Happy birthday to me......happy birthday to me!
If I were Elvis I'd be dead now.
Tuesday, May 31, 2005
Monday, May 30, 2005
I had to be SUCH a parent this weekend.
We were having a wonderful weekend. Both Johnny and Jimmy were here. There were two friends with kids parties on Saturday which kept us busy and then my friend Bruce and his family were in town. As an adopted member of the family we ended up there for a spaghetti dinner which turned into swimming in his sister's pool until almost 11PM.
Sunday was a whole day spent back at his sister's for a cookout and hours marinating in chlorine. They even had a cake for my birthday. The boys were getting along, even though John had fought hard to make this trip solo. It was fantastic.
Until we got home. I was ready to fire up a movie and they complained that we were out of soda. I gave them some money and sent them off to the convenience store just down the street; a simple 15 minute walk back and forth.
After 20 minutes I began to get concerned.
Then at thirty minutes I was out at the end of the drive way peering into the 10:30PM darkness at the end of the street.
15 minuets later I was in the car and speeding off with adrenalin pumping.
The convenience store that were headed for was closed. I assumed they might have headed for another one just down the street. Off I sped.
Let me take this moment to describe myself at this point. I had jumped into he car clad only in shorts and a t-shirt. My hair was frazzled from a day in pool water and was pulled back in a single pony tail. Remebering, though, this was hair that had spent that day soaking in chlorinated water; so it was thin, brittle and created a wild "Manson" look as I stuck my wild-eyed head into the Cumberland Farms asking in anyone had seen my two wayward boys. I'm sure the fact my forehead was a sun-burned red only added to this lunatic-like image.
They, apparently had not been there, so I headed off in another direction towards the only two remaining convenience stores all the time rehearsing my call to the sheriff's office.
I did find them about four blocks away from the trailer on their return trip, soda bottles in hand. I would have loved to have been able to hear their conversation as I turned the van around but it was drowned out by the screeching tires.
As soon as the door opened, the excuses began to fly. "SHUT UP!" I yelled and the air was immediately sucked from the van.
We returned home and I ordered them inside while I tried to calm myself and put in some semblance of order what I wanted to say. While the adrenalin rush has wiped most of it from my memory I do believe I made very salient points about how difficult a divorce their mother and I had and how not so well received a phone call would be telling her I had somehow "misplaced" the both of them. They tried defending themselves but like every lecture I remembered from my youth I had an answer for everything they said that immediately shut them down to mute piles on the furniture.
I tired to spread the blame and vent the anger at the both of them evenly. One of the biggest issues I hit on was how we were working towards John being able to make the trip by rail by himself and that a screw-up like this certainly wouldn't help prove his point.
I didn't rant, I didn't rave and I don't think I really raised my voice more than once as I very clearly laid out just how pissed off I was. I did channel my mother as I said "Well, no, you didn't think". I was fair enough to them that, when it was over, I admitted exactly how much "like a parent" I sounded.
Before they went to sleep I told them both, separately and privately, that I realized that I might have overreacted a slight bit, but that the stakes are high and they did seem to see my point.
Of course, as I type this now I remember from my own youth, that I usually just let a lot of it go in one ear and right out the other. Time will tell just how deep genetics goes.
We were having a wonderful weekend. Both Johnny and Jimmy were here. There were two friends with kids parties on Saturday which kept us busy and then my friend Bruce and his family were in town. As an adopted member of the family we ended up there for a spaghetti dinner which turned into swimming in his sister's pool until almost 11PM.
Sunday was a whole day spent back at his sister's for a cookout and hours marinating in chlorine. They even had a cake for my birthday. The boys were getting along, even though John had fought hard to make this trip solo. It was fantastic.
Until we got home. I was ready to fire up a movie and they complained that we were out of soda. I gave them some money and sent them off to the convenience store just down the street; a simple 15 minute walk back and forth.
After 20 minutes I began to get concerned.
Then at thirty minutes I was out at the end of the drive way peering into the 10:30PM darkness at the end of the street.
15 minuets later I was in the car and speeding off with adrenalin pumping.
The convenience store that were headed for was closed. I assumed they might have headed for another one just down the street. Off I sped.
Let me take this moment to describe myself at this point. I had jumped into he car clad only in shorts and a t-shirt. My hair was frazzled from a day in pool water and was pulled back in a single pony tail. Remebering, though, this was hair that had spent that day soaking in chlorinated water; so it was thin, brittle and created a wild "Manson" look as I stuck my wild-eyed head into the Cumberland Farms asking in anyone had seen my two wayward boys. I'm sure the fact my forehead was a sun-burned red only added to this lunatic-like image.
They, apparently had not been there, so I headed off in another direction towards the only two remaining convenience stores all the time rehearsing my call to the sheriff's office.
I did find them about four blocks away from the trailer on their return trip, soda bottles in hand. I would have loved to have been able to hear their conversation as I turned the van around but it was drowned out by the screeching tires.
As soon as the door opened, the excuses began to fly. "SHUT UP!" I yelled and the air was immediately sucked from the van.
We returned home and I ordered them inside while I tried to calm myself and put in some semblance of order what I wanted to say. While the adrenalin rush has wiped most of it from my memory I do believe I made very salient points about how difficult a divorce their mother and I had and how not so well received a phone call would be telling her I had somehow "misplaced" the both of them. They tried defending themselves but like every lecture I remembered from my youth I had an answer for everything they said that immediately shut them down to mute piles on the furniture.
I tired to spread the blame and vent the anger at the both of them evenly. One of the biggest issues I hit on was how we were working towards John being able to make the trip by rail by himself and that a screw-up like this certainly wouldn't help prove his point.
I didn't rant, I didn't rave and I don't think I really raised my voice more than once as I very clearly laid out just how pissed off I was. I did channel my mother as I said "Well, no, you didn't think". I was fair enough to them that, when it was over, I admitted exactly how much "like a parent" I sounded.
Before they went to sleep I told them both, separately and privately, that I realized that I might have overreacted a slight bit, but that the stakes are high and they did seem to see my point.
Of course, as I type this now I remember from my own youth, that I usually just let a lot of it go in one ear and right out the other. Time will tell just how deep genetics goes.
Sunday, May 22, 2005
For what are the Sith getting REVENGE?
That was the first thought I had as the scroll started on my third viewing. Who gives a frak about trade federations when we're dying to know whether Palpetine was the apprentice of Darth Plagueis. Lucas teases us with that story. Imagine the sweeping story of power and greed, of the rise and fall of the Sith followed by Vader's ascension. Episode II cooked because it focused directly on that story. Ever since "Phantom" came out we all walked out of the movie scratching our heads wondering where Lucas was going will all that boring crap. Apparently, the answer was "NOWEHRE"!
Another tease from Lucas was the mention of Qui Gon. I am going to be royally pissed off if that's going to be one of his "Special Edition" added scenes for the future DVD release. Damn it, George we don't go to your movies to wait for extra releases we go to see the dang thing as a whole in the theater.
A major missed opportunity, which could have been handled with one or two simple lines of dialogue, was Anakin's lightsaber. In "A New Hope" Ben gives the weapon to Luke saying, "You father wanted you to have this when you were old enough..." Imagine the emotional impact of Anakin referencing that same line when he learns he's to be a father.
The defeat of Anakin (Sorry, I can't bring myself to calling him Vader until he's in the suit) was an emotional dud. We have been waiting 26 years for this moment. Ben is supposed to kick his ass and knock him into the lava not tease him with "I've got the high ground" and then slice off his legs. Since when were Vader's legs prosthetics anyway? Then he burns up simply be accident after the fight is over and Ben just skulks away? Wimp out. This is supposed to be Judas kissing Christ in the garden.....this is supposed to be a ropadope...instead we get "Hey, look, your shoe's untied"!!! Perfect set up and punch line would be (that missed opportunity again) Qui Gon coming to Ben and telling him what he must do to Anakin and then Ben throwing him to his fate.
