A very good day

My very good day started off like this. Yummy.

I think the last time I had one of these there was a kickoff involved.

Now, you know that means my very good day also included a nap. As do all very good days at my age.

Amy’s surprise 40th birthday brunch. Everyone’s loyal, caring, amazing, Amy-able superhero role model rock star was very surprised and took home  a good haul of gifties.

very surprised

two of my favorite people

and look: two more!

beginning a very good day

After said nap, I snuck to the movies, finally. Zombieland was at the dollar theater and it was just the funnest movie I’ve seen in ages. Loved the slo-mo scenes at the beginning, and especially the list graphics and narration throughout.

I don’t know what’s up with me and the zombie movies. They are gruesome and jumpy and make me afraid to drive home in the dark. But I can’t stay away from them, and this one was a rollicking good time. Watch this, then go rent it and turn it up loud.

Other good things ensued, until finally it was time to pick up Warren and friends. And I think it’s pretty cool they have this place: an all-ages venue for locals to try out their noise on a real live audience.  Check out the vocal talent on this one (and yes, I think he said “A Beating Heart in Cold Hands.” which would be the only thing he said that you can repeat on a nice family-oriented blog like this one):

The weird thing is, the place is in the strip center me, Jaffner and Lyta used to walk to when we were kids. Right between where the Majik Market and North Cobb Drugs once were. Life comes full circle for homebodies.

Best of all, I had H. Johnson’s Jazz Classics to get me through waiting for the kids in the parking lot, where I was creeped out that zombies might come crashing through my window any minute. (Though Warren did text me to take a peek inside. “come in. you’ll think this is funny. hahahaha” Just a few numbers  were enough for me.)  Jazz Classics is the perfect way to end a very good Saturday, carrying me through this post and all the way til 2 a.m. I’ve had a nap. I think I’ll hang with H. until he’s done.

What I am *not* reading

The Classic Regency Romance—Now with Ultraviolent Zombie Mayhem!

“Pride and Prejudice and Zombies features the original text of Jane Austen’s beloved novel with all-new scenes of bone-crunching zombie action. As our story opens, a mysterious plague has fallen upon the quiet English village of Meryton—and the dead are returning to life! Feisty heroine Elizabeth Bennet is determined to wipe out the zombie menace, but she’s soon distracted by the arrival of the haughty and arrogant Mr. Darcy. What ensues is a delightful comedy of manners with plenty of civilized sparring between the two young lovers—and even more violent sparring on the blood-soaked battlefield as Elizabeth wages war against hordes of flesh-eating undead. Complete with 20 illustrations in the style of C. E. Brock (the original illustrator of Pride and Prejudice), this insanely funny expanded edition will introduce Jane Austen’s classic novel to new legions of fans.”

(Thanks to Jaffner for providing blog fodder while I’m otherwise occupied.)

An adorable little zombie movie

Mad Men doesn’t have anything over the colors, sets and clothes (well, OK, maybe the clothes) in Fido. Did this even play at the theater? Not that I get out much, but I’d never heard of it ’til my sister made me watch it yesterday. Here’s the trailer. 

The premise and the political and pop-culture riffs are are a scream: zombies harnessed as domestic slaves, one big company making a killing off the zombie business, references to Bush-era scare tactics everywhere. At one point, the non-speaking zombie leads perfect-mom to rescue Timmy, just like Lassie. 

And the colors! Of the clothes, the cars, the lawns, the houses, the interiors — and most expecially that stunning kitchen!

All in all, adorable. (My favorite word since the SNL Couric used it to describe the SNL Palin.)

Rated R. Why, I haven’t the foggiest. Blame Canada, I guess. It would definitely be OK for my 13-year-old and I would almost (but not quite) let the 11-year-old see it. I do always get the zombie-creeps after a zombie flick (I feel like they’re sneaking up on me at every four-way stop), but the gore is pretty mild and all played totally for laughs.