[Prestidigitweeze]

Watching a flick with my grillfiend is easy because she's as morbid and particular as I: We both prefer grim subject matter and abhor bad writing. Often, documentaries win over theater releases because supposedly dark flicks can be cliche-ridden abysses of ineptitude, and standard fare is usually far too cheerful, but a well-researched documentary on death can prove useful to both of us creatively (and also relaxes us).

Sometimes one of us reads while the other watches a film silently. Headphones are a minor hobby of mine, but she tends to be the one who ends up wearing them.

Sometimes we read different books at the same time and that's our third version of movie night. A few months ago, she and I even read the same book simultaneously (My Work Is Not Yet Done, by Thomas Ligotti). We were almost in sync even though she was reading on her Nook ST and I had my PRS-350. We also laughed at many of the same passages, which made the experience a lot like watching a film.

We do the same sort of thing creatively, too: I write fiction or compose music while she paints, draws or makes mixed media collages in the next room. That's my idea of heaven.

It's also fun when her twin (a fine artist as well) stops by and the two of them paint in the next room while I work. It's like spending the afternoon with the Brontes, which is what I've always wanted.