"Wipe the protocol driod's memory".....LAME!
How many women out there would want an audience when they were giving birth like Padme had?
Where did Ben keep getting all those robes he kept taking off every time he had a fight and never retreived?
The job to have in thois galaxy is the owner of "Prosthetics R US".
One more Jedi dangles precariously from a ledge and I'll scream!
The Wookiees should have been subtiteled. althoug, that was a nice "Apocalypse Now" homage in the fly-over of the Wookee beach.
I wanted to see Anakin slay the younglings in a similar fashion to what he did to the Sand People in "Clones". Apparently, it is in the novelization it just would have made his turn to the Dark Side even more horrific and tie it in with the previous chapter showing that this turn had actually been happening for quite some time.
Just how long does it take women from Naboo to carry a child to term? I was confused by the scene after Ben leaves to chase Grevious. There was another one of Anakin's nightmares and then Anakin talks with Padme about having found a way to save her from his nightmares. She walks out looking like she's 5 months pregnant. Anakin talks with her about Ben having been there just that morning. The apparent pregnant stomach implies months had gone by. Stop shaking your head at me; other people said the same thing. One little line referencing how long until they're born would have saved that. Looking at one of the early scripts which made it online shows a scene with that visit from Ben. Look forward to seeing that on the DVD release, I'm sure.
What about the memories Leia had about her mother? "She always seemed so sad." I know it was dramatically correct for Padme to die but didn't Organa's wife look happy at the end of the movie finally getting to adopt a baby girl. Why did she have to make her sad?
I will say that Anakin's slide into the dark side worked better for me this time around. The seduction by Palpetine is fantastic. All the way through you can still see his inner turmoil which continues through to the end of his life in "Jedi".
The CGI work is a mixed bag. While Lucas still didn't seem to want to fill every square inch of the screen with it like he did in "Clones" he still seems hesitant to have his actors on the screen without something happening in the background. The animated Dooku and newborn babies were distracting. If anyone does the first fully CGI cast movie; I'd put my money on Lucasfilm.
The music was phenomenal; another Oscar for Williams. From the first notes of the film, when you see the Separatists ships looming over Couriscant and the timpany are pounding away you know it's going to be a dark film. Then as Anakin and Ben fly in you hear "Luke's theme". That got my adrenalin going.
It was nice to see humor return. You definitely got a feel for the interplay between Anakin and Ben which echoed back to their saber fight in "A New Hope". We finally get to see Anakin as "the best fighter pilot in the galaxy".
I do really like this movie; don't get me wrong. It is a flawed masterpiece. You might also say, "Who the hell are you to second guess the director". I've been addicted to this series since 1977; I'm a little emotionally invested in it. These pre-quels have never gotten anywhere near the originals until this one and it still missed the mark, if only by a fraction. There is a definite charm that has been lost since "Jedi". It's nice that Lucas has all these CGI wonders he can work with but to quote one of his own characters, "Don't be too proud of this technological terror you've constructed..." While he's got the vision the way he wants it he's still missing something about the heart of the story. While the coolest moment of the movie was Yoda knocking over those two guards with the flick of a wrist that still can't beat the simple performance of Frank Oz and a couple of pounds of latex. There was a sense of "being home" when we saw the interior of Organa's blockade runner for the first time on 26 years. You could tell it wasn't a CGI interior and it felt like a Star Wars movie again.
Definitely the best of these three. Where it ranks with the other might have to wait until I can watch them in storytelling order. I'll get back to you after Christmas.
That was the first thought I had as the scroll started on my third viewing. Who gives a frak about trade federations when we're dying to know whether Palpetine was the apprentice of Darth Plagueis. Lucas teases us with that story. Imagine the sweeping story of power and greed, of the rise and fall of the Sith followed by Vader's ascension. Episode II cooked because it focused directly on that story. Ever since "Phantom" came out we all walked out of the movie scratching our heads wondering where Lucas was going will all that boring crap. Apparently, the answer was "NOWEHRE"!
Another tease from Lucas was the mention of Qui Gon. I am going to be royally pissed off if that's going to be one of his "Special Edition" added scenes for the future DVD release. Damn it, George we don't go to your movies to wait for extra releases we go to see the dang thing as a whole in the theater.
A major missed opportunity, which could have been handled with one or two simple lines of dialogue, was Anakin's lightsaber. In "A New Hope" Ben gives the weapon to Luke saying, "You father wanted you to have this when you were old enough..." Imagine the emotional impact of Anakin referencing that same line when he learns he's to be a father.
The defeat of Anakin (Sorry, I can't bring myself to calling him Vader until he's in the suit) was an emotional dud. We have been waiting 26 years for this moment. Ben is supposed to kick his ass and knock him into the lava not tease him with "I've got the high ground" and then slice off his legs. Since when were Vader's legs prosthetics anyway? Then he burns up simply be accident after the fight is over and Ben just skulks away? Wimp out. This is supposed to be Judas kissing Christ in the garden.....this is supposed to be a ropadope...instead we get "Hey, look, your shoe's untied"!!! Perfect set up and punch line would be (that missed opportunity again) Qui Gon coming to Ben and telling him what he must do to Anakin and then Ben throwing him to his fate.
"Wipe the protocol driod's memory".....LAME!
How many women out there would want an audience when they were giving birth like Padme had?
Where did Ben keep getting all those robes he kept taking off every time he had a fight and never retreived?
The job to have in thois galaxy is the owner of "Prosthetics R US".
One more Jedi dangles precariously from a ledge and I'll scream!
The Wookiees should have been subtiteled. althoug, that was a nice "Apocalypse Now" homage in the fly-over of the Wookee beach.
I wanted to see Anakin slay the younglings in a similar fashion to what he did to the Sand People in "Clones". Apparently, it is in the novelization it just would have made his turn to the Dark Side even more horrific and tie it in with the previous chapter showing that this turn had actually been happening for quite some time.
Just how long does it take women from Naboo to carry a child to term? I was confused by the scene after Ben leaves to chase Grevious. There was another one of Anakin's nightmares and then Anakin talks with Padme about having found a way to save her from his nightmares. She walks out looking like she's 5 months pregnant. Anakin talks with her about Ben having been there just that morning. The apparent pregnant stomach implies months had gone by. Stop shaking your head at me; other people said the same thing. One little line referencing how long until they're born would have saved that. Looking at one of the early scripts which made it online shows a scene with that visit from Ben. Look forward to seeing that on the DVD release, I'm sure.
What about the memories Leia had about her mother? "She always seemed so sad." I know it was dramatically correct for Padme to die but didn't Organa's wife look happy at the end of the movie finally getting to adopt a baby girl. Why did she have to make her sad?
I will say that Anakin's slide into the dark side worked better for me this time around. The seduction by Palpetine is fantastic. All the way through you can still see his inner turmoil which continues through to the end of his life in "Jedi".
The CGI work is a mixed bag. While Lucas still didn't seem to want to fill every square inch of the screen with it like he did in "Clones" he still seems hesitant to have his actors on the screen without something happening in the background. The animated Dooku and newborn babies were distracting. If anyone does the first fully CGI cast movie; I'd put my money on Lucasfilm.
The music was phenomenal; another Oscar for Williams. From the first notes of the film, when you see the Separatists ships looming over Couriscant and the timpany are pounding away you know it's going to be a dark film. Then as Anakin and Ben fly in you hear "Luke's theme". That got my adrenalin going.
