I have been visiting my parents since Monday. Today was the day I was scheduled to depart, but my plans were interrupted by the mother-of-all-March-out-like-a-lion storms. I spent about five hours sitting on two different planes from two different airlines (and rushing from one terminal to another to get on the second plane) until the final resolution was that I am to remain here until Tuesday. I’m fine with this outcome, it is much preferable to being stranded in Ohio. I do miss talking to Daniel as much as I am accustomed to. I should be home in time for bridge on Wednesday night.

A friend of mine strongly suggested that I make a point of seeing the movie, Coraline in 3D. I did so this afternoon and he was right. It had been my intention to get it through Netflix once released on DVD, but the stop motion animation was even more impressive in 3D and the so-called “digital 3D” is not the flimsy technology that I remember from when I was a kid. Just seeing the previews was worth the trip.

The film itself is pretty and dark and really quite enchanting. I already have a good idea for a Halloween costume based on it. A quick note though about this resurgence in 3D, part of my fascination with it is based in the cinematography choices made based on its abilities. Those decisions to utilize the 3D to its full potential is going to have a strong impact on the appearance of the regular two dimensional version. Which is to say, this is a different medium that isn’t simply an “enhanced” version. I think in the future we’ll see films in which the only theatrical release is in 3D.

Last night I ventured out to my first non-lesson bridge game at the club and I played like a complete moron. Later I was seeing bridge hands in my sleep, particularly hands heavy with clubs and being forced to play in hearts because of a temporary but total loss of my wits at a critical junction in the bidding. That’s right, I had bridge nightmares; though sadly they were really only replays of what had actually occurred at the tables. *shudder*

Also, I’d like to note that receiving things in the mail from stamp collectors is a strange experience. Today I received an envelope that had the current 42¢ postal rate applied in two stamps from 1985.

My bridge club’s decor is dominated by card-themed posters, knick-knacks and comic strips. An exception to that rule is the clown painting that presides over the table at which the lessons are conducted. The clown’s hands are raised in front of his chest, fingers splayed; his eyes are pleading. I can not help but imagine that someone is pointing a gun at him.

I can’t say what the official policy on solicitation is in my apartment building, but during the day our doorman is quite gregarious and I rather doubt he keeps anyone out, even those bearing fliers. The result is that it is not an uncommon occurrence for me to find menus from Chinese restaurants, photocopies of scrawled adverts from dry cleaners and sundry other pieces of paper shoved under my door.

Today what I found was a business card from a cleaning service — a tri-color professional looking business card that gave me a woman’s name, notice that they use their own products and a phone number with the proviso that “Prices are discussed;” which makes me think that when one calls that number one will be forced to actively participate in a discussion of pricing whether one wants to or not. More baffling still was the line of text that appeared at the bottom of the card, “REMEMBER: cleaning makes you happy!” which isn’t really true and isn’t a very good motto for such a business in any event.