A New Movie from a Big Red Box

Winter evenings in Indiana can be long and dark. The sun sets early, and many of us huddle indoors at night - but that's not a bad thing. We can cook together, snuggle by the fireplace, and watch a good movie at home. It's a time to bond, play games, and build closer relationships - different than in summertime, when it's daylight out until nearly 9 p.m. and everyone is playing sports and enjoying the great outdoors.

Home movie viewing has really changed over the last decade or so. VHS or DVD rental has been around for a long time - many of us have gone to stores such as Blockbuster, or mom-and-pop-type stores such as Showtime Video in Leo, Indiana. But since 2004, there has been a revolution in this process - self-service kiosks such as the Redbox chain. With its $1 a night rental policy, Redbox is putting some of the traditional stores out of business.

Redbox opened its first kiosk in Denver, Colorado in 2004. In six years it has grown to 25,000 locations across the country. The Flextronics business in North Carolina has produced all these study, high-tech self-standing machines. You can reserve movies on-line, find locations on-line, and return your movie to a different location if that's more convenient.

In the Fort Wayne area, there are about 50 locations as of this writing. Some of the kiosks are outdoors, such as this one at a Walgreen's - you can pick out or return a movie in your topcoat and pajamas, if you like. Other locations are inside stores, such as WalMart. Other local businesses that host Redbox terminals are grocery stores such as Meier, Scott's and Kroger's, and CVS pharmacies. It probably gets the stores a little bit of auxiliary business, when people decide to save extra trips or do a little shopping while getting their movies.

The bad part of a Redbox rental is there is no human attendant on site to help with questions or problems. In severely cold weather it seems as though the terminals freeze up and won't work. Don't bother asking the clerks inside the CVS - they'll tell you they have no connection to the business, and to call the number on the DVD case or kiosk. I've done that, and the phone help has been satisfactory - as I recall I was put on hold for a while and had to listen to some annoying promotions I wasn't interested in. After waiting, however, I was given credit for an extra day for movies I couldn't return because the kiosk was frozen or wasn't working. It gave me another day to find a different terminal when I didn't have time to drive around Fort Wayne to find another one right then.

Redbox reports it has rented 1 billion movies already. They can even tell you where that 1 billionth movie was rented (somewhere in Florida). That's a lot of movies. Redbox may even be a short-lived fad, with the onset of other good services such as NetFlix and OnDemand, in which movies can be downloaded over the Internet so that you don't even have to leave your home.

Redbox titles can be somewhat limited, and popular choices are rented out, so you can't always get what you want. I have a list of the American Film Institute's (voted) top 100 movies of all time, and I'm slowly working my way through those films I've never seen and want to watch.

These aren't current titles one is apt to find in a Redbox rental. For example, I decided I wanted to show my husband the classic "Some Like it Hot" with Marilyn Monroe and Tony Curtis - I was able to download it over an Ipad. I don't have a connection to show it on a large screen, however. At Redbox, I was able to get a new release - "The Social Network," and something for children, an owl-themed animated flick called "Legend of the Guardians." Let it snow, which it still is doing - it's going to be a movie weekend.

Plato's Closet and a Snow Globe Moment

My dear friends and family who have moved to places such as California, Florida, and Arizona: I understand. I hear you gloat about how you don't have to remove any ice and snow. Yes, many times I envy you - nevertheless, the Midwest is my home, and sometimes there is just something magical about the snow. Every snowfall can be different. The one this morning caught me by surprise - a steady, mid-size flake blowing in on a brisk breeze - the snow is moving so fast I feel as though I am in a snow globe.

I was struck looking out at the bus stop this morning where the street light shone overhead - the sun had not yet risen, but the snow everywhere glowed as it would, and the street light wore a halo of snow and light. All the street traffic was muffled, and it was a reverent quiet that it seemed even the distracted teenagers meditated upon, their faces rising to the scene. Don't get me wrong, I adore your beautiful, temperate states - I'm just saying even the snow has its moments.

But back to reality. The cable popped off the garage door mechanism, and a bolt needs to be replaced, so the car is stuck inside at the time being. One learns to deal with it. More snow globe effect is applied here. But I digress; the topic is: 11 degree Fahrenheit temperatures yesterday, led to (outdoors) one of us cross-country skiing and (others) shopping indoors at Glenbrook Square Mall in Fort Wayne.

The Sears and the J C Penney stores are open before all the other stores on Sunday, so we hit them first, and took a brisk walk inside the store-shuttered mall in between. The above stores are two of the three anchor stores of this local mall, and by this I mean they are large stores on either end of the mall with their own exterior entrances. Good stores, both, and then later we move on to Abercrombie & Fitch: all the rage with teen shoppers.

