A Scanner Darkly is a Richard Linklater movie that uses the rotoscoping technique that was used in The Waking Life. Live actors are filmed and then drawn over essentially. The effect is surreal to say the least.
This movie has Keanu Reeves as a cop strung out on substance D. A drug that eventually splits your personality. The story is a bit hard to follow but lends itself to the animation style. Does that make sense? It is a bit chaotic, a bit like a futuristic Spun. It is good, glad I didn't buy it though even though I am a Linklater fan.
I kept waiting for some esoteric plot to think about, something that was a hint that more was going on but it just wasn't there. No deeper world, no deeper meaning, nothing but what was there on the surface even though it threatened to go much deeper, it failed.
The Amazing Screw On Head is actually better! A secret agent who answers to President Lincoln is dispatched to take on the bizarre events in America's past. They are only recorded in one book declares the President. This is much better animation than Hellboy was. I wish it was longer though with a running time of a mere forty two minutes.
This could very well be a great DVD series! It had humor and some adventure, a nice unique premise that reminded me of Time Squad on the Cartoon Network before it found its way to the cancellation bin of toons that died before their time.
I miss the adventures of Buck, Larry 3000, and Otto....sigh.....
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Feels Like
A Good day today!!!!
Things are slow at work lately so I have a lot of free time. Have to remember to bring the novel I'm reading to work with me.
Yesterday was pretty nice out! That makes me happy:)
Today is supposed to be nicer I believe! That'll make me happier!
Life is good, it is hard to pinpoint why but it is. There isn't a lot to report right now so that is why I'm posting my movie reviews, consider this a slow blogging time. I believe things will pick up after March 10th though when the actors are measured for their costumes for the fanfilm project!
This is going to be very exciting!
Beersnob suggested watching a John Wayne movie at my place along with some carrot cake shots so I decided to turn it into a manly get together. A brotherhood meeting of sorts to revel in our lusty stories and tap into the Drinkbusters kitchen.
Alcohol will be consumed, meat grilled and eaten, and arteries will be clogged!!!!
Things are slow at work lately so I have a lot of free time. Have to remember to bring the novel I'm reading to work with me.
Yesterday was pretty nice out! That makes me happy:)
Today is supposed to be nicer I believe! That'll make me happier!
Life is good, it is hard to pinpoint why but it is. There isn't a lot to report right now so that is why I'm posting my movie reviews, consider this a slow blogging time. I believe things will pick up after March 10th though when the actors are measured for their costumes for the fanfilm project!
This is going to be very exciting!
Beersnob suggested watching a John Wayne movie at my place along with some carrot cake shots so I decided to turn it into a manly get together. A brotherhood meeting of sorts to revel in our lusty stories and tap into the Drinkbusters kitchen.
Alcohol will be consumed, meat grilled and eaten, and arteries will be clogged!!!!
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
The Ghost Leopard
My latest Netflixed selection will be going back tomorrow. It was a double feature of Val Lewton produced movies on one DVD.
First is The Ghost Ship, where a very unstable captain, think Captain Queeg but a bit more unstable since this guy will kill you while walking by. A good movie for 1943. Your classic B film that you took a date to so you can try to get to first base.
The Leopard Man is about a series of killings where the suspect is a leopard who escaped the grasp of a night club entertainer.
To be perfectly honest both movies really had to struggle to keep my interest. Not that Val Lewton movies aren't entertaining I'd say that these two were just not as entertaining as a few different movies from the same nine movie DVD set. It might not even be the movies themselves, I'm just not in the mood for classics right now.
I'm in a animation mood, it matches my mood right now. Funny, free wheeling, bright and shiny!
Give me that right now!!!!
I received two movies today though!!!! Stay tuned to find out what they are in a couple of days!
First is The Ghost Ship, where a very unstable captain, think Captain Queeg but a bit more unstable since this guy will kill you while walking by. A good movie for 1943. Your classic B film that you took a date to so you can try to get to first base.
The Leopard Man is about a series of killings where the suspect is a leopard who escaped the grasp of a night club entertainer.
To be perfectly honest both movies really had to struggle to keep my interest. Not that Val Lewton movies aren't entertaining I'd say that these two were just not as entertaining as a few different movies from the same nine movie DVD set. It might not even be the movies themselves, I'm just not in the mood for classics right now.
I'm in a animation mood, it matches my mood right now. Funny, free wheeling, bright and shiny!
Give me that right now!!!!
I received two movies today though!!!! Stay tuned to find out what they are in a couple of days!
I Went All Weekend
And I forgot to post about one of my greatest pleasures!
I bought my Storm tickets Friday!!!!
This time however the new owners didn't save the seats from the last season HOWEVER Bub knows one of the owners and told them to reserve our seats.
Hopefully they will get this figured out by next season. Good grief we have been season ticket holders for every season and now this year they don't do it!
This is not the way to treat loyal fans who have been to every game!!!!
Well anyway it is taken care of now and paid for.
March Madness is coming up and next week Championship Week starts! That is when all of the conferences start having their conference tournaments where the winner gets an automatic bid into the Dance! You start to see some very amazing games, some excellent performances, and somewhere Cinderella will appear!
I love it!!!!
I bought my Storm tickets Friday!!!!
This time however the new owners didn't save the seats from the last season HOWEVER Bub knows one of the owners and told them to reserve our seats.
Hopefully they will get this figured out by next season. Good grief we have been season ticket holders for every season and now this year they don't do it!
This is not the way to treat loyal fans who have been to every game!!!!
Well anyway it is taken care of now and paid for.
March Madness is coming up and next week Championship Week starts! That is when all of the conferences start having their conference tournaments where the winner gets an automatic bid into the Dance! You start to see some very amazing games, some excellent performances, and somewhere Cinderella will appear!
I love it!!!!
Monday, February 26, 2007
Hypocrisy At Its Best
Here is the link to this amazing story about Algore and his 20 room mansion that uses twenty times the amount of energy the average American household uses.
You can read it for yourself but lets just sum it up for you real quick.
Algore - "I can have what I want and use all the power I want but you need to conserve! You are bad because you don't conserve energy but my rule doesn't apply to me just YOU!"
I'm sorry but I just find a "do as I say not as I do" attitude by public figures to be very offensive.
Enjoy:)
You can read it for yourself but lets just sum it up for you real quick.
Algore - "I can have what I want and use all the power I want but you need to conserve! You are bad because you don't conserve energy but my rule doesn't apply to me just YOU!"
I'm sorry but I just find a "do as I say not as I do" attitude by public figures to be very offensive.
Enjoy:)
An Idea For The New Drinkbusters Intro
I can't really spill the beans now but I will tell you that if you go to You Tube and search for something that rhymes with Ranana Sprits you will get a good clue at what I have in mind:)
Today was pretty decent other than finding my pilot light had been blown out by the very high winds this weekend. I don't really use much hot water. I didn't take a shower yesterday so I had no idea my pilot was out. So you can imagine my surprise this morning!!!!
I remembered to send off my Netflix movies so I should be getting a new batch tomorrow or Wednesday.
I have the second half of a double feature to watch yet and then my fourth DVD will be sent back and I'll get it written about:)
Mood is still pretty good:) Hope your's is as well!!!!
Today was pretty decent other than finding my pilot light had been blown out by the very high winds this weekend. I don't really use much hot water. I didn't take a shower yesterday so I had no idea my pilot was out. So you can imagine my surprise this morning!!!!
I remembered to send off my Netflix movies so I should be getting a new batch tomorrow or Wednesday.
I have the second half of a double feature to watch yet and then my fourth DVD will be sent back and I'll get it written about:)
Mood is still pretty good:) Hope your's is as well!!!!
Sunday, February 25, 2007
Oscar Night Part 3
Ok I lied. I'm not in bed yet....Jerry Seinfeld is presenting the award for Best Documentary and naturally I nailed this one and yes Algore is taking the stage with the rest of the producers.
This was the only lock of the night. I'm sorry Algore is just a wacko. If you'll recall the PMRC from the 80's the Hollywood crowd wasn't so thrilled with the Gore family then. Tipper Gore and the Washington Wives wers set on censoring the music industry and banning many genres of music. Yeah, censorship at its best despite the first amendment.
What a difference 20 years makes.
Now Clint Eastwood is taking the stage, the ten time nominee and four time winner. Amazing!
Well now i really am going to bed.
This was the only lock of the night. I'm sorry Algore is just a wacko. If you'll recall the PMRC from the 80's the Hollywood crowd wasn't so thrilled with the Gore family then. Tipper Gore and the Washington Wives wers set on censoring the music industry and banning many genres of music. Yeah, censorship at its best despite the first amendment.
What a difference 20 years makes.
Now Clint Eastwood is taking the stage, the ten time nominee and four time winner. Amazing!
Well now i really am going to bed.
Oscar Night Part 2
Jack now has a clean shaven head and the woman setting beside him was older than a twenty year old. What is going on there?
Pan's Labyrinth has just won its third award of the night after Ellen had Steven Spielberg take a picture of her and Clint Eastwood together for her My Space.
Now onto another unfunny set of commercials....
Now Robert Downey Jr. has rolled out of bed long enough to be a presenter with Naomi Watts to present the award to Pirates of the Caribbean 2.
Now best foreign language film is up and The Lives of Others has won.
Alright, I'm going to bed.
See you all tomorrow!
Have a great evening!!!!
Pan's Labyrinth has just won its third award of the night after Ellen had Steven Spielberg take a picture of her and Clint Eastwood together for her My Space.
Now onto another unfunny set of commercials....
Now Robert Downey Jr. has rolled out of bed long enough to be a presenter with Naomi Watts to present the award to Pirates of the Caribbean 2.
Now best foreign language film is up and The Lives of Others has won.
Alright, I'm going to bed.
See you all tomorrow!
Have a great evening!!!!
Oscar Night
This is jut an observation post, no real point, just typing and watching so just follow along;)
Well there is one certainty for this award evening and that is that Algore is going to win AND be on stage for An Inconvenient Truth even though he shouldn't be since he isn't listed as the producer of the movie.
As I write this Leonardo DiCaprio is trying to cajole Algore into running for another failed presidential bid. A bit of self parody. They were on stage to talk about the Oscars going green, admirable however how many private jets were employed to bring together this kind of star power? How many thousands of megawatts are being used to produce this show? Look I don't blame them for being conscious of the environment just don't be hypocritical about it.
So far though I've seen the dark horse movie Pan's Labyrinth win two statues for art direction and set design I believe. I should really check that before I write it but eh, plenty of people will get it right so I don't feel any pressure about it. Alan Arkin has won for best supporting actor and Ellen has been pretty funny! This show has been surprisingly unpolitical so far! That is refreshing!
