The computer effects in the film The Return Of The King awed me in a way that Star Wars (Episodes 1 and 2) obviously tried and, somehow, ultimately failed. The huge battle scenes of Minas Tirith were the most impressive things I'd seen on a movie screen in a long, long time. (Those elephant-like creatures were so realistic that I found myself almost feeling sorry for them.) And yet, the thing that really blew me away was the way that this enormous epic began with a small, quiet tale - told with no narration - of Sméagol fishing with his friend, the finding of the ring, the murder, and the transformation. That, to me, is a sign of great filmmaking - the ability to step back from the sweeping landscapes and grand speeches, be quiet for a moment, and still keep the story moving.

Seeing a movie on Christmas Day is a tradition that Phillip and Karen have been following since they were both in high school, although not always together these days. Back then, Phillip tells me, no one else went to a movie on Christmas Day, so they pretty much had the theater to themselves. Last year, Phillip and I continued the tradition with Kurt and Lori, but every showing of the movie we'd chosen (none of us could remember today which movie it was, but agree that it was probably The Lord Of The Rings: The Two Towers) was sold out before we got there, and none of the other movies at the multiplex looked interesting to us, so we went to Lori's house and played Hearts.

Today, Kurt & Lori & Phillip & I went to The Cinerama to see The Lord Of The Rings: Return Of The King. This year, we were all smart enough to buy our tickets online a week early. (I guess the internet is useful, after all.) The film was excellent, of course - the best I've seen this year - but the theater-going experience was just as much fun. I love The Cinerama.

We drove to The Cinerama, and got there about 50 minutes before showtime. The ticket-holders' line was already a block long, and already allowed to enter the theater. I dropped Phillip off, and left to find a parking spot. I found the best parking spot I may have ever found on a trip to The Cinerama - right across the street on 5th Avenue. I figure either someone had just left, or a lot of people forgot that today is a holiday, and therefore loading zones are free parking.

As I waited in line to pick up our tickets, Phillip, in the ticket-holders' line, got to the door, and since he couldn't go in, joined me. While we waited in line, a fellow walked by, offering three tickets - free! I don't know if anyone took him up on his generous offer - I guess most every one else in line with us had bought their tickets online, too. The woman in the blue coat, two places ahead of us, should have taken the free tickets, if she were smarter. She got to the ticket window, and told the seller that she'd bought her tickets online, but didn't bring her (required) credit card. She got rather angry when the ticket seller wouldn't just give her a ticket on her word, and argued for quite a while that the theater owed her a ticket. She didn't win the argument.

Before the show started, a Cinerama manager gave us an enjoyable welcoming speech. ("Be sure to visit our snack bar for a great Christmas dinner of hot dogs and nachos.") Then theater employees threw t-shirts into the audience. (The manager asked us to not tackle anyone or dive off the balcony trying to get one. "After all, they're just Cinerama T-shirts," she reminded us.)

Like I already wrote, it was a great film. It hardly seemed that three-and-a-half hours had gone by. (There were no previews or ads before the show.)

It is crazy for a non-emergency clinic, like ours, to be open on Christmas Eve. We have 8 patients on the schedule, and the phones are hardly ringing at all. Mostly, I'm sitting here writing a letter to Kelly, and browsing the internet - I've most recently been revisiting the amazing religion of the Dogon people of Mali. I'm bored.

I thought about walking a route not previously explored from Phillip's office to mine this morning. My idea was to walk south along Roosevelt, then climb under to Campus Parkway and head east. But the light changed to "WALK" just as I stepped out onto Roosevelt at 42nd. So I started walking east along 42nd Street. (It's such a long light sometimes, I hated to pass up the opportunity.) The WALK light then invited me across 11th Avenue. So I just continued east along 42nd all the way to campus. I'll try the southern route at some later date.

Yesterday, Phillip and I took a leisurely drive to the south to pick up a package at UPS. From the UPS customer window, we took a leisurely drive up north to buy new license tabs. Our Prius is almost eleven months old. The tabs were expensive, because they included the new monorail tax - but it is a tax I am happy to pay.

Along the way to the Department of Licensing, Phillip and I waved as we drove past the state emissions testing facility - a place we won't be visiting for a long time.

I spent most of yesterday afternoon reading the Entertainment Weekly and Utne magazines that arrived in Saturday's mail. The cover story in Utne is the benefits of doing nothing.

This morning, Mom & Dad joined us for church. This morning was the children's Christmas Pageant - an annual treat. After church, the four of us had brunch at Galaria's.

This evening, I'm enjoying a Dutch Stroopwafel (a gift from Scott) in my organic Mexican coffee.

It's been a good weekend.