A Filmmaker's Story

Captains Courageous And His Rascals

noreply@blogger.com (blu) — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 12:26:00 +0000

The Date was less than 100% last night so I made her stay on the couch and I put in the Spencer Tracy classic, Captains Courageous featuring Freddie Bartholomew. The Date and Thing 2 were glued to the screen with rapt attention.

Zip played on the floor, Scrat was trying to make up his mind to be a lap kitty or not, turns out not, Rocket found his way to my lap. All in all it was a great movie watching experience:)

Next up was a disc from my Little Rascals collection! Hal Roach really had a good thing going! Yeah they are a little crude (and un-PC) by today's standards but they were fun and millions of children grew up watching and loving them.

I was looking for a specific episode but couldn't remember the title so I'll have to do some episode reading tonight to find the right title. Spanky and Alfalfa were private eyes and they get locked in a fun house. Scary for a kid but it watches as intended for an adult!

Yeah it was a good evening:)

Short Week

noreply@blogger.com (blu) — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 12:20:00 +0000

That's a good thing too:) This is going to be a good week, it kicked off with a NASCAR league championship, a win over Skate in my keeper league (effectively ending his season and the final nail in mine) and a quiet and peaceful Saturday.

The turkey will get moved from the deep freeze today and start the thawing process, it'll take a while. The ham is ready to be baked. Groceries have been bought, the house has been rearranged, and all is right with the world.

I enjoy four day weekends. It'd be nice if more weeks had them but then again I guess that would take the special out of them and it'd be like any other week. Last week I finished all of my paper work to change beneficiaries, insurance is updated, and dependents are added. It wasn't as hard as I imagined it would be and now I don't have to worry with it.

All in all it's a good start to the holiday season:)

Victorious!

noreply@blogger.com (blu) — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 02:37:00 +0000

I won Cigar Asylum's fantasy NASCAR contest! First place out of seventeen teams and the only team to break ten thousand points:)

Jimmie Johnson won his fourth consecutive title and I won my first in my inaugural foray into this league! The margin of victory was one hundred sixteen points and I put points onto second place this week. I had a good qualifying round and went from fifty seven points to seventy and gained the remaining points by performance today.

I finished the season with twenty eight top tens, sixteen top fives, and seven wins totaling ten thousand fourteen points! Second place had twenty eight top tens, eighteen top fives, and three wins for a total of nine thousand eight hundred ninety eight points.

What a good start to a good week!

Quiet Day

noreply@blogger.com (blu) — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 13:57:00 +0000

And it felt really nice:) The Date had to work open to close. The guy who was supposed to go to work at four called in sick and they didn't have anyone else to work. We had dinner plans at six but canceled them. We actually wanted to enjoy the meal but she would have been rushed to get ready and would have had to go back to work afterward.

We now will have a nice meal at a later date. Thing 1 went out with her bf and played video games for hours on end, Thing 2 had a birthday to go to. That left me home alone with The Venture Brothers!

A fabulous cartoon series that is a take off on the classic Johnny Quest, not the idiotic remake. Johnny Quest is a legendary series, bad guys got killed, good guys won. There was a clear definition between good and evil and there was NO Political Correctness on understanding the villain's viewpoint.

The Venture Brothers features Rusty Venture, a washed up (and standing in the shadow of his legendary genius father) scientist who has a one man killing machine as a body guard, Brock Sampson. Brock is easily my favorite character, a muscle car driving, cigarette smoking, John Wayne of a character who does his job with either his bare hands or his ever present knife at his side.

The actual brothers are Hank and Dean Venture, the main charge of Sampson and you do tend to wonder how well Brock does his job as the boys get killed off numerous times. The Monarch is Dr. Venture's main archenemy with his ever present henchmen. The Monarch is inept at almost everything he does but he is a pleasure to watch as his hatred for Dr. Venture and the family just exceeds rational thought.

The show is irreverent, crude, at times vulgar, but always a self parody and satiric. The season three DVD set is uncensored so you get the whole enchilada and more. Watch it from start to finish (season four is airing now on Cartoon Network) and you can knock off a day on the couch:)

My Mistake

noreply@blogger.com (blu) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 13:42:00 +0000

After all of the running around yesterday I did and errands that were erranded I forgot to get coffee! The Date has to have coffee in the morning, it's safer for everyone involved.

Right now she is sound asleep but I know it won't be long before she is awake. So I'm going to put on my hooded coat and head down to the store and get a bag of coffee for her first thing this morning after posting this.

