For those of you who know my brother, does anyone agree with me that he looks a lot like Joaquin Phoenix? I saw Ladder 49 last week, and I couldn't believe again how much he reminds me of Christopher. Chris says he hasn't been told that before. Maybe it's just me, but I'm standing firm on this one.
I got my wish this morning. I went outside at 7 a.m. for a walk and I could see my breath. As strange as it sounds, it was quite a joyful moment for me. There I was, walking along to worship music on my mp3 player while my ears slowly grew numb. Gotta love it.
In other news, we went to Batman Begins last night. Based on previous Batman movies, I would never have had an inkling to go, but I read a review that said it redeemed the whole franchise, and they were right. I think I'd have to say that Christian Bale is now my favorite Batman, followed by Val Kilmer, then Michael Keaton, and George Clooney in a distant fourth. Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman also star and add some great levity. It's pretty dark, but hey, it's Batman. Definitely wouldn't take small kids though cause there's some freaky stuff.
As I predicted, being back in Minnesota weather is glorious. I have been out for a walk most mornings, because nothing beats the cool, breezy, sun just came up feeling. It's wonderful to stand outside and not sweat, although it's a little strange for me to exercise and not be soaked by the time I'm done. It's been in the upper 70's and 80's this week and fairly rainy, but mostly at night. I want to take some pictures one of these days to post. I'm lovin' it!
Last night my mom and I were on the couch in their living room when we noticed the neighbor running by with lawn mower (mowing the lawn, not just running). I mean running. He ran into view, slowed down at the street, then turned around and ran back into his yard.
We started speculating reasons why he might choose to run with the lawn mower instead of walking like normal people. My dad thought maybe the self-propeller was on high speed. My mom thought maybe he was trying to get exercise. Or maybe he wanted to get done quickly.
Whatever the reason, it was quite amusing. Soon the whole family was on the couch, waiting in anticipation for him to appear. Pretty soon we were saying, "C'mon Jim . . . c'mon Jim . . . Yeah!!!" when we saw him. He didn't seem embarassed to do it in public because we live on a busy street. When we left later in the car, he looked up and waved, then ran away with the mower. You gotta love cheap entertainment.
I was reminded today when I saw a Batman Begins poster of another Batman, many years ago.
My brother was probably about 10 or 11 years old at the time and inclined to humorous activities. I was sitting on the floor in my bedroom when my door flew open and a plunger whizzed past my head and stuck to the opposite wall, handle swinging like a sword. Christopher came in wearing some kind of a cape and pulled the plunger off the wall. Then he came close to my face and whispered in a deep voice, "Ask me who I am."
"Who are you?"
"I'm Bathman," and left.
Antics like this were not uncommon in the Brenna household, and I'm looking forward to more of them come tomorrow when we land in balmy MN.
I am not by nature one to try new food. There are several reasons for this. First, I'm the kind of person for whom food is simply something that keeps me from dying. Therefore, it doesn't have to be complicated. Second, I've got a small gas tank, so I'm selective in what I put in it cause it'll fill up pretty fast. Third, I'm not a risk taker. I want to eat what I know I'll like.
All that to say despite living in Asia for 6 years, I haven't had a wide variety of food. So when our friends invited us to eat last night and said, "We made reservations at a Japanese place. Do you like Japanese?" I had to say, "Uh, no."
But in the end, I was convinced there might be something I'd like and we went. Turns out I DO like Japanese food, or at least some of it. It was one of those times that I was grateful for people in my life who push me out of my comfort zone so I can finally can say, "Unagi? Yeah, I've had that. It's good." So here's hoping the rest of you have some good adventures today.
At the front of our complex there is a guard house which usually holds 2-3 older gentlemen. I love these guys, and this is why: whenever we enter our complex, whether by car or taxi, they stare intently into the vehicle until they recognize whoever is inside. The stare they give is full of concern and a bit of suspicion that breaks into a welcoming grin and wave once they recognize us. It cracks me up, and it makes me feel safe. There's this moment of, "Who are you coming into my domain?" and then, "Ah, friend, enter!" Gets me every time.
I have wondered since I moved here how big Singapore really is. In our little pocket world atlas it's barely visible. So I asked a friend, and he said that it is 25 miles west to east and 15 miles north to south.
That boggles my mind. I could drive through Singapore several times on my way from Rochester to Minneapolis. This is a good thing for me, because it means that if I get lost, I can't even get too lost. Actually, getting lost in my mind is just finding another way not to get somewhere. And really, unless you get stuck on the road to Malaysia, face it - it's an island. If you hit the ocean, turn around.
So that's what I've been thinking about today. That and Madagascar. The movie, not the island, cause we saw it today with the kids. First movie in a theater for them. They liked it.
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