... and In With the New

To borrow from Todd Snider:

My all time favorite movie
is that one where those two people
who have never met each other,
under pressure learn to work together.
They survive impossible odds,
to save the president and become great friends,
then the one kisses the other on the cheek
and the movie ends.

Our family—the Wife, the Boy, the Girl, and me—rang in the New Year last year with video games and a movie night. The video game was “Need for Speed: Pro Street for Wii”. The movie was “Eagle Eye.” There were originally plans for fireworks in the driveway and roasted marshmallows over a fire in the pit outside. But, we just felt that such extravagance in a time of global economic distress was insensitive to anyone who might be out of work. Also, it was, like 30 degrees outside, and the Boy, the Wife and I didn’t want to go out in it.

We wrapped up the movie at around 10 pm, and then had to find something else to watch until the ball dropped at 11 pm. I really can’t stand to watch the New Year’s Eve shows. It reminds me of when we lived in New Orleans and would watch Endymion on television. I don’t want to watch it on TV. I want to be out there in it. Next year…

* * * * *

“I see I’ve been outvoted,” said the Girl, upon hearing that no one else wanted to get fireworks at 7 pm on New Years Eve in 30 degree weather.

“Eagle Eye” was rated PG-13, mostly for language. When the Boy realized it earned its rating because of language, he did fist pumps in the air. (The Boy is 10 years old and has an inordinate fascination with curse words.) The kids enjoyed the movie, and if I may comment for just a moment, they should have canned all the curse words and just made it a straight PG movie, because unless you are a devout conspiracy theory person you will not be able to suspend disbelief enough as an adult to really take this movie. It has a National Treasure feel to it. But, I’m just an accountant, so I’ll keep my movie marketing thoughts to myself. Did I say the kids enjoyed it—they freaking loved it. It must have cost a kajillion dollars to make, it had so many car crashes. ("In America, we like our bad guys dead. Preferably after some kind of kick ass car chase." Todd Snider)

I rented two Wii games last night at the Blockbuster, both of which are for me. The Pro Street Racer, and Madden Football. I have long resisted getting a Wii (or any other game system) because I don’t trust myself to not quit my job and become a full time gamer. As soon as I could get Pro Street Racer plugged up, I was on it, enjoying the thrill of finally getting to smash into the cars of drivers who do not have the good sense to get out of my way.

I’m already thinking about my goals for 2009. Where to do I want to get my Wii Fit age down to? In which Wii Sports do I want to be a pro? How many Wii games do I want to accumulate?

Whatever I decide about those other things, I know that one of my goals will be to defeat the Boy in Wii boxing. He has a wicked round house body punch.

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What I’m Listening To Now: Jamey Johnson, That Lonesome Song on Rhapsody.
What I’m Reading Now: Janet Fitch, Paint It Black.