underwhelmed…kind of

For the record, Martin and I had a lovely Valentines.

First off he delivered flowers to me in the middle of the work day PERSONALLY.  My co-workers are all still green with envy.  Then, on the way home, we spontaneously stopped at a local restaurant we’ve been meaning to try.  The waiter was a little too enthusiastic.  The conversation was great.  The salmon curry was fantastic.  It wasn’t the most romantic of evenings.  But it was so US, ya know?

anyway, on to the actual subject of the day…….

So I finally, yes, finally saw the Errol Flynn version of Robin Hood. A Classic. One everyone should see. um………yea, riiiiiight.

anybody mind if I’m honest here?

no?

Good.

It was sooo bad! Even for a movie made in that era (1938) it was just bad. The acting I mean. Flynn and his cohorts look like they got together to play at being Robin and the boys, not to actually make a film. I mean Flynn looks like he is about to crack up at any moment and just roll on the floor laughing. And I kept expecting Marian to say “Ashley!” and faint…..

Oddly enough though, they got some things right.

For instance, as long as you completely ignore the necklines, the dance tights (and Maid Marion’s outfits) the costuming was not hideous.

The thing that impressed me was the dogs eating in the background right on the edges of the feast hall. There were also other little details that I noticed at the time (but can’t recall now) that made me think. “hmmmmmm. Somebody did some research for this” They took liberties I’ll grant you, but they did DO the research first.

I don’t know what this post has do to with anything in particular. It’s just that I saw the movie finally and wanted to record how I felt about it. I MUCH prefer the Kevin Costner version, it’s funny but it’s so much more REAL.

Go back and look at the scenes (in the Errol Flynn version) where Robin’s men are “hiding” in the trees waiting to jump out. I mean honestly. Did movie producers really think people in the 30’s actually that DUMB that they had to show you legs and arms hanging out from behind greenery or the audience wouldn’t know they were there? give me a break.

Also Errol Flynn reminds me of the guy who played RobinHood in the spoof version “Men in Tights” which didn’t help with taking the movie seriously.

I made my husband cry

Okay, I know I’m not supposed to enjoy this. I KNOW it’s evil. I mean its Valentines Day for pete’s sake. But I am SOOOOOOOOO loving this.

I Made my husband CRY!!!!!

First you have to understand that I’m really enjoying this blog thing. I’ve never spent this much time crafting good written pieces before. I’ve told occasional stories live to audiences, but never stuff from my own heart and past the way I do here on the blog.

Now most of what I write here I don’t spend hours crafting, but there is one post that I did spend a couple of hours on before I posted it.

It was a true story from my childhood and I wanted to tell it properly. I wanted to craft it so that I didn’t just tell the story, I wanted it to have impact. I wanted it to grab the reader.

And I succeeded. I knew I got it right the night I made my husband read it. And He Cried.

btw, can you guess which post it is?

very cool valentines present

I just found out what my Valentines present is this year.

It’s really really cool.

It’s a new Fridge ! (ice box, refrigerator, ice cream storage device, or – my mom’s favorite- the piano*)

See? I told you it was cool. I’m so thrilled. Really.

It’s the new French door style with the freezer on the bottom and it’s stainless steel and I got to pick it out myself.

I am, apparently, really really super picky about fridges. I wouldn’t have thought I would be, but I kept looking and looking and looking. I’d open one after another and say “Nope. Nope, not this one, let’s keep looking.”

When I finally opened this one I said “Yes, this is it. I’m home.”

Martin came over and looked at it and immediately got all logical and male on me and wanted to know WHAT it was about this one in particular that felt “right” to me. As opposed to others with “exactly the same features”

Heavens, I DON’T know. All I know is that standing in front of it, with the doors open,………..it feels right.

So. That’s it. It’s been ordered and should arrive tomorrow or Thursday. Yipee!

Now, what should I get for HIM for Valentines? Fridge magnets maybe? Any suggestions?

*Yes, my mom regularly confuses the names of large objects.  Our two family favorites are when she waves at the musical instrument and calls it the fridge and when she asks you to get the Jello out of the piano.  The first time she did it I laughed till I cried.