It was nice to see humor return. You definitely got a feel for the interplay between Anakin and Ben which echoed back to their saber fight in "A New Hope". We finally get to see Anakin as "the best fighter pilot in the galaxy".
I do really like this movie; don't get me wrong. It is a flawed masterpiece. You might also say, "Who the hell are you to second guess the director". I've been addicted to this series since 1977; I'm a little emotionally invested in it. These pre-quels have never gotten anywhere near the originals until this one and it still missed the mark, if only by a fraction. There is a definite charm that has been lost since "Jedi". It's nice that Lucas has all these CGI wonders he can work with but to quote one of his own characters, "Don't be too proud of this technological terror you've constructed..." While he's got the vision the way he wants it he's still missing something about the heart of the story. While the coolest moment of the movie was Yoda knocking over those two guards with the flick of a wrist that still can't beat the simple performance of Frank Oz and a couple of pounds of latex. There was a sense of "being home" when we saw the interior of Organa's blockade runner for the first time on 26 years. You could tell it wasn't a CGI interior and it felt like a Star Wars movie again.
Definitely the best of these three. Where it ranks with the other might have to wait until I can watch them in storytelling order. I'll get back to you after Christmas.
Saturday, May 21, 2005
The best part about going to see Episode III on Thursday with my son was the car I got to rent. I had requested a convertible anyway because of this being a special event. When I got there the woman at Avis just smiled and handed me the keys to a brand-spanking-new 50th Anniversary Thunderbird!
I had FUN with this car.
Of course they have a governor on the engine which would not allow me to go over 100 mph but the car certainly did sing when it was topped off. Why anyone with a convertible in Florida would put the top up if it isn't raining is a mystery to me. This car was sooooooo sweet.
When I got to Johnny's he was standing in the driveway with some friends; I think the car got me the "cool dad" title. First thing he and his brother did was to do the patented "Batman" jump into the car with out opening the door. When we left to head out for dinner and the movie I turned the car to take the longer highway route to get to the mall. John asked why.
"Look as the car we're in, I answered, "You want to just drive this at 35 mph?!"
As soon as we hit the on ramp I punched the accelerator and the engine smoothly whined its way through the gears bolting us to top speed zipping in between cars getting to the mall in moments.
"This never happened!" I screamed to him over the rushing air. He just smiled and enjoyed the ride.
When we got to the mall I found a large empty section of parking lot and brought the car to a complete stop.
"What are we doing here?" John asked.
"Hold on."
I was taking a chance here because I had never had a car that was able to do what I was trying to do. I grabbed the wheel, turned it hard and then slammed on the accelerator. The car spun around in a perfect donut; engine humming and tires screeching.
As the car settled to a stop at the end of its 360 degrees John said, "You've always wanted to do that, didn't you?"
"Not really something I could do with an Areosar!"
"Yeah, it would probably tip over."
We went to a restaurant called Cheeburger Cheeburger. They have this one pound hamburger challenge; if you finish the burger they take your photo with a large styrofoam burger and put it up on the wall with hundred of others. My son finished his and signed his photo "I'm still hungry!"
A proud moment for the Eaton family!
Three of his friends joined us at the theater for the movie. It was great hanging out with him and his friends; seeing him in his own environment. This one of the things I really miss in not being the "residential dad". I had always pictured our house as the one that all the friends hung out.
So much seems so familiar. There was the funny friend. The cool one who high fived me. And the hanger on who invited himself to everything the others went to probably because what he had at home was lacking. In some ways this was just as good as if he and I had gone to the midnight show ourselves.
Oh...the movie! He loved it. My final review will be tomorrow after I see it one more time.
I had FUN with this car.
Of course they have a governor on the engine which would not allow me to go over 100 mph but the car certainly did sing when it was topped off. Why anyone with a convertible in Florida would put the top up if it isn't raining is a mystery to me. This car was sooooooo sweet.
When I got to Johnny's he was standing in the driveway with some friends; I think the car got me the "cool dad" title. First thing he and his brother did was to do the patented "Batman" jump into the car with out opening the door. When we left to head out for dinner and the movie I turned the car to take the longer highway route to get to the mall. John asked why.
"Look as the car we're in, I answered, "You want to just drive this at 35 mph?!"
As soon as we hit the on ramp I punched the accelerator and the engine smoothly whined its way through the gears bolting us to top speed zipping in between cars getting to the mall in moments.
"This never happened!" I screamed to him over the rushing air. He just smiled and enjoyed the ride.
When we got to the mall I found a large empty section of parking lot and brought the car to a complete stop.
"What are we doing here?" John asked.
"Hold on."
I was taking a chance here because I had never had a car that was able to do what I was trying to do. I grabbed the wheel, turned it hard and then slammed on the accelerator. The car spun around in a perfect donut; engine humming and tires screeching.
As the car settled to a stop at the end of its 360 degrees John said, "You've always wanted to do that, didn't you?"
"Not really something I could do with an Areosar!"
"Yeah, it would probably tip over."
We went to a restaurant called Cheeburger Cheeburger. They have this one pound hamburger challenge; if you finish the burger they take your photo with a large styrofoam burger and put it up on the wall with hundred of others. My son finished his and signed his photo "I'm still hungry!"
A proud moment for the Eaton family!
Three of his friends joined us at the theater for the movie. It was great hanging out with him and his friends; seeing him in his own environment. This one of the things I really miss in not being the "residential dad". I had always pictured our house as the one that all the friends hung out.
So much seems so familiar. There was the funny friend. The cool one who high fived me. And the hanger on who invited himself to everything the others went to probably because what he had at home was lacking. In some ways this was just as good as if he and I had gone to the midnight show ourselves.
Oh...the movie! He loved it. My final review will be tomorrow after I see it one more time.
Thursday, May 19, 2005
So,so,so,so friggin close it hurt.
I just got back from the midnight show of Episode III. Let me first say that I did like it. I will save a detailed review until after I see it a few more times.
I think the biggest problem is that there has been almost 30 years of build up and expectation which makes a hard target to hit.
More after I see it again. Right now I'm going to bed!
I just got back from the midnight show of Episode III. Let me first say that I did like it. I will save a detailed review until after I see it a few more times.
I think the biggest problem is that there has been almost 30 years of build up and expectation which makes a hard target to hit.
More after I see it again. Right now I'm going to bed!
Saturday, May 14, 2005
Just like the series as a whole; the finale of "Star Trek: Enterprise" was unsatisfying and limp. The way they killed Trip was especially so. I was even somewhat let down that the story did not take the tact we had been led to believe; that the entire series had been a holograph novel Riker and Troi were going through. It would have been kinder to this whole abomination if it were nothing more than Bobby Ewing coming out of the shower.
Star Trek will be back. Hopefully without Rick Berman. If anything, he has been the abomination to Trek. Thank goodness there's still Ron Moore and "Battlestar Galactica".
It should have been "Star Trek: Excelsior" all along.
I had a moment of unbelievable stupidity this evening. I was picking up a cake for our "Enterprise Wake" party. It was a small white cake with "Star Trek; Enterprise RIP" printed on it. As I was going through the checkout there was this wonderfully beautiful young lady at the register. In my mind I went thought a delightful witty exchange where she asks if the cake says, "Star Trek?"
"Yes, it does," I answer "Don't tell me I'm lucky enough that you;re a fan."
"Why, yes, I am," she answers.
I get up to the register and push the cake forward. She glances inside the bag and sure enough says to me, "Does that cake say Star Trek on it?"