As I've written before the awards show that I enjoy is the Independent Spirit Awards! That is the show for the underdogs! The little guy! There are many movies featured during that show that most people won't see because of lack of promotion. Even though I'd love to say that they do it for the love of the art I am not that naive. I'm sure they want to make a living at it just as much as I do. I mean it isn't like I go to my job now for the love of the job or my health and neither do they.
Tom Cruise has just walked on stage to luke warm scattered applause. Not surprising since he lost his mind.
Well it is Sunday night, I've finished my laundry, I'm winding down now, and might just turn in soon.
I've been hoping for some Super Bowl quality commercials but alas no such luck. Where are the funny Bud Light commercials? What there are no actors who drink Bud Light?
....Sigh....
Well there is one certainty for this award evening and that is that Algore is going to win AND be on stage for An Inconvenient Truth even though he shouldn't be since he isn't listed as the producer of the movie.
As I write this Leonardo DiCaprio is trying to cajole Algore into running for another failed presidential bid. A bit of self parody. They were on stage to talk about the Oscars going green, admirable however how many private jets were employed to bring together this kind of star power? How many thousands of megawatts are being used to produce this show? Look I don't blame them for being conscious of the environment just don't be hypocritical about it.
So far though I've seen the dark horse movie Pan's Labyrinth win two statues for art direction and set design I believe. I should really check that before I write it but eh, plenty of people will get it right so I don't feel any pressure about it. Alan Arkin has won for best supporting actor and Ellen has been pretty funny! This show has been surprisingly unpolitical so far! That is refreshing!
As I've written before the awards show that I enjoy is the Independent Spirit Awards! That is the show for the underdogs! The little guy! There are many movies featured during that show that most people won't see because of lack of promotion. Even though I'd love to say that they do it for the love of the art I am not that naive. I'm sure they want to make a living at it just as much as I do. I mean it isn't like I go to my job now for the love of the job or my health and neither do they.
Tom Cruise has just walked on stage to luke warm scattered applause. Not surprising since he lost his mind.
Well it is Sunday night, I've finished my laundry, I'm winding down now, and might just turn in soon.
I've been hoping for some Super Bowl quality commercials but alas no such luck. Where are the funny Bud Light commercials? What there are no actors who drink Bud Light?
....Sigh....
Closing Night!!!!
It isn't a wrap yet but the show did close last night to a full house!
It was a good audience, actually it was a great audience. They seemed to have a good time and laughed at all the right times!
There were three highlights of the show for me. All were good but three stood out: Bob Day and his Stanley Walker character, Pam Guillory and Purity Mason, and Dennis Burgart and Dan Casey. They were as much fun back stage as they were on stage. Having fun was the first thing they wanted to do and it showed in their performances. It is a shame that Stanley Walker and Purity only had cameo roles. They really made the most of their time on stage while Dennis was on stage for nearly every scene save a couple.
The documentary isn't quite finished yet. There is still a storyline to be resolved which should conclude around April.
We also had a preproduction meeting for the fan film project. The actors will be measured on the 10th. We are going to schedule rehearsal time. Have a couple of location scouting trips. So far everyone is very excited about this project!!!! Beersnob has been impressed by the level of commitment that the actors have made. He is trying very hard not to waste a second of the actor's time while the actors have been wanting to put more time into becoming better prepared!
This is what a director hopes for! I am positive a happy balance will be found and the project will be one of the best I have had the privilege to have worked on!
The actors are all going to be encouraged to sign up for the fan film's message board so they can keep in touch with the Canadian production team and with each other during the week. There is one actor from out of town and one that is on the road during the week.
This is going to be a lot of fun my friends!!!!
It was a good audience, actually it was a great audience. They seemed to have a good time and laughed at all the right times!
There were three highlights of the show for me. All were good but three stood out: Bob Day and his Stanley Walker character, Pam Guillory and Purity Mason, and Dennis Burgart and Dan Casey. They were as much fun back stage as they were on stage. Having fun was the first thing they wanted to do and it showed in their performances. It is a shame that Stanley Walker and Purity only had cameo roles. They really made the most of their time on stage while Dennis was on stage for nearly every scene save a couple.
The documentary isn't quite finished yet. There is still a storyline to be resolved which should conclude around April.
We also had a preproduction meeting for the fan film project. The actors will be measured on the 10th. We are going to schedule rehearsal time. Have a couple of location scouting trips. So far everyone is very excited about this project!!!! Beersnob has been impressed by the level of commitment that the actors have made. He is trying very hard not to waste a second of the actor's time while the actors have been wanting to put more time into becoming better prepared!
This is what a director hopes for! I am positive a happy balance will be found and the project will be one of the best I have had the privilege to have worked on!
The actors are all going to be encouraged to sign up for the fan film's message board so they can keep in touch with the Canadian production team and with each other during the week. There is one actor from out of town and one that is on the road during the week.
This is going to be a lot of fun my friends!!!!
Saturday, February 24, 2007
Hellboy: The Cheap Animation Chronicles
Yes my friends I am fed up with substandard animation features.
My latest Netflix DVD was Hellboy: Sword of Storms, while being a good story with a character I enjoy the animation was distracting in its cheapness.
It was like the Cartoon Network type of animation but just a little better. Along the lines of Teen Titans with a bit more budget which was probably used on the voice talent.
I believe that the days of quality animation are long gone. Realistic looking characters have gone the way of cartoonish anime looking characters. Which isn't always bad but sometimes you would like something that had a different influence.
Yes I know that this was based on a comic with characters that are unrealistic to begin with. I just would like future animated movies to bump up their quality a bit more.
Glad that I Netflixed this movie instead of purchasing it.
Now don't get me wrong, I LOVE cartoons! Been a fan my whole life, back when Saturday mornings meant something! I remember watching Return to the Planet of the Apes, the animated show from 1975! Yeah I remember that as I have a good memory for stuff like that.
A few years back when I was playing Everquest a lot I would have the Cartoon Network on while I was playing. Friday nights were great! They had some great shows on then. Dexter, Johnny Bravo, IM Weasel, Powerpuff Girls, Samurai Jack, Cow and Chicken, yeah some really good shows. Now....eh....I can take them or leave them. They don't stack up, the quality has gone down while the good stuff has been shifted to Adult Swim.
I have some good news though! I got pulled over yesterday for a burned out brake light. I wasn't wearing my seatbelt either which I just don't like anyway but was also a violation. So I figure I'm up for at least fifty to a hundred bucks in fines, no big deal at all but I like to spend my money on other things.
He gives me back my license and insurance AND a warning!!!!
Hooray!!!!
My mood gets better every day!!!!
My latest Netflix DVD was Hellboy: Sword of Storms, while being a good story with a character I enjoy the animation was distracting in its cheapness.
It was like the Cartoon Network type of animation but just a little better. Along the lines of Teen Titans with a bit more budget which was probably used on the voice talent.
I believe that the days of quality animation are long gone. Realistic looking characters have gone the way of cartoonish anime looking characters. Which isn't always bad but sometimes you would like something that had a different influence.
Yes I know that this was based on a comic with characters that are unrealistic to begin with. I just would like future animated movies to bump up their quality a bit more.
Glad that I Netflixed this movie instead of purchasing it.
Now don't get me wrong, I LOVE cartoons! Been a fan my whole life, back when Saturday mornings meant something! I remember watching Return to the Planet of the Apes, the animated show from 1975! Yeah I remember that as I have a good memory for stuff like that.
A few years back when I was playing Everquest a lot I would have the Cartoon Network on while I was playing. Friday nights were great! They had some great shows on then. Dexter, Johnny Bravo, IM Weasel, Powerpuff Girls, Samurai Jack, Cow and Chicken, yeah some really good shows. Now....eh....I can take them or leave them. They don't stack up, the quality has gone down while the good stuff has been shifted to Adult Swim.
I have some good news though! I got pulled over yesterday for a burned out brake light. I wasn't wearing my seatbelt either which I just don't like anyway but was also a violation. So I figure I'm up for at least fifty to a hundred bucks in fines, no big deal at all but I like to spend my money on other things.
He gives me back my license and insurance AND a warning!!!!
Hooray!!!!
My mood gets better every day!!!!
Oh My My Dear Kiran
Well friends my favorite morning news anchor for the past few years hasn't been renewed on Fox. Kiran Chetry went to CNN about a week ago I believe. Depending on which side you listen to it was her playing hard ball and wanting a co anchor fired or was wanting the co anchor spot on Fox and Friends full time.
Who knows, that isn't what matters anymore, Kiran is gone and Courtney Friel is now replacing her. Now Courtney is hot, no doubt about it but Kiran is like a old friend and neighbor who happened to be hot that you hung out with a lot.
I'm sure that Courtney will be good and will find a stride before long but it is still sad to see Kiran go.
Well in other news I have decided that after I win the Powerball jackpot I am going to buy Callahan's, my favorite pub and turn the whole building into a pub. It was super crowded last night and it was difficult to find a table. When I own it I'll have more tables added and a section for just friends of mine. Who cares if it makes money because I'll be loaded and will probably need the tax write off.
The third show went good last night! It was easily the best audience of the shows so far and the youngest! There was only one person with a walker this time! They had a great time and it was probably the best show so far as well! The cast had a great time with it and like I said we went to Callahan's afterwards to a huge crowd of people. They had a band there last night which was a draw. When that happens you don't get to drink in peace.
Who knows, that isn't what matters anymore, Kiran is gone and Courtney Friel is now replacing her. Now Courtney is hot, no doubt about it but Kiran is like a old friend and neighbor who happened to be hot that you hung out with a lot.
I'm sure that Courtney will be good and will find a stride before long but it is still sad to see Kiran go.
Well in other news I have decided that after I win the Powerball jackpot I am going to buy Callahan's, my favorite pub and turn the whole building into a pub. It was super crowded last night and it was difficult to find a table. When I own it I'll have more tables added and a section for just friends of mine. Who cares if it makes money because I'll be loaded and will probably need the tax write off.
The third show went good last night! It was easily the best audience of the shows so far and the youngest! There was only one person with a walker this time! They had a great time and it was probably the best show so far as well! The cast had a great time with it and like I said we went to Callahan's afterwards to a huge crowd of people. They had a band there last night which was a draw. When that happens you don't get to drink in peace.
Friday, February 23, 2007
Its Official!!!!
Weezy has set up house in LA!!!!
She messaged me last night saying that she has an apartment and has internet access!!!!
