Everybody Has a Laughing Place

Writing Prompt: Two Characters Sit Down to Eat...

2012-01-20T12:41:00.001-07:00

Two characters sit down to eat. Don’t tell us where or when, but let us know through architecture, decor, implements, and food where and when the scene takes place.

“Morning…”

Jack drags the wicker chair across the carpet tiredly, not disturbing the printed tiki men or their spears as they lay etched into the fibers of the flooring. He nods to Sophie and sinks against the padded cushion.

“Late night?” she mocks, stabbing a triangle of pineapple with her fork.

“Yeah, I think there was a bear outside my room…”

Sophie stops chewing and scowls at him.

“Something was growling all night anyway.”

“For the last time, I don’t snore!”

“I don’t know if you can really call it snoring,” Jack slides his mug to the lip of the round table with a smile and nod to the coffee wielding waiter beside them, “More like howling almost. Thank you,” Jake leans back in the chair with his coffee to his lips, and tilts his head back toward the ceilings. Carved fish swim along the rafters, gulping at the painted accenting just beyond their frozen lips.

“Good God!” Sophie yelps, dropping her fork against the plate before her. Jack turns and spots a giant furry rabbit making its way through the maze of round tables, hugging breakfasters and posing for pictures. “That’s a lot of fur.”

The tourists look oddly out of place standing with carved tiki pillars holding up the ceiling to one side, and a giant white rabbit on the either.

“I never did understand how that bunny was supposed to lay eggs…”

“It’s a German thing I think,” Sophie waves him off, pulling her fork from the syrup covered mouse faced shaped waffles. “I never did understand how people don’t think those things are creepy. Their expressions never change…”

“And if their expressions did change, that would make them less creepy?”

Sophie stares transfixed and the shakes her head in dissent. “What time are we meeting everyone at the park?”

Jack shrugs, “whenever. I think everyone’s sleeping in a bit. That is, if the bear didn’t get them in the night.” Jack settles his coffee on the table and takes his empty plate in hand, “At least the creepy Bunny makes a good diversion, be right back,” and heads for the buffet.

Faith, Trust, and Pixie Dust

2012-01-19T23:22:00.003-07:00

This is a vlog a long time in the making. It's changed and evolved a lot since I first started brainstorming, but overall I'm happy with how it turned out.

Music credits (since there are a few):

-You Can Fly! You Can Fly! You Can Fly!

Sammy Fain and Sammy Cahn

-I Do Believe in Fairies

James Newton Howard

-Dearly Beloved

Yoko Shimomura

-Win One For the Reaper

Michael Giacchino

-Ron Leaves

Alexandre Desplat

-West Wing

Alan Menken

-Ewok Feast

John Williams

-News Travels

Thomas Newman

-Flying

James Newton Howard

-You Can Never Belong

Alan Silvestri

-Under the Stars

Hans Zimmer

-Hurley's Handouts

Michael Giacchino

-When I Was a Boy

Dar Williams

"October" Vlog

2012-01-19T22:14:00.005-07:00

In making up for lost time, I'm doing the last 3 vlogs that I need to do from when I set the one vlog a month goal for myself last year. It seemed silly to make it so close and then give up, so better late than never.

For this one I had the idea, a while ago, to take short videos on my BlackBerry throughout the year. So the video quality is not the best, but it was kinda a fun ongoing project for me.

The music I chose actually has a bit more of a story to it. I named the track "Letting Go (Bad Things Happen)." It's actually a mesh of two songs I put together, both originally titled "Letting Go." One from the Super 8 score by Michael Giacchino. And the other from the "Thor" film score by Patrick Doyle.

Every year I make a CD for people. It's an inexpensive gift for the holidays (I do one every December) and it also kind of acts as a memento of my year. I pick songs that resonate with me, and tell the story of the year I had. This year, not only did these two amazing films hit home with me, but also the idea of letting go of certain things has been important. I combined these two songs and liked the result.

Writing Prompt: You Find a Mystery Cookie on Your Desk...

2012-01-12T21:55:00.000-07:00

It taunts me with its frosted yellow face. I know it promises terrible things, but yet I’m tempted. I slid to the oak lip of my workspace, ready to enter my calories for the day on weightwatchers.com, and propped up against the mouse was the baked good, mocking me with its happiness.

Its ugly yellow skin. Its dark, evil eyes. A layer of soft white cookie poking around the frosted edges like an eclipse (don’t stare directly at it). And the tiny semicircle bitten from its cheek, result of a hasty quality check. A little sample. I don’t need to eat the whole thing. There’s no slot on the website for “one bite of a cookie - x many calories.” It doesn’t count.

