Tozerboy

Recently I was called a living IMDB. I took that as a compliment, but maybe it means I talk too much…about movies that is. Over the last two nights I’ve gone to see two comedies at the Boston Commons AMC. Last night I went to see Clerks II, and tonight I went to Talladega Nights. Yes, I know, two stars in the cosmic firmament of fine films, but I am willing to go see anything in a theatre, especially if someone asks me to go with them. You never know, you might learn something. I will say that Clerks is better than Nights, and I can’t imagine that either was improved by the big screen. I did get to sit next to John both nights and that was fun. His laugh always cheers me up, even though its deepening timbre catches me off guard now. And I got to steal Skittles from him when he wasn’t looking.

After the movie tonight we were walking down Boylston Street, past the new dormitory that Emerson will be opening in a few weeks. The construction company has taken down all of the fencing from the front and now pedestrians can walk next to the building and look through the glass. I was walking with John and Alex, an Emerson Alumnus, so I said we should take a look. I was telling them both about the history of the area, Piano Row; about the real estate deals that made it possible; how it was the first new building that Emerson College was constructing; I described how the awning had lights that changed colors. Just as Alex and John pressed their faces to the front doors, I said, “Pretty impressive huh?” John turned to me and said, “Not as impressive as that,” as he pointed through the door to the inner lobby, and continued with, “That’s the biggest damn rat I’ve ever seen!” It was a rat and it was very big. We all burst into laughter. It was the funniest thing we had seen in two nights. I was a little embarrassed, but sometimes a living encyclopedia and a rat can make your day.