Candles and *Clueless*

Does anyone else horde scented candles like I do?

I love candles, and honestly they contribute to my general wellbeing during the winter months. Less so now that I get to be home during the day. The thing is, I buy these candle, or receive them as gifts, and then I put them under my bed and just keep them. Sure, I have some scattered around the house and I do burn them, but I keep them sitting out well past the point when they should be thrown away. I continue to keep them or burn them even after I've reached the last inch of wax. That's one reason I like incense, because I'm less tempted to keep it around as decorative matter. You pretty much burn it , enjoy the fragrance, and that's that.

Parker and I are watching Clueless. I always enjoy Travis Berkenstock (Breckin Meyer)'s speech after his homeroom teacher, played by Wallace Shawn, announces the number of tardies he has accrued.

This is so unexpected. I-I didn't even have a speech prepared, uh, but I would like to say this: Tardiness is not something you can do all on your own. Many, many people contributed to my tardiness. Uh, I'd like to thank my parents for never giving me a ride to school; the L.A. City Bus driver, for taking a chance on an unknown kid; and uh, last but not least the wonderful crew of McDonald's for spending hours making those Egg-McMuffins without which I might never be tardy.

It loses something in print, but Meyer delivers it perfectly. Another great line from this movie:

Cher's main thrill in life is a make-over, okay. It gives her a sense of control in a world full of chaos.

You may not realize that Clueless is based on Jane Austen's Emma, and instead of simply being a shallow teenage movie, it is actually an effective adaptation. I've always thought this movie was an excellent candidate for discussion, especially for those with teenagers who have to make choices in a threatening world. It's full of objectionable material, but provides an excellent opportunity to go over some important issues with your kids.

Another film I seriously recommend for discussing with your kids is Akeelah and the Bee. Very good movie, if formulaic. The formula of the film itself is an interesting topic for discussion.