tina tuesday with ... michael rooker!

Here he is, arriving with aplomb to save the day!

Someone had fallen into the pit of a sand gobbler and was moments away from being -

I don't know, stung to death? rendered limb from limb? swallowed whole? web wrapped? - 

killed in some fashion.

Then Clyde came to his aid, throwing down a rope and hauling his silly self up to safety.

Hooray!

And just how on Earth had that hapless person found himself in such dire distress?

Surely, in a post-apocalyptic world overrun with overgrown insects and toads he would know to watch his step, n'est-ce pas?

Well, he was busy writing in this book that Clyde is reading now.

Yes, I said writing in his journal... 

while walking on unfamiliar land...

he might as well have been texting on a cell phone on a busy street.

Clyde was pretty impressed with the cataloguing the 24-yo had done, granting him passage with them for several days and teaching him some life-saving tips along the way.

Then the boy-child had been cut loose to continue his quest for the one who had been his teen love.

Clyde and Minnow veered off for their goal, the mountains.

Boy pondered going with that duo, but decided to stay with the one who had his former owner's dress.

Good dog!

 

That saga of "Love And Monsters" was again at the Royal of Pooler, again on a Tina Tuesday, but the focus was on the man who portrayed Clyde.

Michael Rooker was 64 years old when this 2020-debut movie was made last year.

In many of films, he plays a bad guy, but not here.

Rough and tumble, sure, but with a good heart.

I first fell for that quality in him in 2014, in ""GOTG" - my second feature tonight. 

Yes, yes, I am well aware that this is my third viewing of "Guardians Of The Galaxy" in less than a week.

Yes, yes, I realize that there are other movies out there that I have not yet seen (and may not, as they are typical dreary fall releases looking for Oscar).

Yes, yes, I intend to see it again if it is carried over for Thanksgiving week.

However, tonight was all about one man.

Yes, yes, one man on the silver screen was at the focus of my attention!

Yondu Udontu was that one man -

the one Ravager with the crooked teeth and big grin on his expressive blue face -

the one scavenger in that universe who well knew his place there -

the one who could command the attention of all just by pulling aside one edge of his leather long-coat.

As Rocket would say...

ohhhh... yeahhhh.

That was certainly what I said when he appeared in that scene!

He was on Zandar, facing down a dirty dozen bad guys, and he pulled back both sides of his wild-west duster, puckered up, and released his flying quill of death to write the doom of his assailants.

In less time than it has taken to write these words, the faceless Necron were falling in a synchronized ballet to the ground, dead.

What a thing of beauty that was!

And what a delight that the man 

knows how to whistle!

That form of mouth music has been such a joyous part of my life since I learned how to do it from Daddy!

How very wonderful to have it highlighted in this favorite movie!

And how fabulous to know that this fierce man has a soft spot for tchotchkes, too -

like I do!

His look breakable whereas mine are rubber ducks, but all look whimsical for one young at heart!

My many thanks to the Royal Cinema for giving me a place to meet my man of the evening.

My many thanks for providing two screening rooms (and the distraction of "Freaky" for others).

My many thanks to the Universe for arranging these two movies to be available on this same evening that is special to me.

Right place, right time.

i thank You, God.

hanging out with my peeps!

 "Get out, get out, get out even more, Faustina!
Because there are people you've yet to meet,
laughs you've yet to share,
stories you've yet to live,
and riches you've yet to tap,
that will not find you under any other circumstances.
See you there,
  The Universe
Besides, Faustina, how else can I shower you with surprises?"

 

LOL!

That was the message in my email at 3:44 this morning! 

Surely it was already known that I had plans already for each night!

Just in case others needed to know, I popped to fb.

"I am sooooo thrilled!!!
"Guardians of the Galaxy" is back in the cinemas!
Plus, "Flash Gordon" is, too!!!
I'll be seeing that one at the Classic 11 on Sunday at 4 PM - I already have my ticket!
I also already have my ticket for a new movie, "The Climb", on Saturday at 5:45 PM at Classic 11 - looks like fun!
I plan to see "Freaky" at that cinema, too, in the BigD, tonight at 8:30 PM!
Please join me - 

'twould be lovely to see folks I know and love at these safe environments!"

