My friend Tess and I saw "Fiddler on the Roof" this weekend. I was apprehensive about it after having sat through that three hour suck-fest known as "Show Boat" last month, and since I've never been able to watch the movie all the way through, but to my surprise it was really very good. Tevye the milk man was played by Theodore Bikel, who was pretty funny, and impressively spry for a 76 year old man. His bio said that he's played the role more times than any other actor, and it felt like a privelege to witness his performance. The only drawback was that it was a bit of a downer, but then I suppose one shouldn't expect a story about a Jewish community in turn-of-the-last-century Russia to have an upbeat ending.

After the show (and after a pit-stop at Sonic to break from our diets and scarf down some tasty grease-soaked foodstuffs), we went to The Mall. Now, we often go to the mall, but this was The Mall. Woodland Hills Mall, to be exact; the biggest in Oklahoma (which, I suppose, really ain't saying much), to which I seem to find some reason to have to go every few years, but which I mostly just try to avoid. I really hate this mall. It's too damn big, too damn crowded, and it's always filled with too damn many snotty little preppy teens, the kind that made my life a living hell when I was in high school, and I really don't need to be reminded, thankyewverymuch.

This year I had to go because my bosses all pitched in and gave me a mall gift certificate for Christmas. I spent it at Suncoast, on the BtVS Season One vid set. Then, after stopping briefly to get some diet-cheat-worthy cookies, we high-taled it out of there. We were planning to go see "The Gift," because what better way to top off a Saturday night than to watch Katey Holmes die a horrible death? But after killing as much time as we could in Target (mostly in the toy department where, among other things, I test-drove one of those scooters through the aisles--no easy feat in high heels, let me tell you) and realizing we still had two more hours until the next show time, we decided instead to go back to my house to watch the Buffy tapes.

And what fun that was. Just let me say that David Boreanaz has most definitely grown as an actor since that first season, just as Angel has increased in coolness (but then, there was really nowhere to go but up, in either case). Bless his heart. I was so embarrassed for him. Especially with that velvet smoking jacket thing they made him wear back then. Gave me a whole new appreciation for the Fasion Nazi forum.

Anyway, watching with Tess was fun because she made all of the same snarky comments that I was going to make. And she really loves Angel, though we did establish that my boyfriend (Spike) is a lot cuter.

Standout episodes: "Never Kill a Boy on the First Date"

Tess (as Giles continues into the funeral home after fighting off a bunch of vampires): Wow, I can't believe he's still going in there. I would've run back to the car.

Me: That's why you could never be a Scooby.

Tess: {GLARE}

(Then, as Giles barracades himself inside an office or embalming room or somesuch...)

Tess: See? He's not so brave either.

"Angel"

Me: Die, Darla, die! Ah-hahahahaha!

(later...)
Tess: Aww, look at that, he let himself be burned by her cross just so he could kiss her. He's so sweet!

Me: Yeah, but he's no Spike.

"Puppet Show"

(As a freaked-out Buffy stands back and lets her mom check under the bed for Chucky...)

Tess: Now, isn't she supposed to be The Slayer?

Me: Slayer or not, I'd leave checking the bed for demon-possessed dummies up to my mommy, too. Vampires are one thing, but that's just freaky.

(As Xander plays w/ the dummy and makes it say "Red Rum! Red Rum!"...)

Tess and Jean (in unison): I love Xander!

Other conclusions: Joyce looks better with longer hair, Willow looks way better with short hair, Angel just looks better, and We Like Spike. But we already knew that last one.

Yesterday was pretty uneventful, not even worth this paragraph, really, other than to say that it warmed up enough that I was able to drive home from town with the windows down, which is one of life's greatest simple pleasures. I'm definitely ready for spring.