Recently we went to an event sponsored by the Utah Film Commission. It was a screening at the Tower Theater of a locally made flick called Billy was a Deaf Kid. The actors, directors, and writers were all present at the screening so it had a bit of a Sundance Film Festival feel to it but it was much more low-keyed and unpresumptuous than Sundance.

The movie was entertaining. It was a little slow paced, like many other indie films, but it was still fun… and strange. It reminded Jason a lot of his childhood because even though the characters in it were adults they had remarkably juvenile mentalities. Their immature attitudes made the movie difficult and frustrating to watch in spots. Consequently, I don’t think I would have minded if the plot had involved a random cliff scene where a couple of them bizarrely plummeted to their death but I still found myself laughing frequently during the show despite my irritation.

After the movie the makers did a little Q and A session and the musician featured on the soundtrack, Paleo, did a mini-concert. It was a nice casual gathering and we enjoyed ourselves. Plus, we were glad to have an opportunity to support the local film industry.

We bought a copy of Billy was a Deaf Kid so if any of you, the awesome people we call friends, want to give it a watch let us know.

The origin of April Fool’s Day isn’t precisely known. It may have been instigated by one of Chaucer’s tales or its beginnings may have had something to do with groups of rural folk in the 1600s celebrating New Years Day on April 1st instead of January 1st, a lingering tradition from the Middle Ages. (Those fools!) But however it started, April Fool’s has been a day of practical jokes and playful tricks for centuries.

While some people thoroughly enjoy the yearly opportunity to annoy, mess with, and humiliate their family members, coworkers, and friends others despise this day of shenanigans and mischief. Personally, I think a few harmless jokes now and then make life more entertaining. Many of my colleagues feel the same way so there are always a few curious occurrences on April 1st at my work. In years past fake heads have appeared in desk drawers or cars have inexplicably become completely cocooned in saran wrap. This year about a dozen live goldfish spontaneously appeared in the water cooler and every single item on my friend David’s desk mysteriously became hot glued or duct taped to it.

Of the goldfish scheme I am innocent. But all that taping and gluing may have had something to do with me and my friend Wendy…or maybe a lot to do with us. Okay, it was us and it was awesome! David’s desk looked totally unaltered after we operated on it except nothing moved when you tried to pick it up including his mouse, pens, paperclips, papers, coffee mug…everything. I am a fool’s genius!

Even a few of Jason’s work chums got into the pranking spirit this year. A project manager brought in chocolate covered marshmallows as a treat for everyone; they turned out to be chocolate covered cotton balls. But strangely, a number of his work associates didn’t figure this out and consumed the sweets, cotton and all. One of them remarked to Jason afterwards that the marshmallows were really old and stale so the candy wasn’t very good. (Note to self: people will eat anything if it’s covered in chocolate.)

April Fool’s is an amusing and unpredictable holiday but it’s probably a good thing it only comes once a year; I don’t have enough hot glue sticks to properly celebrate it more often than that.