I shift it from the mouse pad, brushing the crumbs with my wrist as I navigate websites. A tiring activity to be sure. One that may require the extra boost of energy. A sugar rush. A push to the end. A reward at the very least.

Half of a smiley face looks wrong. It’s morbid. One eye. Half a smile. Like some monster cruelly mistreated this innocent delicacy. Who would do such a thing? Joyous sugar. Beaming lumps of frosted purity. I’ll get to the end of this somehow. Whoever is responsible for the meager crumbs scattered on the oak desktop will pay.

2011 in Review

2011-12-31T22:49:00.008-07:00

Had a great new year's with family #2. So greatful for all the people who helped get me through 2010. Here's to 11 being Better!

I'm gonna punch 2011 right in the testicles! In the best possible way. Blim blam!

discovered last night that I have become Kimmy Gibbler...

is it a bad sign when your mom asks you if you could take a "mental health day" off from work?

choice this morning between "sex" and "super heroes." Super heroes, hands down.

find out today if I'm going to be an aunt or and uncle.

‎"50 years from now when you're looking back on your life, don't you want to be able to say you had the guts to get in the car?"

yes, my nook is on my coffee table and my coffee table is wobbly. Is there any way you can help me with that nook related issue?

When good chapstick goes bad, next on "One Day With Chris." Blech!

Tomorrow is Australia day! Of course, in Australia it's already tomorrow and they're celebrating now... Conundrum.

Creative lightning is always followed by creative thunder, and both are important. Lightning may bring Frankenstein's monster to life, but thunder let's the villagers know something big is coming.

I don't talk ABOUT my stories until they're done. Judge it by what it becomes and what it IS when you read it, don't assume what it will be or compare to what you already know. Because reading and writing is and should be exciting!

you can never go wrong with hair pulling.

No one ever dies in Marvel comics. Unless you're Captain America's boyfriend...

when people ask, I'm going to liken my vacation to Empire Strikes Back when Luke goes into the cave.

Sadly, facebook will not let me list my relationship status as "It's Complicated" with "Your Mom." But know that the intent was there.

was at Seattle Grace Hospital.‎"It's over. It's so over..." Feb 16^th 2011

‎"that gum makes me feel like I need to be a ho"

Have you ever thought your shirt had snaps instead of buttons, and just pulled it open really quick. Then you have to sew on all those buttons...? Yeah, me neither.

King's Speech wins, and I make the closing overhead announcement at work. Coincidence? I think not.

‎"Take your 'inside pretty' and get outta here!"

Woke up this morning feeling like P. Diddy. ok, that's a lie, I feel more like Usher, but it's close enough, right?

In a perfect world, the 84th annual Oscars would be hosted by my best friend and I.

something is howling outside, and I'm not 100% convinced that it's a coyote.

Today kids have to grow up in a world without the Brontosarus, and without Pluto as a planet. That's not a world I want to be part of.

today is National "get your undersized genitalia compensating truck out and drive 15 under" day. Apparently. Season's greetings.

I'm ravenous today... better pick up a preggo test on the way home. You never can be too sure.

to do this next week: find outfit and present for the Royal Wedding. Mow lawns. Begin birthday shindig planning. Easter Bunny-proof the house. Work. Take daughter to work. Put up Arbor Day decorations.

Kate Middleton tried to high-five me in the receiving line. I told her I'd start taking her Princess Points away if she didn't watch it.

Nixon did not land on the moon. Reagan did no tear down the Berlin wall. And no, Obama did not kill Bin Laden, any more than Bin Laden himself flew planes into our Towers. Along with the burden of responsibility, our leaders receive the glow of success.

But Doctor, I don't understand... I took three Cadbury Eggs for the nausea.

I think it should be perfectly acceptable, if not actually legally required, to call in if you dreamed about work all night.

Good news: I found a horcrux. It was in Barnes & Noble the whole time. The bad news is they're being mass produced for purchase, so we're probably all screwed.

‎"A zebra never forgets." "I thought an elephant never forgets... maybe I'm remembering it wrong."

I haven't had enough coffee for the rapture.

I need a house like the Muppets. A bunch of crazy people under one roof... Chickens everywhere, dance numbers, the Swedish chef.

I'm sorry, I can't find that book for you. But I CAN make lightsaber sounds with my mouth!

the Comfort Dental Amphitheatre is not filled with dental chairs. Making it neither comfortable or dental themed.

I don't think the Green Lantern spends a lot of time journaling

Chloie had puppies this morning! Oh wait, no she didn't, she just carried on as though she was birthing something...

Great, now I'm going to have to study and perfect the Voldemort hug...

‎"Doesn't Jane Austen die in the end of this book? Or Anne Frank... whatever her name was."