She will soon start blogging her process and hopefully posting pictures on her My Space!!!!
I'm very proud of her and her courage to make that kind of move. She knows what she wants and is going to have a lot of fun out there!
She messaged me last night saying that she has an apartment and has internet access!!!!
She will soon start blogging her process and hopefully posting pictures on her My Space!!!!
I'm very proud of her and her courage to make that kind of move. She knows what she wants and is going to have a lot of fun out there!
Thursday, February 22, 2007
The Science Of The Iguana
Well I have finished my last two Netflix movies while I got another one in the mail today.
The one I have been looking for the most was the first I watched tonight since I have the evening off. The Science of Sleep.
This is the kind of movie I enjoy, quirky, unique, it has heart.
A man who confuses his dream state and reality falls for his neighbor. A creative and unique woman who infatuates him. He finds his soulmate in her but at the same time they have a very hard time getting together.
You never really know what you are watching, if it is Stephane's dreams or his life. Meanwhile Stephanie, his neighbor who he loves, is seemingly confused by his bizarre actions which Stephane believes he is doing in his dream state. Make sense?
Watch it, it will.
The Night of the Iguana is a Tennessee Williams stage play directed by John Huston with Richard Burton and Ava Gardner starring.
In many ways this is a direct contrast to The Science of Sleep. Richard Burton is a defrocked alcoholic priest who seeks solace in Mexico as a tour bus guide.
What he finds is another matter altogether as Burton plays the tortured soul to a T. This is about the dishevelment of a soul which is pretty much the opposite of the tenderness and optimism....the very hope that the last movie represented.
There is no good heartedness in this movie. How much of a train wreck can you make your life and still revel in it? Yeah, this is pretty much Tennessee Williams at his best.
What I also found was a story that was filled with a....a touch of hope of sorts. When you are at the end of your rope that there might still yet be a little hope for you. After you feel that you have made a train wreck of your life that is so complete things might not be as bleak as they seem. A dash of hope....well sometimes that is enough to lift any weight off of your shoulders and give you a new outlook.
By the way my incredibly good feelings and mood has only managed to improve:)
Hooray!!!!
The one I have been looking for the most was the first I watched tonight since I have the evening off. The Science of Sleep.
This is the kind of movie I enjoy, quirky, unique, it has heart.
A man who confuses his dream state and reality falls for his neighbor. A creative and unique woman who infatuates him. He finds his soulmate in her but at the same time they have a very hard time getting together.
You never really know what you are watching, if it is Stephane's dreams or his life. Meanwhile Stephanie, his neighbor who he loves, is seemingly confused by his bizarre actions which Stephane believes he is doing in his dream state. Make sense?
Watch it, it will.
The Night of the Iguana is a Tennessee Williams stage play directed by John Huston with Richard Burton and Ava Gardner starring.
In many ways this is a direct contrast to The Science of Sleep. Richard Burton is a defrocked alcoholic priest who seeks solace in Mexico as a tour bus guide.
What he finds is another matter altogether as Burton plays the tortured soul to a T. This is about the dishevelment of a soul which is pretty much the opposite of the tenderness and optimism....the very hope that the last movie represented.
There is no good heartedness in this movie. How much of a train wreck can you make your life and still revel in it? Yeah, this is pretty much Tennessee Williams at his best.
What I also found was a story that was filled with a....a touch of hope of sorts. When you are at the end of your rope that there might still yet be a little hope for you. After you feel that you have made a train wreck of your life that is so complete things might not be as bleak as they seem. A dash of hope....well sometimes that is enough to lift any weight off of your shoulders and give you a new outlook.
By the way my incredibly good feelings and mood has only managed to improve:)
Hooray!!!!
Last Rehearsal
Went pretty well last night!
A cool thing happened though! I went into Callahan's for some supper before the rehearsal started and ordered.
Five minutes went by and then ten and then thirty. I told Naomi I had to tab out and go. She apologized and went to check on my order. She came back and apologized again because they had confused my order with someone else's who had a similar order so she gave me 50% off and put it all in a to go box! Pretty cool huh?!
The rehearsal went great, I have tonight off so I plan on trying to watch at least one of the other movies I Netflixed a while back. I still have The Science of Sleep and The Night of the Iguana to watch.
I am sure I can get one done tonight:)
My good mood actually continues to improve! It is very cool but I confess that after being semi surely and moody the past few months that I am unaccustomed to feeling good so it is taking some getting used to.
I have asked the Drinkbusters if they want to get their bartender's license! I think it would be cool to have them! It is a simple process too. A guy at work has one and I asked Naomi last night where she got hers'.
It is thirty dollars, you fill out an application, they give you a receipt right there that you use as your temporary license and send you the real one in the mail about two days later. Chianti said it sounded like fun as we emailed back and forth yesterday but I have yet to hear back from Beersnob and I don't know what Catina's nickname is going to be but I haven't heard back from her either and I was too busy last night at the rehearsal to ask her about it.
A cool thing happened though! I went into Callahan's for some supper before the rehearsal started and ordered.
Five minutes went by and then ten and then thirty. I told Naomi I had to tab out and go. She apologized and went to check on my order. She came back and apologized again because they had confused my order with someone else's who had a similar order so she gave me 50% off and put it all in a to go box! Pretty cool huh?!
The rehearsal went great, I have tonight off so I plan on trying to watch at least one of the other movies I Netflixed a while back. I still have The Science of Sleep and The Night of the Iguana to watch.
I am sure I can get one done tonight:)
My good mood actually continues to improve! It is very cool but I confess that after being semi surely and moody the past few months that I am unaccustomed to feeling good so it is taking some getting used to.
I have asked the Drinkbusters if they want to get their bartender's license! I think it would be cool to have them! It is a simple process too. A guy at work has one and I asked Naomi last night where she got hers'.
It is thirty dollars, you fill out an application, they give you a receipt right there that you use as your temporary license and send you the real one in the mail about two days later. Chianti said it sounded like fun as we emailed back and forth yesterday but I have yet to hear back from Beersnob and I don't know what Catina's nickname is going to be but I haven't heard back from her either and I was too busy last night at the rehearsal to ask her about it.
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
The Haunted Prestige
Well I watched The Prestige and The Haunted Strangler last night.
I bought The Prestige yesterday and Netflixed The Haunted Strangler which was a Criterion Collection release of a Boris Karloff movie. This is your classic fair of Karloff giving his on screen persona a workout.
By all accounts Karloff was one of the most kind hearted people to ever grace the stage. It boggles the mind how he turned being the bad guy into a legendary career by being such a good guy in real life. He did it though and he did it well. He thrived while his contemporary Bela Lugosi struggled. You can read a lot about that in a previous post so I won't revisit it here and will focus more on the actual movie.
It is good. Average for a Karloff movie. Kind of a surprising movie for Criterion to include into their exclusive collection but it is enjoyable none the less but average. There are much better Karloff movies out there that benchmark his career but if you need a fix this does nicely.
The Prestige, now there is a movie that is quite remarkable. I'm a fan of Christopher Nolan. Ever since Memento put my brain into overdrive trying to understand the story Nolan's work has intrigued me. That is the kind of filmmaker I enjoy, someone who puts something on screen that challenges you. That what you think you are seeing isn't what you are seeing.
This movie suffered at the box office though but I predict a strong DVD life. It was released roughly around the same time as The Illusionist which I loved so it probably came off as "the other magician movie" which is completely unfair. These are two very different movies.
Where The Illusionist is a love story The Prestige is a story of revenge and obsession that goes to some extreme lengths. I really don't want to say anything more than that, it would spoil this marvelous movie experience and all of its twists and turns.
Christopher Nolan is pretty visionary in his storytelling methods. He tells a lot of things visually without having to explain it. I do wish this DVD had a director's commentary though. I'd love to hear about how he set up his scenes and more of the technical aspects of this film.
All in all these two movies were a great topper to a great day last night and my mood continues to improve if that is possible and I believe I'm living proof it is!!!! As good as I feel, I hope that every single one of you has a day that is at least twice as good!!!!
I bought The Prestige yesterday and Netflixed The Haunted Strangler which was a Criterion Collection release of a Boris Karloff movie. This is your classic fair of Karloff giving his on screen persona a workout.
By all accounts Karloff was one of the most kind hearted people to ever grace the stage. It boggles the mind how he turned being the bad guy into a legendary career by being such a good guy in real life. He did it though and he did it well. He thrived while his contemporary Bela Lugosi struggled. You can read a lot about that in a previous post so I won't revisit it here and will focus more on the actual movie.
It is good. Average for a Karloff movie. Kind of a surprising movie for Criterion to include into their exclusive collection but it is enjoyable none the less but average. There are much better Karloff movies out there that benchmark his career but if you need a fix this does nicely.
The Prestige, now there is a movie that is quite remarkable. I'm a fan of Christopher Nolan. Ever since Memento put my brain into overdrive trying to understand the story Nolan's work has intrigued me. That is the kind of filmmaker I enjoy, someone who puts something on screen that challenges you. That what you think you are seeing isn't what you are seeing.
This movie suffered at the box office though but I predict a strong DVD life. It was released roughly around the same time as The Illusionist which I loved so it probably came off as "the other magician movie" which is completely unfair. These are two very different movies.
Where The Illusionist is a love story The Prestige is a story of revenge and obsession that goes to some extreme lengths. I really don't want to say anything more than that, it would spoil this marvelous movie experience and all of its twists and turns.
Christopher Nolan is pretty visionary in his storytelling methods. He tells a lot of things visually without having to explain it. I do wish this DVD had a director's commentary though. I'd love to hear about how he set up his scenes and more of the technical aspects of this film.
All in all these two movies were a great topper to a great day last night and my mood continues to improve if that is possible and I believe I'm living proof it is!!!! As good as I feel, I hope that every single one of you has a day that is at least twice as good!!!!
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
I Can't Remember
The last time I felt as good as I've felt the past couple of days!
Well I do remember one day and it was a perfect day with a special someone but that was about two years ago so it has been that long.
I sure like feeling like I have the past couple of days though, things have just seemed to go....for lack of a better term, right lately and it feels great!
Not to mention the great weather the past couple of days after a cold and sometimes bitter Winter has helped some. It just feels like much more than that though. I know it will be tough when the filming of the documentary finally closes this coming Saturday but at the same time at that point it is only half way completed and the hard part begins. Getting the story together.
Happiness can describe what I've been feeling but just doesn't quite fit snuggly enough but it is close. Even after going to work after being off for six straight days couldn't dim my mood.
