my sister called last night to tell me that our elementary school gym teacher has died. although mr. krupa was really more than the gym teacher. he did a little bit of everything, even drove the school bus. he had for the past few years been the principal at the high school.

i am so sad. he really was amazing. he called us 'turkeys' and it felt like a compliment. he was kind and even gentle when the situation called for it. gym can be a harrowing experience for some kids, but he never pushed anyone too hard and never let the uber-athletes or bullies get away with intimidating the less able. i must say my favorite memory is how he would have us line up and stand 'at attention' for 1 minute before letting us play. in a stroke, he taught us to take control of our bodies and heightened our enthusiasm for the game. of course, some days (usually the beginning of the school year and after winter holiday) it would take many minutes for us to be able to stand still for that long. yet, he was never reproachful, just calm and expectant. and we liked it. and adored him.

my prayers are with his wife and teenage children.

so groggy. huh? d'you say something?

only 4 hours sleep. but a hefty dose of caffeine is on the way.

insomnia sucks. can't imagine how people with chronic insomnia function at all. i'm absolutely batty after just one night. i might have to pull a george costanza and nap under my desk today. it's really quite roomy under there. or i could just sneak into one of the research patient rooms where there are recliners. soooo comfy.

*nods off*

just got back from PoA on IMAX. wow. i had never seen a movie on IMAX that wasn't all fish and sharks. so sweet. so much detail! all movies should be on IMAX, if only to justify the high price of movies these days!

i was highly amused by the teenager a few seats down who was very obviously a huge fan of rupert grint. she snapped to attention for all of his major scenes. at least she wasn't squealing out loud (until the credits anyway). the guy who was with her was so ready to leave at the end of the movie, but she made him stay and watch the entirety of the credits. omgsofunny.

boy: how long are these credits?
girl: they're almost over now.

a couple minutes of girl pointing out all the funny stuff the footprints are doing

boy: i thought you said they were almost over.
girl: they are almost over. see they are showing the music stuff. look! the feet are tapping to the music!
me: (to myself) hey! they are tapping. omgsocute!

a couple more minutes

boy: i'm leaving.
girl: no, you have to see what happens at the end. see, look, this is the end, mischief managed.
me: (to myself) that guy must really like that girl.

k, a few things i walked away with:
1) the credits are so funny. i never really paid that much attention. i just thought there were footprints all over, but there is actually stuff going on;
2) steve kloves is a hack. kudos to cuaron for pulling this film out of the mire in spite of kloves' dead weight threatening to drag it down at every turn;
3) reading "movie name in 15 minutes" forever alters my perception of the movie in question; and
4) IMAX is not kind to the teenage complexion. so many spots.

gah! can't wait for the DVD (my birthday, woo-hoo!) to see the deleted scenes!