In Which I See a Bad, Bad Movie

I'm on my way to meet Kevin & Kirsten to see Van Helsing.

I slept 'til almost 11:30 today -- I must have been very tired indeed.  I certainly feel pretty refreshed.  Certainly more so than I have in quite a while.

Today has turned out to be a bit cooler than that for which I'd prepared.  It's quite nice in the sun, but the problem is that the sun comes and goes, and when it goes the grey is very cool.  I'm wearing shorts, but the cool air on my legs isn't bothering me so much as the wind cutting through my sweater and t-shirt.

I'm sure you really needed to know that, huh?

I've moved to Union Square, where I have about half an hour before I have to meet the Lagemæ.  This is a pretty amazing place, I think.  It must be somewhere near an extended-care facility for the physically or mentally challenged, because there are always damaged people roaming the park -- supervised or not.

And, of course, since it's pretty centrally located, it's a great place for all the collected weirdoes, alcoholics and crazy homeless folk in the lower half of Manhattan to congregate.

Another thing I love about is that it isn't far from NYU -- so there are always students with cameras prowling the joint, and kids with easels set up, sketching away and just hanging out.

I suppose what I love best about Union Square is its unflappable sense of constant movement.  A clown just walked by smoking a cigarette and hacking up a lung, and no one even batted an eyelash.

I'm disappointed to report that Van Helsing really, really sucked!  The first credit up at the end crawl was "written & directed by Steven Sommers & dedicated to the memory of my dad."  Well, all I can say is that Mr. Sommers, Sr. is hanging his head in heaven.  "That movie," as Kevin Lageman is wont to say, "makes the Baby Jesus cry."  Our rallying cry is, "I can't get this Van Helstink off me!

What little there was of any value in the move belonged entirely to the sidekick character, who was played by David Wenham, who played Farimir in The Lord of the Rings movies.

The entire thing was just an embarrassment.  It's $10 and two hours of my life I'm never gonna get back.  And I'm not happy about it.