Something feels new, like there is a world of potential and promise and those are things I haven't felt in....well since I can't remember and that is from the heart. I vaguely remember this feeling though.
Yeah it might sound corny but this is my blog and I have the right to be as cheesy as I want to be.
I have the night off so I plan on catching up on my Netflix movies tonight and also watching The Prestige. I'll get back to you on how they all are....for now I plan on enjoying this as long as it lasts!
Well I do remember one day and it was a perfect day with a special someone but that was about two years ago so it has been that long.
I sure like feeling like I have the past couple of days though, things have just seemed to go....for lack of a better term, right lately and it feels great!
Not to mention the great weather the past couple of days after a cold and sometimes bitter Winter has helped some. It just feels like much more than that though. I know it will be tough when the filming of the documentary finally closes this coming Saturday but at the same time at that point it is only half way completed and the hard part begins. Getting the story together.
Happiness can describe what I've been feeling but just doesn't quite fit snuggly enough but it is close. Even after going to work after being off for six straight days couldn't dim my mood.
Something feels new, like there is a world of potential and promise and those are things I haven't felt in....well since I can't remember and that is from the heart. I vaguely remember this feeling though.
Yeah it might sound corny but this is my blog and I have the right to be as cheesy as I want to be.
I have the night off so I plan on catching up on my Netflix movies tonight and also watching The Prestige. I'll get back to you on how they all are....for now I plan on enjoying this as long as it lasts!
Monday, February 19, 2007
What A Nice Day!!!!
It is so nice out!!!!
70, fairly calm, and sunny!
Tonight I have to have some pictures taken for the next Gaslight production. I have to state that I am not in the production but I believe I'm going to be in the promotional pictures if I understand correctly.
So that happens at 6:30 tonight which will give me a chance to get some supper at the pub for my last day of freedom from work. It really has been a pretty good six day weekend! I got a new mouse which is sweet, a new mouse pad which hasn't arrived yet. I still have three movies from Netflix to watch which will give me something to do after the pictures tonight.
A friend came over last night to visit which was great and another friend came over today which was great again! I've gotten some rest, had some fun, spent some money, had a couple of drinks, got new Drinkbusters shirts, passed a couple out already, I still am going to give Beersnob and Chianti new shirts so they will have two just in case, have a more reliable vehicle now, ordered a few DVDs, said goodbye to Weezy and wished her well on her new journey!
All in all this has been a pretty darn good weekend:)
I wish everyone had a weekend that was twice as good as mine!
70, fairly calm, and sunny!
Tonight I have to have some pictures taken for the next Gaslight production. I have to state that I am not in the production but I believe I'm going to be in the promotional pictures if I understand correctly.
So that happens at 6:30 tonight which will give me a chance to get some supper at the pub for my last day of freedom from work. It really has been a pretty good six day weekend! I got a new mouse which is sweet, a new mouse pad which hasn't arrived yet. I still have three movies from Netflix to watch which will give me something to do after the pictures tonight.
A friend came over last night to visit which was great and another friend came over today which was great again! I've gotten some rest, had some fun, spent some money, had a couple of drinks, got new Drinkbusters shirts, passed a couple out already, I still am going to give Beersnob and Chianti new shirts so they will have two just in case, have a more reliable vehicle now, ordered a few DVDs, said goodbye to Weezy and wished her well on her new journey!
All in all this has been a pretty darn good weekend:)
I wish everyone had a weekend that was twice as good as mine!
Sunday, February 18, 2007
Surreal Life Again
Yeah long time readers of my blog know this is my weak spot. I can't say no to this show!
The drama seems to be ratcheting up as the B-list dwindles! Who is going to live and who is going to go home and more important who is going to save what dignity they have left and volunteer to leave? I don't know why Adrea Lowell is in here, she seems to have more going for her than everyone else.
The latest challenge? The Hooker Challenge! Yeah....class abounds.
I need some Advil....
The drama seems to be ratcheting up as the B-list dwindles! Who is going to live and who is going to go home and more important who is going to save what dignity they have left and volunteer to leave? I don't know why Adrea Lowell is in here, she seems to have more going for her than everyone else.
The latest challenge? The Hooker Challenge! Yeah....class abounds.
I need some Advil....
Zatoichi Meets Yojimbo
This was a very good movie in the Zatoichi series of movies. Think James Bond but in medieval Japan and without all of the gadgets except for a cane sword. Shintaro Katsu portrayed the character in every movie which I believe had 25+ entries.
Zatoichi is a blind masseur who travels around Japan finding adventure. He is a incredible swordsman and every film gives him some impressive sword feat to showcase his skills. This film of the series was a bit special though. Toshiro Mifune co-starred with Shintaro Katsu as a character which was a carbon copy of his Kurosawa characters from Yojimbo and Sanjuro. A snarling, drunk, samurai who hires himself out as a bodyguard but there is much more to this Yojimbo than meets the eyes as Zatoichi finds out during the course of the movie.
I can imagine that at the time this was made, around 1970 I believe, that for this series it was probably the equivalent to Godzilla vs. King Kong or Al Pacino meeting Robert DeNiro in Heat, Alien vs. Predator, or even Freddy vs. Jason. Yeah for fans of this series I can imagine it was that big.
Yeah this was Netflix pic and all I can say is that Netflix rocks my friends!!!! I wish I had joined years ago!!!!
So the second performance went well last night. We stopped by Callahan's afterwards for a drink after the show and everyone kind of did some unwinding. Bob Day, who is one of the highlights of the show for me, bounced some movie ideas off of me and we actually started to flesh out a couple of stories he was interested in filming.
I am off from the documentary now until Wednesday night for a pick up rehearsal in which I plan on being on stage with the actors to film close ups.
You now after the Valentine's Day setback I've been pretty good emotionally lately!!!!
I've got a grilled burrito from Taco Mayo in the fridge and I should make some coffee to wake up a bit. I'm a little groggy despite being up since 7. I'm awake but man I want some coffee!!!!
So today enjoy the Daytona 500, root for your favorite driver, if you don't have one it is real real easy to find one. Follow them all year long. You will really feel attached and emotionally vested in them and their crew by the end of the season!!!! That is why NASCAR has become as massive as it has, people watch, become attached to a driver and follow the highs and lows as they race for the Nextel Cup.
Zatoichi is a blind masseur who travels around Japan finding adventure. He is a incredible swordsman and every film gives him some impressive sword feat to showcase his skills. This film of the series was a bit special though. Toshiro Mifune co-starred with Shintaro Katsu as a character which was a carbon copy of his Kurosawa characters from Yojimbo and Sanjuro. A snarling, drunk, samurai who hires himself out as a bodyguard but there is much more to this Yojimbo than meets the eyes as Zatoichi finds out during the course of the movie.
I can imagine that at the time this was made, around 1970 I believe, that for this series it was probably the equivalent to Godzilla vs. King Kong or Al Pacino meeting Robert DeNiro in Heat, Alien vs. Predator, or even Freddy vs. Jason. Yeah for fans of this series I can imagine it was that big.
Yeah this was Netflix pic and all I can say is that Netflix rocks my friends!!!! I wish I had joined years ago!!!!
So the second performance went well last night. We stopped by Callahan's afterwards for a drink after the show and everyone kind of did some unwinding. Bob Day, who is one of the highlights of the show for me, bounced some movie ideas off of me and we actually started to flesh out a couple of stories he was interested in filming.
I am off from the documentary now until Wednesday night for a pick up rehearsal in which I plan on being on stage with the actors to film close ups.
You now after the Valentine's Day setback I've been pretty good emotionally lately!!!!
I've got a grilled burrito from Taco Mayo in the fridge and I should make some coffee to wake up a bit. I'm a little groggy despite being up since 7. I'm awake but man I want some coffee!!!!
So today enjoy the Daytona 500, root for your favorite driver, if you don't have one it is real real easy to find one. Follow them all year long. You will really feel attached and emotionally vested in them and their crew by the end of the season!!!! That is why NASCAR has become as massive as it has, people watch, become attached to a driver and follow the highs and lows as they race for the Nextel Cup.
Saturday, February 17, 2007
Opening Night
The first production went pretty well. Everything went smoothly and pretty much without a hitch.
Catina has done a splendid job in preparing this production with a minimal amount of setbacks.
I have also learned that there is a big elderly population in town. From my vantage point in the balcony I saw an audience of probably 70% made up of an older set. It really makes me wonder who will see the shows after this generation that patronizes the theater now is gone. I'm serious I saw maybe only a handful of people my age or younger with most everyone else being around 60 or above and few in between.
Now for everyone who knows me knows that I'm not a theater fan. For some reason it has just never really clicked with me. So now I will have to report that it is fun. I enjoyed the theater and since I have a personal interest in this show I'd have to say I've done a 180 degree turn on my opinion of theater in general. That doesn't mean I'll be involved in a show in the future other than the capacity I am serving in now though. I'm a film guy, that is what I love and my passion. But the theater is a good evening of entertainment. The cast has worked very hard to prepare for this show. The audience enjoyed it.
The casts for most of the shows are of a wide array of ages with from what I've seen my age or younger so I know that the shows will go on for years to come. I just wonder who is going to see them unless something is done to attract audiences that are closer to the cast's ages or younger.
It seems that they just don't target a younger audience. Perhaps they should have the regular season ticket holders donate their tickets to a good show to a high school class or something that would spark the interest in a younger generation. I really don't have an answer to this but I do see a growing problem in the next decade or so if nothing changes now as the regular patrons age away.
Catina has done a splendid job in preparing this production with a minimal amount of setbacks.
I have also learned that there is a big elderly population in town. From my vantage point in the balcony I saw an audience of probably 70% made up of an older set. It really makes me wonder who will see the shows after this generation that patronizes the theater now is gone. I'm serious I saw maybe only a handful of people my age or younger with most everyone else being around 60 or above and few in between.
Now for everyone who knows me knows that I'm not a theater fan. For some reason it has just never really clicked with me. So now I will have to report that it is fun. I enjoyed the theater and since I have a personal interest in this show I'd have to say I've done a 180 degree turn on my opinion of theater in general. That doesn't mean I'll be involved in a show in the future other than the capacity I am serving in now though. I'm a film guy, that is what I love and my passion. But the theater is a good evening of entertainment. The cast has worked very hard to prepare for this show. The audience enjoyed it.
The casts for most of the shows are of a wide array of ages with from what I've seen my age or younger so I know that the shows will go on for years to come. I just wonder who is going to see them unless something is done to attract audiences that are closer to the cast's ages or younger.