"sneak it behind the monkey"

Went and got a second library card yesterday & just realized they never asked for I.D. #BondJamesBond

‎"You mean like the fake sex we're having right now?"

it's kinda awkward wearing flip flops in a library.

speaking of wildebeest...

You mean they make pipes that DON'T blow bubbles?!

‎"Never stop. Never stop fighting. Never stop dreaming. And don't be afraid of wearing your heart on your sleeve."

My dog expertly utilizes the hunting technique of tip toeing slowly toward the food bowl. As they do in the animal kingdom.

Zombies are in fact appropriate for almost every holiday. Except Thanksgiving?

You don't see enough Valentine's with "That's What She Said" incorporated in them

Just discovered what an aperitif is. How did I not hear of this before!?!

The first rule of writing fight scenes: don't talk about fight scenes. #editing

My Disney Blu-rays know it's raining. Two of them just told me. That's magic right there.

IT'S A TRAP! In the cloud city kinda way, not the Admiral Akbar kinda way.

Just typed "Pocahontas," "Tiana," and "Rapunzel" and basically my spell check's like: now you're just making crap up...

"Hot Chocolate With God" isn't he a little busy? -yeah, but "Jesus is Calling" so maybe he's free #BooksellerHumor

"Only the gentle are ever really strong."

Calling my Malfoy costume Potter, while in a bookstore, is like calling the Easter bunny Jesus while in a church.

"I'm trying to be helpful, you two are just being German"

Thanks for reading. I owe you 3 vlogs. They're on the way.

Writing Prompt: The Buzz of a Fly Trapped Inside

2011-10-25T10:51:00.000-06:00

My stomach had been audibly growling since I woke up, which confused me because I had five small meals the day before. It’s not that I slept in excessively late either, but the prominent gurgling of stomach juices sloshing against empty walls of my gut spend along my morning routine. I quickly ran a comb through my hair, and hung my damp towel on the rod to dry, figuring my stomach couldn’t wait much longer and so made my way to the kitchen.

The fridge offered me nothing but a prolonging of my stomach distress, as I had nothing readily available to sink my mouth into. I’d have to cook. Damn.

It was the odd morning hours between breakfast and lunch, the hours that long ago magic had transformed into brunch. But this left me with the dilemma of what exactly to make. Did I feel like breakfast? Did I feel like lunch? Maybe some of both? My stomach rolled its stomach eyeballs at my conundrum and I quickly decided lunch was the way to go. Breakfast was already lost, and no amount of mourning or pretend inclusion into a hybrid type of meal would bring it back.

I took a pot from the drawer beneath the stove, the drawer that should never be as it has no redeeming qualities in function or location, and sat it onto the warming stove. A little water, butter, and some premixed herbs and fat were all my quick pasta box claimed to require. Although it taunted me with “Just Add Chicken to Make a Whole Meal.” Across the picture on the front. The pasta slowly sinking into the warm water like hundreds of vacationers dipping slowly into the hotel hot tub, I turned back to the fridge. No chicken, that’s for sure. The tomatoes look nice. Olives. Some spinach I quickly diced on my heavy wooden cutting board. Cheese. A whole meal! Take that cardboard chicken claims!

I dumped my veggies into a large bowl and sprinkled the cheese across the top before scouring for the colander. The vacationing pasta cascaded into the sink, caught by the strainer as the water steamed down the drain. The wafts of steam and veggies making my stomach more frantic. Shaking the last drops of water for the noodles, I added them to my bowl, ready to eat.

It all looked and smelled so good. The warm pasta. The melted cheese. The bright red ripe tomatoes. The little black fly sitting on top of it all…

I go to the cupboard with a fresh bowl to analyze the expiration dates on the cereal boxes. Milk or no milk, maybe breakfast isn’t lost after all.

Writing Prompt: Write a Scene About A Pet Peeve You Have

2011-10-21T09:50:00.000-06:00

I always knew the zombie outbreak would come, I just never thought it would start this way. Sure, I’d hoped, dreamed even that one day I’d be in a dark alley with a machete in hand faced with a limping shrew that was about to loose her head. But unwashed hands? When news broke I thought it was a joke. Making the jump to believe in zombies was fine, it was the jump that it all start with pee germs that confused me.

Secret government testing involving cloning or reanimation; toxic waste seeping from landfills and into our once potable water; a curse from an angry mythological deity; or radioactive gummy bears from Turkey. No. No it all started because some white collared old fatty didn’t think his junk was dirty and ran out to his tall no foam quad splenda drip. Sucking down the pee germs with it, the douche sentenced the globe to suffer for his soap phobia. But, at least I get to try out the machete.

Short Story #3

2011-10-19T13:48:00.002-06:00

I just finished my 3rd short story (the first draft anyways)! Here are the chapters to go through:

Thanks for reading!

