Yellow Submarine

Lots of people who complained about us receiving the MBE received theirs for heroism in the war -- for killing people. We received ours for entertaining other people. I'd say we deserve ours more.
-- John Lennon

Monday, September 6, 1999
One year ago: Bumbershoot
Two years ago: Last Bus

Each morning we've spent here at Jack's parents' place, Jack has awakened his daughter and her friend by shouting at them until they are awake. "Wake up! Wake up!" His daughter H---- especially doesn't react well to this treatment. I don't think he would, himself! Perhaps this is a carryover from his days in the Air Force.

But we got up and going at a reasonable time this morning, and drove off in a convoy, me following in my washed and repaired car. The old grey Taurus hasn't looked so good in years! We had only one false start -- Jack turned his van around a few miles down the road because H--- had forgotten her jacket.

It was good weather for a drive, and the traffic wasn't bad. I did find the Hood River toll bridge nervous-making to drive across. I didn't like it last Friday, either! We stopped several times on the way back to Seattle, and checked my car's fluids each time. No leaks!

After the last rest stop before Olympia, Jack suggested that I drive straight home. He'd join me at my place after dropping the girls off, since they live about a half hour off of the highway. He joked that he might get to my place before me, since he likes to drive faster than I do. I'm content to go the speed limit, or maybe five miles faster; it was a struggle for me to keep up with him during the drive!

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It was good to get home again! Jack did arrive soon after me. It was still early enough in the day that he could spend some time with me before driving back to Bellingham, which pleased me very much! (I'd been wishing for that, you know.) We went online and looked up the schedule for the last night of Bumbershoot, the big arts festival that was happening this weekend, but nothing thrilled either of us enough to motivate us to go down to Seattle Center. (It was just a year ago that we spent the day there; what a fine weekend that was! Jack showed his good qualities right away when we began dating.)

We remembered that the Egyptian theater was supposed to be open again, showing Yellow Submarine in a newly restored version with improved sound. It took some doing to find the showtimes, since Sidewalk didn't have the info. (A symptom of their being sold off?) But we succeeded at Hollywood.com. And we even had some time to relax and enjoy each other's company before we needed to walk down the hill, which was very nice indeed.

The renovations in the Egyptian theater were less extensive than I'd imagined. It seems that all they've done (so far, and how can they do more now that the theater is open again?) is block off the sides of the upper balcony for office space. There may be some air conditioning added, also, and an improved sound system. But no new seats!

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I'd forgotten how much I liked The Yellow Submarine, or maybe I didn't care for it when I was a child. There were major sequences that I didn't remember. But I loved the colors (inspiration for a journal design?) and the music sounded great. I was tickled by the voice of Jeremy (the nowhere man), played by Dick Emery.

The style of the animation, and the mystical, mysterious tone of some of the scenes, reminded me of Fantastic Planet, the French animated film that was reissued recently. The influence, if there is one, must have gone from Yellow Submarine to Fantastic Planet, since the former was made first.

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After the movie, we ate at Taco Del Mar since that's one of Jack's favorite places and it was nearby. Then we walked up the hill to my place, Jack retrieved his guitar and other items, and he drove away.

I'll be seeing him next weekend; we're taking the motor home on a camping weekend with some Bellingham SF fans.