On the Road Again

It seems strange that the two weekends before the start of Tax Season are both extra long (three days and 4 days, respectively), and yet on both I find myself driving extremely long distances, which unfortunately end with me feeling more tired than when I left. For instance, I departed work on New Year's Eve at about 1 PM in order for my wife and I to cross the mountains before sunset, and today we also returned early for much the same reason (also because I had to slip into the office to get some additional work done, but that is neither here nor there). Add into this a trip to and from Spokane into the weekend, and so far it feels like all I've done is read books in a car. I am not exactly complaining, mind you, since I've always enjoyed reading, and being on the road is the perfect excuse to do so, but the whole experience does leave me feeling a little exhausted this evening, which is never where I like to be before beginning another work week. Even if it will only be three days long.

Despite my earlier complaints, I did accomplish a fair bit more than just read over the course of the weekend, including watching several movies with the wife and in-laws, one of which was "Knowing" with Nicholas Cage. I thought the movie itself was rather abysmal, and far too apocalyptic for my tastes, but I did particularly enjoy their beautiful usage of Beethoven's Seventh Symphony, second movement. While I used to be enamored with the more popular Ninth Symphony, over time the seventh has grown upon me to a point where few other works can even compare. This is quite the change from the first time I heard it (during the opening scenes of the movie "The Fall", which I highly recommend if you have not seen). At the time I saw the movie I was suffering a rather severe migraine, and even now associate that particular music with them to the point where I tense up upon first hearing it. Even so, it doleful sounds tug at my heart, and I cannot hesitate to listen to it every time I get the opportunity. The Seventh Symphony shall forever remain Beethoven's peak for me.

I almost managed to finish reading "Let the Right One In" over the weekend, so I expect I shall a have a full report in my next post. At this point however I will say that while the book is certainly dark, disturbing, and an immense page turner, the movie still by and large stands out foremost in my mind. Where the book is sometimes straightforward and blunt in explaining some of the stories details, the movie is subtle, dropping just the barest of hints that force the viewer to be totally drawn in and wrapped in the story, if they only let themselves. Yes, I definitely like the film production. I await with dizzying "anticipation" to see what is done with the American version that is currently in production.