I Don't Always Eat Out

Someone asked me recently if I ever stay at home to eat and although he was really just teasing me about the frequency with which I dine out, let's be clear here: I do eat at home. Occasionally. Like last night, although a friend had offered to cook for me, so while I did my dining here, I didn't have to actually do anything besides open the wine. Does that still count as eating at home if no effort on my part is involved?

It turned out that my friend is a another oddball who, like me, has never seen Raiders of the Lost Ark, so we celebrated our intentional oversight by going to the Byrd Theater to see Up in the Air. I found the movie's themes interesting (being attracted to someone like yourself can backfire on you) and a bit close to home still (endless scenes of people being given the packet and laid off), but satisfactory in that life isn't always as neatly wrapped up as we might hope for.

Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings' version of the folk classic, This Land is Your Land, behind the opening credits was an incredibly soulful version of a song I actually remember having to sing in music class in elementary school. Not to get off topic here, but do kids even learn about American folk music anymore? I know arts funding in schools has gone down the drain, but I remember how stoked we were as kids to be singing music from the not-too-distant 60s; maybe it was even part of my origins as a music geek.

My friend hadn't been to the Byrd in literally years, and it's always enjoyable to experience something so familiar with fresh eyes. Those seats, though! I try to support every benefit they do for the Byrd Theater Foundation just in hopes of someday being able to watch a film without squirming around in my seat in search of the least uncomfortable position. Luckily, Milk Duds make up for just about anything at the Byrd.

They can even count as dessert when I do eat dinner at home. Just don't look for it to happen again anytime soon.