It seems that they just don't target a younger audience. Perhaps they should have the regular season ticket holders donate their tickets to a good show to a high school class or something that would spark the interest in a younger generation. I really don't have an answer to this but I do see a growing problem in the next decade or so if nothing changes now as the regular patrons age away.
Friday, February 16, 2007
Wow!!!!
Ok so I get my vehicle back yesterday right?
Well the mechanic comes to pick me up and lets me drive back to the shop. I drive to the bank to get him some cash to pay him. Well the bank parking lot was VERY slick. I get ready to turn into the ATM lane when I go into a skid, sliding out of control. I wasn't going fast but fast enough to not be able to stop the skid or turn out of it.
Well we hit the curb HARD and the mechanic looks at me and says, "I think we blew out the tire" I agreed so we get out to look at the damage. To our amazement there was no damage at all. The tire was intact and the wheel was undamaged. I've curbed vehicles before and blown out tires with much less force and this was a very hard hit, we were going a bit downhill and it was a hard skid.
Wow!!!! That was so great too, it would have been a huge pain to have to change the tire in the middle of the parking lot especially since it was single digits out.
Anyway things are great! I took today off since I had the past two days off and I have a three day weekend coming up so this is a great side benefit of my job which I frequently complain about. I get lots of time off while still getting paid.
So I'm warm at home, today is payday, drinking some Starbuck's coffee, and I'm no longer stranded without a vehicle. It works perfectly!!!! The glow plugs work now so it starts every time, especially with the new batteries! It was VERY cold last night after the final dress rehearsal and it fired up very fast after setting there for nearly three hours without being plugged in.
I'm HAPPY!!!! Life is good!!!!
Well the mechanic comes to pick me up and lets me drive back to the shop. I drive to the bank to get him some cash to pay him. Well the bank parking lot was VERY slick. I get ready to turn into the ATM lane when I go into a skid, sliding out of control. I wasn't going fast but fast enough to not be able to stop the skid or turn out of it.
Well we hit the curb HARD and the mechanic looks at me and says, "I think we blew out the tire" I agreed so we get out to look at the damage. To our amazement there was no damage at all. The tire was intact and the wheel was undamaged. I've curbed vehicles before and blown out tires with much less force and this was a very hard hit, we were going a bit downhill and it was a hard skid.
Wow!!!! That was so great too, it would have been a huge pain to have to change the tire in the middle of the parking lot especially since it was single digits out.
Anyway things are great! I took today off since I had the past two days off and I have a three day weekend coming up so this is a great side benefit of my job which I frequently complain about. I get lots of time off while still getting paid.
So I'm warm at home, today is payday, drinking some Starbuck's coffee, and I'm no longer stranded without a vehicle. It works perfectly!!!! The glow plugs work now so it starts every time, especially with the new batteries! It was VERY cold last night after the final dress rehearsal and it fired up very fast after setting there for nearly three hours without being plugged in.
I'm HAPPY!!!! Life is good!!!!
Thursday, February 15, 2007
A Great Dress Rehearsal
It really was great! Catina was working hard to tweak the play just a bit more for final rehearsal tonight.
It was very cold though. It is about 9 right now as I type this but the good news is that my vehicle started this morning after replacing both batteries. I believe that the other two batteries were just about shot so it was also probably time.
Now that after I bring it into the shop this morning and have the glow plug module replaced and get the coolant leak fixed it should be good to go for a long time!!!! That is the good thing about having a diesel, they run forever and are very tough.
I watched Over The Hedge yesterday which was the next up in my Netflix queue. I received that one and The Science of Sleep which I'll probably be able to watch today while stranded without a vehicle at home.
Anyway Over The Hedge was pretty....no really entertaining!!!! I had a good time from the start to the ending credits. It had the typical message about being a good friend and being a good family, you have seen that plot device in nearly every animated movie that has ever come out but you know, it doesn't get old. If you can't help those around you or enrich their lives in some way then why do you exist anyway? I mean really what purpose do you serve? I am not always successful but I offer to help someone do something as often as possible.
Sometimes I probably make a pest of myself trying to be helpful. But that also means and I hope my friends know this, that if they are ever stranded out in the middle of no where that they can call me at 3 A.M. and I'd be on my way. If making a pest of myself imprints that kind of idea on my friends then it is worth it.
It was very cold though. It is about 9 right now as I type this but the good news is that my vehicle started this morning after replacing both batteries. I believe that the other two batteries were just about shot so it was also probably time.
Now that after I bring it into the shop this morning and have the glow plug module replaced and get the coolant leak fixed it should be good to go for a long time!!!! That is the good thing about having a diesel, they run forever and are very tough.
I watched Over The Hedge yesterday which was the next up in my Netflix queue. I received that one and The Science of Sleep which I'll probably be able to watch today while stranded without a vehicle at home.
Anyway Over The Hedge was pretty....no really entertaining!!!! I had a good time from the start to the ending credits. It had the typical message about being a good friend and being a good family, you have seen that plot device in nearly every animated movie that has ever come out but you know, it doesn't get old. If you can't help those around you or enrich their lives in some way then why do you exist anyway? I mean really what purpose do you serve? I am not always successful but I offer to help someone do something as often as possible.
Sometimes I probably make a pest of myself trying to be helpful. But that also means and I hope my friends know this, that if they are ever stranded out in the middle of no where that they can call me at 3 A.M. and I'd be on my way. If making a pest of myself imprints that kind of idea on my friends then it is worth it.
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Well Now That....
I've realized that today is Valentine's day it has put me into a surely mood, not that getting stranded at home wasn't enough.
This is THE day that makes all single people feel unwanted. This is THE day that....alright here is some truth for you that if you know me you know I rarely talk about me in real life so why not here? I mean most of you don't know me and I know only a couple of people who read my blog from here in town. Alright this is THE day I feel the most lonely.
This 30 something actually does get lonely but for the most part my armor helps....well helps other people from seeing it anyway. You know something there is a reason though and this is completely honest, I've refused to settle with just anyone.
I've seen lots of people, a lot more lately for some reason, that just get married at a young age just because they can't stand to be alone. It doesn't seem to matter if they love the person or not. You know that within a few years they will be dreading waking up to the person next to them and wondering what in the world they were thinking.
I'd rather be alone my entire life....which at times seems like a real possibility....than to be miserable with someone and having them dread waking up next to me. I'd never EVER want to make someone miserable who wasn't happy around me. And those of you who know me know that is true as well.
Today just makes me sad.
This is THE day that makes all single people feel unwanted. This is THE day that....alright here is some truth for you that if you know me you know I rarely talk about me in real life so why not here? I mean most of you don't know me and I know only a couple of people who read my blog from here in town. Alright this is THE day I feel the most lonely.
This 30 something actually does get lonely but for the most part my armor helps....well helps other people from seeing it anyway. You know something there is a reason though and this is completely honest, I've refused to settle with just anyone.
I've seen lots of people, a lot more lately for some reason, that just get married at a young age just because they can't stand to be alone. It doesn't seem to matter if they love the person or not. You know that within a few years they will be dreading waking up to the person next to them and wondering what in the world they were thinking.
I'd rather be alone my entire life....which at times seems like a real possibility....than to be miserable with someone and having them dread waking up next to me. I'd never EVER want to make someone miserable who wasn't happy around me. And those of you who know me know that is true as well.
Today just makes me sad.
This Is Frustrating!!!!
Yeah, the temperature is 13 degrees outside and naturally my truck will barely turn over not enough to create the combustion necessary to start a diesel.
I've kept the block heater on all night and the battery charger and yet I'm once again stranded at home. This is really eating into my vacation leave now and it is all kinds of frustrating!!!!
I'm nearly out of starting fluid so I'm going to have to call my brother to have him bring me a can when he gets up and around.
I am taking the vehicle into the shop tomorrow to get the glow plugs fixed, that will be a huge help on mornings like this. I know the batteries are good, they aren't that old at all. There are two of them so it is plenty of cranking power and yet when it is below 20 it is a dud.
AAARRRRRGGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well that is a little better I guess.
I've kept the block heater on all night and the battery charger and yet I'm once again stranded at home. This is really eating into my vacation leave now and it is all kinds of frustrating!!!!
I'm nearly out of starting fluid so I'm going to have to call my brother to have him bring me a can when he gets up and around.
I am taking the vehicle into the shop tomorrow to get the glow plugs fixed, that will be a huge help on mornings like this. I know the batteries are good, they aren't that old at all. There are two of them so it is plenty of cranking power and yet when it is below 20 it is a dud.
AAARRRRRGGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well that is a little better I guess.
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
It's Cold!!!!
And it is also snowing a bit outside.
Today after work Weezy came by the house to visit and watch a bit of MST3K for a joke I posted on her My Space page. It was a real nice visit too. I'm going to miss her but she is going to be so much better off after she moves!!!!
We went to DaVinci's coffee shop after leaving here and then I went to the rehearsal at the place where the dinner theater will be held.
It is a huge hall that is very antique looking. It is nice and a nice place for the dinner theater. I was pretty impressed actually.
I'm tired now, real tired and trying to warm up. I am hoping my vehicle starts in the morning. It is about 18 out now and we have a 20 mile per hour wind blowing through so it feels much colder!
Today after work Weezy came by the house to visit and watch a bit of MST3K for a joke I posted on her My Space page. It was a real nice visit too. I'm going to miss her but she is going to be so much better off after she moves!!!!
We went to DaVinci's coffee shop after leaving here and then I went to the rehearsal at the place where the dinner theater will be held.
It is a huge hall that is very antique looking. It is nice and a nice place for the dinner theater. I was pretty impressed actually.
I'm tired now, real tired and trying to warm up. I am hoping my vehicle starts in the morning. It is about 18 out now and we have a 20 mile per hour wind blowing through so it feels much colder!
Monday, February 12, 2007
More Shirts Ordered
For the Drinkbusters. I have been putting it off for too long but I finally got them ordered today.
I plan on giving our current Drinkbusters another shirt and giving one to our new replacement Christmas Catina. I'm unsure if that is going to be her official Drinkbuster's name or not but when she tells me what it is going to be I'll let you know:) I am sure that Catina will make Weezy proud and will add a different vibe to the show!
So everyone gets a brand new shirt. I know my shirt is starting to look a little more gray than black. It is fun to have a unique shirt where we are the only ones to be part of our own exclusive little club. All we need is a secret handshake....maybe it can involve a rubber chicken somehow.
Yeah a rubber chicken. Last night on the Surreal Life Traci Bingham and Chyna decided to stay up all night doing rubber chicken shots. This annoyed Verne and Emmanuel to no end as they had a challenge the next day in which someone was going home from the losing team.
