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March 13, 2000 |
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I finally got my package from Quebec. It's actually some table tennis
equipment. I got a new racket, a Yasaka Extra 3D with two Mark V, 2.0 mm
sponges, a new carrying case that holds two rackets, and half a dozen
orange balls. The racket with the Mark V sponges is one that I've been
wanting to get for years, except that I've always reasoned that my playing
is not at the level where I might appreciate this racket, but I broke down.
It's cool, except that there's no one around today for me to break it in,
so I'm stuck wanting to play with my new toy and having very little
success. It sits there in the new case, beckoning me… almost daring me
to use it. Playing table tennis by myself is not something that I'd care
to venture into… at least not today. Trying out my new racket will
have to wait. [Sigh]
I had a fairly lengthy chat with Jenna in the afternoon. I like chatting with her; she's got great perspective on some of the things that have been going on with my life. Hey, relax… She's got a boyfriend and now I've got a girlfriend. She's just a great listener and presumably so am I. She's got a great number of things in her mind; I don't envy her. When she talks I mostly just listen. I may make the occasional suggestion or maybe have a different perspective on things, but mostly I just want to be supportive.
As for me, there are some things that I won't even share with you people in here. Yes, it is mostly because most of my readers are dangerous stalker types [Yes… You!] and I really don't need any more excitement in my life. But seriously, there are some people that are dear to me in my personal life that read these pages. I still have many things to sort out… many things I still have to ponder through. I could write about them up here, but there's a very fine line between being honest and being hurtful. I have few answers really; all I know is that it is going to take a little bit of time. Otherwise, I could think myself into a corner.
Jenna is great at listening to what I have to say and this is a great source of clarity. She doesn't so much provide new answers, but instead confirms the thing that I have been pondering seem reasonable concerns and my thoughts on them seem pretty sound. This is really just as important.
Thanks, Jenna!
There's been some talk about her coming out here to visit the Seattle area. I welcome the chance to see her and spend time with her.
Tonight I also had dinner and movie plans with Len. In our typical fashion, consistent with Sunday Dinner with Len™, we did not know where we were going to dinner. I wander down to where he is parked and have our usual discussion. Where to go… Where not to go… etc. We finally decided to go to Tony Romas. If you're thinking that this is a particularly stupid meal, especially when you note that I had steak yesterday and I had managed to skip all my workouts during the weekend, you're probably right. Today, however, I have little will. I submit.
The movie we were planning to see was Mission to Mars. We warned the waitress that we were planning to see a movie and when it started. She figured that we would have plenty of time.
We had the half loaf of onion rings as an appetizer. Len seems to have a particularly strong like for onions. He also had ketchup with his chicken fingers. [Scowling…] Sorry, that is just so wrong! I had the Carolina Honeys ribs. No dessert tonight.
The waitress was right, we were half an hour early to the movie, so much so that we were able to catch an earlier showing.
I found the movie, Mission to Mars, to be very good, probably not as good as all the hype, but which blockbusters are? I suppose Len and I rate movies differently. I think most movies have inherent entertainment value, it is just a matter of being in touch with the message of the film. There are exceptions to this, of course, Steven Seagal movies for instance. I suppose I like to see characters with depth, people you can feel and you know. I'd forgo some of the pace of the plot for some of this character development. Len being such an action film enthusiast seems to prefer the former.
Len described the movie as a little saccharine and melodramatic. I'm not sure if I'd go quite that far. I enjoyed the movie. It had characters with fear, anger, love, ambition… depth. I suppose the melodramatic tones can be explained quite easily in the passion and the ambitions of the characters, which can be easily misunderstood for the fluffing out the screen play. No. I'm not going to put any spoilers here. I will say that I liked Kim Delany's role in particular and the way it subtly forebodes the conclusion, not so much through her actions, but more through her vision and ambition. I'd give it about a 7.5.
March 13, 2000