Confessions of a Liberal Puritan

So far, 44 doesn't feel any different than 43 did . . . but my birthday isn't over yet, so that may change!

Best card received so far: from Mom, telling me to "Have a 'cat' kind of birthday . . . Do anything you damn well please!" Words to live by, especially in our 40's, I should think!

I saw "Munich" after church on Sunday, and it was well-made and disturbing (sort of the same reaction I got from watching "Syriana", only without the balm of having seen Alexander Siddig on screen). It left me feeling even more hopeless about the prospects for peace in the Middle East than I had been before, so, if that was the plan . . . the movie's mission objective has been achieved. At least I got to watch Eric Bana long enough to stop expecting him to turn into the Hulk, and he's actually a pretty good actor!

Then, I opted for something light and fluffy yesterday, and finally went to see "Rumor Has It", which I enjoyed about as much as I think I can enjoy a movie starring Jennifer Aniston (don't know why, but she always strikes me as 'whiny' and a little annoying on screen). Kevin Costner was good, and Mark Ruffalo really grew on me, to the point where he was quite my favorite character by the end of the film.

I didn't notice any particularly profound life lessons from "Rumor Has It" . . . but then I was distracted for a while by having seen a mouse scamper past my feet, gobble up a fallen popcorn kernel, and silently dash up the auditorium stairs and out of sight. It was a cold and snowy night, and the mouse did clean up what little mess I'd made with my popcorn, so I guess I shouldn't begrudge the mouse his/her attempt to make the theater home.