Big news. We're moving to Sedona, AZ.
To anyone who knows me that shouldn't be a shock considering my wife and I have been looking for a place for the past two to three years.
Our house is sold. We're just still living in it for the next few weeks still until the movers show up to load up and then we'll get on our way out west. It'll be a big change, but one we've wanted for a while.
Austin
The first in-person conference I've been to since those things stopped happening, happened! In Austin.
I won't bore you with the conference details. I would take just about any opportunity there is to visit. Austin is one of my favorite cities in the entire U.S.
Why? It's largely to do with the vibe. Places like Texas Chili Parlor have been around forever and I feel like I've seen more small hole-in-the-wall places like this here than any other. Other cities seem cookie-cutter anymore with their standard Target or Walmart paired with your pick of BestBuy, Michaels, PetSmart, etc.
While the city still has that feel, I think with the explosion of people there now, things are just more crowded. Particularly traffic, which was pretty awful when I was there.
Movies
Other than friends, the biggest thing I'm going to miss is the Alamo Drafthouse theater. Especially special things they do no other theater does like the picture below for the opening night of a new film.
Secret Screenings are another thing I'll miss a great deal. With luck, maybe I can time visits around them!
I originally didn't feel too bad since Phoenix had some Alamos, but I was disheartened to learn that they all shut down over COVID. I'm hoping someday they will come back there.
- Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness wasn't the best or worst Marvel film, but I did feel like it was one you needed to be up-to-date on other films in the universe to get the most out of it.
- The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent was excellent. Loved Nick Cage's performance and had a blast with the film.
- The Northman is my favorite film of the year so far. Amazing.
- A Quiet Place Part II is one I missed at the theater but finally caught up with. Really impressed by this film and the original.
- Hush (2016) is another film I'd had on my list to see for a while. I've turned into quite a Mike Flanagan fan and this film didn't disappoint.
- Till Death was really fun. Really liked Megan Fox's performance in it.
Reelhouse Foundation Films
With Reelhouse being a weekly online event, I'm relieved to know that I'll still be able to attend these gatherings no matter where I am.
- Honky Tonk Freeway (1981) is not a movie I'll likely ever watch again. About a town that doesn't get a freeway exit they were promised. They do whatever they can to attract people to turn around at the next exit to visit. Sounds like it would be a great movie. While the ending isn't bad, the rest is.
- The Day the Earth Caught Fire (1961) is about nuclear testing throwing the Earth out of its orbit, headed towards the sun. Slowly, so you see the panic as what world governments have tried to hide as people realize the inevitable.
- Zero Hour! (1957) was remade as the incredible comedy Airplane! in 1980. Zero Hour is very serious, but having watched Airplane! a zillion times it's amazing how much the films have in common.
My City board game
My City is a legacy-style game that feels like a variation of Tetris only all the tiles aren't falling down, but need to be placed within the constraints of your personal playing area.
Being legacy-style means the game alters itself as you play. There are chapters of a campaign sealed within envelopes. The hidden contents change the rules and conditions of play. For example, planting trees on your board, or adding a sawmill that stays forever on your board. Rules get added and adjusted over time.
Was really a fun game for the group. Chapters play quickly enough that you feel you can probably get in one more game.
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