I think A & F has done a fabulous job of branding, and I like the quality of their merchandise. That being said, I did not enjoy my shopping experience there yesterday. One walks into such a dark store - I understand, for effect, it's this way to create a mood - but it was oppressively dark. The store is divided up into smaller rooms to the point it's impossible to see a clerk in another room, and you wonder where everybody is.

There was a canoe hanging overhead in one room - I can't remember seeing people wearing any A & F items when I was canoeing more, but maybe it was just the crowd I was with - (that's a joke). The rooms in this store are decorated like a designer house, almost. The branding and all of this stylization sort of equates with pricey. I will say, such detail as nice applique on the shirts and hoodies, good fitting stuff, good colors - No wonder the line is so popular with the young set. I like it too.

But the deal breaker is in the dressing room area. The music pumping over the loudspeakers was so loud, we were shouting at the top of our lungs at each other between the dressing rooms doors, "Does it fit?" "What?" "Do you want to buy the shirt?" "What did you say?" It was not pleasant. Okay, we had had enough.

We left the mall and headed to Plato's Closet nearby at 4627 Coldwater and Coliseum, on the northeast corner. We pass the guy holding the WE BUY GOLD sign - he's hopping, changing feet, as if he's, well he sure looks like - he's really cold. No wonder.

Plato's Closet is a resale clothing store, with items mainly for young women. There is a corner of the store with trendy resale clothes for guys. The store is stuffed, yet has a 'hip' feel. In addition to clothes, there are lots of shoes, handbags, hats, jewelry, video games, and movies for resale. The main focus is the clothes, and only certain name brands - Abercrombie, Hollister, Patagonia, American Eagle, VS Pink - there are more, but you get the idea. A person can bring their items here and have them sifted through to sell to the store, but they'll only offer a price on what they think will sell. If you don't have exactly the kind of stuff they want, they won't be interested. There is another shop next door in this complex that handles resale for more 'mature' women's sizes and styles, but we didn't make it in there on this trip.

This is a green way to shop - it's also fun to sift though the racks and see surprises, stuff mixed together - watch out for the odd earring or Chapstick in a pocket that was missed. This store occasionally has a clearance bag-type sale, so it's worth it to go in the store and hear about their upcoming deals. It's not for everybody, but for those high-end teen clothes on a budget, it's a savvy way to shop.

It's too nice a day to stay indoors - it's finally sunny out, so the shopping is over. There's something about the way a new snowfall leaves everything looking so clean around it; the ditches covered, the white plateau only interrupted by snow-covered buildings and trees. Hate the snow if you must - I'm still enjoying being in my snow globe.

Fun at the YMCA

We used to go to the beautiful, old YWCA on Wells Street in Fort Wayne. It was housed in a campus of yellow brick buildings that had been a Catholic School, chapel, convent and orphanage at one time. But when the YWCA closed about ten years ago and the YM built one on the north side, we moved into the program at the new YMCA DuPont Road area facility.

There are several separate YMCAs in the Fort Wayne area. Usually we go to the above, the Parkview Family YMCA on Dawsons Creek Blvd. I like the indoor track that encircles the upper level, looking down over the fitness center and basketball courts.

The Y has a nice indoor pool and an outdoor splash park. In my mind, the splash park would have been better to have been made an outdoor swimming pool - I don't think the splash park has a lot to offer. I suppose the way it is doesn't require lifeguard staff, but to me it would have been worth it. The indoor pool is nice with lap lanes and a section for more open swim/play - and features a tall, enclosed slide. The individual family changing rooms, in addition to the male and female separate locker rooms, are a nice feature.

There are group exercise classes, a whole schedule of them - I personally prefer instead to use weight machines and stretch on the mats. I'd also rather use the track than a treadmill or other such stationary device, but that is just personal preference. The kids enjoy the game room with pool and foos ball tables, etc. They also use the rock climbing wall.

There is a kids' gym for kids eight and younger, and child care also. For a mom of young children desiring to work out, a place to drop a child in a facility such as this can be a huge blessing. Like other businesses, the Y tends to be open even if there are school closings - but sometimes the YMCAs are forced to cancel programs, shut down or close early because of road conditions, so it helps to check.

With all its windows, the free weight room housed in a sunroom-type annex is a nice feature. In the main room, there are lots of TV screens for the treadmill aficionados. Other features include saunas, a whirlpool in the pool area, racquetball and squash courts. There are some classrooms and even Dance Dance Revolution, (never tried it).