I meant every word of it, too!

Did I see anyone I knew at either cinema these three days?

Nope, they all have cabin fever from fear of post-election COVID spikes. 

Not I, my dearies!

I was off to see folks I know and love!

First visit was with my "Guardians Of The Galaxy" misfits of whom I am exceeding fond!

Star-Lord, Rocket, Drax, Gamora, and Groot were imprisoned and just about to plot a jail break.

They weren't friends yet with each other, but that was soon to come.

After all, they had something in common - and with me, too!

(smile!)

Then I bounced from midtown to southside -

the Big D was awaiting my presence and there was plenty of "Freaky' going on!

Hahahaha! Hahaha!

Actually, if not for the presence of Vince Vaughn, I doubt I would have been there, but I trusted him to make sure the ride wasn't too rough.

And look who he had as a special surprise!

It's Alan Ruck, my "your name is beautiful" guy!

Woohoo! Oh, yeah!!!

So, Friday the 13th was set for sweet dreams!

(smile!)

Saturday dawned and I was ready to ride!

Back to the AMC Classic 11 with my bad self for "The Climb"!

I really hadn't known much about this except it looked like a good movie about a friendship between two men... and it was, so good call on that one!

Not that it was all lovey-dovey, as it certainly was not.

That's because one of the guys was an alcoholic that continually made bad choices and the other was an enabler who persevered in staying his friend no matter what.

They were both likeable fellows, though, so the movie worked.

I liked that the two who wrote the screenplay were the two playing the leads, with one of those directing as well.

What to do next with myself?

Off to midtown for a little "Girls Trip" in New Orleans!

Surprisingly, I was the only one who had bought a $5 ticket for it -

not just for that screening, but at all.

That was a shocker!

Still, the foursome was there for me and we had a blast!

Plus, there was that fabulous speech at the end.

"I know that there are a lot of us who stay in bad relationships because we have convinced ourselves that being disrespected is better than being alone. But we shouldn’t fear being alone, because there is power in rediscovering your own voice, and I had forgotten that. I forgot that years before [this relationship] I was ... a girl with her own ambitions and her own dreams. But luckily, my girls, my girls reminded me of that. They reminded me of my own worth. And that there was a time that I didn’t fear anything. No one has the power to shatter your dreams unless you give it to them. And I refuse to give anyone that power again. If anything, I hope that me revealing my truth inspires you to realize your own. Thank you for listening."

Right place, right time.

Thank you all for those empowering words!

Not ready yet for my Saturday night to end, I looked up some of my peeps, On Demand - and there that TBBT bunch were, waiting on me!

Howard was celebrating the one-year anniversary of his first date with Bernadette, so he'd written a song for her and arranged for Sheldon, Amy, Leonard, Penny, and Raj to sing back-up.

Then Bernie got put into quarantine when the container of raccoon-origin human-killing coronavirus she worked with had broken.

What to do about the special occasion for the couple?

Well, when you're a bunch of nerdy, hopeful, romantics like them - 

and like me, too! - 

you bring on "The Romance Resonance" anyway!

I watched that segment five times - I did!

I do so love hanging out this these folks!

Sunday dawned, a bit crisper than Saturday had been, but my heated mattress pad had kept me comfy cozy all night!

"CBS Sunday Morning" gave me the love story of Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell, who have to be one of my dearest, and favorite, Hollywood couples!

(All those commas are sprinkled like confetti for you, my first niece!)

I'm so glad I saw them in "Swing Shift", where their 37-year romance began!

They even talked about that on the tv show today - very nice!

I could tell when I watched it - like I had for Geena and Jeff a few weeks ago - that they were in love.

Goldie and Kurt said the secret is "wanting to be together" - wise words!

