New Theater & Happy Feet

Friday after work, we decided to go to downtown Kalamazoo and check out the new movie theater that was opening. Unlike the other theaters around town that are in various strip malls, this one just pops up in the middle of downtown, right next to a parking garage. Actually, that's a point in its favor right there. Rather than a parking lot where during the winter, I would come out and have to clean the car of snow that has accumulated during the movie (this always seems to happen more when Melissa's sister visits), we can park in an enclosed garage (but not pay because the theater validates parking).

The screens and auditoriums were huge in relation to the others in town. The theater we were in held around 450 people, and since we were a bit early, I can even tell you that there were 36 stairs from the screen level to the top of last row of stadium seating. If you didn't want to walk that many stairs, no need to worry, there was also an elevator.

The seats were rockers and comfortable, though not made of memory foam. The concession stand even had Coke Zero on tap, giving it a huge mark in the "plus" column.

Unfortunately, I forgot to take pictures of the exterior, so you'll have to settle for bad cameraphone pics from inside. (as you can see, we were a little early)

From the top row to the screen

From the screen, up.

End credits, complete with dancing penguins, as seen from our seats.

What about the movie itself? We went to see Happy Feet. The animation was impressive, and it looked good in general. The dancing penguins were cute, as one might expect, and since it was a kids' movie and had voiceover from Robin Williams, it had plenty of humor. The story dragged a bit in parts and was more than a little preachy in its moral(s), even for a childrens' movie. The voiceover cast was somewhat odd, with Nicole Kidman doing an annoying Marilyn Monroe impression, and Hugh Jackman doing a less-annoying Elvis impression as the mother and father of the hero. I'd have to give it 3 out of five stars. I liked it, but certainly didn't love it, because it felt an awful lot longer than 90 minutes.

I have one nagging question left from the movie: There were three types of penguins in the movie, Emperor Penguins, Adelie Penguins and a lone Rockhopper. Why is it that when they did voiceovers, the Adelie Penguins were Puerto Rican?

Our New Neighbors Do Have Two Pigs, Though

We've been in our new house for a little over a year now, and I'm very glad we moved. There are tons of advantages. We now live only minutes away from both our workplaces. We can easily go home for lunch if we want. We are no longer renting and no longer having to deal with a poorly set up septic system. Our neighbors are much less likely to be seen standing outside poking a fire in a 50 gallon drum with a stick. However there are some things I occasionally miss about the old house. Like the view in the backyard.

Credit for both photos goes entirely to Melissa, I'm just posting them.

Edited to resize pics.

Trivial Tuesday

While there seem to be no end to the versions of board games on toy store shelves, one game seems to be able to outlast them all. This game can trace its history back to a game called The Landlords Game, the first patented game with a circular rather than linear gameboard. What is this long lived game?

Nothing Says Christmas Like...

Have you started your Christmas decorating yet? If you need more ideas, I would like to suggest some lovely acrylic-wrapped light sculpture decorations we saw for sale in the mall recently. I don't know about you, but when I think of Christmas, I think of dolphins...and cows...and seals.

Missile Command

Is it wrong that I really want to buy this?

Before you answer, think of the uses:

At home, I could keep it at my computer and if the dogs want to play, I don't even have to look up, just launch a dart and tell them fetch.

Or I could take it to work and have it my office. It will come in handy when that annoying coworker comes into the office and never stops talking (Come on, you know what I'm talking about. You've got one in your office too. Unless, you are that person in your office.) If they won't shut up and leave, all it takes is a few clicks of the mouse and missiles are being launched at their head. You can even make a game out of it and try to see if you can get a dart to go through the flapping gums.

Unfortunately, the more realistic side of me keeps saying that the net results of these suggested uses would be a choking dog and a visit with HR, but you can't blame me for dreaming.

Trivial Tuesday

Today's category: Advertising Jingles (not necessarily real)

Since I've had the song stuck in my head for what feels like forever...What truck was featured in ads that claimed that it "smells like a steak, and seats 35." in addition to being "twelve yards long, two lanes wide, sixty five tons of American pride"?

Overheard Over Dinner

We went to a Chinese restaurant recently and the way too adorable 5 year old daughter of the owners was wandering around the dining area talking to customers. A few things that were said while we were there:

Child: "What's your name?"
Customer: "Leigh"
Child: "No, I have to guess it. Tell me the first letter."
Customer: "L"
Child: "Leigh?"

Child: "What's he first letter of your husband's name?"
Customer: "I'm not waiting for my husband. I'm waiting for my son."
Child: "But I have to guess your husband's name."
Customer: "I don't have a husband anymore. I'm divorced."
*Customer's son arrives*
Child: "You don't have a daddy."

This went on for most of the time we were there. My favorite exchange of the evening was between the little girl and an older couple. The man, who was not exactly small, had apparently eaten more of his dinner than she thought appropriate.

Child: "Aren't you full yet?"
Customer: "No."
Child: "It looks like you have a baby in your belly."