My aunt's taking me to see Billy the Mime at the UCB theater tonight. The one time I'm doing something on a Friday night, and it's because my aunt asked me out, haha. I don't know his comedy (I gather he was in The Aristocrats, and I vaguely remember a mime in that, but I don't recall any specifics), but he's a friend of my uncle's, which is why she wants to go (uncle is out of town, actually). I haven't even been to the UCB theater yet, fan of comedy that I claim to be. So I'm anticipating a fun night.

Otherwise, there's not much going on in my life. Everyone around me seems to be embarking upon some new adventure, but I'm still waiting for my ship to come in. Hopefully I'll recognize it when I see it and not just think that it's someone else's ship.

I got a cut on my palm just below the thumb, and I've gotta say that's one of the more annoying parts of the body to get a cut on, or so I've found.

And the big news of the day - it's a boy! Looks like I'll be having another nephew (and roommate) in a few months.

The Desert Fox - I find it curious that the British recognized and celebrated "good" Nazis, especially so soon after the war. I mean, James Mason as a Nazi general? Alright, sure. It's a good enough story. I enjoyed the appearance of von Stauffenberg, what with having seen Valkyrie not too long ago.

Boy A - Quite enjoyed this little drama. Reminded me of Ratcatcher in terms of style and structure. Liked the acting all-around. I can't say I much liked the way everything wraps up, though. I wasn't even sure if what was being shown was actually happening (especially since the girlfriend encounter seemed so improbably and dreamy), so it was a bit off. Plus, I thought the simplicity with which everything resolved didn't respect the complexity of the rest of it. Still, it's worth watching.

Fly Away Home - Main problem? Didn't know if it was a film for older kids/families or for younger ones (and what a way to start a movie catered to either!). Like, the film itself never made that clear. The direction was just too bland and made the interesting and worthwhile story very childish and manipulative. Does a movie like this need a villain, let along three? And does the main one need to be an environmentalist park ranger? What, exactly, is the point of that? And the score would just not let up - "you must feel overwhelming emotion now and now and now and now and now, etc." I wish the good story had been better served, but I can also see why this would be a fine film to show the family.

The Union: The Business Behind Getting High - Fully lives up to its hype as the cannabis documentary to see. Spells it all out intelligently and clearly, making any possibly counterpoint seem fully baseless and ridiculous (not to mention harmful to humans, the environment, and anything else that has to share this world with us). I know, I'm biased. And I'd love to review a counterpoint documentary, but they just don't make them. Hmmm...I wonder why that could possibly be...

Synecdoche, New York - I think I liked this one. I think that I got something out of watching it. But I also think that it mired its interesting ideas under too much weirdness. But it's Kaufman, so it has to be weird. Well acted thanks to the strong cast. Overly-confusing, though perhaps that's a good thing as it left me with the desire to see it again some time to see if I can work out more. Probably not for a long time, though. And I can see how some people really hate this one.

Beyond those, I've also watched a couple of Eddie Izzard specials (Definite Article and Unrepeatable), which I found particularly interesting in light of just having finished Born Standing Up. It has me looking at how comedians present their routines (and establish their personas). Plus, Izzard is *^#@$ funny.

Also watched Upright Citizens Brigade: Asssscat, which was not as funny. I enjoy the UCB's TV show, mainly because of how the sketches are tied together in an episode to tell a story. Without that, I don't find them much more amusing than the average troupe (though I still think Poehler is usually hilarious on a performance level). It's a fun and fast-paced way to present improv, but maybe comedy's just better when the moments just seem improvised, but are actually well thought-out.

And finally, I'm about half way through the Life on Earth series, to which I say, "who is that dashing young dandy and why is he speaking in David Attenborough's voice?" So strange to see young Attenborough. (On a side note, I used to get him confused with Richard, and it turns out they're brothers - who knew?) Two things to remark upon so far: 1) Denying the fact of evolution is a disservice to this planet, the amazing variety of lifeforms that have come into being, the entirety of the cosmos, and human intelligence; 2) David Attenborough and Ken Burns are the two greatest filmmakers we have - I say this because every single film they make is amazing, humanizing, and among the most essential works in the human archive.

After being bugged far too often, I went ahead and went in to see my sister's dentist (because I don't have dental insurance and haven't been to one in, oh, eight years or so). Despite not having been in for so long, my teeth are doing well. The broken one is dead, confirming my suspicions of just what was going on with it the last time it hurt and gave me a nice infection. The dentist isn't too worried about that one, though he does want to get to it eventually. There's another tooth with a cavity that he wants to take care of before it gets any further and makes a root canal necessary, so we'll be doing that next week. Oh what fun that will be.

The guy seemed nice and attentive (though he called me "guy" a couple of times, despite knowing my name and having the chart that I'd checked "F" off of right in front of him, but maybe he just calls everyone "guy" regardless of sex), and I got the impression that he was giving me price breaks, but he's also a fast talker, one of those guys who just talks relentlessly right up until you're signing your life away. So I can only hope he's to be trusted and that these procedures I'll be having done need to be addressed as quickly as he's suggesting they are.

Otherwise the only other thing I did today was buy myself a pocket microscope from Radio Shack. Not the greatest, but also not bad for less than $15. I'm having a good time enjoying the microscopic world (or at least the much smaller world - it only goes to 100x magnification, which isn't going to show anything truly miniscule).

And I did watch a couple of movies, but that's for a different day.

That was a pretty easy week. I'm not nearly as tired as I typically am by this point. Not thanking the maker that there's only eighteen hours left. I'm actually surprised that there are so few. I should enjoy it while it lasts, as it's going to be very busy very soon.

Not much else, I guess.

I don't want a tombstone or any other ridiculous marker for the lifeless remains of this vessel I'm being temporarily housed in (I mean, really?!), but when previously asked what I'd want on my tombstone proof!...wait, where'd that petition go?), my answer would be:

both for its play on "Here lies [insert name]", and for its suggestion of "famous last words". Like "well, there's nothing that can be done about it, so here we go." I'm sure you know what I mean.

That was until tonight, when I came up with:

The best part is that I managed forget what I'd come up with as I was writing this.