The week in review

(Turner the Impala gets the icon space since he did most of the heavy work of the two of us last week - I was off on vacation.)

I had not had a vacation from work since last Christmas, and a lot of that was spent either driving or helping my sister and her dog settle in as a roommate - which isn't much of a vacation (I think she would concur, LOL). My brain was beginning to go to toast, so it was time.

I started off the week spending a couple of days visiting gryphons_lair. SHE MADE ME GO WALKING OUTSIDE AND EXPERIENCE NATURE, OMG, CURSE HER. No, it was actually okay - I liked it (except I wish I hadn't worn black pants - they are very very hot in the boiling sun, OUCH), and I got ice cream and root beer and a Red Robin burger. Also, I was able to meet a couple of fellow LJers there, meletor_et_al (whose name I've seen around POTC for a LOOONNNGGG time but had never put 2 and 2 together to realize she lives near D) and norabombay (who proves that no matter how cracky the kink you write about in fanfic, there IS somebody who'll read it - by her own admission, LOL).

From Thursday through yesterday, yoiebear drove over to visit me and the sister. Our week was largely comprised of movie-watching, as J (and the previously-mentioned ladies) humored me in The James McAvoy WatchFest '11. I saw more movies in the past few days than I see in most normal years. Viewed were "Penelope," "Becoming Jane," "Gnomeo and Juliet" (in this case, my predilection for gnomes was well ahead of McAvoy - sorry, buddy), "The Conspirator," "Atonement," "The Last King of Scotland," the newest "Jane Eyre" with Fassbender as Rochester and - apropos of nothing except it looked like a good time - the remake of "Fright Night" in 3-D.

Me: *squinting* Why do I know that Kriss Angel-type guy?
J: That's David Tennnant. Your sister only talked about him in this ALL DAY.
Me: OHHHH, okay. I forgot.
Sister: *in the tone you'd use with a troublesome teenager* Really?

(Yes, my memory can be that bad.)

I also spent money at bookstores, including one item I bought for full price. I KNOW, IT'S THE APOCALYPSE, YOU ALL. One of these was the BBC series "State of Play" that I haven't yet watched.

So, if anyone wants to discuss these movies, fire away. (I may have also watched some featurettes for "Wanted" that I hadn't seen before. It's not like I like the movie or anything. Or bought the graphic novel on sale at Borders last week. Nope.)

stop the world, I wanna step off

Politically, I'm an independent. I think left of center, so my choice of voting Democrat often falls in the purview of "well, at least he/she's not from the newly reformed GOP" (i.e., non-Eisenhower philosophy). So I get why someone would want someone other than Obama to vote for, even if they're not a Republican. I get why his supporters are disenchanted with him and want another choice, perhaps more liberal (I mean, he's NOT; he never has been very much); I've gone into that before and don't need to do it right now.

But, DEAR GOD IN HEAVEN - that ANY of the current crop of GOP hopefuls could be considered comparable and electable nauseates me. Really, America? You like these candidates? With all your criticisms (and mine) of the incumbent, you honestly think any of these entertainers and snake-oil sales hacks and religious freaks are the answer, somehow?

Holy shit, I weep for the intelligence we've lost, as well as the ability to discern what is in our own best economic and social interests. I just wish I knew for sure it's only a vocal minority that thinks these clowns are viable candidates fit to hover over the red button. (Of course, I worry less about who's president and more about who gets into Congress, since that's where the real action is. The presidential election's just a bellwether for attitudes. Still, I can't believe there's anyone watching our economy fall apart around our ears who can honestly NOT blame the modern GOP's fucked-up financial and social priorities for much of it.)