"Yes, it does," I answer.
And that was it.
DUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUH!
Star Trek will be back. Hopefully without Rick Berman. If anything, he has been the abomination to Trek. Thank goodness there's still Ron Moore and "Battlestar Galactica".
It should have been "Star Trek: Excelsior" all along.
I had a moment of unbelievable stupidity this evening. I was picking up a cake for our "Enterprise Wake" party. It was a small white cake with "Star Trek; Enterprise RIP" printed on it. As I was going through the checkout there was this wonderfully beautiful young lady at the register. In my mind I went thought a delightful witty exchange where she asks if the cake says, "Star Trek?"
"Yes, it does," I answer "Don't tell me I'm lucky enough that you;re a fan."
"Why, yes, I am," she answers.
I get up to the register and push the cake forward. She glances inside the bag and sure enough says to me, "Does that cake say Star Trek on it?"
"Yes, it does," I answer.
And that was it.
DUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUH!
Thursday, May 12, 2005
I mad a very interesting discovery in my storage room the other day; a journal of mine from the spring of 1980. What a trip down amnesia lane.
It was filled with teenage romance and angst as the 18 year old not yet known as Towaway approached the end of his high school career. There was one girl for whom I spent a third of the book professing undying love with talk of marriage. Then in the blinding flash of 5 pages was dumped and ready to profess undying love for yet another fair haired beauty who was the absolute end of all being.
Well.......four months, anyway!
I still know one of these people. She and I still talk occasionally. Reading back through the years makes me wonder how she looks back on those times. Groping sessions in the backs of cars, in parks, behind buildings and houses devoid of parents for even the slightest moments. We never went all to far but the activities of which I wrote seemed no less erotic than any 3 minute section of Dad's stolen 8MM film collection he had hidden in his cedar chest.
This journal did exactly what I intended; to be a time capsule for those times in my life. It sat, untouched, for decades. Now it lays itself open in my God-awful chicken scratch (you have no idea how fortunate YOU are this is typed!) as a true and honest documentation of what goes through a teenage kids mind.
Apparently, most of that is testosterone.
It will be interesting to see if this "journal" lasts as long. How will I react to it in 25 years? I'm still looking for the older journals I know are in there somewhere; ones I did around 1975 - 77. I am dying to share these with my son.
Well, maybe I'll wait till I find the ones from Junior High School. Not so much testosterone in those.
It was filled with teenage romance and angst as the 18 year old not yet known as Towaway approached the end of his high school career. There was one girl for whom I spent a third of the book professing undying love with talk of marriage. Then in the blinding flash of 5 pages was dumped and ready to profess undying love for yet another fair haired beauty who was the absolute end of all being.
Well.......four months, anyway!
I still know one of these people. She and I still talk occasionally. Reading back through the years makes me wonder how she looks back on those times. Groping sessions in the backs of cars, in parks, behind buildings and houses devoid of parents for even the slightest moments. We never went all to far but the activities of which I wrote seemed no less erotic than any 3 minute section of Dad's stolen 8MM film collection he had hidden in his cedar chest.
This journal did exactly what I intended; to be a time capsule for those times in my life. It sat, untouched, for decades. Now it lays itself open in my God-awful chicken scratch (you have no idea how fortunate YOU are this is typed!) as a true and honest documentation of what goes through a teenage kids mind.
Apparently, most of that is testosterone.
It will be interesting to see if this "journal" lasts as long. How will I react to it in 25 years? I'm still looking for the older journals I know are in there somewhere; ones I did around 1975 - 77. I am dying to share these with my son.
Well, maybe I'll wait till I find the ones from Junior High School. Not so much testosterone in those.
Sunday, May 08, 2005
I miss my mom today.
I miss her laugh.
I miss calling her and make fun of the stupid old people I would have to call at work. I would tell her, "I just wanted to talk to someone in their 70's who knew what day it was".
I miss her hugs.
I miss her gossip.
I miss the twinkle in her eyes just before she would say or do something funny.
I miss her patience with me.
I miss her being angry with me.
I miss her being a phone call away.
I miss her being a few hours drive away.
Today is really no different from any other day, to tell you the truth.
I miss her laugh.
I miss calling her and make fun of the stupid old people I would have to call at work. I would tell her, "I just wanted to talk to someone in their 70's who knew what day it was".
I miss her hugs.
I miss her gossip.
I miss the twinkle in her eyes just before she would say or do something funny.
I miss her patience with me.
I miss her being angry with me.
I miss her being a phone call away.
I miss her being a few hours drive away.
Today is really no different from any other day, to tell you the truth.
Sunday, May 01, 2005
A sure sign that I'm becoming a middle aged fart.
I got all excited about a new stretch of road that opened up a few days ago. They have been working on this three mile section of road for a while now and it was delayed for about a month. You'd have to know the area, but it is a bypass to the major artery through the county and something I saw as a "Why didn't they do this years ago?!" kind of thing.
It would save me a stressful ride to and from work. It might save me time as well. It looked to be a more direct route than what I was traveling. I was overjoyed when they announced its construction.
Finally you could see the progress from the main road. Trees were cleared, A foundation was laid. Pavement. I gladly put up with the inconvenience of narrowed lanes on our main thoroughfare as crews married the new and old roads. Landscaping was completed. Then, finally, the ultimate tease; the traffic light at the new intersection. To taunt me even further, in a gesture I'm sure the highway department saw as courteous but only served to heighten my anticipation, was a blinking warning sign for the past two weeks announcing that the traffic light would become operational on April 28th.
The the day came. As I drove by and saw the barricades had been removed I could hardly contain myself. With screeching tires I made my first turn onto this road to Nirvana. And it is a very pretty ride through the savannahs. Two lanes which wander almost aimlessly past miles of brush and trees. They even built in a "scenic overlook" parking area halfway through so drivers could stop and enjoy nature's beauty.
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.
Wait a freakin' minute! I'm getting misty over a road?!
What's next? Amway?!
I got all excited about a new stretch of road that opened up a few days ago. They have been working on this three mile section of road for a while now and it was delayed for about a month. You'd have to know the area, but it is a bypass to the major artery through the county and something I saw as a "Why didn't they do this years ago?!" kind of thing.
It would save me a stressful ride to and from work. It might save me time as well. It looked to be a more direct route than what I was traveling. I was overjoyed when they announced its construction.
Finally you could see the progress from the main road. Trees were cleared, A foundation was laid. Pavement. I gladly put up with the inconvenience of narrowed lanes on our main thoroughfare as crews married the new and old roads. Landscaping was completed. Then, finally, the ultimate tease; the traffic light at the new intersection. To taunt me even further, in a gesture I'm sure the highway department saw as courteous but only served to heighten my anticipation, was a blinking warning sign for the past two weeks announcing that the traffic light would become operational on April 28th.
The the day came. As I drove by and saw the barricades had been removed I could hardly contain myself. With screeching tires I made my first turn onto this road to Nirvana. And it is a very pretty ride through the savannahs. Two lanes which wander almost aimlessly past miles of brush and trees. They even built in a "scenic overlook" parking area halfway through so drivers could stop and enjoy nature's beauty.
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.
Wait a freakin' minute! I'm getting misty over a road?!
What's next? Amway?!
Friday, April 22, 2005
Reason #1,354,657,865 why Rick Berman never "got it" and why Ron Moore is a television God!
From Ron's Blog:
"What do you have to say to new fans, like myself, people who are unfamiliar with the mythos of BSG? You've been talking mainly to people who are intimately familiar with the original series."
