Movie Adventures

Let me tell ya, finding a movie that my dad, mom, and I all enjoy is a definite challenge! My dad's not into chick flicks and my mom doesn't like much action or suspense. I like all of the above! I'm happy watching a Western or Indiana Jones or Agatha Christie with my dad, but then my mom ends up in the other room with a book. She's nice about it, but I usually feel a twinge of guilt. And then if I bring home a musical or a Jane Austen or that sort of thing, my dad ends up on the computer. Part of the problem is that our TV is right in our living room where we hang out, so it's not like we can just easily go watch a movie by ourselves. So we don't really watch many movies, and when I find a movie that we all like, I feel quite pleased with myself. At least we all like something with humor! Disney has produced some winners.

So last night my parents took off for a little overnight vacation at a hotel on the ocean. My dad was desparate for a break from the stress he's under. They felt bad leaving me by myself, but I was actually glad for the opportunity because then I could have an evening to myself watching movies that I want to watch!! So after work I stopped at the video store and picked up "Legend of Zorro" and "The Prince & Me 2" -- an action flick and a chick flick. I was looking for the new "Pride & Prejudice," but they were out of all the copies.

Something odd happened while I was searching for my movies. Several times I had to pass in front of a man who was also looking at movies. One of those times, he suddenly addressed me familiarly and said, "I'm looking for a movie I think you'd like." Excuse me? He was a 40ish, shortish black man, so I don't think he was trying to hit on me, but I was indeed taken aback. He pulled a movie off the shelf and assured me I would love it and it was a great story. Then he said it was just like the plot of another one and showed me that one. I smiled and tried to look interested, but fortunately I had two videos in my hand and gave the excuse that I wasn't going to get anymore, that I'd remember them for next time. I didn't tell him that those were definitely not the type of movies that I would watch, that I almost always stick with PG or G movies (these were PG-13 for sexual situations). He was a friendly chap and I wasn't offended, but I half wondered if he was an undercover store employee trying to push movies on uncertain looking customers. Has anyone else experienced this?

Well, anyway, I came home and had a nice little evening to myself. Actually, I wasn't feeling good -- maybe a touch of the flu or something. So I nursed myself with soup, toast, kettle korn, red vines, and Martinelli's. Great combo, huh? But I loved the movies! I really liked the new Zorro, maybe even more than the first one. Plenty of dazzling swashbuckling, but also some good "values." (Has anybody back East noticed how much the bad guy looks like Chad S? Amazing!)The "Prince & Me 2" was also cute -- much better than the first one, which I wouldn't recommend.