A Shimmering, Shining Star in the Cinema Firmament

Last night the Spouse, Avocado, A's friend Vivie and I went to see a big-screen 60th anniversary showing of "Singin' in the Rain". It was, predictably, fabulous. It was the first time I'd ever seen it on the big screen, and I was delighted by all the little things I missed when watching it on TV: all the expressions of the people not speaking at the moment (Donald O'Connor listening to Gene Kelly's fictional "backstory" at the beginning of the film is particularly fabulous); the color palette; the costume details. Debbie Reynolds holding her own between O'Connor and Kelly is a triumph of hard work and enthusiasm.

What a perfectly perfect film.

Live from Gilroy, CA!

Tomorrow I'm driving down to Gilroy (the garlic capital of the world, if you believe their PR) to do the first of three panels on historical fiction panels for the Santa Clara Library system. It's a long, long drive (3 hours total) but I'm planning to have fun. If you're in the neighborhood...