It’s interesting how movie dynamics, plot, and predictability change according to real-life technologies and idioms. Well, sometimes it’s just plain annoying.

Is it just me, or is it becoming far too easy for screenwriters to give us convenient tension by creating cell phone problems? A cell phone that has worked without problem the entire movie will lose its signal at a crucial moment when there is no time to lose. The “low battery” signal flashes, only to have the hero or heroine mutter “damn“, before throwing it aside and moving on to the next idea - at a time in the film when a simple call could have fixed everything.

We’re coming up on the cold weather season, when evening walks are replaced with evening features on the couch with a nice glass of wine, and movie similarities will stand out much more obviously now that I have time to scrutinize them. Not that I’m a critic, no one understands the meaning of “escapism” more than I do, but really. This is getting ridiculous!

The only real effective use I’ve seen of this technique is the movie “Cellular”, in which our hero discovers he is about to drive under a bridge and will lose his signal, which means death to the woman on the other line, who he does not know. What makes this scene effective (and original) is that the tension comes from him realizing the impending loss of signal, rather than use the signal loss as the tension itself (in fact, it’s one of the better scenes of the movie, in which he does a 360 180 in the middle of busy downtown traffic).

Another reason Cellular stands out is creating an entire scene revolving around a dying (not dead) battery, in which he robs a cellular store to buy a new battery (which he pays for!).

For most other movies, this tactic of reception or batteries dying at the worst possible time seems to be a warning sign of lazy screenwriting? or is it just me?

Art imitates life; what a sign of the times, in which cell phones that annoy us so much in real life now can annoy me just as much in film?

On Friday, October 13th, Matt and I celebrated our five-year anniversary. Our wedding day was a BLAST, in traditional Matt and Jess style, much goofiness ensued.

Of course, all the goofiness ensued *after* we worked out the issues of getting married on a Naval base one month after 9/11. Two weeks before the wedding, they announced the base was closed to civilians due to “high alert” and relocated our wedding down the street. Then, after I called all the vendors and was *just* about to send out notices to the guests, they moved it back.

The limo had to snake through the Jersey barriers and armed guards, and the cake got detained at the gate for a few hours because it was being delivered in an unmarked truck.

Of course, at that point, people were still trying to remember how to laugh and smile, so I think we all needed a good celebration.

I’d love to live my wedding day all over again. But, in the meantime, I get to be happy every day with my husband. I’m the luckiest woman I know.

We also decided to surprise each other with very special anniversary gifts. We’ve been together for 12 years, and finally the man has learned to relax! He’s been enjoying cigars lately, so thanks to Greyhawk’s advice, I was able to get him a beautiful humidor and a bunch of cigars to start with.

As for my gift, Matt sent me on a treasure hunt around the house with clues. It ended at a stunning gift - a custom engraved Whalen shift knob. Doug Whalen is a machine engineer who is world famous for amazing craftsmanship in his custom shift knobs. They are 18 ounces, which are very heavy. This means that the gear just seems to find it’s own way into the right place.

It’s crafted so well, that the shifter just clicks into place solidly. I’m so lucky to have one, and not only that, Matt worked with Doug to create a custom bead-blasted finish that has my Solace logo on it.

Thanks Matt, I love you!

MINI of Peabody held their second annual OctoberFAST event, which was a blast again. Great friends, great weather, great food.

Here’s my autocross friend Audra tearing it up on the course who also happens to be part of Pixie Posse Racing with me (more on that later). That’s me as a passenger, hanging on!
(photo courtesy of blalor)

Here’s my friend’s car on three wheels with tires smoking. I got a chance to drive this around the course, and got my best time with him. The license plate appropriately, “MR HYDE”.

(photo courtesy of snid)