Going on some trips

On the road: Susie and I will be in Calgary from Friday, April 18 to Monday, April 21.

It's a Smith family thing -- my Mom wants to see her four kids together.

Next stop: Travis, just him, is going to be in New York from April 24 to May 5, for two (or three) conferences and a training session in the New York office of Variety. I'll be around for two weekends, and needing a place to stay then as well, so if you have suggestions, let me know.

Then, from May 27 to June 10 (A Tuesday, I have no idea why a Tuesday), we'll both be in Paris, in an apartment, on a ten-day vacation. All are welcome to stay with us, and we got really cheap fares due to the world-wide air fare problems due to the war, you might, too. Priceline is so good right now it's not even funny.

We're taking French lessons once a week for a few hours at Berlitz, and it's not particularly worth the money, I have concluded. The teacher is a very good French speaker, but not very knowledgeable about grammar or the "whys" of the language. But it's good to have a refresher.

Lastly, we'll probably, but I'm not certain yet, be in and around Vancouver around June 28, for my friend Martin's wedding -- he and I know each other from Boy Scouts, we looked really cute in our boy scout uniforms.

You probably didn't picture Bumble, my new AIM icon. He's from the Rudolf Christmas Special.

Oh, and in case you're wondering, yes, I have started adding photos to these columns, starting today -- if you only get the email, you're missing out.

Lastly, I have lost about 17 pounds in the past few months, and have accomplished the original weight I was aiming for , but my will-power has disappeared like dry ice in Palm Springs over the past two weeks, and I narfed a large sack of salt and vinegar potato chips today while I was watching one of three movies: "The End of Violence," "Death to Smoochy," and "Good Advice."

"Advice" had Angie Harmon, who is a joy to watch, and "Violence" had Bill Pullman, a severely underrated actor in a Wim Wenders film that was scattered and pointless, if I can be frank with you. But it was four notches above "Death to Smoochy" which was without a doubt one of the worst movies I've seen. How they got Robin Williams, Danny DeVito and Edward Norton to say these lines amazes me. That it was released amazes me. And that I spent two hours watching it, even though I was able to do some handy houseman gluing project at the same time, will forever be a sadness I carry with me.

OK, enough, I'm off to bed. I'll tell you about Saturday's Variety Editorial retreat some other time.

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