Writing Prompt: write a scene with 3 characters from the POV of the weakest

2011-10-17T08:48:00.000-06:00

“We should just put him outside.”

“If you put him outside, he’s just going to come back in. Babe, just kill him! Please?”

The voices bellow above me, and I’m backed into a corner, helplessly waiting their verdict. I try to climb up the wall and I hear the shrill one yelp again.

“Calm down. It’s just a little spider. He’s probably trying to go back to his spider family.”

She thank you very much. She is trying to find something around this zealously clean space that’s fit to eat, and then she wants to go back to her web under the bookcase with all her limbs intact. She has no interest in mating right about now, thank you very much.

“It’s not little. It’s a huge hairy disgusting beat of a monster and I don’t want to share a bedroom with it!”

Hairy? Huge? You’re one to talk, woman.

“I’m just gonna take him outside and he can live in the bushes out front or something.”

“Oh, so now I can never go outside ever again?”

Who’s moving to the bushes? I don’t want to live outside…

“I hate to break it to you babe, but there are lots of bugs outside. Not just spiders. It’s where they belong, in the wild.”

Wild my abdomen. I like it under the bookcase. These people don’t even read! That’s bliss for a spider like me. To his side I see her roll up an USweekly. I don’t qualify that as reading.

“Kill it!”

The man unrolls the magazine and makes to scoop me up.

“Kiiiiiiill it!”

I don’t want to go live outside.

“I’m taking it outside!”

“You’re such a wimp!”

They watch movies. Maybe they’ve seen Charolett’s Webb…

“You knew when you met me that I have very strong feelings about this sort of thing.”

“And you knew when you met me that I have very strong feelings about spiders living in my house and crawling in my hair and sleeping in my bed—“

As she rants the magazine begins to roll back up in his grip.

“—You think that I’m going to stay here with that beast around, inside or out, you’ve got another—“

I just want to live! Outside might not be that bad!

Writing Prompt: Squelching Mud

2011-10-15T10:46:00.000-06:00

Caked into a cuff of his torn Levi’s, the damp dirt spat specks of mud onto his loosely covered achilles. His bare feet sunk beneath his slow weight, pressing between each toe as he stopped, listening. He bent into a crouch, feeling for any vibrations across the ground, the light patter of rain onto brown puddles making it just impossible enough to hear any approach.

Around him the forest moved, branches and fronds flailing in the same wind that caught his auburn hair and pressed it to the crimson patch now dried to his forehead. The same wind that now masked any movement in the brush encircling him.

So he reached out with touch and smell, the only two senses not inhibited by the light but persistent storm. His bare toes deep in the mud spread as a bug spreads antenna. In his crouch he sank his fingers into the earth also, plunging in slowly. He waited for the vibration of monstrous feet pounding into the ground, coming for him as he knew they would, and he open his nostrils wide, inhaling deeply. He recognized the smell that pawed at him on the wind.

A smell like garbage, or decaying flesh that sunk through the monster’s pours and poured off its hot and lazy tongue. The stench darted past him on one wave of air, and then back by on another, the weather masking an approach and confusing yet another of his senses.

A soft thud pressed against the tip of his right finger, and he pulled both hands from the mud as he rose from kneeling and turned to the right. With a determined snap of his wrists the largest clumps of dirt flew free and crashed down into their pool at his feet. He would not be caught kneeling, and he would not run any longer. It would always follow him, tirelessly, whether he confronted it or not.

He looked down, his stomach and chest bare and bloodied, and his blistered feet turning the mud red. It stalked confidently into the open to stare him down one last time. Standing alone and weaponless in the wet dirt of a jungle clearing about to face an unimaginable beast, was better than never taking a stand at all.

Writing Prompt: Seeing Something By Its Shadow First

2011-10-11T09:43:00.000-06:00

Cold brick wall to my back, I force the breath through my nose, trying to quiet my panting. I press

into the building, watching the edges of its neighbors for signs I’ve been followed. The lamplight

off the streets reflects onto the red chunks stacked around me and falls to the asphalt. My heart

picks up tempo as a distant hum catches the air and washes towards me. Down the street,

streetlights and moon beams giving definition to sleeping terrain, a repetitive orange light blinks

menacingly. And I know it’s coming. I peek around the corner, nervously.

Its ominous, filthy shape sweeps against sides of houses and buries cars as it passes. The black

shadow continually wiped clean by the orange blink atop it. Blink. Blink. Blink. It spins,

beckoning.

I pull myself back around my corner, sweat cementing my hair into place. I hear it brushing

against the ground, and something in my snaps. Like the pang of an empty stomach or the

heartbreak of a lost companion, the intense horror of my situation races back to me. And I decide

tonight I end this beast’s reign of horror.

