April's weather certainly doesn't know what to do. Cold for a few days, then it's like summer the next. It hasn't stopped the cactus flowers from blooming, though.

Blooming cactus flowers

Philadelphia

The second week of April was another work gathering in Philly where they have everyone commune from our department for a week of working together and having fun.

One of the events was at a place that was kind of like a Meow Wolf.

I'm a ghost!

The week was great as usual. The best part, just being able to hang out with everyone in person.

House Construction Update

Wow! Looking at this photo compared to the one I shared last month, there has been quite a bit of progress. We're getting close to having all the paneling around the house, and the decks built out. I think we're a few weeks away from our walkthrough to make sure all the outlets, light switches and recessed lighting are all in the appropriate places. Our last change to add new ones or move them before the drywall starts going up.

Movies

  • Rebel Ridge is kind of like a Rambo film, but if Rambo didn't use any weapons other than what was around him. Pretty good.
  • Kraven the Hunter was just okay. In general, I like Aaron Taylor-Johnson as an actor, and he was great here. Just a lackluster story and flimsy effects.
  • No Hard Feelings (2023) was funny at parts.
  • Rambo: Last Blood (2019) This had been on my watch list. The weakest of all the Rambo films, which I guess doesn't say much.
  • Don't Move was okay. Like a short story but stretch to movie length that's an exploration into what it may be like to get injected with a paralytic drug and then be in the hands of a serial killer who thinks he then has all the time in the world.
  • The Coffee Table (2022) is a pretty messed up film. It slowly crawls under your skin and amps up the dread up until the end.
  • The Amateur was enjoyable. Dude wants revenge on the people who killed his wife, but he's a tech guy, so has to figure out how to do that exactly.
Sinners
  • Sinners is an amazing film. See it. I currently can't fathom seeing another film this year that's going to beat this one for best picture for me.
  • Conclave, about choosing a new pope, seemed relevant. Beautiful film. The scenes themselves looked like paintings in a chapel.
  • Until Dawn is just popcorn horror. There's a chance to kill all the characters over and over.
  • Havoc is no Netflix and worth watching for the action scenes alone. It drags a bit between the action, so skip past those parts if you want to.
  • Fire and Ice (1983) is a film I haven't seen since the eighties, and I accidentally hit play on this as I was thumbing through some flicks to watch. So figured I'd just watch it. Not as good as I remember it being.