Secrets of the City

Shame on the NFL for those awful matchups yesterday. The best games on TV were the rounds of Wii bowling put up by mrs. champs’ grandpa and great uncles.

Today: Bought stuffed dog (cute) and Star Wars light saber (cool!) for my Toys For Tots Drive.

For me: New leather gloves. For Mrs. Lungs: a DVD she wanted.

Bought more Port at Surdyks. Going to Hollidazzle for 1st time tonite. Will open the Port only upon our return to Stately Moffitt Manor tonight.

Be careful out there, folks. A big weekend for DUIs.

It’s movie day for me. Saw three back-to-back matinees two years ago. Will only go to two today: Quantum of Solace and Australia. Then, out for some drinks this evening with a broken-hearted friend at a real neighborhood West St. Paul bar.

I think we’re doing movie day too. I get done with work at 3pm and plan on having my first drink by 3:17pm (15 min drive home)

Saw Solace. Liked it.

Change of plans. Will postpone Hollidazzle, as Mrs. L. is feeling a litle tired after donating blood today.

She said the blood donation event was packed. Her appointment was at 10 a.m., they didn’t get the needle in her until 11:30. She’s a trooper, though, and stood and waited. They won’t take my blood — too much time living overseas, they say.

Plan B: Watch the DVD I bought today and open the fresh bottle of Port.

Enjoyed both movies this afternoon/evening. Timed out well, too, so there was no waiting around before our second feature started. (FYI if the showtime says 2:30, that means the actual movie will start around 3.)

Quantum of Solace: Action! Action! Action! I think Daniel Craig now ranks among the top movie Bonds.

Australia: Crikey! Gone With The Wind meets How The West Was Won. Maybe a bit too long (almost 3 hours) but we enjoyed the story and the gorgeous Outback scenery. A few sniffles at the end, too. I don’t mind it that Nicole Kidman is all botoxed these days, either.

Then went for a drive through the Lake Phalen Christmas lights display. It’s not the Holidazzle (and it’s not free) but it got better toward the end.

Left to do: Polish off a couple of Leinie’s Honey Weiss drafts while listening to sobbing broken-hearted love stories. Men can be soooo cruel. Sometimes.

Sad and unexpected ending to the holiday weekend — we got a call at 10:30 p.m. last night informing us that my wife’s mom had died. Her Dad died 15 years ago.

In Valley City, North Dakota now, planning a funeral.

Sorry for your loss, Bob.

That’s terrible Bob. I’m sorry for your loss.

Thanks, all. We are going through her things now — it’s like a time capsule. Her High School transcript (in longhand!). The athletic letter she earned playing basketball. Photos of her and her family farming with horses during the Depression.

Everyone has a story to tell. Too bad it too often is after they are gone.