Soon enough it was time to bounce out into the world!

 

Today, a "good triumphing over evil" double header was being played for my benefit!

"Flash Gordon" - that's him sans shirt - first had to battle Barin at Vultan's keep, with Dale and Zarkov bearing witness.

By the end of the match, they have all teamed together to defeat Emperor Ming...

and they win, of course!!!

And I got to see the fine body of the one-time Playgirl centerfold - definite win!
 

The bottom half of that doubleheader was being played at Classic 10, so off I sped for another round with my space-faring peeps.

I'm talkin' 'bout those "GOTG" orb-chasers -

that bunch of 'losers' just like me -

people who have lost ones they loved.

Here, they were setting out to defeat evil after discovering their strength as a ragtag bunch...

accompanied by music, naturally, because life - and adventure, especially - should have a soundtrack.

(smile!)

See y'all again on Tuesday at the Royal of Pooler!

I'll be having myself another romance for Tina Tuesday -

and this time it's a double feature with Michael Rooker.

Oh, yeah, baby!

(smile!)

sorry to have bothered you

"Are you talkin' to me?"

Well, yeah, I am. And I'm telling you that those were the last words the psychologist said to me.

"And just when was that? Are y'all already talking politics again?"

No, we are not, or rather he is not to me. He said those exact words, almost sotto voce, last Saturday. He had called to tell me about the election results in one of the states, then he made the mistake of saying "but they still have to..." That's when I lost it. I mean, really?! He has that little concern for me that he would choose to discuss such things when I had specifically asked him not to until everything had been finalized? That's what I told him, too, in those exact words. And that's when he muttered "sorry to have bothered you" and hung up.

"Wow." 

Yeah, that was my reaction, too.

"And, what is going on now?"

Beats me. He has blocked my calls and texts and has blocked me on fb. 

"You have got to be kidding..."

I wish I was, but it's true. And knowing the bfrb as I do, and knowing that course of action to be his modus operandi for dealing with women who vex him, I completely believe that he's done so. Rather than discuss the matter with me at a future date and work toward apologies on both sides - him for breaking the agreement with me, me for yelling and talking over him - he has closed and nailed shut all doors. Well, all save one. I still have his address and have that avenue of communication available.

"Wow."

I admit, raising my voice at him was a bit over the top. I guess that was me still upset with him from our last dinner the night before. I had told him, in plain English, that I didn't want to talk politics, especially not anything to do with the recent election. He had looked at me, dumbfounded, and then said, "then what else is there to talk about?"

"What an idiotic thing to say.  As long as y'all have known each other, and as much as you're discussed over the years, what a truly silly thing for him to say."

That's essentially what I replied. Then I'd given him a list of other topics of conversation and started in on one of the topics. Honestly, it was a pretty one-sided talk over dinner, with me going off on tangents and him not saying much of anything and acting rather petulant. He then feigned a headache and begged off after we found out the cinema had not received the Bond movie.

"Yeah, I know well how he can be when he doesn't get his way. I'm sure he absolutely could not understand why you would not relent and let him dominate."

I'm sure you're right. I have been asserting myself more of late, rather than subjugating my needs and plans for his. Or for anyone else's.

"And that's as it should be, dear. In fact, I'm sure that's the advice he would give to any other female friend, to stand up for herself and not allow herself to be browbeaten into doing things she doesn't want to do."

(Sigh.)

"Hey, it'll be okay, you'll see. After all, you are his dear Aunt Tina and he has told you that you give him more support than all the rest of his family combined."

Yes, that is true, he has said that, and recently, too. After all, he had even included me in his AA anniversary meeting. He's certainly never done that before.

"Exactly."

Still, he has had to deal with a lot of changes this year. Yet another new company has taken over and made big changes to his work hours. Rather, they are making him stick to the scheduled five-day, forty-hour, work week, which he has not adhered to for at least two years. He had finagled his hours around, putting in ten hours Monday through Thursday, so on Friday he could work just in the morning. Not so any more.

