This was a nice weekend. Not an insanely exciting weekend, but nice nonetheless.
Friday night we had dinner at Fritto Misto, a nearby Italian place that was always crazy busy when we tried to eat there previously. Brent had sweet potato raviolli and I had artichoke shrimp gnocci. We ended with creme brulee (not bad) and a lemon bar (delicious). Our meal wasn't exactly like the amazing food we ate throughout Italy, but it was not a bad alternative.
As we left the crowded restaurant, we ran into the newly engaged Randi and Mike. We gave them our in-person congratulations and "ooooohed" over the beautiful engagement ring. We're especially excited for them as we were there when they met at one of Hil's blogger parties a couple of years ago.
Saturday morning we woke up early, got the oil in Brent's car changed and headed off to my hometown of Visalia to visit my family. After arriving at my mom's, my brother and nephew came to hang out. My nephew is 2-years-old and still such a cutie. I always enjoy my time with him.
Later that night Brent, my mom and I went to see Dan in Real Life, the new Steve Carell movie. I had low expectations because Brent kept saying he had read bad reviews, but I love Steve Carell and Dane Cook. And we all enjoyed it quite a bit. It wasn't a slapstick a la The 40-year-old Virgin, but it was a nice story about family and love. I highly recommend it.
Sunday we headed back to LA. Brent and I use car trips as an opportunity to catch up on episodes of NPR's This American Life. If you're not familiar, these are hourlong episodes that focus on various tales of life. On this trip we listened to stories about relating to kids, some prison inmates doing Hamlet, and a map maker whose collection includes a map of various jack-o-lanterns in his neighborhood. It's a great way to pass the time, on or off the road. You can download them as podcasts on iTunes or from ThisAmericanLife.org.
"Stories are the creative conversion of life itself into a more powerful, clearer, more meaningful experience. They are the currency of human contact." - Robert McKee
I LOVE, LOVE This American Life. The stories are so interesting, intelligent and well-done. I'm always hugely impressed with the creativity of the stories. The Hamlet story was great. This past weekend was really interesting as well - about the cats and dogs, did you hear it?
ReplyDeleteNope, haven't heard it yet. We try to save the episodes (via podcasts) for car trips. :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a nice weekend!
ReplyDeleteI love This American Life. My brother recently introduced me to it during a roadtrip during a roadtrip with my beau and our mother on the way to Canada. It was a refreshing alternative to music.
i'll have to try catching a full episode.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the Dan in Real Life review. We were thinking about seeing it this weekend but never made it to the theater. Maybe we'll check it out this coming weekend.
ReplyDeleteit's always nice to spend time with family---how far is Visalia??
ReplyDeleteThis American Life is great. I listen to it on the train sometimes. Also, I'm glad you liked Dan in Real Life...I was worried about the bad reviews as well, but if you liked it it must be good.
ReplyDeleteOoh, I'm glad you saw that movie. I was excited for the same reasons you were, but after hearing such bad reviews I was gonna skip it until video. Might rethink that now.
ReplyDeleteI loved the one about the prisoners doing Hamlet. I catch a lot of This American Life since I basically lived in my car for all of sept/oct.
ReplyDeleteI've never heard of This American Life before. Interesting. Hope you had a great time with the fam. :)
ReplyDeleteit's always nice to have a family weekend --- glad to hear it went well :)
ReplyDeleteIt was Great to Run Into You this weekend, Nanette!
ReplyDeleteThis American Life is one of My Favorite Things To Listen To While Stuck In Traffic On The 10. I download podcasts from iTunes and then listen to them on My iPod, like you and Brent did.
xoxo,
TDR
i really enjoyed 'dan in real life', i thought it was cute and quirky and a good movie to just sit back and watch.
ReplyDeleteand family time is always nice too, i love weekends. :)
I feel so lucky to have heard Ira Glass speak live twice in the past year.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Tori that the pets episode they aired this past weekend was great. I think it was a rebroadcast or a partial one. I know I'd heard the prologue story and the David Sedaris one on there before.
Quiet weekends are nice. Especially with some Italian food. :)
ReplyDeleteI love This American Life too. I remember the one with inmates doing Hamlet. It was really good.
ReplyDeleteI love Steve Carrell. Glad to hear the new flick is good.
ReplyDeleteOk, I uber-love Steve Carell, and with your blessing I will see his new movie and have high hopes. I don't think they could make a movie as funny as 40-Year Virgin (sucka muthafu**a) but I'm still hopefully.
ReplyDeletei'll have to check out that movie some time. :) sounds like something light-hearted enough for me.
ReplyDeletewhat a nice weekend you had! i want to see "dan in real life", too. we'll probably catch it on DVD.
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