Tuesday Christmas morning. So, we waited and then watched the technically difficult iMovies, the girls opened actually functional and appreciated stocking gifts (hey, now that we don't get stockings they've stopped filling them with gag canned goods and plastic junk figurines. no fair.) It took a long time to mobilize for breakfast (mine: bialy with egg and nova. mmm) and even longer to mobilize for present-opening. Till noon. Weird.

Considering that nobody asked me what I wanted and I didn't really tell anyone, I came away with a fair haul. Amadeus DVD from the Naumburgs, a home recording book from Dan, an Oliver Sacks memoir and a lovely soft gray diamond sweater from Delia, a tie from Mike, a jew hat and a rich supply of Indian condiments and cooking sauces from the Gravitzes, a knife and measuring spoons and a nice scarf from my folks, and some CDs from my dad - Spirit (early 70's band that I'd never heard of, I'm excited for it), Peter Gabriel (why not?), Bach (this new recording of a partita that he says is haunting and magical, and also gave to a lot of other people.) I'm going to have to supplement with some presents for myself, but really, not bad at all. The usual Christmas afternoon lackadaisicality was somewhat averted by the plan for an early movie: the Fellowship of the Ring.

Watching the movie was a lot like reading the book, which I guess is a good thing. It's long but I never really got bored, which was surprising; it's really big and epic and takes itself way too seriously, and there isn't much emotional character development because it's all taken up by the legends and stuff. But all of those criticisms are true of the book too. Visually, it is really incredible, so beautiful. Reminded me of Alaska in places, but it was filmed in New Zealand. The fight scenes were especially well done. Better than Crouching Tiger for my money. In the end, it sort of seems pointless to watch a movie like that because you might as well just read the book, but it is fun. I guess that's the point. Good old Ian Holm as Bilbo too.

Dinner was reruns plus brisket, still good. I wrestled with Delia's computer, but didn't have any more luck posting there, although I did get one e-mail out and one in. I pulled out the mandolin and tuned it like a ukelele so I could play "Queen of the Savages." Michael wanted to play this game of celebrity name guessing that he bought for Zoe. So Bob and I played and he went off and took care of the baby. Jess Richman came over, which was nice of her, and we watched "Some Like it Hot," that Bobby had gotten on DVD. I'd never seen it before, none of us had. It's excellent. Hilarious, probably deserves number one on that comedy list. Easy to see its influence on so much in later Hollywood culture. And Marilyn is indeed sexy. Ester had seen the same two movies in one day a few days earlier, how's that for a coincidence. Bobby and Jess had a small world talk (they had once faced each other in a frisbee tournament, it turned out), which I can never really participate in well because I didn't go to a private high school. And we talked about plans for next semester. That would be fun.

and it goes round in circles
one night is lovely the next is brutal
and you and me are in way over our heads