Sweet Home Alabama

Statue of Vulcan

Went to our friend's daughters' wedding in Birmingham.  I've been all over the South, but had never been to Alabama.  You folks in Birmingham know the meaning of Southern hospitality.  I met some of the kindest friendliest folks there.  We truly enjoyed ourselves and are already planning to go back.

The wedding was fun and we had a good time.  It was nice to reminisce with old friends and to meet new ones.  The bride is my wife's godchild and she looked beautiful.

We stayed at the Marriott Colonnade/Grandview Hotel.  The place was clean and exceptionally nice.  The staff was warm, friendly, and extremely helpful.  Great stay!

The Summit is nearby the hotel.  This is a fabulous place for drinks, dinning, and shopping.  We made our way over there several times.  Try the pizza at the California Pizza Kitchen...superb!

You have to go over to the Big Spoon Creamery while you're in Birmingham.  Amazing ice cream!!!   Plenty of flavors to choose from.  Fast excellent service!  Fun 50s theme.

I have to say that Birmingham is truly a magical place.  The weather was great.  The scenery was beautiful.  The people that we met were wonderful.  What more could you ask for?

Spring Fever

After nearly two months of being down with an injury, I managed to knock out three figures from Reaper Bones Miniatures.  The Clockwork Dragon turned out decently well.  I really like how the gold on gold paint scheme looks.  The Ghoul Queen was challenging to paint to say the least.  I enjoyed painting the Red Mantis Assassin.  I do apologize for the pic.  Someday I'll get a decent camera.

Family Matters

I saw Avengers: End Game on Sunday.  While I didn't like it as much as Infinity War, I still thought that it was good.  I thought that the story got off to a slow start and then seemed rushed at the end.  I also feel that sometimes too much was done which may or may not lead to other movies down the road.  Well, that's my gripe.

What I enjoyed was that most of the entire film was about family.  In the end, what mattered most was loved ones.  They were what was most important to nearly all of the characters.

Tony Stark finally realizing that he had to sacrifice himself to save all the loved ones for the others ahead of his own family's needs has one of the most amazing things that I have ever seen on film.

To see Steve Rogers finally able to be with his one true love, Peggy Carter, warmed the heart.

And the list goes on:  Clint reunited with his.  Natasha referring to the Avengers as her family and then making the ultimate sacrifice for her friend and teammate.  Bruce trying to bring Natasha back, knowing that she had loved him.  Scott risking everything to see his daughter.  Thor's reunion with his mother and Tony's encounter with his father.   Peter's excitement at seeing his father figure, Stark, still alive.  The sadness Clint and Wanda felt knowing that loved ones would never return.  Other Avengers are also reunited with family.  It is tremendous and it drives the film.

Rocket acknowledges that the Guardians are family.  We even see the family dynamic between Nebula, Gamorra, and Thanos (as dysfunctional as it is!).

The theme of family and love permeates the film.  It also involves friendships: Bucky and Sam with Cap, Happy and Tony, Clint and Natasha.  But even those are based on the characters love and caring about one another.

With all of that love, family, and friendship, how could I not like this film.  In the end, that is what won the day.  Kudos to the directors, Anthony and Joe Russo for a film that can be enjoyed by all (especially, we long time fans of Marvel Comics and characters).  As Stan the Man would have put it, "Excelsior!"