July 21, 2005
Dear Everyone:
Last week’s Pacific Region Leadership Conference (ARMA) was filled with lots of good information. And it wasn’t the GSCC (Greater Sacramento Capitol Chapter)’s fault that it was the hottest week of the year so far. It would have been almost as hot here in the Bay Area. At least it wasn’t my home air conditioner I was running 24 hours per day. We got some great ideas for the new fiscal year (July-June) and will meet this Sunday at the new President’s place to plan for the coming year.
In other news…
One thing I did get done before leaving last week
was to finalize the travel arrangements for
Tuesday, Mother and I will take the rental car back
to the airport, check it in and get to the terminal in plenty of time.
In the meantime, “Jeannie” will be getting herself to the
My one concern is that there is only an hour between the flights. As long as the first plane is on time, we should be able to make it to the correct gate for the second leg of the trip. I’ll be counting on the airline’s passenger assistance (wheelchair) to help us out there.
We will stay at “Alice” and “Kelly’s” beautiful home, which was once a hotel, and which has it’s own spring-fed pond. “Frankie” is planning on flying up for the weekend to join us. So far, it doesn’t look like “Richard” or “Marshall” will be able to make it. If so, “Kelly” will just have to contend with the “hen party” on his own.
The following Monday, “Jeannie”, Mother and I will
fly back to
OK, enough of all this, get to the movies…
Last month, “Jeannie” suggested that we go see
But they put ideas in Marty’s head. Then, through a series of unfortunate, if somewhat hilarious, misunderstandings, our intrepid foursome find themselves aboard a cargo ship The penguins have contrived to be aboard the same vessel. They have a plan. They also have a reprehensible sense of direction.
Before you know it, Marty, Alex, Melman and Gloria
are on the
This movie has something for everyone. The kids will love the animals. But they won’t get the tribute to Planet of the Apes. Even their parents won’t get it if they only saw the Mark Wahlberg remake. And how many viewers will catch the visual reference to a famous episode of the original Twilight Zone? “Jeannie” and I were howling at stuff that sailed over the heads of half the audience, like when Marty and Alex have their “National Geographic” moment. It really is a fun movie.
The next movie we watched was the new War of the Worlds. It has Tom Cruise and Dakota Fanning. Directed by Steven Spielberg. Music by John Williams. Spectacular special effects. The only thing it didn’t have was a comprehensible story. Even “Jeannie” posed: “If the Martians are smart enough to build those machines, you’d think they’d be smart enough to not drink the local water.”
Of the two, you’re better off with the zoo animals.
Speaking of movies, I’ve been keeping track of all the movies I/we have seen since January, 2000, when I got my Palm. It’s how I know whose turn it is to pay for the movie. (Before the Palm, I used a DayTimer and had to remember to look before we went to the theater.) Since then, I’ve seen 119 movies. Not all of these I paid for, since half the time it was “Jeannie’s” turn to pay. And I also noted how much I paid for “snacks”. Added all together, it comes to a grand total of $1267.10. Or about $10/movie. Or $19/month.
Whatever.
Love, as always,
Pete
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