I guess I say welcome aboard and you've got some homework to do. If my references to the original series drive you crazy, why not go out and get the DVD set of the original and see what all the hoopla's about? I try not to delve too deeply into the original show in my commentaries, but at the same time, this show does have a history and I think it's only fair to point out the connections between now and then, after all there would be no Galactica now were it not for Galactica then.
Tonight's episode of "Enterprise" proves that even more. If Manny Coto had been around when the show was first conceived and writing like "Into the Mirror Darkly" had been happening from day one we might still have Star Trek on TV. This took chances, this shook it up.......this was FANTASTIC. Ron and Manny have respect for the original material; I don't believe Berman ever did. Ron and Manny have respect for the fans; I don't believe Berman ever did. What Ron and Manny have done for the genre is laudable and deserves all the applause and awards that could be heaped upon them; what Berman has done to the genre is a crying fucking shame.
From Ron's Blog:
"What do you have to say to new fans, like myself, people who are unfamiliar with the mythos of BSG? You've been talking mainly to people who are intimately familiar with the original series."
I guess I say welcome aboard and you've got some homework to do. If my references to the original series drive you crazy, why not go out and get the DVD set of the original and see what all the hoopla's about? I try not to delve too deeply into the original show in my commentaries, but at the same time, this show does have a history and I think it's only fair to point out the connections between now and then, after all there would be no Galactica now were it not for Galactica then.
Tonight's episode of "Enterprise" proves that even more. If Manny Coto had been around when the show was first conceived and writing like "Into the Mirror Darkly" had been happening from day one we might still have Star Trek on TV. This took chances, this shook it up.......this was FANTASTIC. Ron and Manny have respect for the original material; I don't believe Berman ever did. Ron and Manny have respect for the fans; I don't believe Berman ever did. What Ron and Manny have done for the genre is laudable and deserves all the applause and awards that could be heaped upon them; what Berman has done to the genre is a crying fucking shame.
Monday, April 18, 2005
Sunday, April 10, 2005
Another lazy weekend. Some friends went to a renaissance Faire. I bowed out because they bore me to tears. All of the stereotypical "geek" labels people put on Trek fans I put on people who are into these events. Yes, I am a geek and can walk around all day in a Starfleet costume. However, I do not walk about making believe it's 2265. You'd think the wannabe actor in me would appreciate what the performers are doing but it just is one big yawn fest for me.
I only left the house to go to work for a few hours Saturday and get the mail. Other than that it's been veg out and catch up on shows I have on TiVo.
"Blind Justice" is Stephen Bochko's latest and it has taken some getting used to, but I'm glad I stayed with it. The premise is a bit of a stretch; a NYPD detective is blinded in a shoot out and goes back on the job guide dog and all. The thing which has kept me there is the lead actor, Ron Eldard. He plays John Dunbar with a strength which grabs you and keeps you there. The real hook to the show is exactly how a blind person deals with every day life; that sometimes is more intriguing than the detective stories happening around him. And, OK, I live for the bedroom scenes with his wife, Rena Sofer.
It's been probably 30 years since I watched an episode of "Kojac" so I'm not sure exactly how close the USA Networks version with Vingh Raimes is to the original but I like it. I know they definitely do not have the character of Detective Crocker as well fleshed out as the original but Vingh hold the show together tightly. He plays the cop we all wish cops could really be, doing whatever is necessary to get the bad guy and bending or breaking the rules if it either gets the job done or helps out the good guys. He has got to be the best dressed cop on TV today.
"24" continues to be bad television done well. Last week's episode cranked up the suspense but continued to stretch believability. It cannot be that easy to take down Air Force One.
"Robot Chicken" is hilarious. Thanks to my friend Dave for hooking me up with it. They had a bit on the Star Wars Trilogy which almost had me peeing my pants.
I could not really enjoy "Gray's Anatomy" for the same reason I skip "ER". A little too real. Death and sickness is enough to deal with in the real world; when I sit to watch TV I'd like to have a little fun and escape. I tried though, I really tried but kept getting creeped out.
I only left the house to go to work for a few hours Saturday and get the mail. Other than that it's been veg out and catch up on shows I have on TiVo.
"Blind Justice" is Stephen Bochko's latest and it has taken some getting used to, but I'm glad I stayed with it. The premise is a bit of a stretch; a NYPD detective is blinded in a shoot out and goes back on the job guide dog and all. The thing which has kept me there is the lead actor, Ron Eldard. He plays John Dunbar with a strength which grabs you and keeps you there. The real hook to the show is exactly how a blind person deals with every day life; that sometimes is more intriguing than the detective stories happening around him. And, OK, I live for the bedroom scenes with his wife, Rena Sofer.
It's been probably 30 years since I watched an episode of "Kojac" so I'm not sure exactly how close the USA Networks version with Vingh Raimes is to the original but I like it. I know they definitely do not have the character of Detective Crocker as well fleshed out as the original but Vingh hold the show together tightly. He plays the cop we all wish cops could really be, doing whatever is necessary to get the bad guy and bending or breaking the rules if it either gets the job done or helps out the good guys. He has got to be the best dressed cop on TV today.
"24" continues to be bad television done well. Last week's episode cranked up the suspense but continued to stretch believability. It cannot be that easy to take down Air Force One.
"Robot Chicken" is hilarious. Thanks to my friend Dave for hooking me up with it. They had a bit on the Star Wars Trilogy which almost had me peeing my pants.
I could not really enjoy "Gray's Anatomy" for the same reason I skip "ER". A little too real. Death and sickness is enough to deal with in the real world; when I sit to watch TV I'd like to have a little fun and escape. I tried though, I really tried but kept getting creeped out.
Wednesday, April 06, 2005
I usually don't try to say much derogatory about The Ex in public. Well, at least when my son is around. But I think it's time to state the obvious.
The Ex is a big poopie head!
Today I called and broached the idea of taking Johnny to the first midnight showing of "Revenge of the Sith". She laughed and said, "Honey, you're not serious". Her concern was his missing school. Mine was missing out on a fantastic father/son moment. While she may have a point this is something of an event.
OK, OK....I'm a geek. But so is my son! He hides it well, but he is a geek by genetics if nothing else. We have never gone to any of the Star Wars movies on opening day much less a midnight show. This would be something he'd remember forever.
I still vividly remember my father trying to share a passion of his with me when I was little. Stock car racing. It was too loud for my little ears and I walked around most of the time with my hands plastered to each side of my head. He tired bribing me with memorabilia and food. I would have no part of it. I can see him dragging me through the packed parking lot back to the car. As the dim of the engines faded behind us I was sure he was taking to my next spanking as I had put up quite a stink to leave early. But it was a moment between him and me that is still so vivid I can smell the fumes. I want him to have just as many with me when he gets older.
As what I was hoping would be ammunition on my side I asked her if she thought my friend Dave (The Hey, for those in the know) and his wife had these same kind of conversations when Opening Day approached. That much we did agree on.
The only good part to the conversation was that we were able to joke and talk to each other about it like we might have years ago. It's nice to have that much of my old friend back.
Even if she is a poopie head.
The Ex is a big poopie head!
Today I called and broached the idea of taking Johnny to the first midnight showing of "Revenge of the Sith". She laughed and said, "Honey, you're not serious". Her concern was his missing school. Mine was missing out on a fantastic father/son moment. While she may have a point this is something of an event.
OK, OK....I'm a geek. But so is my son! He hides it well, but he is a geek by genetics if nothing else. We have never gone to any of the Star Wars movies on opening day much less a midnight show. This would be something he'd remember forever.
