Tuesday, January 1, 2008

Mini-break in Brattleboro

I had been on vacation since before Christmas, but we never left and went anywhere. I felt like it was the longest weekend ever. Since I was returning to work on Wednesday, it was time to do something. I needed to get the hell out of Dodge, so at the suggestion of my good friend Ann Podolske, Scott and I stayed overnight Sunday at the Latchis Hotel in Brattleboro. It's a little more expensive that the Econolodges to which I've grown accustomed, but it was well worth it.

The room was nice and clean and comfortable had linens made of cotton and furniture made out of wood. The shower alone made the whole thing worth it. I only wish I had discovered it before 10:30 a.m. (check out was at 11).

The hotel is attached to the Latchis Theatre. We saw two films: P.S. I Love You and Charlie Wilson's War.

P.S. I Love You was actually terrible. That I cried at one point fills me with such embarrassment, so much so that I can't understand why I'm mentioning it now. I need to give a hearty hats off to Richard LaGravenese, the director, who took such talent as Hilary Swank and Kathy Bates and made them party to just about the lamest movie ever.

I hadn't ever even heard of Charlie Wilson's War before I saw it on the marquee. When I found out it was Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts, I was dead-set against it. I softened a bit when I saw Aaron Sorkin's name on the bill. Even so, I have said a number of times that I am Julie Robertsed and Tom Hanksed out. A series of events found us seeing it in the beautiful theater (or theatre, as the case may be) and I discovered that this film is brilliant.

I'd like to say that again on a separate line so that you maybe will read it:

Charlie Wilson's War is brilliant. I think every American should be required to watch this film. You maybe already know about the recent history of U.S.-Afghanistan relations and why it's all in the shitter now, but you can learn even more in an entertaining, interesting and even amusing forum. You may leave this film really angry at the United States, but I don't think that's bad.

I do think Aaron Sorkin is a genius. He adapted George Crile's book of the same title to the screen. Also, Philip Seymour Hoffman is in it. I can't say this enough: see that film.

We puttered around in Brattleboro for a while on Monday and we kept going places that I definitely have been before, and even have been recently, but hell if I have any idea who I was with. It's been driving me insane in the membrane, and indeed insane in the brain. I can't imagine who I was with and what I was doing there. We even went into a little cafe to have lunch and I discovered that I had eaten there. With whom? It's anybody's guess.

(Aside: if it was you, please tell me; I really am quite out of my mind trying to remember who it was.)

Anyway, we had a nice time. I'd like to recommend Brattleboro for your next getting-the-hell-out-of-Dodge outing.

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7 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

I wholeheartedly agree with you on Charlie Wilson's War. I can't stop telling people about it.

Also, how was the pancake event? It seems to snow every day now.

January 1, 2008 at 10:17 PM  
Blogger Jennifer Myszkowski said...

Yeah, no kidding. Snow is getting me down.

Precious few people came to pancakes. This is the first year any of my parties have been affected by snow, so I'm lucky, sure, but it's annoying. Two in a row!

January 2, 2008 at 10:06 PM  
Blogger jb said...

I had a coffee or some kind of snack with you in a basement cafe in Brattleboro what seems like 53 years ago.

January 3, 2008 at 6:12 PM  
Blogger Jennifer Myszkowski said...

Oh yeah. I remember that. But that was at night. And it was a different cafe. God. I feel like I'm losing my mind. This may remain a mystery.

January 3, 2008 at 11:01 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Which cafe was it? Could the mystery dining companion(s) possibly have been me and my then-partner from way back in the day? We were around Brattleboro a lot, for a while.

Of course, I have a pretty weak memory for events, and am highly suggestible, but did you at some point hang around Brattleboro with me & my ex, and we showed you a cool old rug shop that we liked? Or am I completely inventing that??

January 3, 2008 at 11:59 PM  
Blogger Jennifer Myszkowski said...

Maybe? Did we spend WAY too much time in a second-hand store? Because that's my main memory of the day: waiting for someone to finish up in this thrift shop after I had been done for a long time. I remember it being particularly brutal.

I don't really remember a rug shop though, I admit.

Did we have lunch at Amy's Bakery/Cafe? If so, you could be the winner.

I do remember you and the former missus showing me around Franklin County. Now that was a trip to remember.

January 10, 2008 at 3:17 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

My review of your blog was WAY overdue, indeed! Fascinating stuff!(And I am beyond relieved you enjoyed your time at the Latchis!)

January 23, 2008 at 6:07 PM  

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