A place for my photos and thoughts and stuff.
A lovely day spent in the company of the lovely ladies of my Bible study group. Train trip, lunch, and some wanderings. Excellent!
So green and superbloomy!
I kind of liked the WWI getup, but it’s hard to top the barefooted leg gaiters look.
You can almost hear them rustling in the breeze.
Treebeard!
Old Mr. Tree looks pretty good 220ish.
The way home…
Orchids are just…weird.
Consume the Kraken!
A pair of roly-poly fish heads for just a buck and change!
I somehow passed on the corn mayonnaise pastry.
I love the packaging on Japanese products.
Quien es mas macho? The Pretzel Kid or Pinocchio?
I’m a fan of your product, little Yakult elephant!
25. NOAH (2014)
Look, I totally get that the Biblical story of Noah is quite brief, and the filmmakers were going to get creative. But the way it wastes its pretty interesting first half by descending into a rat’s nest of ugly, weird, and twisted nonsense is pretty depressing.
Verdict: Here, let me show you the part of the film that’s worth seeing: the astonishing “creation” sequence. Don’t bother with the rest.
26. BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY (2018)
This aggressively superficial biopic of Queen frontman Freddy Mercury whitewashes the darker elements of his story to the point that it robs both the triumphs and tragedy of his life of their dramatic impact. It’s impossible to feel anything while watching aside from the nagging feeling that time would be better spent listening to some Queen albums.
Verdict: Seriously, go listen to some Queen instead. Also, Rami Malek won an Oscar for this? How the hell did that happen?
27. GAMERA VS. GUIRON (1969)
In this miraculous specimen of kaiju cheese, the ever long-suffering Gamera must rescue a couple of annoying children from a couple of brain-eating space foxes, and a sullen ambulatory (kinda) kitchen knife. Oh, and it has a song with a chorus that you will never get out of your head. Ever. If this isn’t a high enough recommendation for you, you are a lost cause, my friend.
Verdict: I love these kinds of movies so much. I love them even better with my old friends from Mystery Science Theater 3000!
The answer, of course, is, “It’s your fault if something happens because no one will do anything about the wild predator coming over your wall to eat your pet.”
Beautiful succulents.
White irises.
Little free library with an excellent selection of kids books. I know this because I’ve donated quite a few.
Alfie, waiting for her friend Mr. Toes to come at her by sticking his feet under the fence. Judging from their size, this dog is as big as a Clydesdale.
Lovely geranium mix.
Alfie’s quite the rebel. And yes, I always pick up after her.
Oh that 1960s office block architecture!
Derby rose, just in time!
My Mage/Two Phil’s exacta, baby!
Deliver it all in ones, so I can make a big pile and roll in it!
Flowers, greenery, and a full lake!
A wholesome family outing.
A popular photo spot. Probably trampled flat by the end of the week by people taking graduation, wedding, etc. photos.
One of my favorite trees. It takes the path of least resistance.
Relaxation.
It’s beautiful to see the lake full again. It’s a natural lake so it’s a good drought measurer.
Beautiful park, beautiful clouds.
…that I live in a place full of flowers, big skies, and barns! And it’s not just a hiking path behind a strip mall with a house that looks like a barn in the distance.
22. MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO (1988)
Greatest movie about the joys and trials of childhood, bar none. It’s enchanting, but the real magic is in the animation itself: the scenes that consist of silence and clouds, or an empty room set up for a family meal, the action of water over stones. It’s deeply immersive and a movie unlike any other. I cannot recommend it highly enough.
Verdict: Inductee, Laurie’s Cinematic Hall of Fame
23. THE BIG COUNTRY (1958)
It’s not the best western I’ve ever seen, but it’s decently-written and well-acted by a stellar cast (I’m looking at you, Burl Ives), has spectacular cinematography and an iconic score. It takes it’s sweet time getting where it’s going, but the all-around display of competence makes it a pleasant enough ride.
Verdict: A supercut of all of Burl Ives’ scenes would do just as well.
24. JESUS CHRIST, SUPERSTAR (1973)
This is probably an unpopular opinion, but I’ll just say it: this is one of the greatest of all movie musicals. The music, the voices, the stunning cinematography, the wonderfully creative direction…it’s just fantastic. The theology? Not so much. But what I wouldn’t give to see it on the big screen.
Verdict: If theological propriety is what you demand, then I’d pass. But if not, give it a shot. Oh yeah, and Inductee, Laurie’s Cinematic Hall of Fame.