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Sunday, June 18, 2000
One year ago: Star Wars Again
Two years ago: In the Groove
Starting from the science fiction club meeting on Thursday, there had been a lot of discussion about a group outing to a fancy theater, over the border in Canada. Jim Kling offered to drive, along with a few other people, so I didn't have to, yay! (I'm reluctant to drive across the border -- I don't like figures of authority like customs officials. I'm not crazy about the DMV folks, either, but I can't avoid them.)
We drove the back roads and crossed the border at Lynden. This was so much better than crossing at the Peace Arch! We didn't wait at all going north, and only a few minutes on the way back.
Jack overpersuaded Jim into making a wrong turn, but we were able to get on to the highway at the next exit. I find the differences in the landscape and buildings fascinating, so I didn't mind staying on surface roads for a bit. We gave Jack sufficient teasing.
* * * * * * *
There was no problem spotting the Colossus when we got to the correct exit. It has a huge metal spaceship in the center, about five stories high! It's even more visible and prominent than the LDS temples you see from various highways around the country, looking like the towers of the Emerald City. Inside each of the four entrances were lines of alien figures, with ATMs and ticket dispensing machines in their abdomens.
There was a big arcade area, but I'm picky about what I like to play and there weren't any pinball machines. Jack enjoyed the racing games, of course. A massive refreshment stand was in the middle of the lobby, with other specialty stands (Pizza Hut, Baskin Robbins, and so on) arranged in the corners. I grabbed myself a mocha milkshake.
This place had about 18 screens, including an IMAX theater. There was also (this place just doesn't quit!) a bar and restuarant upstairs in the spaceship, called the Pod. I think a good excursion from Bellingham would be an IMAX film and a regular film, with a meal inbetween.
* * * * * * *
"But what about the movie?" Oh! Oh, yeah, the movie. Titan AE was pretty good fun. I think it would be grand for junior high kids, or a bit younger. They might not be familiar with all of the SF or Cambellian clichés that make up the plot. Too bad the girl wasn't the hero; I'd rather have seen her save the human race.
There was lots of pretty space scenery and lots of plot holes. The weakest character was the odd leg-female voiced by Janeane Garafolo. She just didn't have any character, beyond being slightly grouchy.
* * * * * * *
When we got back to Bellingham, I was dropped off at Jack's place, and he and most of the others went to a concom meeting (that'a a convention committee meeting) for VikingCon. I was OK being by myself -- I got some writing done! And read a book on Jack's back porch.
My book for the day was John D. MacDonald's Cinnamon Skin. This author is one of Jack's favorites, so he passed me the novel to try. I liked it! A mystery/suspense story that ranged from Florida, to Texas, to Mexico. I'll have to read more in the Travis McGee series to see if I get as attached to them as Jack is.
I'm so glad I came up here this weekend! I'm reassured now that Jack is really feeling better after his surgery.
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A woman who does not guard and treasure herself cannot be of very much value to anyone else... Only a woman of pride, complexity, and emotional tension is genuinely worth the act of love, and there are only two ways to get yourself one of them. Either you lie, and stain the relationship with your own sense of guile, or you accept the involvement, the emotional responsibility, the permanence she must by nature crave. I love you can be said only two ways.
-- John D. MacDonald, Travis in THE DEEP BLUE GOODBYE
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