The smoker at my dad's place will not work. It was older than I thought and had rusted through in several places. I'm stuck with an oven and baking the turkey and then later on the ham for Beersnob's Thanksgiving with football:)

I had my second film festival meeting last night. I've got to say I'm thrilled at the progress being made thus far. This town can use a film festival! We plan on utilizing the Theatre as well and with any luck it might bring them some revenue!

Had an awesome lunch yesterday with Witchy, a great evening with Beersnob, Bunnicula, Skate, Invader, Witchy, and of course The Date (for whom I'm now headed out into the cold to get her coffee so she can have it when she wakes up in a very short while).

I Love Three Day Weekends!

noreply@blogger.com (blu) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:14:00 +0000

Yep I'm off this Friday and next. One of the benefits of my job and one of the benefits of working there over seventeen years. I have utilities to pay today, went shopping for two Thanksgiving dinners last night, headed to my dad's place today to see if his smoker is still there or if it has been stolen.

It was barely used and brand new before he passed and I know he'd be proud if it were used for Thanksgiving smoking! I'm really looking forward to smoking a turkey and a ham this year. The turkey for my blood family, the ham for my friend family who is meeting at Beersnob's later in the day.

Turns out I'm heads up with Skate today in my keeper league and Ricky Williams actually scored! Amazing...it really is. My season ended a few weeks ago but its a building project. I've got a decent chance at winning this week. It would likely end Skate's season which would be regrettable but its the game we play.

Watched The League last night, this show keeps getting better and better! The show really focuses on the lives of the owners with references of the league thrown in as a supplement. I can see some parallels between the fictional league and the keeper league. Mainly in the friendships and the smack talk, everything else is really overblown and embellished for comedic effect.

I Love Sirius Holiday Channels!

noreply@blogger.com (blu) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:25:00 +0000

They turned them on Monday and I've been enjoying Christmas songs all week thus far:) It really puts you in the mood for the holiday season!

Channels three and four are on right now while they will turn on a country themed channel on sixty two in December. Three is modern Christmas songs, four is laced with classic Christmas songs that you grew up with making this the most wonderful time of the year!

I set my fantasy NASCAR lineup last night. If I pull off a two hundred and fifty point day my opponent will have to hit over three hundred. Very good weeks are in the three hundreds so he will have to be a top five team while I just have to be top ten to win. I did my homework, saved selected drivers so I have first class talent at the end of the season and now I'm poised to win the whole thing.

Giddy really isn't the word if I win, my humidor is getting low anyway and a win like this will easily replenish my supply for the Winter months:) There is a prize for second as well which would be nice but it's not first place.

Stupid Ether

noreply@blogger.com (blu) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 12:19:00 +0000

So I go out to warm up my truck this morning, I leave the ether in my truck all the time as my glow plugs needs fixing. I didn't buy the usual brand I normally do for some reason and now the cap fell off and it won't spray right.

So now I'm headed to a quick shop to find a can of ether to start my truck so it can warm up:)

You know something, it's alright! In the scheme of things buying a can of ether before you normally do is no big deal, I'm just out of the house earlier than I would otherwise be but I'm coming back quickly!

Three Episodes Of SG:U

noreply@blogger.com (blu) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:29:00 +0000

Over the past three weeks I've let the episodes build up. Last night while The Date was working I took the opportunity to watch all three episodes to pass the evening away.

I fixed some hot chocolate with Irish cream and a dab of Kahlua. Awesome way to keep the chill out:) The drama started immediately and never let up. People are starting to deal with the fact that they are billions of light years away from home and slim to no chance of returning. That doesn't stop the finest minds on Earth from trying though as they believe they can fix the situation while the one expert on board says no, they can't.

I love the fact this is a serialized show. I like my shows to continue instead of the X of the week situational shows. This one fits the bill, especially so since it is practically the only scifi on TV right now. Yeah I'm discounting V as I hate remakes. I do appreciate the swipe at the Obama administration though:)

Regardless SG:U is great drama and worthy of several seasons:)

Sons of Anarchy ride tonight! Another wonderful serialized show and the best show on TV right now. It'll be interesting to see who the Sons take their revenge on tonight as they learned last week that....well you know that I hate spoilers so you should really catch the show yourself;)

Monday Monday

noreply@blogger.com (blu) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:23:00 +0000

I actually like Monday. It's one more day for anything to happen and since Monday isn't going away anytime soon I figure I might as well like it. It's not like they will ever cancel it.