Anyway the A list, and I use that term only because the show does, lost the challenge due to Ron Jeremy's lame and offensive act so they had to play Go Fish with the loser going home.
I haven't had any at work news lately so I'll lay some on you right now. We have to fill out this form that documents the paint we mix up for environmental purposes on a daily basis. I hate doing this, it is stupid, a waste of time, inefficient, and the business I'm in so I can't do much about it....but....being creative with the amounts I mix up. There is nothing that says it has to be the English terms such as gallons, ounces, etc. So I have taken to the metric system and even more abstract terms such as inches, centimeters, or paper cups.
I know someone over in the environmental section reads this and has to fill out her own form, yeah it is a her and she has a sense of humor about it. However she is now moving for a better job and it now falls to her very unstable boss to do this task now. Today she came by to say goodbye and pick up her last log sheet from us and told me that if I do the same to her boss that it would make everyone over there happy.
Apparently NO ONE likes this woman at all. She is a big woman to say the least. Standing around 5'11 and tipping the scales at between 350 to 400 pounds. She works on the second floor of her building and takes the elevator every time!!!!
She is also unstable and feels that she is bullet proof and teflon coated because she is a minority, over weight, and a woman. She believes that she is untouchable by the company for fear of a law suit. She is very touchy and frequently accuses people around her for being racists.
For example the woman who has the sense of humor about my creativity relayed the story of how she put some papers on her desk, it wasn't softly enough for the big lady so after everyone went home she came into the sense of humor's girl's office and told her that she didn't appreciate the papers being put on the desk in a racist and violent fashion. The sense of humor girl was flabbergasted and speechless at this accusation.
The big lady is also known for a volatile temper and frequently goes into screaming fits at those around her. So essentially the company is afraid of firing her and she knows it. It was only recently that she started even coming to work for more than 3-4 hours per day. A higher up than her told her that he didn't care what color she was, she gets paid for 40 hours and she is going to put them in like everyone else is.
The upside is that I get to explore more creative measurements that are sure to tip this lady over the edge of her apparent sanity which she is clinging to by mere fingernails.
I plan on giving our current Drinkbusters another shirt and giving one to our new replacement Christmas Catina. I'm unsure if that is going to be her official Drinkbuster's name or not but when she tells me what it is going to be I'll let you know:) I am sure that Catina will make Weezy proud and will add a different vibe to the show!
So everyone gets a brand new shirt. I know my shirt is starting to look a little more gray than black. It is fun to have a unique shirt where we are the only ones to be part of our own exclusive little club. All we need is a secret handshake....maybe it can involve a rubber chicken somehow.
Yeah a rubber chicken. Last night on the Surreal Life Traci Bingham and Chyna decided to stay up all night doing rubber chicken shots. This annoyed Verne and Emmanuel to no end as they had a challenge the next day in which someone was going home from the losing team.
Anyway the A list, and I use that term only because the show does, lost the challenge due to Ron Jeremy's lame and offensive act so they had to play Go Fish with the loser going home.
I haven't had any at work news lately so I'll lay some on you right now. We have to fill out this form that documents the paint we mix up for environmental purposes on a daily basis. I hate doing this, it is stupid, a waste of time, inefficient, and the business I'm in so I can't do much about it....but....being creative with the amounts I mix up. There is nothing that says it has to be the English terms such as gallons, ounces, etc. So I have taken to the metric system and even more abstract terms such as inches, centimeters, or paper cups.
I know someone over in the environmental section reads this and has to fill out her own form, yeah it is a her and she has a sense of humor about it. However she is now moving for a better job and it now falls to her very unstable boss to do this task now. Today she came by to say goodbye and pick up her last log sheet from us and told me that if I do the same to her boss that it would make everyone over there happy.
Apparently NO ONE likes this woman at all. She is a big woman to say the least. Standing around 5'11 and tipping the scales at between 350 to 400 pounds. She works on the second floor of her building and takes the elevator every time!!!!
She is also unstable and feels that she is bullet proof and teflon coated because she is a minority, over weight, and a woman. She believes that she is untouchable by the company for fear of a law suit. She is very touchy and frequently accuses people around her for being racists.
For example the woman who has the sense of humor about my creativity relayed the story of how she put some papers on her desk, it wasn't softly enough for the big lady so after everyone went home she came into the sense of humor's girl's office and told her that she didn't appreciate the papers being put on the desk in a racist and violent fashion. The sense of humor girl was flabbergasted and speechless at this accusation.
The big lady is also known for a volatile temper and frequently goes into screaming fits at those around her. So essentially the company is afraid of firing her and she knows it. It was only recently that she started even coming to work for more than 3-4 hours per day. A higher up than her told her that he didn't care what color she was, she gets paid for 40 hours and she is going to put them in like everyone else is.
The upside is that I get to explore more creative measurements that are sure to tip this lady over the edge of her apparent sanity which she is clinging to by mere fingernails.
Sunday, February 11, 2007
Chicken Little Season
Did I mention that Netflix rocks?
I watched The Misfits yesterday then Open Season, put The Misfits in the mailbox and then after the mail ran Chicken Little was there so I watched it too!
So it was a busy movie day!
Open Season was alright. Not everything can be Ice Age, Shrek, or The Incredibles.
It is about a tame grizzly bear who winds up in the wilderness having to live on his own. Some of the characters were there for filler and not much else. There were some jokes that just didn't work and ultimately it felt a bit empty but in a big, bright, shiny package.
Chicken Little was much better. A take on the bedtime story with a War of the Worlds twist on it. What can I say but Disney knows how to tell a story and backs it all up with top shelf animation. This is a great movie. It had some great funny moments and some cute and fully developed characters, something that was lacking in Open Season.
Then afterwards I decided to venture out into the cold and picked up Ran, the last great Kurosawa movie he made. His take on King Lear. I remember seeing this in the late 80's but haven't seen it since so even though I was familiar with the story it was like the first time I've seen it.
As with most of the Criterion editions of Kurosawa films they have brilliant commentary which explains all of the nuances of the shots. The framing to signify the importance of the characters. The intricate details of the lenses and how they captured the action.
Any up and coming filmmaker who has no idea on where to start would be well served by listening to many many commentaries on classic films. These are better than an expensive film school IF you have a camera and can go out and practice what you learn. Believe me this is like film school in a box.
Yeah it takes practical hands on experience to be a great filmmaker but for volumes of knowledge you can't beat Criterion commentaries.
Ran itself is an amazing spectacle full of pageantry, treachery, and samurai set in medieval Japan. He probably out Shakespeare's Shakespeare in fact. It is a shame that the Mifune friendship had ended years before after Red Beard. He would have been an outstanding Saburo.
I am not sure what is on tap for today but I am sure that there will be some good college basketball on as rivalry week comes to a close. I missed most of the great match ups this week because of the documentary but that is fine. I'd rather do something that I love like film than watching basketball even though I love it as well.
Which reminds me that Florida will probably be the odds on favorite to win March Madness. They are every bit as good as they were last year and are bringing back their starters. Can you say unstoppable?
I watched The Misfits yesterday then Open Season, put The Misfits in the mailbox and then after the mail ran Chicken Little was there so I watched it too!
So it was a busy movie day!
Open Season was alright. Not everything can be Ice Age, Shrek, or The Incredibles.
It is about a tame grizzly bear who winds up in the wilderness having to live on his own. Some of the characters were there for filler and not much else. There were some jokes that just didn't work and ultimately it felt a bit empty but in a big, bright, shiny package.
Chicken Little was much better. A take on the bedtime story with a War of the Worlds twist on it. What can I say but Disney knows how to tell a story and backs it all up with top shelf animation. This is a great movie. It had some great funny moments and some cute and fully developed characters, something that was lacking in Open Season.
Then afterwards I decided to venture out into the cold and picked up Ran, the last great Kurosawa movie he made. His take on King Lear. I remember seeing this in the late 80's but haven't seen it since so even though I was familiar with the story it was like the first time I've seen it.
As with most of the Criterion editions of Kurosawa films they have brilliant commentary which explains all of the nuances of the shots. The framing to signify the importance of the characters. The intricate details of the lenses and how they captured the action.
Any up and coming filmmaker who has no idea on where to start would be well served by listening to many many commentaries on classic films. These are better than an expensive film school IF you have a camera and can go out and practice what you learn. Believe me this is like film school in a box.
Yeah it takes practical hands on experience to be a great filmmaker but for volumes of knowledge you can't beat Criterion commentaries.
Ran itself is an amazing spectacle full of pageantry, treachery, and samurai set in medieval Japan. He probably out Shakespeare's Shakespeare in fact. It is a shame that the Mifune friendship had ended years before after Red Beard. He would have been an outstanding Saburo.
I am not sure what is on tap for today but I am sure that there will be some good college basketball on as rivalry week comes to a close. I missed most of the great match ups this week because of the documentary but that is fine. I'd rather do something that I love like film than watching basketball even though I love it as well.
Which reminds me that Florida will probably be the odds on favorite to win March Madness. They are every bit as good as they were last year and are bringing back their starters. Can you say unstoppable?
Saturday, February 10, 2007
Drinkbusters 2x2 Is Up!!!!
You can go here and see the newest episode and Weezy's last call!!!!
It was a great party and I hope that the atmosphere came across on this episode as everyone had a blast wishing Weezy the best on her future move to LA!!!!
It was a great party and I hope that the atmosphere came across on this episode as everyone had a blast wishing Weezy the best on her future move to LA!!!!
The Misfits
What do you get when you have two of Hollywoods biggest stars from the "golden age" in their last movie together? I mean their last movies period.
A parade of lost souls. Part western and part car wreck, on and off the screen. Three men fall in love with the same woman, written by Arthur Miller, Marilyn Monroe's husband at the time.
Starring Clark Gable, Marilyn Monroe, Montgomery Clift, and Eli Wallach. This was Gable and Monroe's last movie while Clift would film three more I believe before dieing.
This was a collision of the personal lives of these stars on the screen. When Eli Wallach talks about how he spent time in the war, designing his house but it never looked right until Rosyln came there. He says she has the gift of life. He toasts, "Here's to your life Roslyn, I hope it goes on forever", you know he is talking right to Monroe.
He actually seems to be tapping into something that was surrounding Marilyn, the tragic air about her. Her tumultous life. He seemed to know that she would be dead shortly afterwards and to live all she can right now.
