Weekend - This past weekend was great. The weather both days was pleasant. Sunday was a bit warmer, but it was dry and there was a stiff breeze. And unlike much of the midwest, we had some evening rains. Among the highlights for the kids were playing with their friends (of course), going to a local mini-golf, playing at a park, visiting the town pool, and eating at a nearby ice cream stand. Last week Michelle received a cookbook by the makers of her wood pellet grill so now she felt ready to branch out beyond hamburgers and hot dogs. She made some excellent cuts of steak and chicken. I think that late last week Michelle was going for sainthood (or martyrdom). She had six kids over Thursday and five on Friday. Other than planned parties, it's rare that our own kids are in the minority at our house.
The Apartment - I had a rental DVD that had been waiting around for me to watch, “The Apartment” It had high ratings at Netflix, was nominated for ten Academy Awards back in its day, and it won five, including best picture. I was a bit surprised that I'd never heard of it. It features Jack Lemmon, Shirley MacLaine, and Fred MacMurray. For Fred MacMurray (the father in My Three Sons and also known as the professor who 'invented' Flubber) the trailer said “in a role as you've never seen him before”. I'll say! Whereas you usually think of him as innocent and wholesome, here he was icy, manipulative, and downright creepy, a real snake. Overall I have to agree with all the high marks. It really was good! Michelle and I commented that although the movie had more sex than most current movies, it was all implicitly suggested. You knew that the five supervisors Jack Lemmon worked with were all using his apartment to cheat on their wives, but unlike a modern film, that's all there was. No footage. The movie was all plot, character development, drama and a bit of humor. It was sad, romantic, and funny — a rare combination. You can read the story in detail.
Alyssa - Best birthday wishes to Alyssa on her thirty-mumble-mumble birthday yesterday! I tried to call but you were taking a well deserved nap. Considering your usual days, that itself must have been a nice present. Hope you enjoyed going out last night. Michelle and I wish we could have joined you. Besides your birthday, there are many other great July 10th events.
Joke - A Brit, a Frenchman and a Russian are viewing a painting of Adam and Eve frolicking in the Garden of Eden.
The Brit said, "They look so calm. They must be British."
The Frenchman said, "Nonsense. They're naked and so beautiful. Clearly, these are French people."
The Russian disagreed, "I don't think so. They have no clothes, no shelter, they have only an apple to eat, and they're being told this is paradise. They are Russian."