It crawls closer to my hiding place just off the street, and against the wall beside me I see its

shadow tower over me. The slow, still shape ghostly hovering across the ground, ravaging

anything in the destructive path it sticks to. Blink. Blink. Blink. The growling hum grows even

louder and I dart from my hiding place.

Toward the street, my wall falling from behind me in slow motion, my feet push off of the park

bench, land perfectly on the trash can beside it, spring up onto the beats right where its horrifically

oversized eyes sit, and I assume the pose.

Back arched, teeth bared, every hair on my body stands on end from anger and fear. My eyes are

glowing evil slits, my claws dig into its hard flesh and I let out my battle cry:

“HHHHHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIISSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!”

The creature swerves from its path, and I hear the captive voice of a man cry out. I will save you

man, I will save you! I hiss again as the beast slowly rolls to a stop. With the beast distracted, the

man escapes from its side and I know my work is done. I leap from its face and onto the

pavement.

As I race off in victory down the damp, clean road from whence it came, the man yells to me.

You’re welcome helpless man. You’re welcome.

Writing Prompt: Create a New Holiday and Write About It

2011-10-09T10:39:00.001-06:00

7:09am

I picked the wrong socks today. They keep inching slowly down my calves, inevitably balling up around my ankles before the day is done. I’m sitting on the bus beside a new mother and her drooling baby. It’s cute. As baby’s go. But something about their absorbent stares, sucking in every aspect of the world and you along with it, just sets me off. Plus the drool. The morning commute as usual.

8:53am

The elevator is packed. Like sardines. Not in the way that people say, “packed in like sardines,” but actually packed like a case of small, dead fish. I have expect to see feet in the air, people catching on that more individuals will fit if they’re not placed head by head. Or at least a tail fin.

I’m early, so at least Mr. Prill won’t have tardiness as ammunition. If the elevator doesn’t break down, over the weight limits.

10:01am

The elevator didn’t break down. Here I am. At work.

12:30pm

Lunch would be great, if only everyone didn’t have lunch all at the same time. Yes, that’s an exaggeration. Someone’s got to be running the office. Maybe robots, or tiny men who could be stored in desk drawers and removed for lunch breaks. They would eat post-its and defective staples.

3:21pm

I hate board meetings.

4:02pm

This last hour is going to kill me. Literally. My soul will not survive this last hour in this building. Mourners will pile around my desk, shaking their head, and whispering to each other “If only it was nine to FOUR…”

5:00pm

I did not die at work today.

7:41pm

The bar is packed. Not quite like sardines, but only because there is a patio and people have piled out into the night. I snake my way to the bar and order my beer. I’m normally not that into beer, but since it’s the holiday.

A group at one of the tables in the middle calls me over. I pull out my chair and smile into their familiar faces. No gifts, no formalities. That’s what makes this my favorite holiday: it can be whatever you want it to. We share stories and share company. There’s no grand moment, no ball dropping or streamers screaming. Just a banner over the bar, pressed against the mirror behind it, reading:

“Happy Day of Imagination.”

September Vlog: Circles of Life

2011-10-01T23:50:00.002-06:00

So it's a day late, still counts, right? Here's the vlog for September. This month I saw the Lion King in 3D with some friends, and during the opening it kind of dawned on me (no pun intended) how important this movie was for me. It's the first movie I remember seeing in the theaters. Maybe there were some before, but it's the first one I remember. I saw it once with just my Mom, and again with my Dad and Sister.

Our school play that year, we sang songs from the movie. Memories aside, there's the whole spiritual side of the film that really hits home with what I'm feeling right now. So basically, I felt like doing a video to kind of honor the great film that it is, and the way it has seeped into my life without me even knowing it.

Hakuna Matata!

August vlog: Night

2011-08-30T23:42:00.002-06:00

Poem by Eugene Field "Wynken, Blynken, and Nod"

Music: James Horner "The Bioluminescence of the Night"

Film Review: Super 8

2011-08-15T07:00:00.004-06:00

What I like about J.J. Abrams:

1. His unique mix of heart and action. He can make you jump and just minutes later make you blink back tears. One minute you're scared, the next touch, but either way you're feeling something.

2. He works with Michael Giacchino, and it's always amazing.

3. His stories are different. Sure, Super 8 has been compared to E.T. and with Speilberg producing that's a real easy leap for people to make when they don't feel like putting much thought into what they just saw. But the story was different, from execution to plot, characters, and especially the alien.

4. His characters are relatable. You're not sitting through 2 hours of a tween girl pining over her would be vampire-I-mean-werewolf-I-mean-vampire boyfriend. These characters have issues and they usually are issues that are common to most people if not at least understandable to most viewers. The fact that an alien is terrorizing the town if just a plot device for character growth.

