After a rather nightmarish move from Watertown, Heidi and I have finally settled in Field's Corner, Dorchester. I think my back is wack from moving a lot of crap down the stairs over and over again. But our new place is great. The kitchen's still cluttered with boxes, and we must figure out what to do with seven corkscrews, four rolls of plastic wrap, and too many cheese graters to count. Sounds like a prank is in the works...oh wait, I'm too cool for that now. Um, or perhaps less evil, considering that train of thought.
Honestly, without Luke Snyder's help, I'm not sure what we would have accomplished. Last night he drove twice to Dorchester, his van loaded with our furniture, and all we could really give him in return was the promise of a drink and an invitation to our house swarming party. He even refused the cup of cold water I offered; what a nice micro-group friend.
Our old Watertown house is now being reconstructed. Mike's "crew" showed up early this morn. Heidi and I went back to today to pick up our bikes and the mail, and they were demolishing the wall between the kitchen and living room. Dust flooded the hallway and found its way down the new stairwell. Sigh. I certainly like our new apt. better, but that crew is destroying many good memories. Well...not the memories, but the actual places where the memories formed. Argh, enough sappiness.
Speaking of sappiness, Heidi and I treated ourselves to an entire disc of ArrDev (my abbreviation, the name is so freaking long!) season 3, which just came out, and let me tell you, that show is bizarre. I love it to death, but I think in season 3 the bizarreness might be palatable only to its loyal followers. I can see why it didn't get spectacular ratings besides the fact that they aired the show during some big-time ratings hogs like, oh, the Opening Ceremonies of the Olympics. Being one of its loyal followers, however, I laughed out loud through most of the disc, knowing that if I missed something because of the volume of my laugh, I would return to watch the episodes again, which is necessary for anyone who attempts to understand all the layers of humor that are wound up in each scene. You have to be quick, or just watch it again. We watched some of the special features, including some commentary, and we realized that of all the people involved in the show (and this particular commentary includes all of the main characters), the funniest is creator/writer/producer Mitch Hurwitz. In fact, most of the actors, excluding David Cross and Will Arnett, don't seem to have that peculiar sense of humor that I thought would be required of them. The woman who plays Lucille, Jessica Walter, actually sounds pretty annoying. And sappy. Who'd a' thunk? Maybe they all just need good writers to make them funny. That's one strength this show does have - the writing - although I can't think of too many weaknesses right off the bat. But that Mitch Hurwitz is dang hilarious. Bring on disc 2!
I just finished Season One of ArrDev. Yes, several hours of laughing for me, but the bizarreness is one reason I hesitate to recommend it. But I am glad there are others out there.
I was furiously trying to edit this blog entry the other day, but a faltering Internet connection prevented me. Besides taking out some unnecessary words, I was going to add that any time you have a mole-costumed man wrestling a teenage boy suited in a Japanese jetpack (he tries to fly away and fails) as they topple and destroy a toy train set - you're pushing the envelope on bizarre. I'm glad you like it too, Sarah. More than you'll...never know.
I think the mole fight was one of the most inspired plot-line-converging comic sequences I've ever seen. When is your housewarming party? I should be up in Boston, Lord willing, by Friday.
Aw, poor little Watertown house, but dang it needs a renovation. And if you feel like sending a care package you could throw in some of those cheese graters and corkscrews. You can never have too many corkscrews.
Sarah, the fact that there are characters with the last name "Funke" (I don't know how to do the umlaut) should make you like the show all the more.
Evan, I don't know if you'll read this, but I don't know when we'll be having the house swarming. We've been talking it up like Tobias talks up his name, but haven't set a date yet. We'll definitely wait for you.
Linnea, we'll think about that care package as soon as you give us your address.
Yes, Heidi, I did in fact notice that my last name is now semi-famous, thanks to good old Ron and his scriptwriters.