The only way it wouldn't apply to anyone is if they have no job in which case the entire calendar wouldn't apply to you anymore. Lottery winners? Yeah Monday wouldn't apply to them either but since the odds are more in your favor of being struck by lightning while being attacked by a shark....in South Dakota.

So Monday is here to stay:) You can't have a weekend without a Monday to kick things off for you so I'd suggest that Monday get a better PR rep and get out there and change people's minds and hearts:)

Go get'em Monday, you're not that bad!

Regaining My Winning Edge

noreply@blogger.com (blu) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 00:35:00 +0000

That's right! I recaptured first place in my NASCAR league! Not only that but I have a fifty seven point lead going into the final race while winning this week outright!

My seventh win of the season, three more than anyone else and the third of the Fall session. Couple all of that with season stats of twenty seven top tens, sixteen top fives, and seven wins and you have a great season in the making:)

I'm glad I saved some of my star drivers until this final leg. It's difficult to wait on some of your starters but you just have to save some of them. I'm thrilled to be in this position, especially out of seventeen teams!

It is still possible to lose but it would be a perfect race from my opponent and my team, headed by Jimmie Johnson, collapsing in spectacular fashion. It can happen but it isn't likely to happen if Johnson does what he does best.

Homestead is a bland race track too, not very exciting and really an anticlimactic race to finish a marathon long season on. My starters from this week might very well do the same next week. I'm excited! It would be great to win this league, it'll pay over thirty cigars:)

Nice Trip

noreply@blogger.com (blu) — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 13:05:00 +0000

The trip to the City was nice. Thing 2 played her heart out along with the best seventh graders in the state in Honor Orchestra. We grabbed a going home snack from Walmart and headed home so The Date could get to work on time.

Mom texted me on the way home to see if I could give tech support for her computer. Stopped off and fixed it while The Date and Thing 2 bonded with their new mother in law/grandmother.

It's raining out right now and under fifty degrees. I believe we are in for a cold snap very soon. Not a lot of plans today. My NASCAR team cuts its deficit from first place to twenty seven points yesterday! I had eighteen points from qualifying while first place had none! I'm closing the distance fast and I'll take first place this weekend or next weekend (which is the last weekend of the season).

My football teams are in definite looking to next year mode now. On paper they were outstanding, their on field performance wasn't. That's why I love this game and hate this game:)

Long Day!

noreply@blogger.com (blu) — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 12:33:00 +0000

Friday was a very long day. Thing 2 had to get to the school by 6:15 yesterday morning. She had a rehearsal in the City for the North Central Honor Orchestra. Today she has to be back in the City by 9:30 this morning.

It was a busy day at work and it was all week long. I was by myself all week which is nice from time to time. I am about the only one in my shop who can handle being that kind of busy for a week so I don't mind it:)

Last night Beersnob and I as well as Bunnicula (formerly Chis the filmmaking partner and three others I don't have nicknames for right now) attended a meeting to assemble a film festival in town. I am very encouraged that this could happen! The lady in charge is very likable and ready to make this happen.

Afterward we headed to a restaurant to meet for Teehee's bday dinner and to talk things over. Skate, Invader (formerly Jassie), Court, Bunnicula, Beersnob, BR (Bunnicula's Roommate, there you go folks, on the fly nickname making in action), and of course Teehee. The Date was able to make it by for a few minutes after work to help celebrate Teehee's big day.

It was a blast from start to end! All topics were bandied about including the Zombie Apocalypse of Doom and where we will be headed once it happens. I believe the hardest thing we will have to deal with is pretending not to be excited that it's happening.

Lastly but not leastly it was my one week anniversary!

All in all it was a productive and great day:)

Friday Part Two

noreply@blogger.com (blu) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 12:18:00 +0000

I could really deal with a holiday in the middle of every week.
Work two days, one day off, two more days, and then a weekend. Yeah every week like that would be great!

It's alright though, I can deal with five straight days of work and two days off. That's the American way:) Last night The Date, Beersnob, and Chianti went to Bdubs for a bit and watched a little of the Thursday night game. We had a short discussion on the NFL network and how Beersnob doesn't like the exclusive games on the channel.

Our local cable company doesn't carry NFL so the majority of the town doesn't get the Thursday game. I on the other hand have DirecTV and not only the NFL network but the Sunday Ticket:) I couldn't ask for more football! I'm thinking Beersnob might be considering a dish before long, LOL!

I'd like to give a shout out to Teehee, it's his birthday today.

Great Day Off:)

noreply@blogger.com (blu) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 12:26:00 +0000

Woke up, blogged, watched Venture Brothers for a while (and The Date watched with me) then we went to Applebee's for lunch with Reporter, Skate, and Beersnob.