5. The special effect are just awesome. What is shown, what's not show, how things are shot/shown. I appreciate his eye for film and his knack for storytelling. He keeps me entertained and certainly keeps me coming back for more.

Writing Prompt: write a scene with an unreliable narrator

2011-08-10T12:50:00.000-06:00

In writing group we've started doing writing prompts to get the creativity flowing before each session. This week we chose to write a scene with an unreliable narrator (someone who is misinformed, lying, untrustworthy, etc). We all set our scenes in the playground outside the library, and this is what I came up with.

***

“Betcha can’t climb to the top”
“Betcha I can”
“Betcha wont”
“Bet I might”
“Pussy”

I stop. Gabe just said the ‘P word.’ And if my Mom’s nearby I’m worried I’ll get in trouble. I look to the bench where she sits with Abbey in her stroller. There’s no way she heard. Absolutely no way she heard. Definitely not.

“You’re a…pussy. I bet you’ve never even climbed to the top. You’re lying.”
I hope that this will distract Gabe, and maybe he’ll climb to the top and I wont have to. Maybe by the time he climbs to the top and then back down Mom will say it’s time to go and I wont have to climb it at all.

“Chicken. You’re afraid. You’re afraid you’ll fall and cry like a wittle baby.”

My stomach feels pukey and I think of something, “Race you to the top?”

Gabe looks up at the top of it and then back at me. He smiles and we take our places on the chain.

“One. Two. Three. Climb!” Gabe shouts.

We’re climbing and I’m way ahead of Gabe. Like almost to the top and he’s all the way just at the middle. I make it to the top first and cling to the green metal pole. I’m scared to look down but I don’t tell Gabe.

He gets to the top and frowns at me, “You’re a cheater Michael. You’re a cheater just like your Dad.”
“What?”
“My mom says all the time: Michael Abrams’ Daddy is a cheater. A dirty. Perverted. Dirty, cheater.”

And then Gabe is saying, “Hey, did I ever tell you I can fly?”

And I say no Gabe you can’t fly, you’re lying but he says watch me and he jumps.

And he can’t fly. At all. I laugh for a minute when he lands in the woodchips, but then he’s screaming and crying and his mom comes over and starts screaming and my mom comes over and starts screaming at her and at me and I really don’t want to look down because it’s still really high and because everyone’s yelling and Gabe is crying.

Gabe’s mom rushes him to their car and they leave. I come down but really slowly and Mom’s looking at me funny. Like she’s afraid of something and really angry at the same time. She pushes Abbey’s stroller to the car and I follow, I get in the back seat and buckle up and she drives us home.

“Michael,” she says after seven minutes (I’m watching the clock on the dash) and I see her mouth in the rearview mirror.

I look at her reflection.

“You know it’s wrong to push, right?”

“Yeah.”

“And it’s wrong to hurt other people.”

“I know” I mumble.

The car is quiet, and I look over at Abbey in her car seat. She’s wiggling and chewing on her giraffe.

“Mom,” I say quieter than before. I can tell her head is pointed at me through the mirror. She doesn’t say anything but I know she’s listening. “Is dad a cheater?”

She breathes in really quickly and then asks me quietly, “what?”

“Gabe said his mom said that Daddy was a cheater? Why would daddy be a cheater? I don’t understand why Gabe’s mom would think that."

Mom sniffs kinda sharply and looks back at the road for a long time. I watch Abbey mush her giraffe in her mouth.

“You’re Daddy is a good man.”

And we’re quiet the rest of the way home. I watch the time change until we pull into the driveway, and Abbey continues to joyously mush her giraffe, perfectly content with everything just as it is.

Film Review: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2

2011-08-09T07:00:00.000-06:00

The poster have been telling us for some time that on 7/15/11 "It All Ends." Funny how even with a heads up, and with a spectacular film, the evening was still a little bittersweet.

The beginning went by a little quick. We disapparated from shell cottage, flew out of Gringots and faster than you can say "lemon drops" we were talking to Aberforth seconds away from Hogwarts. But once there, we got satisfying moment after satisfying moment. McGonagall (Maggie Smith) stole the show several times, Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermione (Emma Watson) had a couple of great moments, and Snape (Alan Rickman) pulled at your heart up to the very end.

The battle scenes (which fans have been waiting for for some time now...) were exciting and well executed, and the mix of humor, heat, and action was everything you could ask for from a good movie. The stakes for both fans and characters were very high going into this conclusion, but for me at least, they were greatly surpassed.

