August 17, 2014 – Out & About

Three sentence movie reviews: What If?

I’m going to start by saying this is a horrible title, so bad that even after I saw the movie I kept seeing the title and thinking, “What’s that movie about?”* However, aside from the forgettable title, I greatly enjoyed this movie that let Daniel Radcliffe be his very short self** and did me the great favor of introducing me to Zoe Kazan who was so very good I would like to see her in a multitude of things in the next decade before she ages out of the female actress demographic. If you enjoy witty banter and can recognize the Toronto skyline,*** this movie is for you.

Cost: free due to gift card.
Where watched: Lloyd Center 8 (the one in the mall) with maybe 4 other people because it was a sunny and warm August Sunday.

poster from: http://www.impawards.com/intl/misc/2014/what_if.html

*Not only when I would see it in movie marquees, but even when it was in my own blog roll! So I knew I’d seen it, but couldn’t quite remember what movie it was.
**First time I’ve ever seen that for a male lead.
***It turns out I cannot recognize the Toronto skyline, so I spent a good 45 minutes driving myself crazy trying to decide in which big city they were living. When I recounted this trouble to the clerk at Fred Meyer, he said, “Doesn’t Toronto have that unique round building displayed prominently?” And I had to admit that I did not at all associate that unique building with the Toronto skyline. But now I do.

Postcards from California & Nevada

This is from regular commenter Jan who observes “I’m not totally sure what ‘she’ is going to get but it sort of looks like she wants it.”

This is from Cindy, she of the fabulous wedding last summer. It’s from Great Basin National Park and Cindy said no one was there. However in Zion National Park, everyone in the world was there.

Keep that in mind when planning your next summer vacation.

Farmers Market and Buffalo Bill Days.

Buffalo Bill days had many things, including an outhouse race.

This gentleman in the hot dog costume wanted us to buy fresh made donuts. He did what any teenager enthusiastically overselling things will do: cartwheels. I bought a twist and man, was that a good donut. It rivaled Blue Star Donuts and that is saying a lot.

The teenager sitting in the window noticed me and waved before I could take the picture.

I tried out these chairs, which were so incredibly comfortable, I wished to pack one up and carry it back to Portland with me.

E with her donut sample.

They had Civil War reenactors.

E examines walking sticks that are also flutes.

L sat with me on the comfortable chair.

Patrick, after nearly getting hit by one of the walking sticks, helps E choose one to try out.

I was fascinated by the family and took many surreptitious photos of them.

This youngster told us all about the cannon.

He had great cheekbones.

E got to hold one of the cannon balls. (Cue the Breeders)

I enjoy a good label and am happy to know this is where the windshield washer fluid is kept.

Not a warning you will see on a civilian vehicle.

Big truck.

Patrick looking into a humvee.

There were pony rides! E and L meet one of the ponies.

Also on this trip I learned that when you are around small children, you tend to acquire things.

An excellent juxtaposition of customer t-shirt and vendor sign.

These guns were really great. I bought one.

Patrick takes a shot.

Headed for the pony rides.

They were still getting the ponies saddled.

Hipster cowboy.

The cheerful owner.

These girls were interested, but ultimately, only one of them rode.

E and Patrick.

L and Heather.

Riding.

Working teenagers.

When we walked back through, there was another outhouse ready to be pushed in the contest.

So ended a great trip. Thanks to Heather, Patrick and the girls for funding and hosting me. It was so wonderful to see them and their slice of army life.

VFW Pancake Breakfast.

E did this thing where she would walk out the back door, walk down the path and then turn right. Always right, never left.

We headed out for our day and Patrick nicely took the back seat. Three adults and two children in the car is a bit of a tight fit.

First a walk through of the Leavenworth Farmers Market.

This was still early, it was more crowded when we walked back through.

Alas, it seems I have missed out on Fried Meatballs on a Stick.

L leads us to the VFW Pancake Breakfast. Patrick is a lifetime member of the VFW.

I enjoy me a pancake breakfast. Especially when I can avoid the pancakes and get biscuits and gravy instead.

L. contemplates her plate.

Patrick sets E up.

Aside from eating, I people watched.

More details of Fort Leavenworth.

I had one last postcard to mail, so I took a short walk to the mailbox. On the way I read about the Mormon Battallion at Fort Leavenworth. Then I laughed to see who had placed the sign.

It’s hard to go just one place on the fort, there are so many things to see. I took a detour to this statue of Grant, which I attempted to capture from a non-traditional angle.