You see Montgomery Clift as the hard drinking, hard living, screwed up apotime of the Hollywood star. He plays Perce however it just doesn't feel like he is playing a character, it is more like he is going to therapy on screen. Like he is baring his soul for all to see. You can read any biography about him to see all of the many many stories about him, who knows how many are true, maybe all maybe none.
Not that Eli Wallach isn't a tremendous star in his own right but this movie just wasn't about him as much as it is Clark Gable. The biggest star of the golden age. Bigger than life in every way. He defined living big. He was struggling finding roles after being the massive star of Mutiny on the Bounty, Gone with the Wind, and It Happened One Night (In which he won an Oscar).
This movie stands alone as the last movie featuring big albeit aging stars, signalling the end of an era. It really isn't about the story on the screen. Not at all, it is about the stars on the screen. The story is irrelevant and fleeting but the stars remain forever.
A parade of lost souls. Part western and part car wreck, on and off the screen. Three men fall in love with the same woman, written by Arthur Miller, Marilyn Monroe's husband at the time.
Starring Clark Gable, Marilyn Monroe, Montgomery Clift, and Eli Wallach. This was Gable and Monroe's last movie while Clift would film three more I believe before dieing.
This was a collision of the personal lives of these stars on the screen. When Eli Wallach talks about how he spent time in the war, designing his house but it never looked right until Rosyln came there. He says she has the gift of life. He toasts, "Here's to your life Roslyn, I hope it goes on forever", you know he is talking right to Monroe.
He actually seems to be tapping into something that was surrounding Marilyn, the tragic air about her. Her tumultous life. He seemed to know that she would be dead shortly afterwards and to live all she can right now.
You see Montgomery Clift as the hard drinking, hard living, screwed up apotime of the Hollywood star. He plays Perce however it just doesn't feel like he is playing a character, it is more like he is going to therapy on screen. Like he is baring his soul for all to see. You can read any biography about him to see all of the many many stories about him, who knows how many are true, maybe all maybe none.
Not that Eli Wallach isn't a tremendous star in his own right but this movie just wasn't about him as much as it is Clark Gable. The biggest star of the golden age. Bigger than life in every way. He defined living big. He was struggling finding roles after being the massive star of Mutiny on the Bounty, Gone with the Wind, and It Happened One Night (In which he won an Oscar).
This movie stands alone as the last movie featuring big albeit aging stars, signalling the end of an era. It really isn't about the story on the screen. Not at all, it is about the stars on the screen. The story is irrelevant and fleeting but the stars remain forever.
Friday, February 09, 2007
A Busy Day: Goodbye Weezy!!!!
First of all I had to go to work today, then get all of the ingredients for the drinks tonight.
I emailed Weezy and asked if she could go to the grocery store to get some of the ingredients we needed while I went to the liquor store at lunch.
Now that I'm home I am packing up all of the bottles in a box to take to Weezy's going away party and her last episode of Drinkbusters tonight AFTER going to the rehearsals which is a full two act run through.
Then onto the task of replacing our dear Weezy as she heads off to LA to pursue her dreams. It will be a wonderful experience for her and we are all behind her!!!! It isn't like she can use Drinkbusters on her resume or anything but she has been a pleasure and a blast to have around the set. She has always been very happy to try any drink that crossed our kitchen and invent her own and have fun every second of the way!!!!
I am proud to call her my friend!
I'm going to miss her and even though this chapter of the Drinkbusters is going to close tonight we are preparing to open a brand new chapter in Drinkbuster's history!!!!
I emailed Weezy and asked if she could go to the grocery store to get some of the ingredients we needed while I went to the liquor store at lunch.
Now that I'm home I am packing up all of the bottles in a box to take to Weezy's going away party and her last episode of Drinkbusters tonight AFTER going to the rehearsals which is a full two act run through.
Then onto the task of replacing our dear Weezy as she heads off to LA to pursue her dreams. It will be a wonderful experience for her and we are all behind her!!!! It isn't like she can use Drinkbusters on her resume or anything but she has been a pleasure and a blast to have around the set. She has always been very happy to try any drink that crossed our kitchen and invent her own and have fun every second of the way!!!!
I am proud to call her my friend!
I'm going to miss her and even though this chapter of the Drinkbusters is going to close tonight we are preparing to open a brand new chapter in Drinkbuster's history!!!!
Thursday, February 08, 2007
Stupid Cold Weather Stupid Diesel
Yeah....I'm home today because my diesel won't start. It HATES cold weather and since it is in the mid 20's right now it isn't starting.
This is a hazard I guess but usually it is very reliable when it is 30 and above.
Yes I keep the block heater plugged in and yes I keep a battery charger on it all night to keep the electrical system warm but sometimes that just isn't enough. I do know that if the glow plug controller was working and I didn't have to use starting fluid right now that it would be running however it isn't and now its not.
Well I have plenty of leave time so it isn't a big deal other than I was wanting to save some more up. Well I now have the time today to edit the last Drinkbusters and get it posted.
This is a hazard I guess but usually it is very reliable when it is 30 and above.
Yes I keep the block heater plugged in and yes I keep a battery charger on it all night to keep the electrical system warm but sometimes that just isn't enough. I do know that if the glow plug controller was working and I didn't have to use starting fluid right now that it would be running however it isn't and now its not.
Well I have plenty of leave time so it isn't a big deal other than I was wanting to save some more up. Well I now have the time today to edit the last Drinkbusters and get it posted.
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
I'm Hungry
I believe tonight would be a good night to head down to the pub at six and get some supper before rehearsals tonight.
The second act went relatively smooth. It was the entire act and 90% off book. All but the last two scenes went smoothly. Tonight I believe is act I in its entirety.
I am looking at the temperature right now and it is 35 out. I think we are headed into another cold snap after being about 60 yesterday. Since I am going to get supper tonight I don't have time to watch Lady in the Water. I am looking forward to this movie though.
I've heard mixed things about it but it sounds like it was marketed wrongly. We'll see I guess.
I am starting to become a bigger fan of Paul Giamatti, he is a pretty diverse talent. Bryce Dallas Howard is seemingly starting to become a very accomplished actress as well.
I am in the mood for something much lighter than M. I think I will be putting Open Season or Chicken Little at the top of my queue next....
The second act went relatively smooth. It was the entire act and 90% off book. All but the last two scenes went smoothly. Tonight I believe is act I in its entirety.
I am looking at the temperature right now and it is 35 out. I think we are headed into another cold snap after being about 60 yesterday. Since I am going to get supper tonight I don't have time to watch Lady in the Water. I am looking forward to this movie though.
I've heard mixed things about it but it sounds like it was marketed wrongly. We'll see I guess.
I am starting to become a bigger fan of Paul Giamatti, he is a pretty diverse talent. Bryce Dallas Howard is seemingly starting to become a very accomplished actress as well.
I am in the mood for something much lighter than M. I think I will be putting Open Season or Chicken Little at the top of my queue next....
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
M
This was in every way very much ahead of its time. This is a very powerful movie dealing with a very dark subject matter.
It is even a disturbing movie for these times. When Peter Lorre is pleading to a citizen's court that he can't help himself I hear the pleas of Andrea Yates, the woman who drowned her five children in Texas that it wasn't her fault. I hear the plea of Joseph Duncan who kidnapped and murdered children, it wasn't his fault.
No, there is no violence in this movie, it isn't scary in the least. It is a character drama, a portrayal of a sexual deviant that is just heart stopping. It shows the paranoia that Atlanta went through with the Atlanta child murders but only 50 years ahead of that time and in Germany.
This movie is very relevant today, probably far more relevant today than it has ever been before which is a very sad commentary on our society as a whole. I am sure that Fritz Lang thought that his movie would raise the awareness enough to end the problem once and for all or at least that there would be a cure for this behavior by 2007.
No, no cure outside of either locking them up forever or killing them. My compassion is nearly limitless for those oppressed, down trodden, helpless, or beaten up and kicked around but does it extend to a confessed child murderer? I'd say it does as long as that compassion is for the society that has been wronged. For the family of the victim. If the offender is in pain then we should do what it takes to alleviate that pain, preferably via a needle.
It is even a disturbing movie for these times. When Peter Lorre is pleading to a citizen's court that he can't help himself I hear the pleas of Andrea Yates, the woman who drowned her five children in Texas that it wasn't her fault. I hear the plea of Joseph Duncan who kidnapped and murdered children, it wasn't his fault.
No, there is no violence in this movie, it isn't scary in the least. It is a character drama, a portrayal of a sexual deviant that is just heart stopping. It shows the paranoia that Atlanta went through with the Atlanta child murders but only 50 years ahead of that time and in Germany.
This movie is very relevant today, probably far more relevant today than it has ever been before which is a very sad commentary on our society as a whole. I am sure that Fritz Lang thought that his movie would raise the awareness enough to end the problem once and for all or at least that there would be a cure for this behavior by 2007.
No, no cure outside of either locking them up forever or killing them. My compassion is nearly limitless for those oppressed, down trodden, helpless, or beaten up and kicked around but does it extend to a confessed child murderer? I'd say it does as long as that compassion is for the society that has been wronged. For the family of the victim. If the offender is in pain then we should do what it takes to alleviate that pain, preferably via a needle.
Coffee Card Heaven!!!!
Yes my friends it is true, the quick shop I get my coffee at has returned the coffee cards I so dearly miss and a source of simple pleasure for your humble writer.
I had to have been smiling very big when the lady at the counter told me to hold on for a second and that she had something for me! She always waits on me in the mornings and made sure I had a fresh card when I had my free cup.
The rehearsal went very well last night. The actors will be off book for act II tonight. It should be interesting!
The documentary is still rolling along nicely.
I have received two more movies from Netflix today which is a day earlier than the email estimate.
M and The Lady In The Water.
I am a Peter Lorre fan so M should be a very good experience of a movie that was decades ahead of its time. It deals with a child murderer and was filmed in 1931. Pretty disturbing material considering the date.
I had to have been smiling very big when the lady at the counter told me to hold on for a second and that she had something for me! She always waits on me in the mornings and made sure I had a fresh card when I had my free cup.
The rehearsal went very well last night. The actors will be off book for act II tonight. It should be interesting!
The documentary is still rolling along nicely.
I have received two more movies from Netflix today which is a day earlier than the email estimate.
M and The Lady In The Water.
I am a Peter Lorre fan so M should be a very good experience of a movie that was decades ahead of its time. It deals with a child murderer and was filmed in 1931. Pretty disturbing material considering the date.
Sunday, February 04, 2007
Super Sunday Victory!!!!
Here is what happened at the Super Bowl party!