"So that cut into his working out schedule, didn't it? I'm sure he was none too happy about that."

Absolutely correct. But more than that, they showed him he wasn't special. He has to follow the same rules as everyone else that works on post.

"Ack. I caught that bit about not 'special'. I know he thought he'd beat the system."

Yes he did.

But work isn't the only area of change in his life. His renter has a steady beau who has stayed over quite a bit and that has really had him vexed. That's because his dating life has gone to hell in a handbasket. He may get two dates with the same fish before she's out of the boat. Then he has to go back to square one, cutting bait and getting busted lines.

"Well, we are in a year of pandemic. He realizes that, right? Right?"

He says he does, but I have my doubts. I've let him know I'm not keen about his risking my health just so he can get laid. Well, not using those exact words, but close enough that he'd have to be obtuse to not catch my drift.

"Yeah, I have to wonder just how many one-and-done dates there may have been that he hasn't told you about."

Well, he's signed up for a year of letting eHarmony find his dates, but he's still out there fishing. This latest one has been on five - that's right, a big old five - dates with him and I strongly suspect they had sex last week. He sent me a text message meant for her, so that's why I suspect he and she have hooked up, literally and figuratively. She's a shrink, too, and she's working in the prisons, so they have that in common. She's also a little older, I think, as she has a kid in his 20's and another in his late teens.

"I see. That also explains why he has pulled a vanishing act on you. That's what he always does when he gets sex - I mean, serious - with a woman."

Very true, but that may only be partly the reason this time. In addition to changes at work and changes in dating, he's had major changes in his family, too. His 'good' sister has abandoned her husband and their daughter, opting to have an affair and get divorced. There's a complication concerning a house that they lived in, but that is on the parents' property. Plus, the bear's mom has had a cancerous mole removed from her back and further treatment is required.

"Wow. Those are all major changes. And they're happening to a guy who doesn't do well with change and may be as big a control freak as you are."

That may be true, though you have to admit I'm a huge control freak.

"That you are. Just do me a favor, eh?"

What's that? Leave him be and let him be the one to make the next move?

"Yeah. I know your penchant for trying to make things right, but this is something only he can make right. You can't fix broken for someone else, only for yourself. Remember?"

Yeah, I hear you talkin'.

"Well, you better be doing more than just hearing me. You better be listening, too."

Yes, ma'am. I will leave him be.

"Good girl. Now, it's Fabulous Friday! The cinema has your beloved "Guardians Of The Galaxy" so go and enjoy those guys for your date night!"

Yes, ma'am! Color me g...o...n...e!

(smile)

the only choice he has

The media seems to be making a big deal about the post-election actions of the Republican candidate.

It's as if the press, the telecasters, and the radio news folk have not paid one whit of attention to the incumbent President's modus operandi for these four years.

He always makes the worst possible choice and he is always very loud about it.

Always.

The man knows on which side his bread is buttered and he aims to keep it that way.

Playing second fiddle is not something he does.

To graciously accept the election results is unacceptable.

If he were to do so, his legion of fans would riot in the streets, refusing to believe that he had lost, causing rifts in families and coworkers.

No, his only recourse was the one he took: to rush to claim fraud and bring forth lawsuits against several states.

That action limited any vitriol to that of the people in those limited areas.

Which states?

Well, Pennsylvania, for one.

The margin for the Democrat's win was rather small (49.8% to his 49.0%), representing just over 54,000 voters choosing blue rather than red.

So, what is the incumbent doing?

He's filing suit because three thousand  voters may not have verified their identity before election day.
It's as if the math doesn't matter.

Even if all 3000 were to be subtracted from the tally for the Democrat, the incumbent Republican would still lose by 51,000 votes.

The incumbent also has an issue with about 10,000 absentee ballots which he says shouldn't count (for either party, apparently) because they arrived after election day, though still within the deadline issued by the Pennsylvania voting officials (who have graciously set aside those votes until the feathers stop flying).