Film Review: Captain America

2011-08-04T07:00:00.000-06:00

Like supersoldier serum to the veins of the previously admirable but not necessarily remarkable Marvel films, a seemingly new age of hero flick is coming out of the studio. This summer has seen Thor and the X-Men grace the big screen with either new or renewed interest to their respected franchises. Captain America is no different.

Staying true to the comic origins, Captain America: the First Avenger is set in 1942, WWII America. I found it interesting that, while necessary to the plot, the time setting of this film reflects an aspect of nostaglia also present in the Shakespearean toned/mythology based Thor as well as the 1962 set X-Men: First Class. Not only the longing for heroes, but also the glance back at times past cast some interesting commentary on the state of things today.

As necessary with a "period" piece, the sets, costumes and props were accurate and interesting. A unique blend of science fiction and history that is still relevant and exciting to audiences today. At the root of it all is a story about a young man trying to prove himself, and realizing the strength of a hero doesn't lie in muscles and explosions, but rather in hearts, choices, courage, and sacrifice.

I admit, I've never been a huge fan of the Captain America comics. But every aspect of this film, from Chris Evans to Alan Silvestri, won me over. With next summer's promise of The Avengers, and a reboot to the Amazing Spider-Man, we can only hope that whatever is pumping through the creative veins of the Marvel staff does not wear off anytime soon.

July Vlog: Welcome to the Family Tree

2011-07-31T15:56:00.002-06:00

Music: Imogen Heap "Lifeline"

Book Review: 100 Heartbeats

2011-07-19T22:55:00.001-06:00

When I picked up 100 Heartbeats by Jeff Corwin, I half expected a series of fun anecdotes about the TV personality’s experiences with animals. To be honest, I’d seen the book a while ago and was intrigued, but I didn’t really look closely at what it was about.

Less anecdotes and more hard facts, the book does follow Corwin around the globe, but the focus falls to those precious animals extinct or endangered. With hard facts about habitat loss, climate change, misuse of resources, and the plethora of hardships facing many species daily, the book was a hard read. It’s not enjoyable, uplifting (with a few possible exceptions), but that’s not that point. The point is education.

Sadly, I think this is the one major fault to this well written eye-opener. With books that take a stance, politically, socially, culturally or religiously, the audience in appeal is very limited. Not every reader will pick the book up blindly by accident. The trouble with appealing to an audience that seeks specific content or gravitates to certain prescribed views, is that your message re-circulates through the same group. Rarely does it branch out to those who need to hear it, and seldom does it change minds too closed to glance the other side.

This book was moving. It was important. It was eye-opening. And I hope many things for it and for the animals within its pages.

Book Review: Girl With the Dragon Tattoo

2011-07-14T10:39:00.001-06:00

It seems, for Americans anyways, that the modern creation of the “Swedish Crime Thriller” genre is credited solely to Stieg Larson. His Millennium Trilogy has taken many readers by surprise, and even captured the attention of Hollywood (a remake of the recent Swedish adaptation is already set for December of this year). I don’t particularly like the bandwagon books, or films for that matter. Generally because they fail to live up to the hype.

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo takes place in Sweden, where we follow journalist Mikael Blomkvist and investigator Lisbeth Salander, separate storylines that alternate as we read. When the storylines converge, it ends up being mainly a means of sex. The interesting parallels previously given between the alternating storylines brushed away like lustfully disinteresting contents atop a desk. This book is certainly adult, in content and language. If sex, nudity, rape, and cursing offend you, then you’d be best to skip this one.

As a thriller the book does come through at the end, though it takes some time to develop. The ending (well, the events just before the ending anyways) are full of suspense. Simultaneously, such dark ideals are brought to light that it’s hard to be titillated instead of just disgusted. The problem I had with this novel lies here, in the same place that makes me detest all TV crime shows: crime is not entertaining. In a world of dark, psychotic people, the abundance of sick ideals does not need to be multiplied. And even if the bad guys get it in the end (which here it really remains to be clear if the bad guys really do get retribution, and if their victims get any form of justice) it’s really no justification.

The novel was an easy read. As the first in a trilogy it is safe to try without being required to continue with the next two.

Summer Film Review: X-Men: First Class

2011-07-09T17:04:00.001-06:00

I like the X-Men movies. I like that they deal with deeper themes, like alienation and acceptance in society. Identity, and acceptance of self. Obviously then, I’d be excited to see the newest installment, X-Men: First Class. This film elaborates on the relationship between Charles Xavier (James McAvoy) and Erik Lehnsherr (Michael Fassbender). We also see more of the famous Mystique (Jennifer Lawrence) and Hank McCoy (Nicholas Hoult) among other mutant favorites from the Marvel comics.

This film is set in 1962, giving a sense of nostalgia both for a time in our country and also for the pen and paper births of these characters. As an origin film, this element works nicely with the overall feel of the film.