First we did the square picky game where we buy squares that correspond to the score. Then no one has the square that wins each quarter until the fourth quarter so all the money carried over which I correctly picked!!!!
With this win I brought home just over a hundred dollars and so I tipped the host of the party ten bucks because he had such a nice spread.
As for the game, well like I said before I really didn't have a dog in the fight but I was going for the Bears UNTIL it became apparent that I had a chance at the money then I was rooting for whatever scoring needed to happen to net me the pot:)
I get home after a very nice time to find I Love New York on TV....man I feel like I need a shower....
First we did the square picky game where we buy squares that correspond to the score. Then no one has the square that wins each quarter until the fourth quarter so all the money carried over which I correctly picked!!!!
With this win I brought home just over a hundred dollars and so I tipped the host of the party ten bucks because he had such a nice spread.
As for the game, well like I said before I really didn't have a dog in the fight but I was going for the Bears UNTIL it became apparent that I had a chance at the money then I was rooting for whatever scoring needed to happen to net me the pot:)
I get home after a very nice time to find I Love New York on TV....man I feel like I need a shower....
Super Bowl Sunday!!!!
Who will win?
The Colts are favored and will probably pull away late in the game if they wear down the Bear's D but I really feel that if the Bears can get a few special team big plays then they will be victorious.
So my pick is the Bears. I really don't have a dog in this fight so I am really hoping for a good and close game!
So if you have any money at all....put it on the Colts and give the points.
Peyton Manning could very well win a big game and not become the next Dan Marino. Manning will likely own every single record in the book by the time he retires and is a shoe in Hall of Famer already but if he has no ring....well then I'm sure that deep down he would exchange the records for a championship.
I know I would.
Just have fun today, enjoy the game and the commercials!!!!
The Colts are favored and will probably pull away late in the game if they wear down the Bear's D but I really feel that if the Bears can get a few special team big plays then they will be victorious.
So my pick is the Bears. I really don't have a dog in this fight so I am really hoping for a good and close game!
So if you have any money at all....put it on the Colts and give the points.
Peyton Manning could very well win a big game and not become the next Dan Marino. Manning will likely own every single record in the book by the time he retires and is a shoe in Hall of Famer already but if he has no ring....well then I'm sure that deep down he would exchange the records for a championship.
I know I would.
Just have fun today, enjoy the game and the commercials!!!!
Saturday, February 03, 2007
A Piece Of Heaven
I was watching Kingdom of Heaven again today after The Bad Sleep Well.
There is a part of this movie that is very appealing to me. Balian has inherited his father's land in the Holy Land. A thousand acres of dusty nothing.
Out of this wilderness he builds something nice. They dig for water. Irrigate the crops. Forge an oasis out of the desert. I confess it is just a fantasy of mine. Yeah, long term readers of my blog will recognize the similarities between this and my post about the song "Please Come To Boston".
The setting is different but the sentiment is the same.
An isolated cabin in the mountains. A place to hide from the world with a loved one. Someplace that even on the coldest mountain night it is warm inside.
A place where the square footage is a place where nothing else exists except you and her, where all is right with the world and what isn't doesn't exist.
Yeah it is a hedonistic fantasy of self indulgence, truly it is.
Simplicity doesn't counter that.
There is a part of this movie that is very appealing to me. Balian has inherited his father's land in the Holy Land. A thousand acres of dusty nothing.
Out of this wilderness he builds something nice. They dig for water. Irrigate the crops. Forge an oasis out of the desert. I confess it is just a fantasy of mine. Yeah, long term readers of my blog will recognize the similarities between this and my post about the song "Please Come To Boston".
The setting is different but the sentiment is the same.
An isolated cabin in the mountains. A place to hide from the world with a loved one. Someplace that even on the coldest mountain night it is warm inside.
A place where the square footage is a place where nothing else exists except you and her, where all is right with the world and what isn't doesn't exist.
Yeah it is a hedonistic fantasy of self indulgence, truly it is.
Simplicity doesn't counter that.
OUCH!!!!
I don't know why but I had a headache all last night while sleeping.
I got up around 5 a.m. and took some aspirin.
I know it wasn't alcohol. I only had one drink and that was before 7 p.m. I felt pretty decent most of the evening at rehearsals except for my stomach. I had some spicy food and it really was starting to bother me after a while which is very unusual.
Spicy foods really don't bother me at all, in fact I enjoy them immensely since they don't hurt me. I don't know what the problem seems to be, I've had two headaches this past week and anyone who knows me has probably heard me tell them that when I was younger that I was prone to migraines. I used to have one nearly every day but the past few years I rarely get them anymore.
As I type this I still feel the headache. It is a dull ache now. I had a couple of cups of coffee and will take a hot shower. That usually helps relieve the ache.
Now I bring all of this up to tie it into a movie I am watching now.
The Bad Sleep Well.
This is Akira Kurosawa's version of Hamlet starring of course Toshiro Mifune. The setting is the corrupt corporate landscape of post war Japan. Steeped in corporate intrigue as Mifune's Nishi character sets about to avenge the death of his father.
This is a film noir, shot with strange reaching angles and lots of shadows. The plot is complex and twisting after a lingering opening sequence that reminded me of the Godfather's opening wedding scene.
Mifune is magnificent as usual, Kurosawa's direction is stellar, this isn't a masterpiece but it is a solid and enjoyable movie as the layers are slowly peeled away revealing the real plot.
I got up around 5 a.m. and took some aspirin.
I know it wasn't alcohol. I only had one drink and that was before 7 p.m. I felt pretty decent most of the evening at rehearsals except for my stomach. I had some spicy food and it really was starting to bother me after a while which is very unusual.
Spicy foods really don't bother me at all, in fact I enjoy them immensely since they don't hurt me. I don't know what the problem seems to be, I've had two headaches this past week and anyone who knows me has probably heard me tell them that when I was younger that I was prone to migraines. I used to have one nearly every day but the past few years I rarely get them anymore.
As I type this I still feel the headache. It is a dull ache now. I had a couple of cups of coffee and will take a hot shower. That usually helps relieve the ache.
Now I bring all of this up to tie it into a movie I am watching now.
The Bad Sleep Well.
This is Akira Kurosawa's version of Hamlet starring of course Toshiro Mifune. The setting is the corrupt corporate landscape of post war Japan. Steeped in corporate intrigue as Mifune's Nishi character sets about to avenge the death of his father.
This is a film noir, shot with strange reaching angles and lots of shadows. The plot is complex and twisting after a lingering opening sequence that reminded me of the Godfather's opening wedding scene.
Mifune is magnificent as usual, Kurosawa's direction is stellar, this isn't a masterpiece but it is a solid and enjoyable movie as the layers are slowly peeled away revealing the real plot.
Friday, February 02, 2007
Its Friday And Cold!
I'm kind of looking forward to today anyway.
I don't know why but I am. Rehearsals went pretty good last night but one of the actors is refusing to listen to Catina's direction on her character.
I've got my fingers crossed for a showdown on camera.
Before the rehearsal I was getting supper at the pub with Beersnob. I got a club sandwich, fries, a Bud Light, ice tea, and a coffee to go for $3.81!!!!
I used a prize envelope that the pub gave us last weekend. After the 1st of February you had to open it in front of a waitress and you get what was inside. I got ten bucks off of my ticket!!!!
It was like Christmas!!!!
After the rehearsal Catina and I met Chianti, Weezy, and Nick the boy intern at another club in which we relaxed a bit. Everyone chatted and I mostly listened being pretty darn tired at that point.
Going to have to start planning Weezy's last Drinkbusters episode. She is moving on the 17th and I'll miss her.
I don't know why but I am. Rehearsals went pretty good last night but one of the actors is refusing to listen to Catina's direction on her character.
I've got my fingers crossed for a showdown on camera.
Before the rehearsal I was getting supper at the pub with Beersnob. I got a club sandwich, fries, a Bud Light, ice tea, and a coffee to go for $3.81!!!!
I used a prize envelope that the pub gave us last weekend. After the 1st of February you had to open it in front of a waitress and you get what was inside. I got ten bucks off of my ticket!!!!
It was like Christmas!!!!
After the rehearsal Catina and I met Chianti, Weezy, and Nick the boy intern at another club in which we relaxed a bit. Everyone chatted and I mostly listened being pretty darn tired at that point.
Going to have to start planning Weezy's last Drinkbusters episode. She is moving on the 17th and I'll miss her.
Thursday, February 01, 2007
Snakes On A Dream
Yeah folks I actually watched Snakes on a Plane last night.
As long as you put your brain on pause and don't think about what you are watching, you might enjoy it.
I did balance that movie though with Burden of Dreams. A documentary about the filming of Fitzcarraldo.
This movie is a bit hard to describe so you might go to Amazon.com to look it up however Burden of Dreams is much easier. It is about the monumental construction of this movie and taking a 350 ton steam ship to the top of a mountain in the amazon jungle to be an opera house.
This is how everything can go wrong with a film and the struggle to keep your very own sanity as months and years go by, four years to be exact. To keep the investors from revolting against you, losing your two main actors after a few weeks of shooting, and really holding everything together.
Werner Herzog refused to settle. He was literally burdened with this dream of making this movie Fitzcarraldo.
How do you get that drive? That drive to refuse to give up when the whole world is against you, the weather is against you, the equipment is against you, the crew and cast turn against you, and a steam ship refuses to navigate a mountain?
I don't know. I have searched myself and I know that I can have that kind of drive about a couple of things but that is about it. Everything else has been worn down or away.
I suppose a dream is one of them and yeah....it can be a burden.
As long as you put your brain on pause and don't think about what you are watching, you might enjoy it.
I did balance that movie though with Burden of Dreams. A documentary about the filming of Fitzcarraldo.
This movie is a bit hard to describe so you might go to Amazon.com to look it up however Burden of Dreams is much easier. It is about the monumental construction of this movie and taking a 350 ton steam ship to the top of a mountain in the amazon jungle to be an opera house.
This is how everything can go wrong with a film and the struggle to keep your very own sanity as months and years go by, four years to be exact. To keep the investors from revolting against you, losing your two main actors after a few weeks of shooting, and really holding everything together.
Werner Herzog refused to settle. He was literally burdened with this dream of making this movie Fitzcarraldo.
How do you get that drive? That drive to refuse to give up when the whole world is against you, the weather is against you, the equipment is against you, the crew and cast turn against you, and a steam ship refuses to navigate a mountain?
I don't know. I have searched myself and I know that I can have that kind of drive about a couple of things but that is about it. Everything else has been worn down or away.
I suppose a dream is one of them and yeah....it can be a burden.
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