Again, it's as if the math doesn't matter.

The lawsuit also alleges lack of access for the poll watchers.

Not that Pennsylvania is the only state fielding that bit of frivolity, as the same charge was leveled at Michigan.

(Get that joke? I bet Ted Nugent would!)

The suit doesn't question the numbers (50.5% pro-Democrat, 47.9% Republican) which are quite clear that more than 148,000 voters chose "the other old white male" on their ballots.

So, the one lone bullet in that lawsuit is a dud.

(Still didn't get the joke? Maybe phone a friend?)

(Yes, I have to joke to keep from losing my mind about politics in general and this election in particular.)

Due to the scatter shot, even Georgia has been hit with a lawsuit over the proceedings of November 3.

Allegedly, someone thought they might have seen fifty ballots stuffed into a questionable pile.

As the incumbent lost by more than 14,000 votes (49.5% Democrat to 49.2% Republican), surely those fifty would make all the difference...

if the math didn't matter.

Regardless of the pending lawsuit from the incumbent, the closeness of the race has warranted a manual recount by Georgia's voting officials. Results are not due to be released until November 20 (more than a week away).

Not that these three states were the only ones sued by the current President.

Oh, no.

Arizona is a thorn in his side, too, as is Nevada.

The election result percentages for the former are very similar to those of Georgia, with a slightly smaller margin (just over 11,000 votes).

The latter's election result percentages are very much like those of Michigan, but with a much smaller margin of votes choosing the victor (not quite 37,000 more pro-Democrat than pro-incumbent).

How will these lawsuits play out?

It doesn't matter.

Truly.

It is a last gesture on the part of the incumbent, one meant to reassure his peeps that he did all he could.

After all, if he loses his credibility with them, he's going to have a lot of idle time on his hands after he departs the White House.

No lecture circuits, no graduation speeches to give, no biographies wanted.

Good thing he has his own golf grounds to keep him busy.

So, why have I not uttered his name during this post?

Everyone already knows who the man is.

If I were to say a name, I'd rather say "Beetlejuice" ....

and say it three times, thanks.

Now, to wait until November 20 for Georgia's final results.

Maybe I'll watch "Battle In Seattle" to distract myself from this current morass.

At least it has Charlize Theron in it - she's definitely a more likable blonde.

veterans day, pandemic style

"This was taken during the last week or so of USN boot camp, Feb 1977, in Orlando.
See my moles on my cheeks?
Nah, the photographer "cleaned them off", 

not realizing they were supposed to be there.
LOL!"

After posting this to fb, I set out to see what the universe had in store for me today.

First up was a "Parking Lot Party" at Texas Roadhouse!

I had never heard the song, even though it's eight years old.

I guess that's because I rarely listen to country music, now or back then, but I sure understand the concept!

The restaurant had arranged a serpentine path to keep cars moving, even treating us to fresh rolls to keep our energy up - nice!

Even nicer was the coupon for a free meal at the journey's end - a coupon good until June 2021!

Many thanks, y'all!
 

Applebee's was next on my list.

I had intended to dine in, however, that would mean a 45-minute wait.

But, wait!

Due to the pandemic, they were allowing veterans to get their free meal 'to go'!

That's why this Four Cheese Chicken Pasta is on my marble-topped coffee table instead of in situ at the restaurant.

(Plus, there was enough for another meal in the future!)

Many thanks, y'all!

So, why had I chosen to take it home instead of eating there?

My favorite grocery store, Publix, was offering me a ten-percent discount on shopping, that's why.

I bought two gallons of Lactaid milk in addition to quite a bit of dairy products and meat - all needing to stay chilled.

Thanks to the discount, the 10-pack of Peanuts-themed Thanksgiving cards was 'free' - woohoo!

Many thanks, y'all!
 

After that late lunch, I waited until 9 PM to head out for dinner at Chili's -

good timing!

Plenty of open tables for safety.

I had brought some lactase with me so I could order a rare treat: Cajun Chicken Pasta!