It's really a terrific YMCA, and were it summertime you could go outside and walk or run the lovely paved trail in the acreage around it - but now, about the only way to get through would be on snowshoes or cross-country skis. Hey, that's a thought. I bet somebody has tried it.

Indiana Snow

It was a light snowfall, a heavy gray sky, no sun

the red bud leaves had never fallen. They hung preserved,

freeze-dried, bleached out pinkish peach, an ornament

The color of a powder puff. The omnipresent

heavy sky

Moon dusting of snow. Talcum powder

blowing across the road.

Sky blends with asphalt parking lot horizon

the world brought in closer the distance

out of sight, out of mind.

Big hats. Big coats.

A splattered pumpkin in the street as a last act of defiance

A memory of black ice on Cedar Canyon Road. Fishtailing inexplicably

and then back again. Clear, invisible ice, you don't believe it

Cotton candy cologne wafting out from the blue shaded room

drab things stand out against a white sky. The green, the fringe of the fir tree

so graceful

leafless branches form a lattice

elephants, candles

Bigger, fluffier flakes are now swirling, dropping tongue-ward

muffled quiet

Hearts on the refrigerator

More favorite things:





Children's art made at school and pre-school. Although there could be less of this as a future school funding trend, we have received great tree ornaments with kids' pictures, handmade crafts, and more well worth saving and enjoying. Beautiful sheets to adorn refrigerators, and holiday-themed decorations such as turkeys and flag stands - cheerful things to bring back memories and rituals of holidays past.





I've saved the good stuff the children have made, and I just took a bunch of rectangular art off the fridge and put up about 5 hearts - all of different patterns and sizes. One is mosaic of tissue paper squares sealed in wax paper. Another is painted and layered, another a collage. So sweet.




The movie Giant, starring Rock Hudson, Elizabeth Taylor, and James Dean. The iconic story of ranching, oil and prejudice in Texas. James Dean's portrayal of Jett Rink is simply brilliant. The scene where Rock's Jordan Benedict offers to buy JR out of the land sister Luz willed him - great scene. And the drenching oil gusher first struck on Little Reata - a classic. There's a lot going on, a lot to see in this movie - one of AFI's best 100 of all time.



Christmas cards that depict a night scene, with men on camels and shepherds with crooks. A starlit sky and desert roof lines. Put away other decorations but leave a few choice cards around.


Kids sitting around, doing their homework, reading. Settled in after a vacation, in the evening - it still gets dark before 6 p.m. A cold night, but I feel familiar and grounded while watching them do their work. I might get to read the featured fiction in The New Yorker magazine.





Kids ready to stay after school and play basketball in the gym. It's Indiana in January. A reason to justify a cell phone and texting. The sport of Hoosiers and its time of year.

Fireworks on the Fourth of July in Leo-Cedarville, Indiana.

These are photos of them in 2010. There's a great street party with a hometown feel, river cruise and fireworks reflecting out over the St. Joe River.

Komodo Dragon Blend coffee from Starbucks. We buy Starbucks coffee in bags and make it at home. This one comes from Asia, and I've grown very fond of it - it has a slightly spicy aroma. The dragon on the label looks auspicious.

The movie The Princess Bride. Rob Reiner's classic with Sean Penn's Robin Wright and Mandy Patinkin. The 'voice of Kermit' guy, Cary Ewles, Christoper Guest, other stars. A loving grandfather reading a fairy tale to his grandson. A funny story and star cameos. "My name is Inigo Montoya and you killed my father. Prepare to die." Hilarious. I love this movie, and it's clean. As you wish.

January Tres

A new energy emerges with the first of the year. The expectations and burdens (some joyful, some not) of the holidays have passed, and it's time to start fresh. I have some traditions and rituals of my own at the first of the year which are just as important to me as those in the preceding holiday. I guess this is because everything has its time and purpose, and I'm happy with the start of this one. Opportunity feels real in this day.

Here are some of my first of the year things:

A new purse-size paper calendar. I still back up my digital life this way. Besides, sometimes I just want to make a pencil note of something: jot down an appointment or a phone number quickly. The current one came from the supermarket after Christmas; this one has a tropical beach photo on the cover. It folds over checkbook-size and has a plastic over-cover.

My digital calendar; working calendar. This is now on my Ipad.

Notes and shopping lists: also now on the Ipad. We still need paper note pads in the kitchen for shopping lists as well. Encourage children to write down food requests on paper.

A common monthly wall calendar: a good place to write a common schedule, with people's games, lessons, appts., etc.

A page-a-day spiritual calendar: something personal for me - I have shopped at the mall calendar kiosk store between Christmas and New Year's or online for my favorite calendar for years. For me it's a personal favorite since perhaps childhood. This is an opportunity for my personal meditation. A moment for centering, balance, discipline, peace.

