I went to the library to drop off and pick up a bunch of books for my wife and boys. I hadn’t been to the library in a long time, and I haven’t gone very often in many years. I like to go to book stores because I prefer to buy books to have forever and read without a time limit.

I can easily spend an hour at a Barnes & Noble just browsing the bookshelves. I tried browsing at the library, but I couldn’t remember or figure out the Dewey decimal system to find my way around. The library needs better signage.

I did find the science fiction and fantasy shelves in the library, but the selection is pretty light. Nothing interesting jumped out at me while I browsed, but I did spot several books that I’ve read in years past. It’s kind of surprising to look up and down the shelves and think, “I’ve read that. Read that. Read that, too. Oh, that was a good book. That sounds familiar, did I read that?”

While looking through the books, I remembered there was an author I hadn’t read yet but had always wanted to: Jack Vance. I found the V authors section, but couldn’t find Vance. I went to the computer catalog and looked up Vance. No listing. That astonished me. Jack Vance is a classic, multi-award-winning fantasy author, how could he not even be listed in a library catalog? I guess I’ll just have to go to Barnes & Noble.

Bullgrit

Viewed: DVD

I had seen bits and pieces of this movie through the years, and much of its dialogue is well known among fantasy role playing gamers.

“My name in Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.”
“Inconcievable!”
“I do not think that word means what you think it means.”
“Never bet against a Sicilian when death is on the line.”
“He’s just mostly dead.”

But I had never seen this from beginning to end. So I rented it, and the wife and I sat down to watch it together.

The beginning, with a grandfather reading the book to his grandson, sets the understanding that the tale to unfold is completely a self-admitted make believe story. The low-budget look of the costumes and special effects actually support this movie’s light-hearted feel. The corny names, like the title character’s name, Buttercup, and Prince Humperdink, all lend an air of a fairy tale. Although it is not a Monty Pythonesque comedy, it’s a fun tale not meant to be taken too seriously.

It never made me laugh out loud, but it kept an entertained smile on my face through the whole hour and a half. The occasional interrupting scenes, at intense moments, with the grandfather and grandson reaffirm the undestanding that the story is being told rather than happening.

All in all, this is a very happy movie. It’s fun, entertaining, and watchable for the whole family.

Bullgrit
bullgrit@totalbullgrit.com

For Halloween this year, our 6 year old wants to be the black-costume Spider-Man, and the will-be 3 year old wants to be the red-and-blue-costume Spider-Man. We got their costumes yesterday and had them try them on.

The 6 year old started leaping around the house throwing out his arms, folding back his two center fingers, and saying “fwish, fwish” to shoot imaginary webbing all around. He stepped up to walls and put both hands and one foot up on it to look like he’s climbing.Then he climbed up on furniture, prompting his mother and I to order him back down.

The 2 year old followed and tried to copy his older brother’s lead as best he could. He doesn’t have the experience yet, so he has that look on his face of, “I have no idea what I’m doing, but I’m having fun.” Every time we had to order the 6 year old down off the furniture, five seconds later we had to order the 2 year old down off the same piece of furniture.

For the record, neither boy has seen the Spider-Man movies—they’re too violent and intense for young children—so the 6 year old’s knowledge of Spidey’s actions (web shooting, wall climbing, etc.) comes mostly from comic books and some from the movie marketing on everything from Happy Meals to bed sheets.

When in costume, the 6 year old answers only to “Spider-Man.” If we call him by his real name, he explains, “No, Dad, I’m Spider-Man.” We can get him to do just about anything if we ask it of Spider-Man.

“Spider-Man, would you help me hide these clothes safely in Ian’s drawers before the bad guys get here to steal them?”

So, for about half an hour yesterday, we had double the super hero help in the house. But the action kept steadily escalating to the point that we had to calm everyone down and take off the costumes. Another few minutes and one of the boys would have been actually climbing on the ceiling.

But while they are in costume, we’re the safest house in the neighborhood. Our own live in Spider-Men.

Bullgrit
bullgrit@totalbullgrit.com

My 6 year old son has collected little rocks for a couple of years. The rocks are nothing special geologically. They’re just little stones he found here and there, in the back yard, at a playground, at his grandparents’ house, etc. Over the first year, he had collected maybe a dozen such rocks.

Bullgrit
bullgrit@totalbullgrit.com