A Week in Review

A couple weeks ago, I got to see two movies in one week. I honestly can't tell you the last time I've done that. So, what did I see? Avatar and Sherlock Holmes. What'd I think? Avatar's beauty in 3D swallowed me hole. It was as if, on the planet Pandora, everything was lit by black light sun, or like the inside of one of those fish that lives so deep in the sea their skeletons look neon. It's a beautiful movie to watch. The trade line, "I see you." Cheese? You decide. Go see it.

Sherlock Holmes I'd heard was entertaining and that Robert Downey Jr. did the sleuth justice. I thought so, too, actually. And, Jude Law? Well, he's Jude Law. Am I right, ladies? I was surprised by the dark undertones of the movie. There's lots of suspense and blowing stuff up. I like how it's set in old London. Imagine Jack-the-Ripper times and it will get ya all spooked. If you can't go see it, rent it.

What else did I recently get to do, as well? Two music shows in one week. Hoorah! Last Saturday night, an old Little Rock favorite, Lucero, came to town. They played both Friday and Saturday nights at George's. That's kind of a big deal. I'm proud of 'em.

This show is one of the few places you'll see both cowboy hats and converse pleasantly mixed together. I saw a couple get into a real show-stopper of a fight. And then later, when they made up, packed in the crowd, she in front of him, his arms around her waist, apparently over whatever it was that had them all worked up. What a night!

Although Ben's voice was way raspier than I remember and probably because it was their second show in a weekend, they sounded great. About half of my friends from the old school Little Rock days had a crush on Ben Nichols. I'd say he's hooked up with about 25% of those friends. Maybe even 30%. He reminds me of a salty, smokey, Southern, what I'd picture, Ryan Adams. Two friends from LR came up for the show and we made a night of it. Rain and all. And after, for old times sake, JR's.

Second show in a week? Hosta. There was a battle of the bands at George's last night, where six bands were competing to win a spot at Wakarusa, a music festival held on Mulberry Mountain in Ozark, AR, this summer. It was $5 to get in the door and you got a ticket to cast your vote for your fave. Crossing my fingers for ya, Hosta!

What else? It's sleeting outside my window. I hear dainty little pellets of ice falling on my roof and deck. We're hoping they stay dainty and that they don't turn into ice. We're also hoping for snow. Snow would be good. Ice, not so much. Last year, a category 5 ice storm slapped us silly and without power for 11 days. I stayed for eight of those before I went to Little Rock for shelter. I will not make it for that long again. I think I only have three or four days of "lazy camping" in me for this storm.

Anyway, this storm has been classified a category 4. Sweet. Really? We're hoping it skirts us and that the destroying wind that's supposed to come with it, slides every so slightly North. Every dish is washed. Every load of laundry done. Boots and coats are at the ready. I bought junk food and stuff that can be cooked on a camping stove or griddle. I only buy canned stuff and junk like I did today, when a storm like this is coming. There are even DORITOS in my pantry, y'all. Oh, and I made peanut butter balls, like my mom used to make on snow days when we were little. They are so bad for you. Full stop.

So. We shall see. If you don't hear from me for the next two weeks or so, consider me detached from the world and picture me hiking Annie Dillard-style through the woods around here, looking at berries and animals and the same tree limb that I was yesterday, wondering if it'll crack and smack the ground as I take mental photographs of the wild around me to describe later.

Out for now.