Friday night, the Soroptimists' annual film night. A fund raiser where they commandeer Chuck's largest theater, limit tickets to 180 (a little more than half full, I'd guess), and have a special film showing, complete with hors d'oeuvres and champagne punch.

A good time. Especially when one gal lost hold of a champagne cork, which almost made the ceiling.

The hors d'oeuvres were better than the previous times we've attended. Tons of variety, plenty of refills. No more of having to be in the first half of the line to get a decent selection. In fact, folks were still arriving ten minutes before showtime (they opened an hour in advance) and having plenty to eat.

When I went back a second time, the only thing I noticed getting low, which is what I went back for, was the fresh strawberries.

Complete with chocolate sauce.

Really, all they were missing was a chocolate fountain.

The wife, of course, was somewhat frustrated, this being the first Friday of Lent, and all. Not a lot of seafood items on the menu, so she stocked up on all the varieties of cheeses and crackers.

Oh, and the jalopeno poppers. Great jalopeno poppers.

Great seeing Chuck in a suit, too.

Okay, okay, so it was just a sport coat. But still, he looked good and, you know, classy. And, as usual, he had a pocket full of free movie passes, which the gals running the show were more than happy to take advantage of.

When it came time for the door prize drawings, they started with a few free movies.

Odd that numbers 163 and 168 were called, and no one spoke up. Perhaps they were hoping their tickets would go back in, and give them a chance for the big prize...

A pair of $500 diamond and ruby earrings.

They didn't.

After the third number with no response, Chuck shouted out, "Come onnn! You've got to be here!"

Except for maybe being in the restrooms, of course. Which would be a good idea to visit just five minutes before the show...

Most of the door prizes were the brand new Washington golden dollars. Fresh from the bank. Was hoping to win one of those.

Didn't.

Didn't win the earrings, either. Nor the 2006 Mint coin set.

The last few prizes, though, were donated by one of the pet stores. Bags of dog food.

Oh, joy (for some of us, that is).

If you didn't have a dog, Chuck offered to replace it with w free movie pass.

The last bag of dog food (actually dog treats)?

To number 47.

Me.

Gal looks up at us in the fourth row as I wave my hand...

"I know he's got dogs!"

Yeah, I'd guess at least half the community knows the heeler sisters.

So. The Queen...

Okay, so I hadn't paid much attention to this film. Yes, I knew it would deal with the Royal family's response to Princess Di's death, but I did not know that was all it would be.

You tell me they can make a full length motion picture about just that week, and I'd have said it would never fly. They'd have to let it drag on and on, or throw in unnecessary shots to fill the time.

I'd have been wrong, wouldn't I?

But so, I wasn't prepared to start right off reliving that summer day. It was hard not to break out bawling there in the theater.

It hurt, you know?

But it was an incredible film... so touching, so intriguing at the same time.

What possesses a family to think the appropriate response for two young men who have just lost their mother is to take them out to try to kill something?

To go hunting (or "stalking", as the British say) would seem perfectly normal to me. To get out in the country, clear your thoughts and heart, savor the beauty of life and this world, sure. But to actually try to kill something?

Weird.

That the Queen of England drives herself around the countryside, without an escort, well...

Weirder still. Cool, but weird.

We loved the corgis, of course. You could tell they really liked Helen Mirren. (And peeing on camera.)

I, of course, was fascinated with that countryside. It wasn't really Balmoral, of course, but something quite similar, I assume. It has an ancestral appeal.

And yeah, I had to GoogleEarth it this morning, so see what it really looks like. Not very good satellite resolution, naturally.

Balmoral gave the wife and I simultaneous snickers, when the Royals were finally leaving the estate.

Her because of the Queen's license plate, ending in JRK.

"Jerk", the wife whispered in my ear.

Me for the sign on the gate: "Balmoral, Private Estate, No Trespassing".

Me, I expected more than "Private Estate" on a royal residence. I don't know, maybe a big huge, stone-engraved "Property of the Royal Family of England".

"Trespassers will be drawn and quartered."

Something feudal like that.

Or maybe it's just me.

But yeah, a great film. One of those that seems ended much too soon.

You'd think, with this special showing and all, and the extra Soroptimists helping to clean up, Chuck would have left the house lights off during the credits.

Nope.

But, maybe the volunteers were the ones who wanted to get started. Still took us an extra ten to fifteen minutes to get out, visiting with folks and all.

The rancher's nephew who wants more antelope harvest on their ranch this year. The folks who knew about eldest son's new puppy purchase, 'cause they've got one from last summer's litter from the same pair. Congratulating the young businessman about his speech, the one including the tale of the red marble.

Yeah, we're in a small world, here.