Topics of conversation included how steak should be cooked and the zombie apocalypse of doom and our roles when it happens. Then Beersnob and I picked up his broken plasma TV and took it to his garage. It appears that the capacitors are out according to a website so that will likely be a future project to fix.

Then we sat outside and had a couple of cigars until at 4:30 I had to pick up Thing 1 from soccer practice. All in all it was a great day off:) The temperature was great, not a lot of weather to speak of, and had the company of The Date and friends:)

Who could ask for more?

What If I Said

noreply@blogger.com (blu) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:32:00 +0000

Disney and Pixar put out an expose on mortality, regret, living in the past, and unaccomplished dreams? Kind of deep subjects for a child to digest but they successfully did it while mixing in plenty of sadness. The more I watched it though the more I thought I was sort of watching It's A Wonderful Life. One of my favorite movies of all time.

Up is a movie I really had to have time to think about when it was over. There is so much sentimentality laced within so many scenes that Frank Capra could have been the inspiration behind it and easily directed it.

The foundation on which this movie is built, on which every topic I listed above stands is family and love. This was one really good movie if you can stand it tugging on your heartstrings every few scenes.

The DVD transfer was flawless, the audio track was booming and clear, the content was better for an adult than a child though. Yeah there was plenty of comic relief when things were emotional so this might be more along the lines of Old Yeller as far as life lessons go for a kid. It is an animation masterpiece though and the story is equal to the animation. Watch it.

Sons of Anarchy is starting to wind down for the season. Last night was a real turning point in the show and things are starting to be revealed that were once secret. The crimes committed early on in the season that Samcro was holding off on (and didn't know about) are now going to come to a head. Last night proves why this is the best drama on TV today. Outlaws doing outlaw things that no normal law abiding citizen would do but outlaws you get behind and support.

I see a fully satisfying conclusion in store in a few more shows!

Today is Veteran's Day. If you see a Veteran give them a thank you. They did a lot for you that you'll never know about.

Amazing Surprise!

noreply@blogger.com (blu) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 12:32:00 +0000

So there I am after a meeting at the Theatre about the lights for the next show. I'm on my way home when I get a text from Skate if he can come over in a bit. I had the garter he caught from the wedding, I found it Saturday morning and told him I'd hold it for him. I was sure that was what he was coming over for and to watch some football.

I was on the phone offering tech support on video codecs and Skate knocks on the door. I let him in and give him hand gestures to relax and have a seat. He and The Date sit and talk while I continue my tech support.

I'm actually thrilled to give this support by the way as the person I'm giving it to always wants to help me fix something or anytime I need something he is right there and will stay until there is nothing left to do. He never asks for anything in return or accepts payment, ever. I keep telling him to please call me when he needs something and he does every once in a while when he has a computer problem.

Ok back to the post, Skate is sitting on the couch when he gets up and says lets go out back. Perplexed The Date and I head to the patio door and I see a fire outside on the patio. I turn on the light and there is a big Sputnik looking fire pit! It is amazing! It is a big hollow ball made of steel screen with a door that raises and you throw wood in there. The screen allows you to see the fire from any angle and also keeps the sparks to a minimum.

Out jumps Mr. Feeny and Teehee from the shadows! I finish up my tech support and we all sit down to watch the fire grow:) We have a great talk for nearly three hours! Witchy came over to bring Thing 2 back home after babysitting most of the evening and she loved it too!

Skate explains the intricacies of the plan and how it arrived on the day of the wedding and they couldn't do anything about it until today. He was a distraction while Teehee and Mr. Feeny placed it on the patio and got it going, it was a great story!

The Date and I have the best family ever:) I look forward to growing old with all of them and having many decades of fun and frivolity with each of them!

Who Had A Good Weekend?

noreply@blogger.com (blu) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 12:19:00 +0000

I did! From the well documented Friday all the way up to yesterday evening with many of the same family members for football Sunday, it was one to remember!

The only fantasy team I had that did well was my NASCAR team and I cut his lead from ninety nine points to forty five! I've got two more races to take the lead!

Last night I broke out the celebratory cigars for Beersnob and Teehee. I've been saving Padron's when I came across them and had four in my humidor. I took the one saved for me, a Padron 1927 80th Anniversario and two 1964s for Beersnob and Teehee.

Special occasion and Friday night counted as a big one. Teehee hadn't had the Padron experience yet. I'm glad he got to share his first one with the two of us. Beersnob has had a handful of Padron's before with me and each one has been magnificent!

