Sometimes, the Big City has its benefits. Dinner and a movie on Sunday Night? Plenty of options, though the choice was a bit lackluster. Still, other choices could have been made, and will next time. Anyway, following apparently in the spirit of movie concession stands, another restaurant had the expensive dessert option. The entree, Moroccan btw, was $15 -- reasonable portion and so forth (vegetarian, which has the added value of being a bit cheaper) -- while a slice of cake is around $6 or more. In fact, my cocktail (another place to gouge ya) was cheaper than my dessert. This is not quite as bad as the "give them coffee and wait five/ten minutes to give them dessert" move (even though they were fairly busy, service was quick there ... so the coffee first was not too bad). I had my usual tirasmu (Mediterranean region standard) and it was decent enough. Still ...
The movie was Mrs. Henderson Presents, which concerns Judi Dench (nominated for an Oscar) as a widow opening up theater in the late 1930s, and deciding to include nudity. It first appears to be a way to get business, after it was going slow, but we eventually learn (during WWII) there is some emotional reason behind it as well. Eh ... didn't quite work for me. It was a bit too predictable and thin for me with a couple "more serious than the movie deserves" moments, one in particularly almost seemed a bit crude to me.
Oh, I did see a preview of a 9/11 movie (actually, I think it was the A&E movie, unless I missed the mention of it being an Oliver Stone film ... don't trust him with it, btw). And, right afterwards, we lead to a silly concession stand commercial. Better to put the movie earlier in the previews, perhaps? I also refer to a serious Related episode where they insisted to put previews of some stupid reality show in the crawl near the end ... while serious stuff is going on with the music and everything. Grrr. The A&E film received good reviews. I did not see it yet. Meanwhile, there continues to be great debate over construction of a memorial -- of course actually doing anything else four years after is too much to ask for -- which is due to begin soon. Those meetings are bound to be totally depressing. Kind of when I used to pass funerals on a daily basis.
The movie was over about 10, but surely this does not mean everything is closed. No ... we could have gone out to eat at the same place after the movie. Duane Reade was open 24 hours. Foodtown, with plenty of goodies, was open for me to pick up some odds and ends -- microwavable potatoes, good selection of soups, etc. But, things weren't only like that in the CITY ... when I came back to the boondocks (aka the home of the NY Yankees), I passed two corner stores still open (could have got a coffee, but they usually aren't a great idea at midnight) and Dunkin Donuts (they are spreading like Starbucks in these parts) as well (ditto).
I taped West Wing. Like in '04, it would be nice when the election is over. I was thinking back and realized that except for vice presidents, twelve years of the same party (especially eight years plus a new guy) is a rarity in this country. The last time it happened was in the '20s, and that was sort of a special case (Harding died, so we did not have eight years of the same guy) as was McKinley/Roosevelt/Taft (same situation). The other two times was after the Civil War (Grant/Hayes) and the early 1800s (but there was that secretary of state connection). So, I'm thinking Vinick is going to win. But, now there is this invasion, so the whole thing is cheapened since the winner will be stuck with the muck. Still, Donna and Josh kissed and all ... okay episode. It is a good time for the show to finish its run.
Before going to bed, I caught the end of the re-broadcast of the Korea/Mexico World Baseball Championship game. Korea is a bit of a surprise -- beating favored Japan (Ichiro had some trash talking ... sorry loser ... U.S. also beat them in the Ninth on Sunday -- A-Rod had the clutch hit the Yanks needed last October) and now Mexico 2-1. Netherlands, of all people, earlier had a no-hitter (helped by the mercy rule, but impressive for a 19 year old). I think it is turning out to be a pretty good idea. Now, if that ass Bonds would retire...