Standing here solidly on my own two hands and going crazy

Weekend in review

We've had a busy weekend, which isn't exactly new. But this time, we actually had a little fun!

Friday I had a killer migraine, so it was dinner courtesy of Papa John's. As much as I hate dealing with these headaches, at least I didn't have to worry about dirty dishes or clean-up! We also (finally) got around to watching A Very Long Engagement.

Saturday was better. Alex was going to his very first birthday party!

We did some shopping, buying the birthday girl a present, as well as a brand-new backpack for Alex (Batman!). We came home, got ready, and headed to the party.

The birthday party was for the daughter of our former pet trainer. She's about seven months older than Alex. They've played together (or, been in the same room, playing) before, so we thought it would be a good time. It was being held in the rec center of their church, with about fifteen families, and twenty kids, invited.

We arrived promptly, wished the birthday girl many happy returns, exchanged pleasantries with her mother, and sat down.
There were three or four kids playing down the far end of the room (imagine a middle or elementary school gymnasium); there were balls of all sorts to play with.
We kept asking Alex if he wanted to go play with the others, but he wasn't interested. He sat with us at a table for some time, finally getting up and playing catch (or his version: I'm really going to have to teach that boy how to throw a ball) with Matt. He really wasn't that interested in playing with the other kids, and we didn't push it.

However...

The rest of the revellers were made up, mostly, of parishioners from this church. You know? Good, church-going folk.

Matt and I sat there, at a table...near others, the entire length of the party, and Not One Single Person Spoke To Us.

I'm not kidding. For the most part, the others didn't even make eye contact.

This. This really makes me angry.

See, I come from a fairly religious background. I've been through two religions, to be precise. And the reason I now consider myself to be a non-practicing believer?

The people IN the church.

I am truly angry. So angry, I apologize in advance for the rambling prose which may very well follow.

See, the people in my church...or rather, my parent's church, were all about 'welcome to our church/religion', on the outside. But what I noticed, when someone new walked through those doors...unless they were dressed in the finest clothes and carried an air of importance; well, aside from the initial greetings, no one paid attention to the newbies.

My fellow church goers were so full of piety, of how devout and God-following they were, they didn't see what asses they'd become.

When I was old enough to break free, I stopped attending.

So, here we were, surrounded by good church people, not looking at all Satanic to my knowledge, and treated like lepers. I smiled as people went by, made appreciative noises towards their children (you know, 'oh, isn't she cute'), but we were routinely avoided.

People would actually push themselves in Front of us, to chat with someone else. It was...horrid.

Many years ago, I discovered that it's not a person's faith that causes problems with others, but rather their religion.

Whatever a person believes, Christianity, Buddism, LDS, Catholicism...that core belief is rarely the point of contention. Instead, it's the organized religion enveloping the faith.

We left as soon as it was politely possible, and I had this almost juvenile-like need to rebel!

I changed the radio station from Oldies to Classic Rock, which just happened to be having a Heavy Metal weekend...I cranked up the volume as loudly as I could without distracting Matt's driving, turned off the A/C, and rolled down the window...so I could jam and release some steam!

Anyway; the party was kind of a bust, for all of us.

But, Alex was then dropped at his grandparent's house, toting his new backpack. He was spending the night, so Matt and I could have a few hours...alone...together.

With our son happily playing with magnets in their kitchen, we headed out for a light dinner at Panera Bread Company...and just as we pulled out of the driveway, Def Leppard came on the radio! It was perfect...just what I needed.

(oh...I forgot to mention: I was lamenting to Matt that I'm such a straight-laced good girl, there weren't many ways for me to 'rebel'. I said that I wished I was at a rock concert, and could take off my top...not that I'd actually do something like that. Then, I thought, what the heck? So I did. In the car. Flash! Off. Flash! On again. Boy, was I in a mood...)

So, Panera for yummy sandwiches and drinks (I had D'Peach Mode, by Jones Soda), then off to see A History Of Violence! Yes, I got to see a film during it's opening weekend.

Except, we didn't go right to the movie.

Due to scheduling conflicts, the earliest showing we could get was the 9:50. We were done eating by just after eight...what were we going to do for almost two hours!?

Matt has often told me there's nothing to do in Knoxville. Not that I doubted him, but Saturday night I had proof.

Everything closes between eight and nine! We killed about half an hour by driving to the cineplex (or whatever it's supposed to be called) and purchasing our tickets. But we still had an hour and a half to waste.

Even if I wanted to roam the mall...and I very much didn't...it would be closed in less than thirty minutes. The few shops we liked were closed, or in the process of doing so.

We don't drink/smoke/party, so there was no way were going to a bar.

So how did we kill that much time? We went grocery shopping.

Oh, yes...we are so boring.

Grabbed a cart, and wandered the aisles of Kroger for almost an hour...and managed to walk away having spent only $35.00! Only we would think grocery shopping a good way to enjoy a night out...

As for the film?

Oh, my. Fantastic. Just brilliant.

The violence was less...violent, I suppose, than it was frightening. Kind of 'oh!', when it occurred. And despite the name, there isn't that much.

The much-talked about sex scenes were good, without being nearly as graphic as I'd heard. Then again, I understand the version shown at Cannes and the Toronto Film Festival is not the same one we're seeing in the States.

But really, really good movie. Everyone was perfectly cast, giving amazing performances.

All in all, an ok night. I shouted along to some rock 'n roll, which helped me get over the antics of some stupid people. I had a good meal, saw a good movie.

Oh, and by the way? Piety makes me puke.