The Big Benford Show

Three updates from this weekend:

The Red Violin & Shrek 2

Sahara

Easter Break

Happy reading!

I had a wonderful Easter weekend! I had 4 days off so I decided to take the time to hang out in Houston with Len & his brother Joe. I was kind of a party pooper on Friday because I was so tired. Remember my insomnia on Sunday night a week ago? It really didn’t go away the rest of the week so I think I was suffering from some sleep deprevation. I had had 3 days that was around 14 hours at work as well so I was quite exhausted. Still, Len was quite the patient trooper and was absolutely wonderful with his understanding.

Saturday, Len had to work so I took care of a few bits of personal business and met Len for lunch. I finished my errands (how many can one really have in a town you don’t live in?) and hung out at their house. I studied my scores (we have a concert coming up in a few weeks) and waited for my man to come home (sounds like an old sappy country song, huh?). Then, Len, Joe & I went to eat dinner at Spanish Flower (YUMMY!!). I really hadn’t had too much time to spend getting to know Joe so this weekend was nice in that regard as well. We got back, watched Shrek 2 and chilled out.

On Sunday (HAPPY EASTER), we got up, went to church and stood. Even though the church was filled to standing room only and the lead trumpet player couldn’t stay in tune to save his life (or his paycheck), it was a nice service. Lots of kids in their fancy Easter dresses and families coming together to make time to spend time together. We drove around to see a closed Houston. Went back to the house and hung out and got ready to bar-b-que. The bar-b-que we made for dinner was fun & yummy! We watched The Red Violin with dinner and enjoyed our evening together.

On Monday, we worked out and hung out some more. In order to make the movie back in Austin, I had to leave Houston earlier than I had originally planned so we kept things simple.

Definitely another wonderful weekend together. (Sappy, I know. Get over it.) Just the break I needed!

Cathy & I went to see Sahara at the Paramount on Monday night. It was a full fledged red carpet premier! Matthew McConaughey did show up and he talked about the movie and how he got involved, etc before it started. Oh, One of the many great things about seeing a movie as a premier is there were NO previews or commercials or whatever else they show before the actual show. To hear & see a little of what he had to say, click on the link below.:

Yes Connie, Matthew McConaughey was very scruffy. He smacked on his gum and picked at his teeth with the toothpicks he had stashed behind each ear. Regardless of all this “hick”ness, he was still very cordial and thankful for everyone who came out to see his new movie. I think his family acted more “Hollywood” than he did. He definitely hid it better.

Now, about the movie. Very well made. Lots of great adventure. It was put together in a very “Indiana Jones” style. No, I’m not comparing it to any of those movies but it did have a similar style about it. Maybe it was all the sand and camels. All the characters were well cast. Steve Zahn’s character is probably my most favorite. Excellent comedic timing! I’m really bad about spoiling the storyline by telling too much so I’m not going to tell anything about the story. I really did enjoy the movie and would go to see it again if the opportunity came up. If you get the chance and like the Indiana Jones style adventure with good comedic timing, this movie, that opens on April 8, is for you. 4 stars out of 5

For all of you that are McConaughey fans that would like to see my up close & personal photos (I went a bit nuts with the camera but got some good shots), click on the picture below.

We watched 2 movies this weekend. Both very good.

First, The Red Violin is a story that takes you through the “life” of this violin that was built to be given to the violin maker’s unborn son. Tragedy occurs and the violin starts on a wild adventure. The odd voyage of this unique violin through history is explored from one episode to the next, from child prodigy to gypsies to Victorian virtuoso to a clandestine enclave of art lovers in Shanghai during the Cultural Revolution. Most actors in the movie are fairly unknown but Samuel L Jackson plays the role of the modern day instrument appraiser. (It didn’t dawn on me that it was him until it was pointed out.) Very well made, very well thought out. 4.5 stars out of 5.

Second, in Shrek 2, we continue the story of Shrek & Fiona as they return from their honeymoon. If you remember from the 1st Shrek, Prince Charming was supposed to save Fiona from the tallest tower of the tallest castle. So, whatever happened to him? Also, what about the King & Queen of the land “Far, Far Away”? How do they feel about their only daughter married to an ogre? How is it that Fiona is part ogre? All these are answered in Shrek 2. It’s a completely different movie to the first and enough time had passed that I wasn’t expecting to see anything specific from the first movie. 4 out of 5 stars.

I just won tickets to go see the Austin premier of Sahara at the Paramount on Monday night!! Matthew McConaughey is apparently going to be there to answer questions after the screening, too! Cool, huh?

Well, I can’t seem to get to sleep so I guess I’ll update.

Life has been quite nice this spring break. Len came and stayed for several days. I love the time we get to spend together but usually, it’s only a weekend (and sometimes only a day & a half or less) so this time together was very cherished. I found myself quite domestic this past week. I cooked, cleaned, laundried more often than I normally get to (barely once a week). My apartment hasn’t felt so refreshing! I think the cats are a bit freaked out. Between the spastic weather, my being home so much and Len being here, all the vaccuuming and washer/dryer commotion was more than they could handle. They’re sleeping hard tonight (wish I could).

I got to wash my car. Even though I’ve run my car through many car washes, I haven’t actually washed my car in months. I’d forgotten how white it could be! It even withstood the rain we got yesterday! The sunny days were well received in my apartment complex. Many people (me included) were out enjoying the splendors of the sun & time off. Overall, it’s been a happy place to live.

On Friday, Cathy (not talking about me in third person, btw) called to see if I wanted to hit 6th Street to see a band of a friend of hers so I got dressed and went. The band was okay…not really my style but it was nice to get out and hang with Cathy (again, my friend). After they were done, she was going country dancing with her friend Jay (who didn’t make it out to 6th to meet us) so I was going to go home. No sense trying to go country dancing when youyour dance partner isn’t in town. ANYWAYS, I was walking back to my car when I walk by a very familiar guy at the ATM machine. It was my friend Brad Saxon from high school. I hadn’t seen him since the 10 year reunion several years ago. We couldn’t believe 10 years out of high school had passed so fast already. We ended up going to Speakeasy together and to a happy surprise, the Scabs were playing. Bob Schneider looks like hell. Why did Sandra Bullock date him? Grungy rock stars are attractive to some, I guess. Turns out his sax player and I went to college and played in jazz band together, too. Wow, it was a small world kinda night. I got home way too late and my feet hurt like hell but it was a nice little spontaneous evening.

I worked on my taxes today. It was really not so bad. It certainly made me go through the horrible stack of unfiled papers I had on my desk to see if there was anything I could deduct in there. Lo and behold, there was!!! A receipt for $130 band videos. I knew it was somewhere. It rocks to be a band junkie by hobby and profession.

Well, that’s about all I have right now. I’m still not sleepy so I guess I’ll go find new sites to surf through as I chat on AIM (which I never do).

Had a shitty nights sleep to top off the insomnia. I think I kept waking up every hour feeling like I hadn’t fallen asleep yet. I know that tonight’s sleep is gonna start early and it’s gonna rock. I guess every cloud has that silver lining!
~B