Pop a la Mode

So I just spent three hours of my life watching the movie “Steel Magnolias” - AGAIN.

I don’t know how it happens but every time I’m tired, feeling less than 100% and just generally in a mopey mood, that stupid movie is on - in all it’s sappy, tear-jerking glory. It’s almost as if someone set out to make the most overly-hormonal, tear-inducing, gut-wrenching movie that a woman can watch.

Or maybe I cry because of some of the horrible southern accents the actors and actresses have.

And then there are those moments during the movie that make me laugh like the Pepto Bismal wedding, the bleeding armadillo groom cake and any scene with that cranky, old Ouiser in it. Don’t we all have a Ouiser in our lives?

So I am thoroughly laughed and cried out at the moment and feeling much better. Don’t ask me what was wrong in the first place because I don’t know, it’s just one of those days. And it’s hot and it’s humid and it’s storming and I haven’t been sleeping well. So I’m entitled to watch movies that make me cry just because I can.

Mr. Darcy and Remington Steele singing and dancing?! I’m there! The moral of the story is not so good but you can’t beat the music.

I saw two movies today. I haven’t been to the movies in months but one day is all it takes to break the odds.

First up was Indiana Jones with my friend Janie. Very fun movie and classic Indy. I had some issues with the story this time around (like did it really have to be aliens?) and with how I’m not supposed to notice Harrison Ford is wearing old man pants. You know the kind - huge pleats with a low inseam. But all in all it was exactly what I expected Indiana Jones to be - fun.

Second movie was Iron Man with Robert Downey Jr. playing engineer Tony Stark. I had heard quite a bit about this movie but didn’t really know the story behind it as well as other superhero movies. If you’re interested, you can read more about him here. D. was back in town with his buddy Bush (which is like having Tweedledee and Tweedledum over for the night) and they wanted to see it.

That was one awesome movie. I highly recommend it to everybody. Especially you Mr. Smith (I know you read this). It’s total engineer geekdom come to life. It even makes me want to build something or weld something or smelt something or smash something. The special effects were amazing and I was on the edge of my seat through at least 3/4 of the movie.

So sorry Indy, but Tony Stark comes out on top of this battle. Maybe next time.

Have you ever had one of those weekends that you look back and wonder where the time went? That was mine this weekend.

Elizabeth came down for a college visit at Samford; Jonathan got married (events including rehearsal dinner, ceremony and reception); I went to see Spamalot with Rachel (completely politically incorrect but too funny not to laugh at) and I had to sing at church this morning with the Dawson Singers (meaning I had to be there at 8:00).

Thankfully I didn’t have to be back at church this afternoon so I’ve been laying on my couch. I’ve alternated between watching Braves baseball and The Lord of the Rings movies. I am now stuck on The Two Towers which in my opinion may be the best movie of the three. And probably because I am physically and emotionally exhausted I just got choked up watching Aragorn tell a boy that there is always hope when the fight is for the good fight. And now the elves just showed up and I’m getting verklempt. I love these movies. They make me feel like I can take on the world.

Which is a feeling that I need to feel these days. My weeks have been interesting lately which has contributed to my tiredness. I never know what my week will hold - I only pray that I work hard, work smart, work well and glory God. Isn’t that what it’s all about anyways?

So whatever your “good fight” this week, I hope you are victorious.

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.
Ephesians 6:10-18

So I’ve been laid up quite a bit this week on the couch and unfortunately for me, television stinks right now. Between the writer’s strike in Hollywood and daytime talk shows, there is nothing on except Food Network. And when your stomach isn’t feeling exactly okay, Food Network is not what you want to watch.

So instead, ’tis the season for sappy holiday movies. I can’t stop myself from watching them! Whether it be on Hallmark Channel or ABC Family or Lifetime, there is always one playing and I always seem to catch it at the beginning.

And I, of course, get sucked into them everytime even though the plotline never changes. It’s either someone finding true love at Christmas; rebuilding their life after a tragedy; or some really bad adaptation of “A Christmas Carol.” Complete with cute kids, cute pets, unrealistic circumstances and snow in Los Angeles.

And they are so sappy! And me, being the sap I am, cries at every single one of them. I am starting to feel emotionally void from all the crying.

Maybe I should just block those channels on my TV so that I don’t even have the option of flipping by it.

Bah humbug.

Somehow, in the last four years, going to see a movie on the Wednesdsay night before Thanksgiving has become a tradition. It started when the Harry Potter movies came out around that time and since then, well, we go see whatever.

Last year was that stupid penguin movie “Happy Feet.” We all agreed that it was the worst choice by far.

This year we went to see “Enchanted.” It was very cute and fun and Papa even stayed awake during the entire thing. Of course, I loved it because Patrick Dempsey was in it. I could watch the man read the phone book for two hours so I knew I was going to like it.

The embarrassing part of the evening came early. Tradition has it that we get the super-gigantic tub of popcorn and pass it around during the movie. Well, we got it but this time my Nanny asked for those plastic nacho trays. And who can say no to a Nanny? The purpose: to divy up popcorn into our containers for the movie and send Beau back for free refills as needed.

As my Uncle Eddie said, “I don’t think you’re supposed to do that.”

So here we stand in the lobby and Nanny starts to dole it out. I stopped her and said, “at least wait until we’re in the dark movie theater so nobody sees how cheap we are.”

Priceless.