Australian tale of loss, grief and moving on. When Simone’s father dies unexpectedly, she hears him talking to her through a very large tree outside her home. This is a quiet, slow film in all the best ways.
Cost: free from library
Where watched: at home
poster from: http://www.impawards.com/intl/misc/2010/tree_ver2.html
I’ve been busy this summer with the class Grammar Lab, which is taught by the UC San Diego Extension Service. It’s class number one (of four) in a copyediting (or possibly copy editing–the term is spelled both ways) certificate. *
Though it very clearly stated when registering that this is NOT a learn-as-you-go class, it turned out to be just that. The 10-week series was loaded on the first date and the instructor said things had to be done by the end date. He recommended not getting very far behind.
This was great news to me as I had a vacation scheduled during Week 10, and I prefer to vacation during my vacations, not work on schoolwork. After the first three weeks (which were killer) it got easier, so I’ve got a plan to work ahead and finish a week early.
The class requires taking multiple quizzes per week and one can use notes and other helping devices. To save flipping between windows, I’ve started utilizing both my tablet and desktop computer. The quizzes go on the tablet, where I’m able to type using my wireless keyboard. Then I can look at my notes and online resources as I go using my desktop computer.
Speaking of online grammar resources, the internet is very generous in this area. It’s as though the grammar people would like nothing better than for you to be properly able to use grammar correctly. I’ve enjoyed Grammar Bytes for both its content and aesthetics, but the most helpful site for me this summer is the Guide to Grammar and Writing. On this site you will be charmed (or repelled) by the early web page layout, but you will be incredibly appreciative of the clarity and volume of information. The guide to tenses alone saved my bacon repeatedly.
*And now that I’ve officially announced that I want to be an official copy editing-type person, all of the many mistakes contained in this blog look that much more terrible. I hang my head in shame.
Signs like this break my heart, a little.
Shanna is, of course, speaking of crocheting–the thing with yarn and hook–rather than the game of croquet–the thing with wickets and mallets. Writing this post, it turns out I can’t spell crocheting either, without spell check helping me. Luckily for me, my inability to bring together the letters in the correct order is paired with an ability to picking out the correctly spelled word from what I’m trying to say from a list. Shanna seems not so lucky. I would also guess from her handwriting that she is older, and perhaps not familiar with computers and word processing.
I hope that Shanna did get some interest and was able to create a book of everyone’s creations.
Matt wanted to do an escape room for his birthday, so we visited Portland Escape Rooms for their Steampunk-themed escape. We made it out of the dirigible (although we did neglect to find that last life jacket for the captain. He said he was fine to go down with his ship)
Matt, myself, Greg, and Burt joined five other people we hadn’t met to conquer the various puzzles presented to us. This room had a reset factor, which kept everyone occupied the entire time. Whenever people were standing about, the costumed actors would tell us the flux-capacitor (or whatever it was) needed to be adjusted. I quite liked this as it eliminated the need to beat previous teams’ times.
It was also my first time with employees as characters in the room. They were very fun. This was an improvement over the guy who sat in the room with us, but was not a character.
After, we went to eat and I caught a picture of this group of men through the window. Their age span makes me think this is a family group, but they could also be enthusiasts of some kind. 
Manages to be both quiet and loud, slow and fast. The triple timeline narrative is brilliant; it kept my mind stitching things together as the stories unfolded. If I’m going to like a war movie, it’s going to be a movie like this one, capturing the stifling boredom, random chance, brutal cruelty and human goodness.
Cost: $15.00
Where watched: Hollywood Theater in 70 millimeter (gorgeous!) with Matt.
poster from: http://www.impawards.com/2017/dunkirk.html
Now I’m curious if those windows are closed over on the inside of the remaining building. My guess is yes. I’m pretty sure this means the remaining building (Deschutes Brewery) was built first. Or perhaps an incredible optimist added windows to the wall, hoping that someday that other building would disappear. It’s your moment in the sun, incredible optimist. You are proved right!
I love the improvised, self-loathing nature of this sign.
The same building has a bank of metal sculptures of famous buidlings in its window.
As sequels go, this is a good one. Reunites the previous cast, and has more singing/dancing segments. The Bradys are at their earnest best as they travel to Hawaii. A delightful concoction.
Cost: free from libaray
Where watched: at home
poster from: http://www.impawards.com/1996/very_brady_sequel.html
Jem is the eleven-year-old protagonist of this 1980s vignette that packed a lot of story into its brief pages.
This awkward romance is perfect for the movie screen, providing the laughs, wincing and love that a good romantic comedy requires. Everyone did their thing and was good at doing their thing. There’s something so satisfying about a well-made movie.
Cost: $9.00
Where watched: Regal City Center Stadium 12, with S. North. (Who did not share my enthusiasm. No emotional connection.)
poster from: http://www.impawards.com/2017/big_sick.html
