Multiplexing on my day off

I went to my local multiplex and saw Lucy and Hercules.

I liked both films for different reasons.

Lucy was a composite science fiction and excellent car chase film. The car chase was one of the best recent ones that I can remember. It was nice to see a female play the lead actor role in an action adventure film. I also liked the film for the more cerebral question it sort of asked about where does human life end and artificial intelligence begin. It reminded me of Her.

Hercules, on the other hand, is a good, straight forward Summer film. I didn’t have to think about the plot or who the bad guys were. I did have time to think about the film as I walked to my car. I was struck with an epiphany of sorts. I thought the film was slightly derivative of the classic Seven Samurai by Kurosawa.

Something to think about.

I finished the fun part of my day with a meal from my local Smashburger. I had coupon from Smashburger for USD$2.00 off my purchase that expires on Sunday. I thought today would be a good day to use.

I had a regular burger with Swiss cheese, applewood smoked bacon, avocado, lettuce, tomato, and an order of shoestring French fired potatos. I ate at home and washed my meal down with a well chilled bottle of Kona Brewing Company’s Longboard Lager.

All in all, it was an excellent day for me.

Be well and stay happy.

Progress after a fashion

My Fatburger is now going into its ten week of closure for repairs and upgrading.

I drove by my local Fatburger last Thursday on my way to another market to but some decaffeinated coffee. My regular market was out or wasn’t carrying my brand any more. I saw a couple of workers doing something insider of the Fatburger. This was obviously a positive sign.

I drove by the place on Monday and saw maybe a dozen workers’ vehicles in the parking lot. Some were inside working while others were outside having their lunch. It looked possible the place could reopen this week.

I drove by yesterday and there was no activity at all.

I was very depressed.

Maybe it will open sometime next week.

Be well and stay happy.

Attempted rain

I was trying to read yesterday afternoon when my quiet was interrupted by thunder and lightning. I couldn’t see the lightning very well since it was bright outside. The thunder was loud and close to my flat.

There was some rain. It looked the rain was just enough to spoil the look of a recently washed car. The MINI was outside when the thundering began so I moved it into the car park.

I learned from watching the news today that Redondo Beach had 0.07 inches of rain from the storm.

Regrettably, a young college student was in the ocean and was struck by lightning. He later died at a local hospital.

This was the first time in my forty plus years of living at the beach that someone died from a lightning strike.

Be well and stay happy.

It's been nine long weeks now!

It’s been nine weeks now since my local Fatburger closed for renovations.

I drove by the stand yesterday on my way to school a little after 2:00 PM. To me, that seemed there was plenty of time left in the work day. Nothing was happening. Nothing has been happening for the last few times I have driven past except the exterior painting job was finished.

The exterior painting job is or was not a critical path task.

I have no idea when it will reopen. Hopefully, it will reopen soon.

If I want to take a longer view, I could say that I have saved some money by not picking up a medium Fatburger and Skinny or Fat Fries once or twice a week. Saving money is beneficial for me but I really want a nice hot Fatburger.

Yes, I know I could drive to a more distant Fatburger and get one but it would be cold by the time I got home. Getting home from school around10:30 PM or later makes for a long day.

Be well and stay happy.

Morton's and Me

I went to Morton’s the Steakhouse on Thursday night for dinner. It was a final Chuckay Celebration event. I went to my favorite Morton’s in Santa Ana. Doug and I have been going there for probably close to twenty years.

Yes, I like Morton’s and this one in particular.

I ordered a Norton’s salad, an excellent filet mignon with sautéed broccoli florets, and a double chocolate mousse for dessert. The filet was perfect. I could it with a spoon instead of a knife. For the most part the meal was superb.

My server wasn’t on the A-Team or wasn’t very focused on me.

A Morton’s salad, as I know it, is made with iceberg lettuce and a green goddess type of salad dressing. It comes tossed. I got a Caesar salad made with romaine lettuce instead. I asked why the kitchen substituted the salad.

My server said he thought I asked for a Caesar salad. I said I had requested a Morton’s salad. He asked if I would like a Morton’s salad to go. I said yes if it wasn’t too much trouble.

He returned with the salad to go in a bag when he presented me with the bill.

I didn’t look inside the bag until I got home.

I had a salad but it wasn’t a Morton’s salad. I’m not certain what type of salad it was. It was romaine lettuce with a thick Roquefort dressing, finely diced hardboiled egg, and an anchovy.

My server did try hard so I gave him credit for that.

He did get my drink order correct. I had some Lagavulin single malt Scot’s whisky.

Be well and stay happy.