I was actually amazed how similar it was to the dish I had at lunch - lol!

I ate every last bite of it, too, even all of the buttered toast.

No leftovers of this feast!

Many thanks, y'all!

And here's a toast to the veterans in my life who are no longer here:

Daddy, in the Air Force;

stepdad Frank, in the Army;

stepbrother George, in the Navy;

Uncle Bob, in the Navy;

Great-Uncle Sam, in the Navy.

And here's another raise of the Henny-rita, to all the veterans I know that are still living - 

I do hope your day has been as blessed as mine!

i thank You, God!

a look back at bananas

While looking through the filing cabinet on my desktop, I ran across this forecast of the upcoming baseball season.

My tickets for the 2020 five-game package had been selected by the bunch of Bananas and held the following games in store for me.

Friday, May 29

Saturday, June 20

Friday, July 3

Friday, July 17

Thursday, July 23

Yeah, that didn't happen.

Once the pandemic came ashore, all the plans flew out the window.

The staff had scrambled to fashion a new season out of the tattered rags.

Every fan (that still wanted to come to the stadium) was given new game dates in the quantity originally purchased...

but no trading tickets for other nights was allowed.

Sure, there was a fan site on fb where that could still be possible, but there would be none of that at the Bananas office.

The slope was already plenty slippery with the new safety regulations to follow.

When the dust cleared, I had no shared games with anyone I knew.

Not with Scott, or either of my brothers.

Not with Gene or Steve or Julie.

Certainly not with Mister Willie, not during a pandemic.

Sigh.

When the first game finally was played, Scott was there...

I was only there to scout it out from beyond the surrounding gates.

My first game to attend wasn't until July 13 - and the boys were so happy to see me that I was granted a rare grand slam - magnificent!

Six days later, on July 19, I had a nearly normal Sunday game, actually running into two friends that I didn't even know were in town.

My game three was on August 8, a Saturday, and although I had been concerned about an overflow crowd, I need not have been. 

The home team was following the rules, keeping the number of fans below 2000 -

in other words, less than half their normal capacity.

What a relief!

August 20th was the penultimate game for me, on a Thirsty Thursday, but almost everyone was behaving, so it was still quite enjoyable.

Perhaps it was because they didn't understand that the season had ended and these were extra games added simply to enhance the fan experience... that is, to make sure everyone got the number of games they'd paid for at the end of last year.

That game, as well as my last one on August 28, was part of the 'breakfast bowl' between the home guys and their nearest rivals in Macon.

Not that only the regular players were on each team - not hardly.

Most of those had returned to online classes at their universities.

However, that opened the door for players of the past to come back and visit.

How very nice to see those familiar faces!

That made for a more satisfying end to our shortened summer session.

So, what's the word, hummingbird?

(smile)

The Savannah Bananas have just taken the second of three payments for the 2021 five-game package I'm purchasing.

I just wonder whether the pandemic will be under control by the opening pitch.

It certainly is not controlled right now, not here in the USA nor elsewhere.

I think China is the lead dog in this race.

Whoever is elected our next President - as it is now seven days since the election and all the votes have not yet been finalized - needs to work with their scientists.

The Chinese definitely know what they're doing.

difficult choices

No, this has nothing to do with the recent election, so if you're looking for political pontification, keep walking.

I may, or may not, espouse on that topic once all results have been tabulated and the voting officials have released the names of the winners in all races.

You didn't think just a President was being elected, did you?

If you're a news addict, then you just might have thought that very thing.

Please seek help.

 

My post concerns two recent movies, one seen some few weeks ago, the other tonight. 

Neither movie had a hero to root for, someone fighting evil and triumphing.

Of course, that may just be my perspective, but let me plead my case.

The first movie was "Unhinged".

That one featured Russell Crowe as a man recently divorced, unemployed, and homeless, taking medication that did not seem to help his mental state.

During the night, he had killed his ex and her lover, finalizing the deed by burning down the house.