Other things I really like about the start of the new year:

Getting another look at all the cards and letters that came in over the holidays. You all do such a wonderful job at that. Really creative letters, beautiful photos - one this year was a great formal shot, friends and kids in tuxes and flowers at a wedding, I think - I placed all the incoming cards on the piano this year, and it knocks you out when you pass by. I just have to say 'thank you,' what a blessing it is to have such thoughtful friends and family. Those cards are probably the best thing about Christmas.

Epiphany. Three Saints Day. The wise men that came from the east, following the star. That mystical part of the Christmas story has always been so special to me. And, all of this post is in common with the Capricorn I am, although I do not read a daily horoscope. I am just saying.

Facebook and e:mail. Facebook has done something wonderful for birthdays. Lots of people have rough birthdays: pre-Christmas, post-Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, the 26th, etc. January 3 is pretty anticlimactic as well, for parties and such, but I never really cared. Actually, there have been a few great parties over the years, including the Pokagon State Park toboggan/limo one from about 2003. Thanks, Paul and friends.

But I digress. With facebook, one can roll out of bed and have personal birthday greetings from dozens of people. Nobody has to buy a card or a 44-cent stamp. I think it's great. I really appreciate each and every shout out. Thank you all.

It's the first day back to school, and the first day of the work week for many people. People are back to exercising for the new year, and I'm planning to make it to the gym later today. For me, it will be take-out sushi for my birthday dinner, and something chocolate. It's a sunny day over the ice today - Signing off to get on with it.

Ice skating without the blades

We have left freezing temperatures in Fort Wayne for balmy temperatures in Fort Myers, Florida. Allegiant Airlines has a direct flight into Tampa-St. Petersburg, and it was a great flight - a little over two hours, nice seats, and best of all: no connections. Our friends flying down today were not so lucky - they decided to fly out of Indianapolis, and in the winter storm they were unable to get out of town. They ended up taking a limousine to Detroit, where they will be flying into Ft. Myers - good for them for finally getting here, but they've dealt with a whole day of having to make phone calls and get really creative.

We've been to the beaches at Ft. Myers and Sanibel Island, while the weather was beautiful and in the 70s. Today some clouds and winds moved in, so we looked for an alternative. We chose going to the greyhound racing track at Bonita Springs. It's a slice of life if you have never had the experience. If you like to gamble you'll fall right into the culture, trust me on this. Whether you read the stats or play the odds or simply like the look of a dog or how s/he acts on the way to the post, you'll get into it. And somehow, over the years, everyone always enjoys the simple entertainment of the trainers running away from the track - a footrace for the underpaid working class - you'll feel like a Roman gladiator basking in the coliseum, whether you realize it or not.

But my memory today was about good old Fort Wayne. There was a day like this a few years ago, before children, when we were downtown in the Fort for some event. Now is the time of year for ice and snow. It was an icy day then, probably between 9 p.m. and midnight, and we were traveling on the city streets in the car. It was a black ice, hard to see, but extremely slick. The kind that would make your feet fly out from under you and give you a concussion in a second. My husband, driving, stopped at a red light, and this urge came over me. I knew there was enough ice to slide as if on skates in street shoes. Without telling him, I watched the traffic light for the perpendicular traffic, and when I saw it go yellow, meaning green for us in seconds, I jumped out of the car. My husband, shocked, craned his neck behind the wheel to watch me slide back to the rear bumper of the car.

The light changed, and there were cars behind us, honking. He was pissed, but he had to drive forward - and I was bumper surfing - ice skating behind the car on downtown city streets. It was great, I was euphoric - until the police cherry lights behind us lit up the downtown
sky.


We were pulled over. What I was doing was illegal. We would have been given a big ticket, but my husband was furious with me, and the policeman saw that. Basically, what he said, was there was nothing he could have done that was any more punishment than what my husband was going to do to me for putting him in that position. He probably had worse criminals, or hooligans, to deal with that night. And somehow, he let us go.

That's the midwest, and Fort Wayne; that icy, that dangerous. Opportunity, fun, and danger. I could have cracked my head open, as they say; but it didn't happen. I was fortunate. For a few seconds, bumper surfing was a lot of fun. It's a distant memory, and I can still see Fort Wayne's beautiful downtown buildings overhead as my feet slid as if on skates behind the car. Even with the cop car behind us, somehow it was worth it. I'm not saying, however, I would do it all over again. And tomorrow, on this far-away vacation, gentle Florida will revive us all again. What a beautiful nation we live in. Goodnight and sweet dreams, all.