ALDI
ALDI is a European-style grocery store, the Ryanair of supermarkets. It offers a very low level of service in exchange for prices that are lower than Wal-Mart’s in some cases. They are popping up all over the DFW area. Lured by the advertised promise of $0.99 strawberries, we piled into the minivan and checked it out.
The Good: Yes, the prices are very, very low. They sell a really good German riesling for about $6. They force you to return your shopping cart to its proper place by requiring a 25c deposit.
The Bad: The selection is poor, with few choices and mostly brands you’ve never heard of. You have to bag your own groceries after paying for them. ALDI doesn’t take credit cards. It’s hard to find what you’re looking for.
Overall: Meh. We might go on occasion to get a few super-cheap items if Jenny finds any good sales, but we’ll continue to do our regular grocery shopping at Super Target.
WHEN HARRY MET SALLY…
I hadn’t seen When Harry Met Sally all the way through until now. It raises some interesting issues, so I recommend seeing it.
First, can a man and a woman be just friends? What if the guy finds the girl attractive? What if the girl finds the guy attractive? Would that preclude a casual friendship? What about a deeper friendship? This question particularly interests me because I’m generally more comfortable around girls than guys. I feel like I can be myself more easily around them. As a happily married man who wants to remain happily married, this tendency presents a bit of a problem. I have several friends who are women, some married, others single. Yes, I find some of them attractive. So I make an effort to keep these friendships very transparent, to keep my wife aware of any interaction I have with them, and to avoid being alone with them. Although Jenny isn’t a jealous wife, I want to make sure she never has any reason to wonder.
Second, the whole faking-it thing. Since my family reads this and I embarrass them enough already with this site, I just have one thing to say: Ladies, don’t fake it. You both lose.
Third, why is it so hard to communicate directly? One thing I liked about Harry is that he could be very direct when he wanted to be, such as during their road trip to New York. Unfortunately, he spent much of the movie choosing to speak obtusely because he was afraid of having a real relationship. It wasted time for both Harry and Sally. Sure, it did allow them to grow up and build a solid friendship, which is the best foundation for a dating relationship and a marriage, but in typical rom-com style, it led to unnecessary drama. I respect directness. Don’t make me guess what you’re really thinking and feeling.
The Good: Interesting dialogue, good performances, fun lines, and The Scene is priceless.
The Bad: It’s still a somewhat formulaic romantic comedy, if you can call that a negative.
Overall: Thumbs up!
THE HURT LOCKER
The Hurt Locker was the lowest-grossing Best Picture winner in history, so I never heard much about it until Oscar time. Intrigued by the awards, and a sucker for a good war movie, I watched it with my bros last week.
The Good: Great acting, an interesting premise (following a bomb squad around Iraq), good music, stuff blows up
The Bad: Shaky, grainy camera work, little character development, no clear direction for the story
Overall: Pretty good, but not even close to best picture (Inglourious Basterds got robbed).