Planes and 1 and a half year olds...

Flying back from Florida and the short sleeve golf shirts and shorts weather, I was seated in the aisle seat next to a dad and his 1 1/2 year old daughter in the middle seat. I imagined what he was going through... wondering how I and the guy in the window seat would take it.

She was adorable (aren't all 1 1/2 year olds), had just learned how to wave hello and goodbye and was a professional thumb sucker. The father was trying to make sure she did not go outside the imaginary boundaries of his seat (all 18 inches of it's width) and intruding on my space. I knew it was hopeless so I placed a pillow on my leg and told him he was welcome to lay her down over both our laps. It was as if I had offered him a lifetime supply of free babysitting.

After about a hour of flight time she got sleepy and lay her head on the pillow on my leg. She leaned her head back and stared at me as she sucked her thumb and descended into the sleep of babes. Sleeping, she was angelic. A face that calmed the stresses of travel and family decisions you have to make in the upcoming years. My pulse rate lowered. My breathing calmed. If a swarm of bees had started buzzing around my head I would not have moved my leg in fear of waking her.

The moral of this post? Good deeds sometimes have immediate rewards.

Movies of 2007

Thumbs up? Thumbs down? 5 Stars? These are the movies I saw in 2007. Since movies cost me $9.50 each I will rate them on a scale of $10. In other words, were they worth $10 and if not how much should I have paid.

Night At The Museum - Predictable. Some amusing parts. It was strange seeing Dick Van Dyke playing a villan. $5

Pursuit of Happiness - Will Smith is quickly becoming THE biggest star power in Hollywood. This showed he can play a serious character. That damned bone scanner got on my nerves though! $7

Letters From Iwo Jima - This was a good movie. One that shows that it does not matter what side you are on, you have more in common than you do differences. The scene where the Japanese officer reads a letter found on a dead American soldier from that soldier's mom to his platoon was very moving. $9

Ghost Rider - I knew it was going to be a comic book movie but I went anyway. Dumb. $3

Wild Hogs - Very funny in parts but still predictable. The homophobia got to be tiresome. $5

Zodiac - This was a bit long, well acted and had one of the most intense and disturbing murder scenes totally devoid of blood I have ever seen. $8

300 - Ok. This was a man flick to beat all man flicks. Way over the top in testosterone but I loved every minute of it. Some beautiful imagery. $8

Grindhouse - Holy crap! This was another over the top movie that was gross and silly and what made it great was it was meant to be gross and silly. $8

Music and Lyrics - I like romantic comedies. Their predictability if part of their charm and this did not disappoint in that regard. Not too bad. $7

Disturbia - Basically a remake of Rear Window. Failed totally. $4

Namesake - Nicely acted, well paced and nicely filmed. A good story that tugged at your heart strings in parts. $8

Fracture - Kept me guessing in parts but ultimately disappointed. $5

Spider Man 3 - When am I going to stop going to these comic book movies? When I am no longer bored sitting at home, I guess. Dumb. And what was that dance scene all about? $2

Meet The Robinsons 3D - I like the new animation movies. This one was cute and the 3D is getting better and better though $11.75 is a bit much to pay. $7

Waitress - I love the slow paced movies where you really get into the characters. It was not perfect but well acted. $8

Pirates of the Caribbean 3 - So disappointing, especially after the first. They should let this franchise die. No more. $5

Paris Je T'Aime - This was one of those gems of a movie that you are so glad you saw. Several short stories with the best being saved for last. This was very very good. $9

Ocean's 13 - Dumb, dumb dumb. Transport a tunneling machine bigger that a football field and get it installed under a casino with out anyone knowing. Please. Give it a rest guys. Please, no Ocean's 14. $4

Knocked Up - These raunchy movies will eventually run their course but until then this was not too bad. Some funny parts and sweet at times. $6

Die Hard 4 - This was fun! The hero acknowledges that some of the outrageous things he does are unbelievable. I was surprised. $7

Transformers - Another comic book movie. When will I learn? $4

You Kill Me - A sleeper. Not bad, actually. Ben Kingsley plays an alcoholic hit man who attends AA meetings and tells people he is an alcoholic whose job is to kill people. $7

No Reservation - One of the worst romantic comedies I have ever seen. Enough said. $2

Underdog - Ok. Another comic book movie but one that was successful. Funny for what it was. $7

Superbad - Funny, funny, funny. Oh, and also funny! $9

Bourne Ultimatum - This was a kick ass fun guy flick. Non stop. $8

Stardust - Blue screen movie. That is where every scene is acted out in front of a blue screen then the scenery is edited in afterwards. Fantasy. Claire Danes is one of my fav actresses. $6

The Brave One - A remake of Death Wish but not believable. The characters bored me and I did not care about them. Too bad. Jodie Foster is one of the best actresses out there. $5

Eastern Promises - Sort of a confusing movie. Did not really know what it was meant to do. Sorta weird in it's plainness. $5

Across The Universe - Beatles music set to a psychadelic movie. Some of the remakes of their songs were quite good. But not enough to make this a good movie. $5

The Heartbreak Kid - Not bad. I was surprised. It was funny, especially in the sex scenes where she wants him to do her like a black man. $7

Elizabeth - Lavish beautiful period movie wonderful cinematography. Kate Blanchett is a really good actress. Over the top at times. $7

Darjeeling Limited - This was a very good movie. A tad quirky which I always like. Funny and moving. $9

Dan In Real Life - Predictable romantic comedy. What the hell is Dane Cook doing in movies? He stinks. $6

No Country For Old Men - You either love this movie of you hate it. I loved this movie. This is the movie of the year. Thank you, Coen brothers. Thank you for a well acted, well paced movie with the most heinous cold and chilling bad guy ever. $10

Beowolf 3D - The ogre was gross and has no manners when chomping down on the skull of a man who he just bit the head off of. Not much else but a blue screen movie. What made this special was I was with someone special. $4

Bee Movie - This was the biggest disappointment of the year. I like and respect Seinfeld but this was not good. $2

The Golden Compass - Forget the religious comparison crap you hear. This was a blue screen movie that made me forget it was a blue screen movie. The imagery is amazing. The story was very good. I hope sequel is as good. $9

I Am Legend - A remake of The Omega Man and, except for the images of a post apocalyptic New York, was disappointing for a Will Smith movie. $6

Bella - Art house well paced and acted movie. Enjoyable. $7

National Treasure 2 - Not as good as the first and has more holes in it than Nixon's explanation of the 18 minute gap in the Watergate tapes. $3

Juno - Very witty and well acted movie that was funny and sad and touching. The main character was very cool. $9

42 movies. 13 I saw alone. Movie of the year? No contest. No Country For Old Men