Looking UP

Happy Friday and Father's Day Weekend, my friends. Kids have been out of school for a week now and so, my days are all topsy turvy. (Know what I mean, Moms?) Still working, but at odd times and in weird increments.

So anyway, to celebrate the end of school, I took four 10-year-olds to see the movie, Up.

Oh. My.

Cried. my. eyes. out.

Anyone else?

It's an animated story by Disney/Pixar about a 78-year old man who sets off on adventure to faraway lands by tying thousands of helium balloons to his house. He soon learns that he and his house are not alone since, Russell, a wilderness scout, has inadvertantly tagged along.

Okay, so that doesn't sound like a tear-jerker, but it's what happened to Carl before (and after too) that made me cry like a baby. I'm sniffling now just thinking about it.

That's magic, isn't it? When an animated film built on a ridiculously implausible plot can pull both laughter and tears from the audience? (I heard both all around me.)

My brother Mike is an artist/animator for many current films (he just finished The Sorcerer's Apprentice). Maybe someday he and I will create an animated film out of one of my beachy books. How fun would that be?! Lol...

Ah well. It's Friday, and June gloom is hovering over the central coast. Still I'm glad for the change of seasons, the prolific presence of flip flops and board shorts all around, and the release of summer flicks. Hope you have a beachy weekend, my friends ~ wherever you are!