This week was filled with a mix of appointments and small tasks. By the time Friday arrived, I was ready for something different — a change of pace to mark the end of the week.
On Friday, I went to see Now You See Me: Now You Don’t, hoping for a clever magic-heist story. I wanted the twists, the illusions, the big reveals. But it didn’t land the way I hoped. Some of the sound mixing felt off, and a few of the plot beats felt too familiar, like the film was leaning heavily on older heist movies without adding anything new.
The moment that stood out most was when one of the key players calls the group out for not inviting her. She already knows she was excluded, so she asks, “So how come I didn’t get an invite?” Another character replies, “Oh… uh… you know what, I barely had a chance to join myself. You know how the babysitter is. I guess I just didn’t think to invite you.”It felt awkward. Then the script tossed in a comment about how there are only three women magicians, and they’re “probably the top three in the world.” It was meant to feel empowering, but instead it felt a little forced — like the movie wanted credit for representation without actually earning it.
On Saturday, I went to watch my son at his swimming lessons. It’s fun to see him learning backstroke and getting stronger with each lap. Between everything else, I’ve been reading two thrillers: Too Old for This, a dark, funny story about a retired serial killer who's not quite done (I’ll definitely be buying a copy of this for my dad), and The Woman in the Library, a layered, meta mystery about strangers connected by a crime in a Boston library, with the author appearing in the story. 
After the lessons, I went somewhere just to reset and recharge. I’ve shared the 10,000 Laughs improv fundraiser on social media, and now we’ll start inviting people. I also finished organizing roles and placements for the event, which is coming up soon. I had written an essay about my improv journey, The Courage in Saying Yes (Medium.com), which reminded me how showing up and saying yes, even when unsure, can make the whole process more rewarding.
After the lessons and organizing the fundraiser, I finally had a moment to step outside and just notice the day. The weekend weather was mild enough that I didn’t need a jacket (at this time of year at least), which almost never happens here in Minnesota.
