TDC #109: Toy Story 3

Worried about finding good seats? Not us!

We’ve got Toy Story Mania! Jennifer and her family saw Toy Story Mania opening night, in IMAX 3D, and can’t wait to tell you all about it (in both spoiler-free and spoilerific sections).

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Tale As Old As Time

From GraphJam, bien sur.

Jentasmic: Pablo, Marlin, and Me

I’m staring down the empty nest. How can my child be growing up so quickly? Somehow, all this middle-aged angst brings thoughts to mind of a well-loved Ewok named Pablo, and our voyage together to Star Wars Weekends 2008. From today’s Jentasmic! column at StudiosCentral:

Pablo’s traveled much of the world with us. He’s been to Paris, Kahului, New York City, Anaheim, Orlando . . . too many cities to count, actually. But as he is a precious friend to us, and can’t walk on his own, he generally doesn’t set out with us to tour the city, lest he somehow fall behind in the maddening crowd. Anyone who has parented a small child, or seen Toy Story, knows the potential horror of the favorite attachment object becoming A Lost Toy.

In 2008, when my son and I were planning our trip to Star Wars Weekends, it was always clear that Pablo would need to accompany us to the park just for one day, for one special moment: To meet Warwick Davis, and perhaps even enjoy a photo op or two. Sure, Pablo would’ve been safer back in the hotel room, but nobody would really be happier that way.

I’ll be spending this evening, of course, watching Toy Story 3, at my local IMAX in 3D. I understand this, too, will make me weep. Oh joy.

Jentasmic: Pixie Dust for Gay Days

One commenter calls it “Disturbing . . . and wishful.” Another just plain loves the post. Head on over to Studios Central and see what you think about my column today, Pixie Dust for Gay Days. A snippet to whet your appetite (or perhaps disquiet you):

Trust me: Being queer isn’t always as much fun as Neil Patrick Harris and Ellen DeGeneres make it look. There are some bumps in the road, some scary moments, just like everybody has scary moments in life. In a way, there’s nothing all that special about being queer: Everybody in life faces challenges of one sort or another, everybody knows somebody who doesn’t like them, everybody’s had to say something they were scared to come out with now and then.

Maybe these are all things that people can keep in mind if they find themselves facing one of the questions I sometimes hear from the twitchy straight people: Will my children see men holding hands? Will I have to explain to them about homosexuality?

And hey, if you want to hear more about Gay Days, you’re in luck. On next week’s Those Darn Cats, I interview three of our listeners who’ve been to Gay Days at least a time or two. Check back on Wednesday, and the show will be up.