Went to the cinema...

"Cinema should make you forget you are sitting in a theater."  ~Roman Polanski 

I have now seen Transformers: Dark of the Moon. I thought it was good - which means to the rest of the world that it wasn't bad or that I'm easily entertained - the action was good, the graphics/animations were excellent, the plot was... ok. I'm not now nor have I ever been a major movie-watcher like Shoeaholic (my new source of everything entertainment-oriented) - it takes a lot for me to convince myself to either stay out or leave home and go to the cinema. When I get there I like minimum fuss.. my ticket, my popcorn, my seat in the middle of the room - I don't like lines or waiting on people or having to decide what film to see - If I'm at the cinema it's because I know why I'm there.  

I thought it interesting that on one of the days I'd decided to go to the cinema this article, by Express columnist Sheila Rampersad, ran in the papers.  Interesting because each time I go to (or know that I'm going to) either MovieTowne or Caribbean Cinemas 8 I find myself reminiscing on the older cinemas - most especially Globe Cinema on Market Street, Chaguanas. I'm not sure whether it's still in operation as a number of factors (ok .. maybe just two?) led to my turning to the named multiplexes above to fulfil  my film-watching needs.

Every July-August holidays (note not summer - we don't have 'summer') once my brother and I were old enough to handle ourselves we chose the movies we wanted to see and went to Globe. We had a system. We'd arrive early - and lime on the stairs waiting for them to open the cinema itself... we'd split up - I'd get tickets whilst he got snacks... we'd then go in and find The Perfect Seats (though not like this) in House. Our system ensured that we got through quickly with ticket-and-snack purchases... and that we got the seats we wanted. Arriving early let us check out the crowd... and enjoy the general atmosphere found when any group of Trinis gather in one space. As you can read in this fabulous article from Outlish.com, House was where all the action was... running commentary was available (whether you wanted it or not) on the movie. Our system was so perfect that we used it every year until my brother went away to college (and then I lost my movie-buddy). We also got to be pretty well-known by Globe's operators - there was one instance (just one) where we ran late... the guy that guarded the entrance to the theater told us he was worried when he didn't see us.

A friend and I were talking about our experiences and, in truth, in those days that is what it was... it was not just an outing to see a movie, it was a total experience - interactions with people, double-features, a lot of snacks with just a $20 bill. Whilst I appreciate the cleanliness, the huge screens, the more-comfortable seating, the improved sound and 3D capabilities there are times when I really miss those days and that old cinema. 

Price of progress I guess...

Does anyone else miss it? 

peace,

Ren

Of Flugtags, birthdays and a lack of kisses.

"Live with intention. Walk to the edge. Listen hard. Practice wellness. Play with abandon. Laugh. Choose with no regret. Appreciate your friends. Continue to learn. Do what you love. Live as if this is all there is." ~Mary Anne Radmacher 

This is the longest I've been away from the blog in a while I think... needed some time to just be as first I was work-busy, then fun & family-busy, then needed some time to be me-busy. It's been very eventful since I last posted - my cousin's team won the Redbull Flugtag Trinidad and Tobago, my mom's birthday was last Friday and today is the International Kissing Day (or World Kiss Day.. whichever).. am sure if I did some research I'd find that there was a lot more going on than this though. 

My dad and cousin are probably two of the happiest persons in Trinidad and Tobago at this moment because ... we won. Team Obi-WANted flew 52 feet, earned 142.5 points and, according to one of our local newspapers, had one of the most original crafts at the event. I've read a lot of bashing of the event on TriniTuner.com but I've also read some good reviews of people that had fun. I can tell you that it was fun, and a lot of hard work. 

Once upon a time when I was much younger than I am now, my dad built a satellite dish all by himself (with some reluctant assistance from my mom) because he wanted to and he thought he could (and that's why I was stuck on Sailor Moon for years... satellite tv ftw). It's been interesting seeing him involved with the conceptualisation, designing and building of the craft. He has this ability to visualise how something would work if put together in certain ways... I don't have that ability - it takes time for me to figure out how things work or could work. He's disciplined, dedicated and detail-oriented - again... qualities I don't really think I possess... this is why perhaps I admire them in him. Above all that though... I think he just likes to create - I'd say a big part of his happiness at the moment does not necessarily lie in the fact that they won but that something he'd helped create turned out so well that it surpassed other crafts built by teams with more experience, more assistance, more funding ... just more. We won. 

Weeks of planning, designing, building and squabbling led to Saturday and a day filled with scrambling to get everything together. Of course I was there with my dad... got baked in the sun.... soaked by the rain... flooded out a bit... took photos of anything I pleased and was generally around (in case I was needed for anything). Sunday we had an early start to the day and I'm beyond grateful that we stayed over in the area as there was a lot of traffic. I have a lot of respect for all the teams which competed - while some may have been there in a serious way... and some there just to be part of the event and the lime - it takes a lot of effort and work to put together something and to further jump off a 20 ft ramp with that something. We won though and that makes up for whatever drama we had to go through.  

The other event which occurred was my mom's birthday (and a new moon in Cancer). Our Guru told her that she'd live to see grandchildren (I feel somewhat pressured now... who am I supposed to have children with??? I joked with my brother that I'd just multiply... a la Sheldon from the Big Bang Theory)... we had a lime with her best girlfriends. We had lots of lasagna and lots of ice cream... and equally lots of ole talking... Hope you had a wonderful birthday mom of mine. 

It's International Kissing Day today... I've only gotten virtual ones (who am I supposed to have children with??!)... Spending some time reflecting on my parents - who they've been, where they've come from and what they are now. It's helping me figure out who I am and what I want to be in the grand scheme of things.

What do you want to be? Where do you want to go? If there was one thing you could do at this moment with no repercussions ... what would it be? 

peace,

Ren