The One With the Zone of Interest

 

 

Today, Kiff kept up his pursuit of watching a lot of interesting movies by encouraging me to see Zone of Interest. Although the movie itself was in subtitles - something I am definitely not fond of seeing - I have to admit I was taken by the movie.

The movie itself is based on a fictionalized account of a commandant at a concentration camp in Germany during WWII. The director updated it to be a real account of the commandant of one of the worst camps in Germany. It highlighted how the commander tried to keep his family separated from the harsh realities of what was going on in the camp...and how the family dealt with it.

Despite being in German (some of which I was able to understand), the movie was powerful, gripping, and moving. The visual effects symbolized the evil that occurred at the camp while also masking it from the audience purposefully...similar to what was happening to those who lived near it. The sounds - and distant sites - helped evoke a powerful image of the war and the people who perpetrated the atrocities at the camp.

It is definitely one of those movies that will stick with you!

The One With Annie

 

 

Today, Emmie, Bri, Kiff, and I went to see Annie at the Boch Center in Boston. Now, truth be told, Emmie was really into seeing this. Bri and I were interested (though I have seen and taken part an Annie enough that, before going, I was okay if I didn't see it again). Kiff was a slightly more reluctant participant.

 

However, once we arrived we realized we were in for quite a show. First, the people working in the place were very, very, very much about herding us in the right direction when we entered. It was slightly off-putting at first because it was so over-the-top...but we quickly got past it.

 

Emmie got us some good tix close to the stage. It was quite a view. And, it turned out to be quite a show. Great singing and acting from the kids (and Sandy a real dog), as well as the adults. Their were little nuances added to this show to update it slightly. For example, Ms. Hannigan says "next thing you know, Annie's gonna be in the comics" which subtle irony I don't remember hearing in the original. There were definitely a few such scenes (such as the radio scene where they sign "You're Never Fully Dressed).

 

Overall, it was amazing. I realized why Emmie was so connected to the musical. She remembers seeing it with her Mom in the movies...and her Mom made a big deal about it. So much so that Emmie wanted to make sure Kiff had a souvenir Sandy and Bri had a souvenir Annie from it.  

 

It was a fantastic show...even if Bri and I had to fight the crowd to get back in and get her jacket, which she left behind. It was definitely one of the best musicals I have seen.  In fact, I could feel my Dad shining down watching it. He would have loved it.

The One With Ice Cream For Breakfast Day

 

 

Once again, one of my favorite pseudo-holidays came upon us today. It was Ice Cream for Breakfast Day. And, as with recent years, this year we decided to partake in the event.

 Now, today's day was a little bit different all around. First, it was mainly me looking for the ice cream for breakfast. Emmie was holding the fort at home helping Bri get ready for her first winter guard competition (she had to be a DHS by 7:30 AM).  And Kiff was out cold - he's been battling a bug.

So, once I dropped Bri off, I decided to see what type of ice cream I could get for all of us. I first ventured to Putnam Pantry. They've taken part in Ice Cream for Breakfast the past few years, so I wanted to see what it was like. And it opens earlier than Cherry Hill, our normal ICFB stop. But, as luck would have it, Putnam Pantry was packed. People were even parking in the back side grass lot...which I never knew existed until today.

Alas, I headed to Cherry Hill...which I thought might have a bit of a line, even though it was before its starting time of 8:30. But, the Big Guy was looking out for me and He made sure that there was not too much of a crowd waiting when I got there. Cherry Hill actually opened up early and I was in the shorted line I've ever been there.

Of course, I got the maple and bacon. Everyone else got the donuts and cream. I had a little bit of my ice cream, but saved it for later. After all, we needed to have some real food to get ready for the competition later.

The One With Bri's First Color Guard Competition

 

 

Color Guard Season - Winter Style - go started in grand fashion with Bri's first competition in Salem, MA. Technically, it is the "preseason" show, where they are given an initial evaluation to build upon.

 This year's show is focusing on a vampire love story theme. Watching the initial run through proved that this year's show is going to be great. And, it will not has as many props as last year.

 Emmie and I - along with several other parents - helped out with this show. It went well overall. And it should be interesting to see what the rest of the season has in store.

The One With Jazz and Acapella Night

 

 

Tonight, Kiff took part in his first official DHS Jazz night. Although Kiff has been in the middle school jazz band, he plays trumpet for the HS jazz band this year...and the show did not disappoint.

First, the night itself was dedicated to two types of performances divided by an intermission - jass band during the first half and acapella choruses during the second. Because it had been a busy day anyway - and Kiff was fighting bronchitis - we stayed for the first.

The 7th and 8th grade jazz bands each performed before the DHS band. It was fun to see some kids we have known for a while performing in these bands. When it was time for the DHS band to take stage, the crowd was revved up. And the high school did not disappoint. They did some solid jazz performing, capped off with the stage filled with all three jazz bands performing Night Train (the song that George McFly dances to by himself at the Enchantment Under the Sea dance in Back to the Future). The song featured more than a dozen solos, which was awesome.

Though under the weather, Kiff did great. And not to be outdone, Bri showed up to be part of the stagecrew setting up stage in between performances (and it counted as four hours for school). It was great to see her take on the role I loved in high school - stage crew...though she does have to work on what she wears when she is a member of the crew.

All in all, it was a great night.

The One With The Beekeeper

 

 

 

It does not happen to often that I find a movie that I so revile to the degree of John Wick that I want the antagonists to defeat the protagonist. But, it happened today with the arrival of Beekeeper.

 

Beekeeper stars Jason Statham. Now, I am not a mega Statham fan, but I tend to enjoy his movies. They are a little campy and he tends to be humorous (although I am not sure he is always intending to do that). 

However, this one was just, to put it, straight annoying. The premise was that scam artists bilked a woman out of millions of dollars and ended up dead. So, Statham's character begins a ruthless pursuit to get them back.

 

It turns out to be one of those Statham vs. the world movies that is just plain ludicrous. Innocent people go down all over the place in the movie to the point that I could not wait for it to end.

 

 

The One With Winter Lights

 

 

 

 

Last night, we ushered in the end of the holiday season - and 2023 - by creating what might be a new tradition. We attended the Winter Lights event in North Andover. Sponsored by the Trustees, the Winter Lights is a series of three places in Massachusetts that are set up on Trustees land where Christmas lights and Christmas music are set up.

 

We had planned to do this last year, but a cold, icy mix prevented that from happening. However, this year, we were more than delighted to attend. And it was well worth it. Although finding the actual parking lot proved tricky - we ended up going in a wily back way that someone even followed us to (which would have proven a back way in to the event) - once we arrived, we were mesmerized by the lights. They were phenomenal.

 

The lights spanned the property of what is called the Stevens-Coolidge property. They lights came complete with different thematic music (such as a Let it Snow or a  Peanuts Christmastime in Here  theme). They served refreshments for a nominal price. And you could even go into the mainhouse, which was an old style summer cottage mansion on the property.

 

Overall, it was a beautiful night and a great way to  usher in a new year. And I think we may have started a new tradition.