A few hours later, it's morning and he's in a trance at a traffic light.

A woman, taking her son to school, gets stuck behind him.

She's going through a divorce and her ex is not cooperating, plus she is one of those people who are perpetually late, a habit that adds to her stress.

At this point, she is not only going to get her son to school tardy and have him go to detention, but she is also standing up a friend who has agreed to to help her navigate through divorce court.

Frustrated by the hand dealt by life and how she has played it, she now finds herself behind a stopped truck at a light changing from yellow to red.

She blasts the car horn and swerves to the right to pass the truck, then continues, albeit very briefly, to the traffic jam ahead.

The truck catches up, of course.

While both are stopped, the driver gets her son's attention and tries to politely get the mother to apologize for her rudeness.

Not only does she refuse to do so, but she compounds her rudeness with more.

Then it's "game on" between the pair, with the boy caught in the middle of the hostilities and collateral damage as others get killed.

Honestly, the boy was the only one worth cheering, as he tried, unsuccessfully, to get his mom to do the right thing and not be a bully to a stranger.

At least this one had a moral:

Be kind to everyone because you do not know the sadness in their world.

Yeah, I'm pretty sure that wasn't the intended message, but that's certainly what I took away from that movie.

As for tonight's movie, watched with Carolyn, I couldn't root for either side.

Both had matriarchs who expected everyone in the family to obey them...

and both were blindly obeyed, as to do otherwise brought unwanted attention.

I had very much looked forward to "Let Him Go", as it starred one of my favorite pairs of actors, Kevin Costner and Diane Lane, made dear to me as Superman's "parents" here on Earth.

I knew they were grandparents in this one, so that was cool.

I knew the movie had been filmed in Montana, so I expected to see grand vistas and so had chosen to see it in BigD.

Very good choice, as the cinematographer clearly loved that lonely land of mountains and desert.

The movie opens with the couple's son dying while riding a horse (shades of Christopher Reeve), leaving them to help raise his infant son.

Then the widow remarries... 

eventually moving away...

and that's when the grandmother's obsession begins.

Sure, she had seen the new husband strike the woman and the boy, but instead of bringing it to anyone's attention, she allowed the thought to fester in her mind.

When the new husband had suddenly moved the family away, the grandmother became determined to go in search of them and to return home with the grandson.

Period.

Grandpa knew how she was, knew that once she set her mind to something nothing could dissuade her.

He goes along with her, hoping for the best, expecting an altercation, surprised to find she'd packed a gun, but still hopeful for a peaceful venture, reminding her that they "are not young" and the child in question is only three years old.

As a retired lawman, he realizes too late that they are in over their heads...

but he stays by her side, as he loves her in spite of her faults.

So, when did he suspect they were in trouble?

When all their inquiries concerning the stepdad of their grandson were met by folks cautioning them to take care in their dealings.

And when did he know for a fact they were in trouble?

When they find out the stepson had been summoned to return by his mother, a woman who had kept her sons close to hand all their lives and was upset that he had run off.

She was also upset that he had married without her approval and now had a step-child in tow.

She reminded me of my first husband's mother, a woman who had not approved of me and had not even come to the wedding, not even meeting me until after our second anniversary - yet, she expected us to live near her in Gresham, Oregon, and give her grandchildren "with the Schiller name".

That had been petty scary and had certainly contributed to the failure of that marriage.

So, we have ultra-controlling matriarchs on both sides, one using passive aggression and the other forthright aggression, and neither willing to bend.

And Grandpa, even after having his right hand chopped by a hatchet, knew his life would be hell if they did not complete their quest, knew the only way to return home was to get his wife what she wanted.

Kevin Costner was excellent, as always, clearly portraying this man trapped between doing the right thing and doing what would bring peace to his woman.

That's because she was still set on her path, even though her actions had led to his being maimed.

If this one has a moral, it may be something like:

Take care that your choices do not cause harm to others.

Yeah, I'm pretty sure that wasn't the intended message, but that's the one I'm going to believe.