-
Movie: Madagascar (2005)
It’s been a while since I made through a whole Disney film without getting disgusted, but this one stuck it out. The basic idea of New Yorkers trying to survive in “the wild” is good, supplies some funny moments, and should have been explored more. But the formula comes first, and the freshness eventually gives…
-
Movie: The Squid and the Whale (2005)
A character study of a family going through a divorce in Brooklyn in the early 80’s. The film takes on the challenge of treating all four characters fairly while still conveying the pain caused by the others. There is a little unevenness, but it’s still impressive how well it does. Referred by Sean
-
Wet at Vedauwoo
It seems like months since we’ve done any climbing and we’re itching to get on some rock at Vedauwoo, but alas, the weather does not comply. Instead we explore some of the territory east of the main area on foot, and despite the drizzle Vedauwoo supplies us with soul-nourishing experiences, as it always seems to.…
-
Movie: Brokeback Mountain (2005)
I’ll admit, I just wanted to see what all the fuss is about. Ang Lee does get some mileage out of the gay cowboy taboo, and the movie conveys some appreciation for what the experience of it might be like. As a love story I only halfway bought it, I’m not sure why. As a…
-
Movie: Thumbsucker (2005)
The great thing about this coming-of-age flick is how it sets up the same cliché plot structures you might expect for the genre, then just leaves them uncompleted when the next twist comes along. On the way it also hits many modern issues with spot-on satire. Feel the pain of characters attempting to change themselves,…
-
Tobico Marsh Trail
Today’s outing is a lovely 2.5-mile loop in the Tobico Marsh State Game Area north of Bay City. Mom hikes this trail frequently, and we can see why. It’s thick with life – we see a few varieties of mushrooms despite the dryness and Ann spots a snake snacking on a frog. The only downside…
-
Hall Lake
Looking for a nearby hike, we find our way to the Yankee Springs Recreational Area. The Hall Lake trail gives us a couple of miles worth of exercise, while serving up ducks, a Great Heron, and turtle tracks. There is also a good supply of mosquitoes, and it’s hot and muggy out, so we don’t…
-
Douglas Beach
These Lake Michigan beaches are some of the nicest I’ve been to. We start in Mom’s old neighborhood at Douglas Park Beach, where she painted her popular Lake Effects posters. The roads are shady and quiet here, the beaches sunny with sand so fine it buzzes when you walk on it. There seems to be…
-
Bay City River Walk
Mom gives us a little tour of the Saginaw River in Bay City on the local river walk trail. We pass the burned, sunken hulls of ships from the 19th-Century Davidson shipyard. A Great Heron catches fish in a marshy inlet. A freighter works its up the river, passing under the city’s four drawbridges. It’s…
-
Movie: Bubble (2005)
A spare film that takes away nearly all the glitz we’re used to in movies. The actors were picked from Ohio valley locals, and they improvise much of the dialogue. The heart of the film is an effective human story, and that’s all it needs. I welcome this relief from overdone movies. Referred by Celluloid…