slow going

There has just been almost nothing worth blogging about these days. I was planning on writing a rather gleeful post about the Cardinals this afternoon, but after two straight disappointing losses at Detroit I just can't get into it. Maybe they'll repay KC with a sweep this weekend and break even for this stretch of interleague play. I could be happy with that.

I just watched another character disappear off the great BBC show Spooks. Very few of the original cast members are left, and not only does the show handle the exits in interesting and unexpected ways, but it manages to maintain its quality despite the turnover. Be careful on the website, however, if you haven't seen any or much of the show. Spoilers abound in the character profiles.

Saw the Get Smart movie over this past weekend. I was entertained. People seem to be complaining largely on the grounds that they made too much of an action movie for it to be a faithful adaptation of a show that was largely slapstick and verbal humor. Personally I'm not sure you could sustain a feature film on shoe-phone and "missed it by that much" jokes. I think there were enough nods in there to the original show without being too campy about it. Primarily, though, the cast is just too good for this movie to be bad. Alan Arkin is great fun, Steve Carrell is his usual self, and there's an amusing Bill Murray cameo. So I enjoyed it.

celebrations all around

There has been quite a lot to celebrate recently! Susan got a job on Thursday, and it sounds like a really great opportunity. My little sister is going to be the high school drama teacher putting on school plays and stuff! I think its neat, and she is really pumped. We went out for a drink at Hotel Figueroa (so-so drinks, but a really cool spot) and late night happy hour at Ciudad to celebrate. Then on Sunday, in addition to Father's Day (more on that below) we celebrated the engagement of two friends I've known since the early days at USC. Which, strange as it seems, was 9 years ago. Tonight we celebrate our friend James' new knee that he'll be getting tomorrow. Incidentally, its also Gabe's birthday (of Mel and Gabe in Vienna fame). They're in town, and we're lucky to get a chance to see them this weekend for brunch. It will be nice not to have to rely on them to order for us!

Whee, what fun!

Father's Day, of course, we celebrated on the phone since Susan was out here in L.A. I've been undertaking the rather large task of scanning old family photos, and these came in really handy when Krysta and I were able to put together a nice book for our Moms on Mother's Day (I love iPhoto). So while there was no photo book made for Father's Day, I thought I'd pull some of my favorites of me and Dad and put them up here.

I think this first one is really great. Its just the two of us, looking off into who-knows-what*. We both seem rather entranced by what lies before us, but whereas he's smiling, happy just to be seeing what comes at us together and sharing it with his son, I'm still young enough to be just a little scared. Or maybe just uncertain what to expect. It can't be that bad. Dad's got me.



Its actually Sesame Street Live. Somewhat less mystical than the point I was trying to make, but I felt like sharing.

friday the 13th

Today's a rather special day for Krysta and I, since we first met on a Friday the 13th. So for us its a chance to celebrate our good fortune, and that will make two nights in a row we've had reason to celebrate. My little sister, who I'm told is all grown up now but I still have doubts, secured a teaching job at the LAUSD early-hire job fair yesterday. She landed what sounds like a really great job that will let her teach drama and build a theater program. So we all went out to Ciudad last night and had some tequila and food to celebrate. Its finally sinking in that she'll be living out here in just a couple of months, which is pretty exciting.

I miss Viennese coffee.

Things are a little slow today, so there may be a baseball post later this afternoon.

picture time

As much as I love my new video/still camera, its creating this whole new data stream that I have to deal with now. Its a good thing, because it means I'm using the camera, but it sometimes means that I get backed up in importing, organizing and editing things.

Krysta threw a baby shower today for our good friend Jessica, and there are some lovely photos from that. However, this post is not for those (see above)

Instead, here are some photos from my parent's visit, a couple of baseball games, and a Memorial Day BBQ. Enjoy!

a return to normalcy

I'm back on the job, the family is back in Illinois, and this whole primary madness is finally behind us. So its starting to feel like "normal" again around here, if there is such a thing. It was really great to have my parents around for a nice visit. This was the first time they got to see the house where Krysta and I have lived together for four years now, and we got to introduce them to our little corner of the city. We even hit up several things on this rather bizarre, tournament-style list of the "64 Best Things About Los Angeles" by LA Magazine. Its a good conversation starter, at least.

We saw Iron Man at the Arclight, since I had given them an Arclight giftcard for Christmas a couple of years ago in hopes of encouraging their visit. I really enjoyed it about as much as I've enjoyed any recent superhero movie except maybe X2. It had a great sense of humor, and apart from the final confrontation lacking a little, delivered on its promise of a fun summer movie without feeling bloated or over-done.

I have to post these pictures, because I think they're fantastic (both from BagNewsNotes):












Despite Obama having effectively secured the nomination some time ago, Clinton and her supporters were determined to take this thing to the end. I can't really blame them, as they believed in their historic candidate just as much as I believed in mine. Having been really disappointed by Dean's flameout last time around, its really exciting to watch Obama officially take up the mantle as standard-bearer for the Democratic Party. He's got a tough road ahead, but for a few days its nice just to enjoy the fact that he's made it this far.

I promise there are pictures and stories from Poland coming. Honestly. But not this weekend.