Ever since the second time the mall UA theater burned up a movie I was watching, I have avoided the place. This is particularly easy since the downtown UA validates parking, is clean and has efficient and smiling staff, and shows the whole movie. However, Bernadette went back to the mall to re-see Ever After with her friend on Thursday. It was missing a scene (the king talks to the prince about the ball.) All we can figure is they burned the film, and spliced out the scene.

Yesterday I went to see The Avengers. If you don't see another movie all year long, you must miss this one. Visually, it was beautiful. I even liked Uma Thurman as Mrs. Peel, and I've been saying for months that Diana Rigg TODAY would be better. Ralph Fiennes is, as always, gorgeous, ditto Sean Connery. But it was BORING... if I'd brought a book (I actually forgot to) I'd have probably gone out to the lobby to read it till the movie was over. Later in the afternoon Bernadette and another friend went to it, and possibly liked it a little better.

Bernadette got the annual "you owe us all this money" letter from Gonzaga. This is the first summer she has been home for this. I'm sure the first year I called them, and was reassured that her scholarships would cover it. I do know the last two years we've ignored it. Bernadette, however, panicked and called. Starting her senior year in proper paranoid mode, I guess.

Last night we went to see "Brigadoon." Music Circus did a terrific job. This was the 21st time Sarah Tattersall has appeared. She is a crowd favorite, and we always ask for her to come back. The newpaper did a feature on her a few weeks back, and it seems that hers is the stereotypical "understudy steps in for star. makes good" story. And here I thought that only happens in books. Well, she WAS Miss Arizona some years back. Nowadays Music Circus is her major acting of the year, as she's raising a young family.

I had a number of unrelated Brigadoonish thoughts. It's more than halfway to the town's next appearance, in 2046. I was thinking about 100 years ago... my grandfather was 8, and running around the streets of Laramie. He used to hitch rides on freight trains out to Stink Lake (which has been renamed "Rose Pond" by the civic-minded) to swim. It was before the diphtheria epidemic nearly killed every child in town.
Then I wondered what would happen if Sacramento blinked out for 100 years. I'm certain the rest of California would breathe a sigh of relief! In fact, if just the state Capitol went, we'd all be happy. I'm equally certain the Legislature would still not have a budget.

Today Rich and I went to the Marlins-Giants game. Last night the Giants won 10-0 so I figured it would be quick. It was cool, foggy, on the way down. We also made astonishingly good time, so had almost 90 minutes to wander around the park once we were there.

The Super Shuttle people gave away seat cushions, and our prize this time was a "six-pack" which carries 6 cans (you can't take those into the park, though) and keeps them cool. Nice. We looked at all the gourmet food, and Rich got a taco salad and I chose my old garlic fry standard.
23,000 plus people went. A father-son combo came to the seats ahead of us. The son was maybe all of a year old. What a cutie! Rich helped dad unload him from his backpack, and I helped bungee the carrier to the seat, and that child kept us mightily entertained for a couple of hours. He thought Rich's mister was wonderful. When he finally conked out, I was amused to note, so did Dad. I don't think he saw much of the game, but then that was probably just as well.

The Giants played catchup: the fourth inning had a home run by each team (winning a Giants fan a couple of thousand dollars, but it wasn't me.) The 6th had each team add two runs. We didn't deserve it, either. The abysmal baserunning nearly lost it for us. Eventually we went into extra innings, and at the bottom of the 10th Bill Mueller made it around on two walks and two sacrifice flies. Giants, 4-3.

And, though I did slather up with sunscreen, my thighs got broiled. I was home, putting Noxema on them, and Bernadette says "ah, the smell of summer." "What," sez I, "barbecue?" They are scarlet, miserable. At least the pain should have toned down by trip time.

No change in my weight, 7.2 miles, 7 magazines(!!), one word written up, two General Hospital updates, no history or math, one letter mailed out. It's a little better this week, anyway.