Most awesome theater ever!!

Alright, so I know most of you live in big, cool town/cities and probably have awesomely cool theaters all over...but, I live in Spirit Lake, IA...and I don't. Let me fill you in....

We just got back from being in Des Moines for a few days. First, for the food show, then Keith had a team meeting. (sidelight - Steve and Shannon, remember when we went to the food show and Adam threw-up french silk pie all over the hotel room! Yeah!) Anyway, the day of the meeting I dropped Keith off at our brand-new, state-of-the-art, conference center where Nan gave me directions to the new Jordan Creek mall. I don't know if any of you are familiar with it, but it totally rocks! It's the perfect fusion between nature and retail. So, as I'm taking in the many branches of this fabulously decorated behemoth of shopping pleasure, I turn the corner and stumble upon their 20-plex movie theater. Now, 20-plexes I've seen before...okay, never actually attended, but seen. Anyway, I was surprised at how many people there were working...it was only 9:30 am. So, I read the marquee and the shows start at 9 and run all day! I'm very excited as I have many hours to kill and this would easily eat up 2. Also, they were showing some movies that I know will never come to the lakes. I decide to see the 11:55 showing of The Upside of Anger. The Interpreter would have been a close second, but Keith and I saw that on Friday. (sidelight...it wasn't as good as I expected, what with Sean Penn and all, but still good)

So, I continue shopping, explored the MP3 options at Best Buy for the 10th time...I know, we just need to decide and buy, then headed to the theatre for my flick. Well, inside the lobby there is a *gasp* Starbucks Stand!! Only for the theatre!!! Now, there were other Starbucks in the mall which I had enjoyed earlier in the morning (actually got a chai latte to shake things up and thought about you, choidog) but, the idea that I could have starbucks with a movie was almost more than I could bear! But, that's not all!! There was also an ice cream stand!! With Edy's and STARBUCKS ice cream!! So, I got a java chip milkshake as my movie treat/lunch! Awesome! But wait, there's more!! Then I walk to my designated theatre, past another snack bar might I add, and sit in my seat. Let me elaborate, my fully-cushioned like a lazy-boy, reclinable, even with cushy fold-down arm rests, seat. So there I sat, in the middle of the day, Starbucks milkshake in hand, in the most comfy theatre seat ever, ready to watch a film that would never come my way. It was priceless. The only drawback, I kept thinking the entire time how much Keith would have totally LOVED the whole experience, and how not only was he not there, he was doing something that was the complete antithesis of what I was experiencing. Bummer.

Other quick highlights of the week -
We went to that downtown Des Moines pub monday night by ourselves and ordered off the biggest beer menu I think I have ever seen

Yesterday's (one of my favorite restaurants) is now open for the season and we took in a little snapper monterey before the Interpreter friday night.

It's 29 degrees and almost May...wait that's not a highlight - that sucks!
Later!

Sweating the small stuff

I'm going to take this blogging opportunity to shine some light on some issues often thought of as mundane, when in reality they are not. Why? Well, to tell the truth, to many big things are going on in life and it makes me crazy - so, I get some much needed respite contemplating the 'finer' - as in smaller - things in life. For instance...

When a female uses the restroom, no matter what she's there for, she assumes the same position. Often, she'll think she's going in for a, how shall I say, "quick" visit, but while in this position, discovers she needs to spend a little more time - if you know what I mean. Well, what happens when a guy encounters this? Do they turn around and sit? Do they always stick with plan A?

Did you know that when ordering a bucket of chicken at KFC, and they ask you if you want original or extra crispy, you can reply "mixed, please." Why don't they advertise that?

Why did my 1986 Hyundai have the advanced technology of letting me know precisely which door was ajar, and my '98 Toyota and '04 Mini Cooper do not?

These, sadly, are only the tip of the iceberg of the idiosynchrosies of life I've noticed. Feel free to share your own.