I still vividly remember my father trying to share a passion of his with me when I was little. Stock car racing. It was too loud for my little ears and I walked around most of the time with my hands plastered to each side of my head. He tired bribing me with memorabilia and food. I would have no part of it. I can see him dragging me through the packed parking lot back to the car. As the dim of the engines faded behind us I was sure he was taking to my next spanking as I had put up quite a stink to leave early. But it was a moment between him and me that is still so vivid I can smell the fumes. I want him to have just as many with me when he gets older.
As what I was hoping would be ammunition on my side I asked her if she thought my friend Dave (The Hey, for those in the know) and his wife had these same kind of conversations when Opening Day approached. That much we did agree on.
The only good part to the conversation was that we were able to joke and talk to each other about it like we might have years ago. It's nice to have that much of my old friend back.
Even if she is a poopie head.
Tuesday, April 05, 2005
I just had the coolest conversation with my son today. I was sharing with him my opinion of "Sin City" (It sucked) when I was given the most unexpected gift; his respect.
I was telling him how, while I liked the visuals of the movie, it lacked a coherent plot. Basically, there was no story to really follow. He said, "Wow, it must have been bad; something like that coming from you" He values me opinion and seems to use it as a yardstick for comparison. OK, so he probably doesn't always agree, but he does seem to put value to it.
I don't think my feet have touched the ground. Each day with him gets better and better the older her gets. I know I've spouted off before about envisioning the two of us as adults together, but this hammered that home to me again. We have grown, not only as parent and child, but as friends. There were may times since the divorce when The Ex had said things to try to undermine my relationship with him but that all fades away with each moment like this. In spite of the mileage and situations my son and I have grown together. I do still regret not being part of the day to day of his life; but what he now have, and what it seems to be going, is a fantastic relationship I see getting stronger than if I had been there all along.
Speaking of opinions:
Battlestar Galactica has got to be the best thing to hit television in a long time. I yelled out when the twist ending hit last Friday night. I did not see it coming. The writing is as good as The West Wing as is the acting. It's a drama that just happens to be science fiction. If you missed it the first time around please find a DVD, download it from the net, watch the reruns....whatever you have to do to get into this show.
24 continues to be a bad show done well. Maybe it's because they have gone to the well one too many times and stretched believability too far. In this weeks episode I find it beyond belief that getting to Air Force One could be so easy and that, knowing of the imminent danger, that the President would just sit and wait.
The Pacifier bites. When it was over, I turned to my son and said, "You owe me $12." While it was aimed directly at 10 year olds it really should not have seemed as if it were written by a 10 year old. Yeech.
I was telling him how, while I liked the visuals of the movie, it lacked a coherent plot. Basically, there was no story to really follow. He said, "Wow, it must have been bad; something like that coming from you" He values me opinion and seems to use it as a yardstick for comparison. OK, so he probably doesn't always agree, but he does seem to put value to it.
I don't think my feet have touched the ground. Each day with him gets better and better the older her gets. I know I've spouted off before about envisioning the two of us as adults together, but this hammered that home to me again. We have grown, not only as parent and child, but as friends. There were may times since the divorce when The Ex had said things to try to undermine my relationship with him but that all fades away with each moment like this. In spite of the mileage and situations my son and I have grown together. I do still regret not being part of the day to day of his life; but what he now have, and what it seems to be going, is a fantastic relationship I see getting stronger than if I had been there all along.
Speaking of opinions:
Battlestar Galactica has got to be the best thing to hit television in a long time. I yelled out when the twist ending hit last Friday night. I did not see it coming. The writing is as good as The West Wing as is the acting. It's a drama that just happens to be science fiction. If you missed it the first time around please find a DVD, download it from the net, watch the reruns....whatever you have to do to get into this show.
24 continues to be a bad show done well. Maybe it's because they have gone to the well one too many times and stretched believability too far. In this weeks episode I find it beyond belief that getting to Air Force One could be so easy and that, knowing of the imminent danger, that the President would just sit and wait.
The Pacifier bites. When it was over, I turned to my son and said, "You owe me $12." While it was aimed directly at 10 year olds it really should not have seemed as if it were written by a 10 year old. Yeech.
Sunday, March 27, 2005
Post partum depression is not exclusively a new mother's problem; I suffer from it every two weeks. I put John on a bus to head back to his mother's. We had a great week together. Lots of time just hanging out together and simply living in the same space.
I did, however have to parental at one point this week. By accident I had found he was searching for nude celebrity sites on the net. A few years ago I had caught him trying to get into the Playboy website so the rule was if he was caught again there would be limits placed on his internet use. Since, as far as I could tell, he was only searching and hadn't actually gone to one of the sites he was cut off from the PC for two days. Usually when he's caught he cries; this time he knew he was busted and took it like a man.
He amazes me more and more each day. His sense of humor is being honed and he's growing into quite a person. I revel in each day just watching the changes. I often wonder what will happen when he is on his own; how will I deal with even more separation from him?
Speaking of changes, my congressional friend is staying in the House of Representatives so it seems my political coat tail grabbing is on hold for a while more. Jim Langevin announced over the weekend his intention to stay and build seniority in the House as opposed to taking a shot at a senate race this year. If he had, I had every intention of trying to get back on his staff and moving to DC. It would have meant a drastic change to things with John but would have out my life back on track to where it was before moving to Florida.
Being this close to my son, however, does make up the difference.
I did, however have to parental at one point this week. By accident I had found he was searching for nude celebrity sites on the net. A few years ago I had caught him trying to get into the Playboy website so the rule was if he was caught again there would be limits placed on his internet use. Since, as far as I could tell, he was only searching and hadn't actually gone to one of the sites he was cut off from the PC for two days. Usually when he's caught he cries; this time he knew he was busted and took it like a man.
He amazes me more and more each day. His sense of humor is being honed and he's growing into quite a person. I revel in each day just watching the changes. I often wonder what will happen when he is on his own; how will I deal with even more separation from him?
Speaking of changes, my congressional friend is staying in the House of Representatives so it seems my political coat tail grabbing is on hold for a while more. Jim Langevin announced over the weekend his intention to stay and build seniority in the House as opposed to taking a shot at a senate race this year. If he had, I had every intention of trying to get back on his staff and moving to DC. It would have meant a drastic change to things with John but would have out my life back on track to where it was before moving to Florida.
Being this close to my son, however, does make up the difference.
Wednesday, March 23, 2005
Whoo! What a weekend we had! Yes, I know this is delayed but with John here for the weekend we've been a little busy. OK, so we're sitting on our butts a lot watching movies or playing gamecube, but you get the idea.
We started off with a Vulkon weekend in Orlando. There were the usual band of suspects. Given my usual routine for these weekends has included consumption of copious amounts of alcohol, having my son there was an interesting addition.
Vulkon was it usual self. Brent Spiner was the main guest and although tempted, the only times I made it onto the main programming room was when I was looking for friends. I did my best to balance the time I had to spend with friend and on Fleet matters with the fact that most of a Vulkon bores my son into a coma. Or at least to retreating to the hotel room. It was when the drinking started things took on a different slant.
I had grown up in a house where there was drinking. In the corner on our dining room was a liquor cabinet. I have gone from living in a bottle when I first got to college to being dry for seven years to enjoying the hell out of drinking. I was anxious about having my son around. Actually, I was more nervous about hearing grief from the Ex over it. I did balance my drinking with spending time with him during the evenings festivities. At one point he became extremely bored by himself in the hotel room and came down to check out the dance. This was an educational experience to say the least.
For a change I was the more sober of the bunch and it was an education for myself as well. No one was way out of control or anything; simply all having a good time. I don't know enough about my ex's life and her friends, but I do know enough to say to my son, "I guess you could definitely say Dad's friends are lots different than your mother's." His eyes widened and he shook his head vigorously. He called the evening "interesting" when I asked him the next morning.