You simply know you are having a quality cigar if it has Padron on the cigar band. Side note, my every day cigar if I should win the lottery....the same one I had last night but at thirty dollars apiece you can tell why I saved it for a special occasion:)

Day Two

noreply@blogger.com (blu) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 13:06:00 +0000

I've still not come up with a good nickname for The Date yet but after the reception while we were at the after party in a club she asked me if I felt any different. I, being the honest and sometimes to a fault person I am replied, "Not really." At that moment I wondered if I had said the wrong thing but to my relief she said, "Me neither!"

That might have been my first "Wheww" moment.

Since she has been understandably giddy. I'm not sure if it is because of me or the present we received from Witchy. The gray, walking, meowing present:)

One more wedding thing, the cards got separated from the presents at one point when I picked them up Saturday morning. We received many generous and gracious gifts but the one we can't figure out who it was from is a family album that was engraved with Friday's date.

We know all of the other presents but we want to make sure that everyone is properly thanked and we can't figure this one so any help would be appreciated in fixing this embarrassing mistake on my part.

My fantasy football lineups today look like normal as everyone is off their bye weeks but Percy Harvin. My NASCAR team has ninety nine points to make up in three races. My opponent has used up most of his drivers already while I have Gordon and Johnson for the remaining races as well as some quality B list drivers. I'm in no danger of slipping to third as I hold a commanding lead over the other fifteen drivers except one. I'll catch him!

Wonderful Evening!

noreply@blogger.com (blu) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 14:16:00 +0000

From all of the preparation to the after party at a club everything couldn't have been better! I had to arrange for a guest blogger for the ceremony, Teehee, and then at the reception I handed my blog over to Skate. Both were awesome in their duties!

Two more wonderful friends showed up after ten at the reception Mr. Feeny (again formerly Baker) and Red. Everyone had so much fun in the celebration!

I want to keep my Northern Brothers in my thoughts as one of them had surgery yesterday. I pray you have a swift recovery!

Thank you everyone for helping make this one of the best nights ever:)

Receptionary Enjoyment

noreply@blogger.com (blu) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 02:48:00 +0000

The ceremony went very well and we moved onto the reception!

Candy is being passed out as the newly weds share their first dance.

Smiles are abound, including the usualy stoic groom. Surprised at the lack of tears.

The food supply is almost exhausted, thankfully the alcohol is abundant.

The background music is quite delightful. It is being provided Elton Joel. All of it is played from memory. Really talented young man.

A lot of well dressed good looking people are still here being social. The groom left his t-shirt at home is adorned with a sharp looking black dress shirt with subtle stripes.

Beersnob continues to look for people to add to the video.

-- Post From My iPhone

The Ceremony

noreply@blogger.com (blu) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 01:16:00 +0000

Definatly moving along. The guy is even entertaining.

I am surprised TC hasn't killed me yet. Blogging during a wedding...HA

The intamcy of this ceremony is...wow. Awwww...blu and his the one.

Tears....

Sadly I don't know the lords prayer....

What a kiss....
-- Post From My iPhone

The Minutes Before

noreply@blogger.com (blu) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:55:00 +0000

Everything is set, my shirt is tucked in, much to my dismay...at least my jeans are acceptable although The One accused them of being stained earlier.

Tricia is being so difficult not letting me blog during the ceremony. I'll show her.
-- Post From My iPhone

All Prepared

noreply@blogger.com (blu) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 23:51:00 +0000

Everything is as ready at the Theatre as it can get. I'll have a guest blogger to blog the ceremony while I'm busy.

We have a plethora of food and drink! The license is all squared away, Beersnob is going to shoot the ceremony.

Witchy is taking care of The Date right now and getting her and The Things ready.

T is dealing with the bulk of the food and Chianti is on music.

I've got Engineer doing lights and sound

-- Post From My iPhone

Here

noreply@blogger.com (blu) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:25:00 +0000

The day two weeks in the making is here. It's been fairly smooth thus far and I expect it to continue:) Everything is decorated, food is ordered, and guests are notified!

I have some cooking to do today to make sure we have more than enough food for everyone:) Witchy and I are going grocery shopping later on for the ingredients.

The Things are officially playing hooky today. I'll be blogging from when I get there to when we leave the theatre tonight, well except for the times when I'm a little busy with the ceremony.

The Date is still sleeping away since there is no reason to get her up right now. Thing 2 is in the bathroom, Thing 1 is still out cold up stairs and will probably be sleeping well into the morning.

I'm looking forward to all of it and spending time with all of my family tonight!