The List: #84- Go to a Drive-In Movie

We finally got to cross something off! I mean really this took way too long to cross something off my List in my opinion. With everything shut down there for a while of course you're not going to be able to do anything to cross anything off. Something finally did open and I got to go and enjoy!

#84: Go to a Drive-in Movie

I know you are thinking "how in the world has this woman never been to drive-in? Really she is a movie nut". I will explain. I have really got into all movies a about 12 year ago. At that point I didn't know Drive-ins were still around. I found out that there was one in Rockwood, TN about 10 years ago but that's about a hour away from here to drive for a drive-in movie. My mom was not about to allow that. Well, life happened, I got busy, and that drive-in has since closed. However, I found out not long after that one closed, I found out that Maryville, TN has a drive-in. That's about 30 minutes away from me so I could make that. The reason I didn't go? I forgot about it/ too busy to drive there/ I didn't know how busy it was every week. I didn't want to drive all that way just for it to be sold out. 

That all changed this past Friday. I have been signed up for Parkway Drive-In's newsletter for the last couple of years. They have been opened for about a month now, but since no movies were being release, they haven't been showing anything new. They have been showing some classics. I got the email that they were doing Spaceballs this weekend and I told myself it was worth it to try and go. 

It was great/ chaotic for me. I had surgery at the beginning of the month that I am still recovering from. I had a cyst removed from my tailbone, so sitting in anyway has been challenging and uncomfortable. However, I am almost healed so I figure that I could try to make it through. I sat in some very odd positions to get comfortable but I made it! Then there is my car. My car, is not a peak performance. It's got no air condition, not automatic locks or windows, and it dies after 20 minutes if the engine is not running. Oh, and my headlights have no off switch so day lights are constantly running unless the car is totally off.

So, how in the world did I make it happen? Well, I had to leave my car running the whole time I was there, thankfully nothing squeaks while my engine is on so it didn't disturb anyone. I remembered, thankfully, that my head lights do go off if I have the emergency break on. Also, it was such a cool and breezy night that no air conditioning was required! There could not have been a better night to go to a drive-in! 

Parkway does a double feature every weekend so in addition to the comedic classic that is Mel Brooks' Spaceballs, they also played Dracula: Dead and Loving It. Which I had never seen before. Honestly, I wasn't sure if I was going to stay for that one cause it was already 11pm by the time the first movie was over and I wasn't sure if I wanted to be out till 2am driving home. I am glad that I did stay because the movie was hilarious!

Now, I am not sure if I am going to be able to make it to the drive-in again anytime soon, I am actually busy the next several weekends, but I will totally go back! That was an experience that I enjoyed and looking forward to doing again. Hopefully, it will be more comfortable once I am recovered!

No Place Like Movies at Home: Step Lively

The last of the younger years of Frank Sinatra has come. Thankfully, it's a much better than the last film of his that we saw. This sweet movie, from 1944, is a little slice of comedic heaven.

When you are are actor, director, or writer, the best place you want to be is on Broadway. However, for Gordon Miller's acting troupe that isn't happening any time soon. Trying to keep his company fed, and with a bed underneath them at night he has to turn to his smarts, and his trickery, to keep them going. However, he is running out of rope and it's quickly beginning to tie around his neck. Everything changes with Glen Russell (Sinatra) comes through the door. An Author himself, he is trying to get back the money he already paid Miller for a play he wrote or sue him. In the process of fending off Russell, and trying to wow a potential backer, while keeping the hotel manager off his heels, Miller finds gold. With no money, five days time, and one final shot of everything coming to rosy, Miller gets the chance to put on his play. Thanks to a little luck and the golden voice of Frank Sinatra.

Now, as any good fan of Frank Sinatra would know, this is still a bit of a cry from what we know of Mr. Sinatra's classic film work that we know of today. Yet, of the these past five movies that I have seen this is the one with the most promise. He really shows off his comedic timing really well and it starts to show him as more than "the shy boy next door" type. The next set of five movies are classic films that he is better known for. We still have several films of his after those five.  

Jack of All Trades: May

So, the month of May was crazy. Things started to open back up some here, but lots of stuff are still from from opening. With things closed lots of volunteering places still are not fully operational. Or really open to having people come and help them. Now that we are allowed to have like 50 people in the same place more are coming back to life. 

So, at the beginning of the month I got to see where I could help cause most things were not happening on the weekends. So, I had to ask of off work in order to volunteer. I ended up going to help out at Second Harvest Food Bank. 

They had one very simple tat that they need help with every week and that is sending out thank you letters for the donation that they are getting. I know that Second Harvest is a huge operation, and they sever thousands in the community, and that they have lots of supporters. However, I severely under estimated how many people are helping them financially every day! I sat in a room with two other people for three hours we put hundreds of letter into envelopes to send to people. The letters were all thank you letters of people who have donated within that week! It was really incredible to see. 

This is not the most interactive volunteering job that I found this year however, it's not about doing something outrageous it's simply about helping out. 

For more information about Second Harvest Food back just follow the link below:

 https://secondharvestetn.org/

No Place Like Movies at Home: The Kissing Bandit

It's been a minute. I am back with another Sinatra film to go over. Trust me this one is going to be quick!

Released in 1948, The Kissing Bandit follows a young man's move to the wild west and inadvertently follows in the footsteps of his father. He becomes the famous Kissing Bandit, a man who robs you and leaves the girls swooning in his wake. 

Ok, I really did love this move when I first watched it like 10 years ago. However,  I got very bored very quickly. There is a reason that this is not one of Sinatra's most memorable movies. I think that For someone, like me back then, who was getting into Mr. Sinatra's films this one was fun to watch. However, after seeing what kind of an actor he really is, this movie no longer holds the candle that it once did. So far this is my least favorite films of his... however, we have many more to go before I make that  final statement.