The Drive-in

Oh blog-o-sphere, how we have neglected you. The problem isn't that there is nothing to say, nor is the problem finding the time to post. The problem right now is that we are so behind with posting, verging on two months now, that I feel an enormous pressure to write ALL of the things that have happened to us in Arkansas. Essentially, to "catch up."

But I think I am going to take a page from a delightful friend of mine who has her own blog that she posts on only one day per week(if you're at all interested in reading a very thoughtful commentary on one couple's struggles and triumphs with fertility and pregnancy, check it out: http://www.storksandcabbages.com/). I thought to myself...I can handle posting one day per week. So that is the new plan, to post one day per week. If I want to write more, or if Doug does, great, but once a week is enough.

 I will try to be patient about describing all that has happened to us in the last few months; we drove to Albuquerque, got married, went on a honeymoon, drove back to Arkansas, moved, said many goodbyes to a friend who is now abroad, and are now settling into our early-married-persons routine. Those things can be described in time.

Today I thought I'd talk about a great American summer past time that we have been getting involved with this summer: Going to the drive-in. Apparently the first drive-in was patented in the early 1930s and reached the height of popularity in the late 1950s or early 1960s. I can tell you firsthand that the Fayetteville drive-in was basically frozen in time in 1964, and the people who work there have continued to age but are otherwise exactly the same.  Seriously, click on the link and go to the "photos" tab--it's amazing.

The drive-in appears to be a popular Fayetteville activity on the weekends in the summer time.  The "feature" starts around 9pm, and is often something current and popular (we saw The Avengers, Doug saw Men in Black III, tonight is Spiderman).  The second film starts half an hour after the first ends, and is something less desirable (Dark Shadows, Madagascar sequel 18, What to Expect when you're Expecting).  In between they show commercials that are at least 20 years old, and I actually find the commercials to be more interesting than the second movie.

It's a really chill and fun evening: bring a couple of camping chairs, blast the volume through the open window of your car stereo, try to "save" a spot for your friends to park next to you, and stock up on the snacks (we like "swalty," a popcorn that is both sweet and salty, and tantalizingly addictive).  Then sit down, watch the show, and make snarky comments to your friends, which is acceptable because the closest car is at least 10 feet away.  All in all, a great way to spend a summer evening, and a fun way to see those summer blockbuster movies which we don't really care that much about.

Though poor Doug, who's blood is like crack for mosquitoes, tends to get bitten up in the ridiculously humid Arkansas air.  I suppose even great things have their costs.  Or, to quote the barely-a-decade old Spiderman, in anticipation of tonight's viewing of the "reboot," with great power comes great responsibility.