A traditional thing on Xmas is construction -- namely, putting together toys and such that will not be played with that long. This was stereotypically done by the dad. I do not have children, but do find it enjoyable to put together not too complicated things -- for instance, I left the construction of my table (the usual site of the creation of these posts) to someone else. Nonetheless, reasonable things are fine with me, so it was fitting that I spent a little time last night putting together my new office chair -- ah, the allen wrench. Overall, the holiday went decent enough, though the Giants loss on Christmas Eve was not a good start. Messy game -- probable rematch (should be on the home site ... after all, even the Jets beat Oakland) in the playoffs will be a time to make up for the loss.
A usual tradition (recent, at least) is to see a movie on Christmas (after dropping off presents to those of us who still live in the City) with some of the family. Mixed success of late with the quality, but this year (a bit surprisingly) was a good one. Rumor Has It with Jennifer Aniston (and company) is a well acted (even Kathy Bates, in a cameo, is good) comedy/drama that actually is a bit creative. Rob Reiner is not usually that "deep" in his films, so this too is a bit of a departure, though that fact he was friends with Anne Bancroft (Mrs. Robinson) might have affected things a bit.
It takes as its conceit that The Graduate was based on a true story, with some dramatic license, and Aniston plays the daughter of the Katherine Ross character. And, it is the wedding of her sister (a great Mena Suvari, in super bouncy mode) that sets things in motion this time. Though the scenes with Kevin Costner eventually are a bit of a lull (I think having him as a "concept" ... the guy who slept with the mother/grandmother was better than when he came around), the movie was strong from start to finish. The first 1/3 leading up to the wedding was a strong character driven arc with many humorous aspects. The last 1/3 also was very good as well ... the middle 1/3 mixed, but still pretty good. Even a seemingly obligatory bit was good while it was happening ... I thought "oh that was a bit tired" after it was over, but that was ten minutes later.
Aniston also was very good ... though her tan/hair makes her look a bit too movie starrish, she is a talented actress and is able to play fairly average enough people quite convincingly (here she is on the very bottom of the NYT food chain ... in Office Space she was good as a not quite into it member of some chain restaurant with goofy "fun" policies). She and Lisa Kudrow (with Matthew Perry a far but still at times decent third) are the Friends veterans that have clear talent and a future in the movie industry. JA does get far on cuteness, but that should last for at least the better part of a decade. Anyway, there is a great line in which she says that she can live without her b/f, but really does not want to -- it is a sentiment quite true, as many who lost those they loved find out, but one movies are a bit loathe to admit to.
One more thing somewhat related to the holiday weekend (btw it is useful to just use the day after to do nothing much ... you need time to get back on track) ... my brother drove me from the station to the now traditional family meeting on Christmas Eve (that lasts just a tad bit too long) and was a bit surprisingly cynical about the transit strike. On the other hand, maybe he can be more realistic ... as a former union man himself ... about how things are. I speak of the short strike of the NYC transit workers. Basically, he felt -- especially for you know a transit worker as compared to police/fire department workers -- their benefits are pretty good.
And, what exactly did they gain? Yes, if they gave in a bit on the pension now, they will be hurt more in the future, but hell they wanted to retire at 55 ... brother here has to wait to 72 to get full Social Security (I don't know his pension set-up or anything). He did agree that the other side was not playing with clean hands. I also found out someone (not him ... don't know what he did) disappointedly voted for Bush in '04. Clearly, her judgment ... though in various things I'm perfectly fine with it ... slipped.
I guess one can make her a symbolic representation of the country or something. If so, it isn't too bad. Except the electing Bush thing.