December 29, 2005
Time to make the donuts
Dunkin' Donuts - I just got around to reading my email and saw this message from the Wall Street Journal:
Michael Vale, the actor best known for his hangdog portrayal of the sleepy-eyed, early-rising "Fred the Baker" in a long-running series of Dunkin' Donuts commercials, has died from complications from diabetes at the age of 83. For 15 years until his retirement in 1997, Mr. Vale shuffled across the screen, muttering his trademark line, "time to make the doughnuts." But there was more to Mr. Vale than his wry portrayal of Fred. A veteran of Broadway and of film, the Brooklyn native studied acting alongside classmates Tony Curtis, Ben Gazzara and Rod Steiger, at the Dramatic Workshop in New York.
As I've ranted about before, you can't go a mile in any direction around Nashua without tripping over a Dunkin' Donuts. How ironic that nowadays they usually don't “make the donuts” at the facilities but make them at centralized houses and redistribute to the individual sites.
Just after I read the Journal's news snippet, Michelle stepped out to pick up some donuts for breakfast from a private donut house where they do make the donuts on site. She's also going to make some eggs and sausage to go with them. After the past few days of illnesses, this might be the first day when everyone is well and has an appetite. After Michelle's bout with the stomach bug, it moved onto Abigail, then to Michael, then to Daniel. Please, Dear Lord, spare me, Claire, and Timothy.
Narnia -I took Claire, Abigail, and two of their friends to see Narnia yesterday afternoon. I was lucky that Michelle stopped by the theatre after teaching her step class to pre-buy some tickets for the 3 o' clock show. Even when we arrived at 2:40, the show was sold out and the only five contiguous seats were up near the front. Luckily the Merrimack Cinemagic has seats near the front that can support your neck.
I loved the movie. The visuals! The Christian symbolism! Of the fake characters I liked the beavers. Their back and forth banter as a husband and wife was spot on. Of the real actors I liked the portrayal of little Lucy (seen at right). She was endearing and charming. I have little doubt that we'll buy the DVD next year.
Thanks for the review of Narnia! I loved watching "The lion, the witch, and the wardrobe" when I was younger. I am actually taking the Tarpey kids to see it this monday as their Christmas present. Speaking of presents, did your kids get the cards from me? I sent them early last week but I know they take a while to get over to that side of the country!
Posted by: Suzy at December 29, 2005 10:59 AMHi Suzy,
Yes, the kids got their cards. Thanks so much. Illinois to New Hampshire is about 2-3 days by postal mail.
I hope you and the Tarpey kids have a good time at the movie. Are Tom and Alyssa going to see it? I think Tom would _really_ like it. The final battle scene *might* be a bit much for younger kids like Kyle and perhaps William. You never really see blood, due to creative cinematography, but it's still a bit intense for a spell. Abby didn't like that part too much. Claire was impressed by it.
It wasn't until the drive home that I started to discuss with Claire the Christian themes in the movie. I'd say, "you know where ... isn't that just like how God ...". She'd say, "Oh yeah!" After a few examples, she really liked how C.S. Lewis did those symbols.
I told her that those were all themes that she's heard in religion education, but by putting them into a great story, Lewis makes them seem new. It increased her appreciation of the movie.
Posted by: Scott at December 29, 2005 12:15 PMTom may see the movie too, but I have no desire at all to see it- I remember trying to read it when I was around 12 years old- it was the thing to read, like Harry Potter more recently, and I hated it- too far out for me, and then in high school theology it came up again, and I dreaded it..but I'm sure my kids will like it- haven't decided if William will go too, maybe if Tom goes, but he doesn't always sit so well at the show- we'll see. I saw "The Family Stone" last nite- it was decent- goodnight!
Alyss
Hi Lyss,
You know, even though you were closest to me in age, I'm always learning about things you had to do growing up that I have no recollection of: Cheaper by the Dozen, Fantasie Impromptu, and now The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe... You'd think we were raised in different homes! :-)
I, too, remember a few kids in my class reading it -- like David Bernardi. At that time I didn't read any fiction that I didn't have to. At the time my mindset was 'if it's just a story, why should I waste my time?'. Even Holy Cross' H.S.'s 'book of the month' didn't change my mindset in that regard. After high school graduation it was years before I read any fiction again.
If you have any kids who don't like long movies, that's another thing to warn you about Narnia. The movie is about 2 hours 15 minutes long. It's not quite the length of King Kong, but it's definitely longer than the typical 90 minute Disney movie. That was a major turnoff for Abigail.
Posted by: Scott at December 30, 2005 09:25 AM