As reported toward the finish of yesterday's post, I planned to watch a Christmas movie in the evening while having some Jack Daniel's, and then get on my way and arrive before the anticipated 11:00 p.m. closure of the B.C. government liquor store two miles distant from my home.
The movie I selected and watched via the Cinema HD v.2 'app' that I have downloaded into our T9 Android 8.1 TV Box was the 2004 feature Noel.
It was a rather good choice, and I will likely add it to the list I am compiling of Christmas movies that I will play for my younger brother and his girlfriend Bev when he brings her here for what has become our annual two-day Christmastime Christmas movie binge.
The movie had enough diversity with its several different characters that I found my interest was deeply held. And what I especially liked about it ─ unlike the movie Serendipity that I wrote about yesterday ─ was that it came to involve an apparent miracle of sorts that could only be ascribed to God, if indeed it really did happen as Susan Sarandon's character experienced through her interaction with late actor Robin Williams' character.
The characters in the movie Serendipity attributed the miracles of the impossible coincidences in that movie's plot to the mystical power of the universe ─ or some similar utter blather.
I would have preferred that Santa Claus was featured and was the source of all that happened, rather than it all coming from a ridiculous universal power that has nothing to do with a Biblical God. At least if it had been Santa Claus, then I could have easily suspended myself from reality and went along with the theme.
I cannot work that feat when it comes to a mystical universal power that is not actually God.
Noel had its weaknesses, but I still liked it. Also, I am not a big Susan Sarandon fan, but I liked her in this movie.
In addition, the move was roughly 1½ hours in duration, and I did not begin watching it until around 9:30 p.m. Since I do not drive, I needed to get out of here as soon after 10:00 p.m. as possible in order to make it to the liquor store before it closed.
It was almost 10:15 p.m. before I got away in a rather heavy spray of rain, and I most certainly did hustle.
Well, somewhat wet, I came within sight of the liquor store maybe a dozen minutes ahead of 11:00 p.m.
But it was closed ─ and in utter darkness. Clearly, it had been closed for some while. I have since researched and found that it closes every night at 9:00 p.m. ─ except on Sundays and holidays when it closes at 6:00 p.m.
Perhaps you can imagine what it felt like having absolutely no recourse but to turn about and retrace my two-mile path home. I had even been looking forward to rewarding myself on that homeward trip with a can or two of the two dozen veers that I had intended to buy, but that was no longer on the table.
There was no rush getting back home ─ why would there be?
There was nothing for it but to embrace the whole episode as being physically therapeutic ─ the exercise would of course have been of considerable benefit.
Even so, once I was home, I decided to have those two cans of beer ─ strong beer (8% alcohol). And I was going to watch another Christmas movie.
My choice this time was one of Saoirse Ronan's earliest movies ─ a 2007 feature titled The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey. That Wikipedia description says nothing about the plot ─ RottenTomatoes.com gives a decent synopsis.
The movie had an almost play-like or theatrical quality. I found it to be quaint ─ the simple telling of a nice little story.
It was also around 1½ hours in duration.
I never noticed that Saoirse Ronan ─ who was only a supporting character ─ had any billing in the opening credits. Nevertheless, she was most impressive ─ even at that young age, the strongly Irish actress could speak English like an 'unaccented' North American.
There were some British Isles' accents, but I suppose that the original book must have had a North American setting, so any of the local kids in the small village the English mother and her son had moved to would have had to sound like they were North Americans (I keep saying "North American" instead of just "American" because I found there to be a somewhat Canadian feel to the setting).
The movie was a good means of occupation while I enjoyed those two beers. I had finished off the last of my Jack Daniel's earlier in the evening with the first movie, and at that time had graduated from there onto some Wiser's rye whisky; however, I did not wish to continue with the hard stuff before finally going to bed.
Although I liked the movie, I will not be adding it to that list of Christmas movies to watch with my brother and his girlfriend Bev around Christmastime ─ it wasn't that enjoyable. It was a little too "simple" or basic. Perhaps 'restrained' is a better description.
I might watch it again one day, but I don't want to do so as soon as next month!
By the way, I watched The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey through that very same Cinema HD v. 2 'app' that I have downloaded into our Android TV Box. I have a number of such 'apps' downloaded into in the device, but I was having good luck with this specific 'app' and thus felt no need to do any searching with any of the others.
Anyway, I got to bed ahead of 2:00 a.m., I believe. And I was up once more just ahead of 8:00 a.m. I then put in a little work on a post that I have on the go at one of my six hosted websites; but by 10:00 a.m. or so, I was ready for a return to bed and a needed nap. And I remained there until something like 11:15 a.m.
I've been home all day, but as the afternoon wore on I decided to make another foray to that government liquor store. First, though, I boiled up some water. I put a heaping teaspoon of instant coffee into my mug, and a couple ounces of rye whisky; then I added maybe three inches of hot water.
It was a stiff drink, but it helped get me into the mood. Then no more than two minutes past 5:00 p.m., I snuck out the front door without my two stepsons noticing and I had just begun my journey...when I realized that I had left my wallet in the house.
My eldest stepson saw me come back inside, and queried me on my designs. Upon learning where I was bound, he insisted on driving me. And as a result, we were back home ahead of 5:30 p.m. Had I walked, I would not likely have been home for over another hour.
I must admit, having that duty out of the way is a considerable relief. I didn't really need any beer ─ I probably had over five dozen in my supply; but it is always better to have a surfeit than to be facing a deficit.
So...thanks be to the 25-year-old for the unsolicited ride!
I want to return to the topic of T.V. and mention that my younger brother and I watched the final two episodes of The Son last Thursday evening (I believe).
I don't think that I expect to see ruthless patriarch Eli McCullough (as played by Pierce Brosnan) die so ignobly. The death was contrasted by the ending scenes of the finale episode ─ Eli's young self (as played by Jacob Lofland) is shown riding off with Ingrid (a white German captive / slave of the Comanches) to make his way in the world, turning his back on the Comanche tribe that had adopted him after killing his entire family several years earlier.
I think a lot could have been done telling the story of young Eli and Ingrid after they left the Comanches, but knowing how he was going to ultimately end up probably would have spoiled any such series.
It is now after 6:00 p.m. ─ I think I will stop here for today.
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