Back to Work.

It's back to work day after a few weeks off. BLAH!!!!

Watched a good amount of movies while off including two musicales which were so alike i was uncanny.

"Mama Mia" and "Sweeny Todd". Had not seen either and I keep getting them mixed up. In fact there were times when Sweeny should have shown up and given a few people shaves in Mama Mia.

It would have been funny watching the dancing in Mama Mia with Sweeny in the background being a grumpy puss.

Also - saw "Tears of the Sun" which had a really nice look and feel to it and good story until it finalized into a video game format at the end as our hero's hold off an entire army. And of course "Get Smart".

No news from Public Enemies land - nada, zip, nothing. It would be nice if Universal would toss us a bone and give us a hint on what is going on. Even Imdb is full of random blabber and people just wanting to see their words in print (not like me of course).

Our buddy's movie had a good weekend but I'm afraid it was not as good as many were hoping. "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" saw a 32% drop which is about what you would see in a normal movie but I think many were hoping for the buzz to be a little stronger. Still, it should be in the $130M range with ease and if it can get an Oscars Best Picture nomination it'll pump it up even more.

The interesting story is Clint Eastwood as "Gran Torino" is still packing in the crowds after 4 weeks in limited theaters. Warner Bros did this with his "Million Dollar Baby" giving it a limited number of theaters and giving it 4 weeks before releasing it to the world. "Gran" goes wide this weekend. Four years ago "Baby" beat out "The Aviator" (GREAT MOVIE - new appreciation for Leonardo DiCaprio!!!!) for best Picture.
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The car...... we did an exorcism and were able to start it. From what I have read the shift lock and the brakes are somehow tied together. What I don't like is the fact that sometimes we can start it and sometimes we can't. I took it into Sherwood Automotive and are crossing our fingers.

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Sherwood Automotive is right across the street from 24/7 Fitness where DJ and I have once again started working out (was that you Steve S. we saw leaving the other day??). After going a few months without working out I have gone from my typical frame (left) to a somewhat larger frame (right).

Here's the deal with 24/7. It seems it was a forgotten place for the last 3 or 4 months. An absentee landlord let the place go to crap. The doors don't lock, the TV's don't work, there is no toilet paper and it was a dive.

There is now a new person taking care of the place and it is once again clean, they are working on the doors and getting everything in order once again.

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Speaking of Columbus - We have three people running for Mayor. Nancy Osterhause, Bob Link and Peter Kaland and MAYBE Art Westergaard. Election Date is April 7th. I would love to have all four of them tell me why I should vote for them and I would post it here.!!!

And one last thing. At the Farmers & Merchants Bank there is a benifite fund for Herbert and Marcella Braker. Their home in the Town of Calamus burned completely to the ground last Friday and they need your help. Any money will go towards their medical needs, clothes and possibly a car which was in the fire. Children Sara, Davyn and Nezar were all home at the time and all are safe but Mercella is at UW Hospital with heart trauma.

ADDENDUM!!

Question and a funny story!

We all know we got a pretty think coating of ice Saturday night! Sunday morning I let Blake out to pee and I, under control" slide down the driveway to get the paper. I'm nearing the end of the drive and I hear a funny sound behind me and looking back, there is Blake, spread eagle on his tummy sliding down the driveway backwards.

I had to laugh (under my breath of course). We both struggled getting back up to the house.

With that said - is there any place to get free sand for sidewalks and driveways? I'm anti salt is it really does a number on ground water. Any free drums of sand in Columbus?

Rod