatever debris is in popcorn stuck to our faces. We all looked as if we had some 3rd world dermatological disease. Our faces were literally covered! Well, that's one way of getting attention leaving a theater! Glad you liked the movie and always BEWARE of those damn napkins!
    Paranormal John

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    1. Oh my! I can just see you guys with all those bits of paper and popcorn debris on your faces. I noticed yesterday that those napkins are very flimsy. I only used a clean one to wipe my tears though. I will take your warning seriously.

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  6. love the idea of a movie date on a Sunday! Thrilling, all around....and not just the movie! Gives me tingles just thinking about a movie date....we only *do* them every few years as well. Glad Ms Moana is settling nicely. You've had what sounds like a perfect day and it's not over yet LOL!
    Susan M

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    1. It's sort of silly how special going to that movie made us feel on a Sunday. But it did.

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  7. I'm so happy to see a chicken on your property.
    I haven't seen all Tom Hanks' movies, so I'll reserve judgement. I'm glad you liked the character of the other man's wife. I loved the book so much I listened to it several times. That wife carried the story.

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    1. I'm going to reread the book. This lady in the movie definitely carried it too. She was really good and her character was well-written.

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  8. I rarely ever watch reviews. Rarely. Popcorn I like. I started eating it later in life. Enjoy it a great deal!

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  9. It's so funny because Katie and I drove past a movie theatre and a vehicle was just pulling into the parking lot. I thought it must be so nice to just go to a movie during the day.
    It was a long day today with both Jack and Katie but we made it through and tomorrow is a new day.
    I loved that book and I want to see the movie. I love Tom Hanks too.

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    1. Well, if you love the book and Tom Hanks, you probably will like the movie.
      I'm sorry you had a rough day. I hope that today was better.

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  10. I never saw the movie but I loved the book. And you're right about movie theatres (although I haven't been for ages either). We went to the movies in downtown Geneva (one of the more expensive ones) and they had lovely reclining seats, a tablette and a place holder for your glass of wine!!! Now that's my kind of place. Oh, and I'm just wondering, but maybe you would like books by Jonas Jonasson - another Swedish writer. The Girl Who Saved The King of Sweden and The 100 Year Old Man Who Climbed Out The Window and Walked Away! Very good too!

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    1. Oh, there is a full bar and restaurant in this theater and trays to take to your seats.
      I will look for those books. Norwegian literature always depresses me but I certainly love Fredrick Backman.

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  11. The really good movies are far and few between. Glad you enjoyed yourselves.
    hugs
    Donna

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    1. I know! How do so many awful movies get made?

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  12. I loved the book and also loved the Swedish version of the movie. Since I like Tom Hanks, I'm sure the American version is pretty good, too! I haven't been to the movies in ages and there's rarely anything playing that I feel warrants the high price.

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    1. Honestly, this one wasn't SO great that you have to rush to a theater to see it. It will probably be streaming soon enough.

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  13. I loved that book. I might read it again now to remind me what happened.

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  14. I'm glad you liked the movie--makes me want to go see it too. I most recently loved Tom Hanks as Mister Rogers in "A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood"--2019--one of the last films I saw in a theater before Covid.
    Did you see it?

    I was curious about chickens' memories---looked it up and it seems they have very good memories.

    "Recent scientific research into chicken behavior confirms what many who have observed chickens closely for years have long known to be true: chickens are far more intelligent and cognitively sophisticated than previously believed.
    ... Chickens recognize over 100 individual faces even after several months of separation. They also confirm that chickens consider the future and practice self-restraint for the benefit of some later reward, something previously believed to be exclusive to humans and other primates."
    From
    freefromharm.org/chicken-behavior-an-overview-of-recent-science

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    1. P.S. That's me, FRESCA, above.
      I didn't meant to preach to you about chickens---you're the expert--just that I was curious to learn more!

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    2. Okay, okay, now I'm bombarding you, but loved this article from Scientific American "The Startling Intelligence of Common Chickens" (2014). The whole topic reminds me of my father, who loved chickens--he bought calendars of the ones with the wild feathers--and talked about how intelligent they were.

      "Few people think about the chicken as intelligent...
      In recent years, though, scientists have learned that this bird can be deceptive and cunning, that it possesses communication skills on par with those of some primates and that it uses sophisticated signals to convey its intentions.
      ***When making decisions, the chicken takes into account its own prior experience and knowledge surrounding the situation. "
      BUT YOU KNEW THAT. :)

      --www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-startling-intelligence-of-the-common-chicken/

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    3. I LOVE the links. Thanks, Fresca. Ever since I got chickens many years ago and started really observing them, I have been amazed and impressed at their intelligence and culture. Yes! They have a culture, I think. Or at least a very strong society. Watching the way they interact is fascinating. Your dad was right.

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  15. Shirley went to see that film on Saturday - with one of her friends. Shirley had read the book but her friend Sue hadn't. They both enjoyed it greatly. I hope that they did not put their hands on each other's thighs. Tom Hanks has been a brilliant film actor - successfully handling a wide range of roles. I am looking forward to watching "The Fablemans" later this month - directed by Steven Spielberg and about his childhood.

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    1. Maybe Shirley and her friend only held hands.
      I'm looking forward to that Fableman movie too as a matter of fact.

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  16. We haven't been to a movie since before covid. I'd like to see A Man Called Otto. I haven't read the book but it's on my list. I also want to see the Avatar sequel. We don't ever buy any concessions though, just too pricey. Back when we lived in the city and the kids were in school if we didn't have any work we'd go to the matinee on Fridays sneaking in our own soda and candy.

    And yes, I too am happy to see a chicken in your yard.

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    1. I have absolutely zero interest in watching the Avatar sequel. Those movies make me feel weird. I heard Signorney Weaver on a podcast though, talking about the incredibly long and difficult process of making those movies and I was impressed. I know a lot of people loved the first one.
      Have we not all snuck candy, at least, into the movies? I went to one movie with girlfriends who snuck wine bottles in. That was bold, I think.
      I'm happy to see a chicken here too.

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  17. You get napkins with your popcorn? Here we just get handed a bucket of the salted buttery yumminess and we are on our own. I usually lick my fingers clean and wipe them on whatever old track pants I'm wearing. Nothing ever shows on those and if anything does show I can always say I spilled some.

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Tell me, sweeties. Tell me what you think.