Off to more adventures

Not much time to write this morning, so I'd better get at it.

Despite [URL="http://drdog.vox.com/library/post/on-a-lovely-summer-evening.html"]the local tragedy[/URL] that took place the day before, we visited the Iron Mountain area Friday afternoon and had a good time. I had ordered something for my mom--the manual from the TV in her room (seems she has lost it)--and it arrived in the mail earlier in the day, and I put it near the camera bag so I would be sure to grab it on my way out. But I also wanted to grab jackets because temperatures were supposed to fall into the 50s after sunset. Apparently my pea-size brain couldn't process "Remember TV manual booket" and "Remember jackets" at the same time.

We visited my mom, and I went out to Subway for dinner for all three of us. My mom usually takes half of a six-inch chicken sandwich, and this time she took about half of that half. But she enjoyed our visit--especially since I did remember to bring along the bridge mix she also asked me to bring.

Our subs took care of supper, so the next step was a "surprise" for my wife: We went to the movies. When we got there, I made a point of groaning that "Hellboy II" had closed (a movie that I really did want to see; well, it'll probably be out on DVD in a few months). Then I went with Plan A and got two tickets to see "Mamma Mia."

My wife, a big ABBA fan, knew we were going to see it--I had mentioned it several times as something we'd do sooner or later--so it really was no surprise. So we saw it. It really wasn't anything tremendously profound except on the subject of living life joyously and loving people. I don't want to give the plot away if you plan to see it and haven't yet. But it was full of ABBA music, dance numbers, lots of color and action and Merryl Streep and Pierce Brosnan really singing their parts (ABBA songs, of course). I can see why "Mamma Mia" was such a big hit on Broadway, and they did a great job bringing that excitement to the stage.

So I enjoyed it, and my wife was very happy--she was singing along (softly) to the music next to me. My guess is that DVD will quickly be added to the inventory once it comes out.

Today, we have a new adventure awaiting us. We are going to a Renaissance Fair. They have a one-day Ren Fair in Ishpeming (near Marquette) today, and we're going there. I asked my wife about it, and she said she is much more interested in that than the Wisconsin Valley Fair (and the Herman's Hermits show) tonight. Plus, it's a shorter drive.

I've never been to a Ren Fair. I had wanted to see one this summer, but it got pushed to the back of my mind by the other things we've been doing. Then my wife heard about this one. She gets the credit for that.

In the Wikipedia entry about Ren Fairs, one writer says "If theme parks, with their pasteboard main streets, reek of a bland, safe, homogenized, whitebread America, the Renaissance Faire is at the other end of the social spectrum, a whiff of the occult, a flash of danger and a hint of the erotic. Here, they let you throw axes. Here are more beer and bosoms than you'll find in all of Disney World."

God, I hope this lives up to that description! Since it's in the U.P., which is extremely leery about the occult, danger and especially erotic things, I must remember to have realistic expectations.

We'll see. It's almost time to get in the car and find out for myself.