Since coming home we have been to the movies and rented a few video games. Nothing too strenuous or out of the ordinary for two lazy guys on vacation. Tomorrow, though, I do plan to hit a miniature golf place nearby he's had his eyes on for a while.
His older brother is in a pile of trouble. Jimmy visited with his brother last President's Day weekend. With him being 17 years old I thought nothing of him sitting up until 2 or 3 AM watching television. That was, until I got this month's satellite TV bill. He had racked up $50 worth of adult pay per view. I was livid. Luckily, DirecTV could see that I had never even used regular pay per view and that this was an unusual spike in its use. They wrote off the $50. I will not let him know that, of course, and make him pony up the money. I'll give it to his mother for something he needs but will put him through the torture of facing both me and his mother on this one.
The sound you are hearing is my parents laughing in vengeful retribution from the other side!
We started off with a Vulkon weekend in Orlando. There were the usual band of suspects. Given my usual routine for these weekends has included consumption of copious amounts of alcohol, having my son there was an interesting addition.
Vulkon was it usual self. Brent Spiner was the main guest and although tempted, the only times I made it onto the main programming room was when I was looking for friends. I did my best to balance the time I had to spend with friend and on Fleet matters with the fact that most of a Vulkon bores my son into a coma. Or at least to retreating to the hotel room. It was when the drinking started things took on a different slant.
I had grown up in a house where there was drinking. In the corner on our dining room was a liquor cabinet. I have gone from living in a bottle when I first got to college to being dry for seven years to enjoying the hell out of drinking. I was anxious about having my son around. Actually, I was more nervous about hearing grief from the Ex over it. I did balance my drinking with spending time with him during the evenings festivities. At one point he became extremely bored by himself in the hotel room and came down to check out the dance. This was an educational experience to say the least.
For a change I was the more sober of the bunch and it was an education for myself as well. No one was way out of control or anything; simply all having a good time. I don't know enough about my ex's life and her friends, but I do know enough to say to my son, "I guess you could definitely say Dad's friends are lots different than your mother's." His eyes widened and he shook his head vigorously. He called the evening "interesting" when I asked him the next morning.
Since coming home we have been to the movies and rented a few video games. Nothing too strenuous or out of the ordinary for two lazy guys on vacation. Tomorrow, though, I do plan to hit a miniature golf place nearby he's had his eyes on for a while.
His older brother is in a pile of trouble. Jimmy visited with his brother last President's Day weekend. With him being 17 years old I thought nothing of him sitting up until 2 or 3 AM watching television. That was, until I got this month's satellite TV bill. He had racked up $50 worth of adult pay per view. I was livid. Luckily, DirecTV could see that I had never even used regular pay per view and that this was an unusual spike in its use. They wrote off the $50. I will not let him know that, of course, and make him pony up the money. I'll give it to his mother for something he needs but will put him through the torture of facing both me and his mother on this one.
The sound you are hearing is my parents laughing in vengeful retribution from the other side!
Sunday, March 13, 2005
I haven't been blogging with any substance because I've been so busy in the last week. I'm working as much overtime as I can to make up for taking next week off entirely to spend with John on his school vacation. I'm at the office some nights until 7PM which leaves me precious little time to do what I have to around the house and get a decent amount of sleep before staring another 10 hours work day.
Last weekend was the annual Region 2 Summit. This year was in Tampa. While there were some organizational problems it was a fun weekend. I was able to finally talk someone else in my chapter to attend and she loved it. It is basically an excuse for us to get together and have fun. We do have some organizational meetings and an awards banquet but getting together with friends is the reason.
The hotel has a pirate ship in the middle of their kiddie wading pool. Even though this is Florida since the pool wasn't heated the water in it had chilled to that of a mountain stream. As I sat there looking at the water I remembered that I had been swimming in a mountain stream before, so I decided to take a plunge. The "pirate ship" had water cannons and a slide. I bounded up and slid right down into water which made that stream in Israel seem like bath water. I screamed like a little girl as my testicles retreated to somewhere around my throat for warmth. Not to miss out on the fun Mandi, our Fleet Admiral, and my pal Bruce ran for their suits. Hotel security handled it very nicely as she whispered, "You do know this is the kiddie pool, right?"
Saturday night was topped off my the usual drunken debauchery hosted by my friend Max and his crew from Tampa. It's always a sign of how drunk I'll get by whether or not my son is in attendance. Since he wasn't there.........
I am really looking forward to our week together. Since I'm still limping my van through its final days he'll be taking Greyhound to get up here. With luck I'll be buying something while he's here. I got a raise at work which it retroactive to September so I should have enough to get into something decent.
Some media notes. "24" has become a faint reminder of what it used to be. This season's story line continues to stretch things too far. With all of the moles who end up working there; if CTU were in charge of Homeland Security Bin Laden would be strolling down Pennsylvania Avenue. However, I still do watch every week. It's poorly written, but it's produced well. There are moments when they keep the suspense, however ridiculous, as tight as a watch spring. Thanks to TiVo I can zip through it in 35 minutes. I still manage to have to hit the bathroom somewhere during an episode and Jack Bauer seems to go all day without so much as looking into one!
I went to see "Robots" yesterday and it is everything "The Incredibles" wasn't. I laughed outloud like I expect to at one of these. There are jokes for the adults and a great fart joke scene for the kids. Meaningful story and magnificent CGI renderings which looked photo realistic.
The Star Wars trailer came out this week and looks fantastic. It seems to match the scripts I have read online and if this gets acted as well as it reads this should make up for the first two movies. While I don't hate them as much as some fans do, they are not quite the same as the original trilogy. There has been a spark missing form them which ran through all three of the originals. I am as excited about this one as I was then Episode One first opened.
I don't know if I'm amused by or pissed of at the rumored series ender for Enterprise. For the whole story check this out. You probably know I think Rick Berman is an asshole and is the reason Trek has seen a demise so I'm leaning towards being pissed off. It's as if he's saying, "Hey, all you geeks got so ticked off I screwed with your precious TV show well,, guess what......I never existed! Nyaaa-nyaaa!" Don't bite the hand that feeds ya!
Last weekend was the annual Region 2 Summit. This year was in Tampa. While there were some organizational problems it was a fun weekend. I was able to finally talk someone else in my chapter to attend and she loved it. It is basically an excuse for us to get together and have fun. We do have some organizational meetings and an awards banquet but getting together with friends is the reason.
The hotel has a pirate ship in the middle of their kiddie wading pool. Even though this is Florida since the pool wasn't heated the water in it had chilled to that of a mountain stream. As I sat there looking at the water I remembered that I had been swimming in a mountain stream before, so I decided to take a plunge. The "pirate ship" had water cannons and a slide. I bounded up and slid right down into water which made that stream in Israel seem like bath water. I screamed like a little girl as my testicles retreated to somewhere around my throat for warmth. Not to miss out on the fun Mandi, our Fleet Admiral, and my pal Bruce ran for their suits. Hotel security handled it very nicely as she whispered, "You do know this is the kiddie pool, right?"
Saturday night was topped off my the usual drunken debauchery hosted by my friend Max and his crew from Tampa. It's always a sign of how drunk I'll get by whether or not my son is in attendance. Since he wasn't there.........
I am really looking forward to our week together. Since I'm still limping my van through its final days he'll be taking Greyhound to get up here. With luck I'll be buying something while he's here. I got a raise at work which it retroactive to September so I should have enough to get into something decent.
