Ask Luke’s Mother-in-Law: Magic, Jesus, Khaleesi and Korea

Luke’s mother-in-law is former LAPD, a licensed property appraiser and a self-described crazy cat lady. None of which has prepared her for TR readers. All questions and answers are real.

Hey all, it’s another Thursday again – hope you all have gotten thru the week so far. We made it past Mothers Day; it was quiet around here, but we did kinda celebrate motherhood with new kittens in the garage. See above for a photo of our new little fuzzy butts – so far I am getting to pet 3 of them. We have black ones, black/white and gray, all sooooo cute. This weekend is the Joshua Tree Music Festival, which is always fun, even when it’s going to be in the 100’s temperature-wise. This weekend, I am also going to the play Nunsense at our local playhouse, Theatre 29. The arts are alive and well in the basin.

And so are your questions…

aidan.jeans:
Say, hypothetically, I’m really into Kaiju films. Now say I want to introduce the genre to my totally non- hypothetical girlfriend. How should I work it- backwards from more recent fare- Cloverfield, Pacific Rim, with spfx she’s more accustomed to, forward from the old stuff (Godzilla 1954 onward) or a smattering of back-and-forth?

Kaiju are the really good old classics from the 1950s. I kind of like them better than the newer monster movies with all the CG. They are also pretty funny when you compare them to the new stuff. Pop some pop corn and tell her you are going to introduce her to some fun classic movies. Do a marathon; that would be fun.

Kyle A.:
Should I get in to Magic cards? Is Yu-Gi-Oh a decent substitute? Can I use my Pokemon cards in Magic? If not, why not?

Magic has been around since the early 1990’s. I understand you can also play it online now. I would stick to the Magic cards themselves, it makes things easier.

Kyle A:
What’s the best way to come to terms with your favourite nerd property being turned into a sub par movie? Alternatively, why are we never satisfied?

Well, most things that are turned into movies are sub par. How many times have you read a great book, then they make the movie and you are not sure if it is the same product? It’s pretty much human nature that what we read and then create in our heads is always better then an adaptation.

troi:
What movie do you have to watch whenever it is on?

The Sound of Music and The Ten Commandments. If they put on Jesus Christ Superstar I would watch that every year.

GreggoryBasore
Questions:

With the recent news that people have named their kid “Khaleesi” due to the popularity of Game of Thrones, what are the chances that a whole generation of cats will grow up being called “Ser Pounce” and if it happens will it be a good thing?

It is a good cat name. I also like Lady Whiskers. I don’t think cats really care as long as you are nice to them and feed them.

If you could direct a super hero movie starring any Marvel or DC character who hasn’t been in a live action movie before or confirmed to be in one that’s currently in production which character would you pick from Marvel and which from DC?

Gosh, I don’t know – all of the superheroes that I know are already in movies, TV etc.

What are your favorite movie soundtracks or scores and why?

My number 1 fav is Jesus Christ Superstar – I know the entire show, Next is Sound of Music and Mary Poppins. All of the music is lively and so fun to sing. One of my fav audition songs is “Feed the Birds” from Mary Poppins. I don’t think I have ever heard anyone else use that in an audition. Frankly, after casting has heard “Tomorrow” for the 5th or 6th time they glaze over; however. they listen when there is something totally off the wall.

Kithcannon
Question: My in-laws are pressuring me to join a rotary club. Will rotary clubs still be relevant in 20 years when I am 60+?

Yeah, Rotary will most likely still be around in 20 yrs. Rotary, Elks, etc are all good service clubs. If you enjoy community service then it is a great way to do this. Our Rotary does a Christmas Tree lot, and Super Bowl party every year to raise funds for various charities. Also it is a way for our small businesses to network in our little community.

As an aside about the JT music fest, I have two friends still living in the area that are rather excited for the event. It always amazes me how much the area has changed since I moved away in ’96.

Have you heard we are getting a Ross, Marshalls and PetCo? All should be open this year. I’ve been here since the 1980s, but my husband’s family have been here even longer. They sold real estate in the basin for many years. Out where my house is really has not changed at all, but when you go to Yucca or 29 Palms, yes, there have been many changes.

We started with the JT music fest the first year that Barnett started it. We did the lighting for many years. I have several friends that area still working the event. Josh has been the stage manager since fest #1. He is now coming from Florida to work the event.

Every time I hear stagecoach I think of that dive of a bar in Flamingo Heights. Broken bottles and knife fights added to the ambiance I have heard.

The Castle Inn is still alive and kicking if this is the one your noting. It is sort of Landers – Flamingo area. Also you can have the same fun at the JT Saloon.

Spekkio:
Who is threathening the freedom of the people of the US that you need such a huge military?

Well, the US Military has been downsizing. I know several Marines that are not being allowed to re-up and they had hoped it to be a life long job.

Is it aliens? Currently I think they are more worried about N. Korea doing something stupid.

Well, that’s about all for now. We are having several awful fires in San Diego County right at the moment. Heard 30 homes have burned in the Carlsbad area today. The fires are near Legoland, for those of you who do not know the area. So far I hear that the park is ok. Right now the winds are fairly calm in the desert, but it is hot and dry, so keeping fingers crossed that nothing starts in the National Park – they tend to let things burn. Only problem is that we have homes right on the boundary. Anyway, as always be good to each other – until next week. Huggs

If you’d like to add your questions to the pile for Luke’s mother-in-law, leave them in comments below.

Also, be sure to check out her previous columns.