Lots of little things going on, but nothing big is going on.
Kid Update
M is playing soccer, and had two games this weekend. He played goalie for one half, and did very well, stopping a number of shots and giving up only one goal (which he couldn't see because of the crowd in front of the net.) This is a new thing for him, but he played aggressively and wasn't afraid to challenge the other players. In school, M is going through the standard music program, and was part of a group that tried out flutes last week. They have the chance to try out different instruments and will later focus on a single one as part of a larger group. They try out band and orchestra instruments.
K is also playing soccer, and had his first game this weekend. He has not expressed interest in playing goalie, which I understand completely. He had a sleepover at a friend's house this weekend, and was in bed a little early to make up for the lost sleep.
Book Update
I've read a few more books in the last several weeks. One was "The Undertaker's Wife", by Loren Estleman. I've read quite a few of his books - he's a Michigan author who has written mysteries, novels, and westerns. He's quite prolific. I recommend his Amos Walker mystery books - they're very well-written and exciting. One of his books mentions the Bucksnort Saloon in Mesick, MI, which we drive by each year on our way to and from Frankfort. I just started reading another of his books, called "Alone".
I recently finished "Moo" by Jane Smiley, which I saw a recommendation for. It's not a new book, but it is on a lot of peoples' favorites list. I'm afraid I didn't enjoy it as much as others did - there were too many people, and I didn't understand what they were doing, and some bit players, who quickly came into (and left) the scene, seemingly unrelated to anything else going on. I thought the part about the hog in the "Old Meats" building was the funniest part of the book. I would have enjoyed the book more if they had focused on the hog (named Earl Butz) and his caretaker, Bob. But Jane Smiley is pretty successful, and she doesn't need my approval.
I also read "Last Days of Summer" by Steve Kluger, about a boy in New York who befriends a major-league baseball player through a long series of letters and meetings. The baseball player eventually becomes a father figure to the boy. The plot was a little difficult to believe, but it was a nice story.
Flipped
J, M, and I saw the movie "Flipped" on Saturday evening. It's the movie version of the book of the same name, which is a touching story about a boy and a girl who are neighbors, and have a love/hate relationship with each other. The end is very sweet and even though I knew what would happen (because I read the book) I still got a little misty-eyed. The book is a fun read.
The movie was directed by Rob Reiner, and it was filmed in Ann Arbor, Saline, and Manchester. A number of movies have been filmed in this area due to the economic incentives Michigan offers to movie makers. We watched another movie recently, called "Youth in Revolt", which featured a scene filmed in downtown Ann Arbor. The scene was notable because it offered a clear view of Burton Tower on UM's campus, and featured a huge car explosion. (The location, in case you're interested, was on Liberty Street, east of Ashley and west of the railroad tracks.) It also included some scenes shot in Frankfort, the locations of which were not as easily recognizable. However, J knew that one of the buildings used was the bakery on the main street, and we were able to identify some parts of the bakery, and figure out what was changed for the movie.
After "Flipped" was over, and the lights went on, quite a few of the people in the theater stayed and talked about it. It was obvious to us that many of the people there knew extras from the movie, or were able to identify the houses or streets that were in the film. It was a fun atmosphere.
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