Some media notes. "24" has become a faint reminder of what it used to be. This season's story line continues to stretch things too far. With all of the moles who end up working there; if CTU were in charge of Homeland Security Bin Laden would be strolling down Pennsylvania Avenue. However, I still do watch every week. It's poorly written, but it's produced well. There are moments when they keep the suspense, however ridiculous, as tight as a watch spring. Thanks to TiVo I can zip through it in 35 minutes. I still manage to have to hit the bathroom somewhere during an episode and Jack Bauer seems to go all day without so much as looking into one!
I went to see "Robots" yesterday and it is everything "The Incredibles" wasn't. I laughed outloud like I expect to at one of these. There are jokes for the adults and a great fart joke scene for the kids. Meaningful story and magnificent CGI renderings which looked photo realistic.
The Star Wars trailer came out this week and looks fantastic. It seems to match the scripts I have read online and if this gets acted as well as it reads this should make up for the first two movies. While I don't hate them as much as some fans do, they are not quite the same as the original trilogy. There has been a spark missing form them which ran through all three of the originals. I am as excited about this one as I was then Episode One first opened.
I don't know if I'm amused by or pissed of at the rumored series ender for Enterprise. For the whole story check this out. You probably know I think Rick Berman is an asshole and is the reason Trek has seen a demise so I'm leaning towards being pissed off. It's as if he's saying, "Hey, all you geeks got so ticked off I screwed with your precious TV show well,, guess what......I never existed! Nyaaa-nyaaa!" Don't bite the hand that feeds ya!
Saturday, March 12, 2005
Reason Number 5,324,954,345,234 why Ron Moore is THE MAN and Rick Berman is the Ani-Christ:
From Ron's blog this week.....
A question from a fan:
"If we go too far with this are you prepared to deliver Captain Kirk's 'Get A Life' speech?"
His answer:
I should be so lucky as to watch you guys get to that point.
From Ron's blog this week.....
A question from a fan:
"If we go too far with this are you prepared to deliver Captain Kirk's 'Get A Life' speech?"
His answer:
I should be so lucky as to watch you guys get to that point.
Thursday, March 03, 2005
Glory days well they'll pass you by
Glory days in the wink of a young girl's eye
Glory days, glory days
This past Saturday I got together with two of my oldest and best friends. It was the first time in a long time that Dave, Howard and myself were able to be in the same place at the same time. Howard was in Orlando with his son for school vacation; with both Dave and myself being a short car ride away we jumped at the opportunity.
I was fantastic. It was as if not a single day had passed since we were together last. While there are some friends who I do nothing but rehashing "old times" the three of us still have a strong active friendship and things in our lives while intermingle and keep us together.
First thing we did was recreate a moment from the past. Below are two images 19 years apart. The first was taken at a Halloween Party in 1986. We took the current version on the porch at the Orlando House of Blues. Amazing what the years will do. This photo recreation was my little project. Leave it to me to not be in just the right position. Of course, that gives us the excuse to get together again when Howard returns to Florida!!!
True to our unbelievable luck. The Ryans and I arrived before Howard. He had said he was going to get reservations through Disney. As I watched the line to the door getting longer and longer, I decided to double check. The cute blonde at the door looked through her list saying there was no Cronson, McAuliffe or Farkle. She looked up at me, smiled and said, "Well, when your friend gets her just come up and see me." Sure enough, when Ho arrived we walked up, she recognized me and led us to our table when other were being told of a 45 minute wait.
She wanted me!
Dinner was great. We talked over the old days. Where we are now. Starfleet. Old friends. Family. Kids. Howard got his biggest laugh of the evening as I had to pull out my bifocals to read the menu. "The good old Captain Kirk eyeglass trick, eh?" Funny guy!
Afterwards we walked through Downtown Disney. It was great but way too short. Plans are on the list for getting together with both sets of children at Disney the next time he comes down.
If you've read my blog with any regularity, you know how tight I try to hold on to friends. It's gratifying when I have friends like Dave and Howard I can call at a moment's notice or get together any time or any place and you'd never know a day had passed between us. The hair may be thinner. (Howard's has always been grey, so I won't go there!) The waists bay be wider. But the smiles in both photos are true. You're looking at the faces of loving friendship.
Glory days in the wink of a young girl's eye
Glory days, glory days
This past Saturday I got together with two of my oldest and best friends. It was the first time in a long time that Dave, Howard and myself were able to be in the same place at the same time. Howard was in Orlando with his son for school vacation; with both Dave and myself being a short car ride away we jumped at the opportunity.
I was fantastic. It was as if not a single day had passed since we were together last. While there are some friends who I do nothing but rehashing "old times" the three of us still have a strong active friendship and things in our lives while intermingle and keep us together.
First thing we did was recreate a moment from the past. Below are two images 19 years apart. The first was taken at a Halloween Party in 1986. We took the current version on the porch at the Orlando House of Blues. Amazing what the years will do. This photo recreation was my little project. Leave it to me to not be in just the right position. Of course, that gives us the excuse to get together again when Howard returns to Florida!!!
True to our unbelievable luck. The Ryans and I arrived before Howard. He had said he was going to get reservations through Disney. As I watched the line to the door getting longer and longer, I decided to double check. The cute blonde at the door looked through her list saying there was no Cronson, McAuliffe or Farkle. She looked up at me, smiled and said, "Well, when your friend gets her just come up and see me." Sure enough, when Ho arrived we walked up, she recognized me and led us to our table when other were being told of a 45 minute wait.
She wanted me!
Dinner was great. We talked over the old days. Where we are now. Starfleet. Old friends. Family. Kids. Howard got his biggest laugh of the evening as I had to pull out my bifocals to read the menu. "The good old Captain Kirk eyeglass trick, eh?" Funny guy!
Afterwards we walked through Downtown Disney. It was great but way too short. Plans are on the list for getting together with both sets of children at Disney the next time he comes down.
If you've read my blog with any regularity, you know how tight I try to hold on to friends. It's gratifying when I have friends like Dave and Howard I can call at a moment's notice or get together any time or any place and you'd never know a day had passed between us. The hair may be thinner. (Howard's has always been grey, so I won't go there!) The waists bay be wider. But the smiles in both photos are true. You're looking at the faces of loving friendship.
Thursday, February 24, 2005
Here's more proof of just how much a Get A Life Trek fan I am no matter how hard I may (or may not) try to hide it. A friend of mine and I were talking today about the impending release of Star Wars Episode III. There is a co-worker who is getting married that week and we joked about him explaining to his new bride that they have to go to a movie theater during their honeymoon. Which brought back a vivid memory.
I was married the first time in April 1988 when Next Generation was in it's first run. The wedding was on a Saturday. After the reception my bride and I stopped at the house to get a few things and count out booty in wedding gifts. As I was counting the cash I turned on the TV and there was that week's episode.
"Come on, Jack, we have to get going." The new Mrs. Eaton said.
"Well.........can't we wait till this episode's over?"
And that marriage didn't last......how is that possible?!
Here's a punchline only those who know the the former wife and are Trek fans will truly appreciate. The episode that day was "Skin of Evil". Somewhat ironic, isn't it?!
I was married the first time in April 1988 when Next Generation was in it's first run. The wedding was on a Saturday. After the reception my bride and I stopped at the house to get a few things and count out booty in wedding gifts. As I was counting the cash I turned on the TV and there was that week's episode.
"Come on, Jack, we have to get going." The new Mrs. Eaton said.
"Well.........can't we wait till this episode's over?"
And that marriage didn't last......how is that possible?!
Here's a punchline only those who know the the former wife and are Trek fans will truly appreciate. The episode that day was "Skin of Evil". Somewhat ironic, isn't it?!
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