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On Vacation
- 12/29/10
- 15
I’m on vacation this week—not the kind of vacation where we all jump in the car and drive to warmer parts of the continent, but the kind of vacation that allows me to just stay around the house and do what I love to do—hang out with the family and read good books. I guess they now call this a staycation. I’m on a serious history kick these days, reading biographies and histories of World War 2. Great stuff. As much as I enjoy reading all the Christian books, I still love to read history most of all. Michael Korda’s Hero was a fantastic biography of an eccentric British war hero while Berlin at War is essentially the biography of the city during the Second World War. I’m also slowly working my way through John Keegan’s The Second World War, the first general history I’ve read in quite a few years.
Obviously, unlike my last vacation, this is not a digital vacation like I took last summer where I headed to the middle of nowhere, far away from cell towers and Internet and other trappings of a digital world. But I am trying to be on the computer less, to check email less, and so on. Because that allows me to be more fully present with my family.
Yesterday I took the family to see the movie Tangled in 3D. It was a good one—lots of fun and without all the subtle (or not-so-subtle) adult humor that’s become a part of too many kids’ movies. The 3D was well-done; far better than it was in Up which is, I believe, the last one we saw in 3D. They charged us $10 to see the movie and that price included the glasses. At the end they encouraged us to recycle the glasses so we could do our bit for the environment. I decided to keep mine just out of spite for the prices they charge us. Whenever I go to a movie I find it hard to believe that they can actually convince me to part with $23 in exchange for 2 bags of popcorn and 2 cups of Coke, which all together can’t cost them more than $0.50. It’s depressing.
As for the rest of the week, we really do not have a lot of plans. We’ll mostly just hang around the house, I think, taking it easy. And that sounds awfully good to me.
I am a follower of Jesus Christ, a husband to Aileen and a father to three young children. I worship and serve as a pastor at 
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Comments (15)
I’m thinking of picking up a pair of Gunnar 3D glasses…if only they offered a discount for bringing your own glasses to the theater! BTW, I use Gunnar’s at work to reduce eye strain and mellow the incandescent lights, they work great!
My wife and I went to see Voyage of the Dawn Treader in 3D a couple days ago. We enjoyed it very much, but I can’t say that it was worth the price. The movie cost us $12 each and the cost of the popcorn was, as you stated, depressing.
I read your post on “The Death of the Grown-Up” and it caused me to consider how our current ticket prices are in part a reflection of the present condition. By and large our society pays a premium for entertainment and neglects to invest in that which has everlasting value.
Our family went to see Megamind yesterday — at 10:00 in the morning - our now 20 year old son’s birthday request. To our great delight, the total cost for the 5 of us (mom, dad, 3 sons, all over the age of 16), was $30! (Concessions were a bit more, but we didn’t buy much because we’d just eaten breakfast). Apparently, it’s $6 per ticket before noon. That was a bonus for us…Another way we save on movie tickets (not that we go often) is by buying passes at Costco - they sell Famous Players passes that include 2 tickets and concessions for $23-$24 (not sure of the exact price).
Our family went to see Megamind yesterday — at 10:00 in the morning - our now 20 year old son’s birthday request. To our great delight, the total cost for the 5 of us (mom, dad, 3 sons, all over the age of 16), was $30! (Concessions were a bit more, but we didn’t buy much because we’d just eaten breakfast). Apparently, it’s $6 per ticket before noon. That was a bonus for us…Another way we save on movie tickets (not that we go often) is by buying passes at Costco - they sell Famous Players passes that include 2 tickets and concessions for $23-$24 (not sure of the exact price).
someone needs to learn how to smuggle in his own popcorn!
Tim! Great to hear you’re loving on your wife and kids and getting some down time! Up was great, first movie we ever took one of the children to and my son loved it. it was his 10th birthday present. I’ll have to consider Tangled. Looks funny, but I just assumed it would have a lot of mushy-gushy, romancy and potty humor in it. Perhaps not.
On WWII - I was given this book for Christmas. Fascinating tour through the war from the invasion of Poland to the surrender of Japan: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Front-Page-World-War-II/John-Davison/e/…
@ Jesse - I checked out the Gunnar site but those look expensive. Our lights at the office are obnoxious and I get eye strain all the time. Which ones do you have that you use for screen time and to help with the lights?
Thanks, Tim, for the headsup on Berlin at War. We had not heard of that book. We just moved to Berlin in July, so it should be even better since we are becoming familiar with the city. Really enjoy reading your blog. Enjoy your vacation.
I know this will do little to salve the pain in your wallet, but having once been a vendor to the theater industry, I can tell you with virtual certainty that food and beverage concessions are about the only place movie theater operators make any money to cover their operating costs. Ticket prices are, for the most part, fully allocated to the payment of royalties on screening the movies themselves.
Staycations are where it is at! Have a great time with your family and reading!
Is there such a thing as a praycation?
Enjoy your break and time with family Tim. :-)
Those are the best vacations!
I just finished reading ‘God’s Almost Chosen Peoples: A Religious History of the American Civil War.’ It’s great for folks who like history.
That is expensive…glad you are taking time off! Enjoy it!
Tim,
It might be time for a heart check. Is keeping the glasses “out of spite” really the right posture for a Christian?
Hey great vacation place….I must say you have good selection skills…..I also want to visit…..Thanks :D
Vacations to go