The story felt a little rushed for me. There wasn’t a ton of time spent on the characters and their relationships, specifically Erik and Charles, and even Charles/Raven/Erik. The emotional climax at the end would have be better if the relationships had had more time to build. This would be my only big complaint.

Of course the costumes, sets, and makeup (especially the makeup) were all awesome. There were plenty of parts to chuckle at, and a sufficient action scene at the end (although, Brendan Fehr? Okay…). The ball got rolling and I feel in a good direction. As a stand alone film this is a good prequel to the franchise, but I wouldn’t be heartbroken if we saw more from this cast in the future.

What Would Harry Potter Do?

2011-07-04T21:16:00.001-06:00

I first met Harry Potter eight years ago. Shortly afterward he introduced me to a rather brilliant author named Joanne Rowling. Since then we’ve shared a total of seven books and five midnight movie premieres, soon to be followed by a sixth. We’ve met many more people along the way (good and bad), rode double-decker buses through London, faced dragons, survived Potions with Professor Snape, and even blown up an Aunt. Many late nights, many tears, much laughter and quite a bit of pondering later and I’ve realized just want a big part Harry Potter has played in my growing up. See, there are some very important things he’s taught me along the way.

First of all, and I honestly didn’t know this before, I’ve learned that when you talk to snakes it can creep some people out. Never go camping, even with your two best friends, it gets a bit boring and you inevitably end up fighting with someone. Bathrooms are not just for…well, going to the bathroom. Sometimes girls get murdered in bathrooms and become ghosts with high, annoying voices. They’re also good places to brew illegal potions, or experiment with spells when dueling.

Even if you’re hard up on work, accepting the Defense against the Dark Arts post at Hogwarts could very well be the last thing you ever do. I’ve learned that “Brian” can be a very fine middle name to have. I’ve learned that no one is safe in hard times, not even your pet owl. I discovered that to a well organized mind, death is but another adventure. I’ve witnessed that the ones we love never really leave us. And maybe most importantly of all, I’ve learned that when facing my greatest fears, it can help a lot just to focus on happiness, and eat a little bit of chocolate.

When you spend eight years with someone, it can’t help but being a little sad when you finally say goodbye. This is the beauty of paper and film I suppose. You can revisit them as often as you please. But, I never will forget my first visit to Hogwarts. Taking down a mountain troll. Re-potting mandrakes. Riding on a Hippogriff. The Qudditch World Cup. Fred and George’s exit from Hogwarts. Finding the Room and Requirements. Long talks with Dumbledore. And of course, how it all ended. I’m sure I’ll revisit all these moments in the future, on paper and on screen, many more times. And until then: I solemnly swear that I am up to no good.

Summer Film Review: Transformers: Dark of the Moon

2011-07-02T08:22:00.000-06:00

I think the theme I liked most in Transformers: Dark of the Moon, was that of transitions. Sam has graduated and is frustrated about not finding work. Bumblebee is transitioning from his role as Sam’s guardian, into the warrior role. And the movie world that is the setting for the film is transitioning from a point of discovery (hey look, transformers!) to acceptance (you guys are handy, please stay and protect us). Some of the transitions worked well, others not so much.

I want to talk about Megan Fox for a second. People have their opinions about her, as a person and as an actress. Honestly, I could care less which tabloid says what on which week, so I truly don’t have a negative opinion of her. I’ve not met her, I don’t know her, and as an actress I think she’s just as good (if not amazing) as any other big, action film actress. I think her character’s disappearance hurt the film. We’ve grown to know and care about the other characters and their relationships, and one thing noticeably missing from this film was the heart and relationships from its predecessors. Aside from one, short moment with Bumblebee at the end, it was almost completely devoid, in my opinion. Rosie Huntington-Whiteley did a good job. But as a movie goer you’re wondering how they’re going to explain (or when they’re going to get around to explaining…) the new leading lady. Considering the recasting was no surprise, the writers fell short.

Missing too was the bits of humor the second and first film worked in. There were moments, don’t get me wrong, but largely the film is not fun (at least, not in a laugh out loud sort of way). It is, I should say, fun for those of us who like action films, robots, and things blowing up. On those notes, of course, it passes with flying colors. The franchise has not transitioned away from the great special effects, action scenes, and CGI. In fact, it has probably improved from where it started. At times I could actually tell which robots where which and what was happening during some of the fight scenes.

Considering this is (presumably) the last of the Transformers films (at least with this set of actors, etc) the film did transition to a good ending. Robots died, futures were eluded to, and we all got a sufficient amount of time with our favorite transformers (157 minutes to be exact). The third film in a trilogy is always a hard transition, for film makers and fans alike. They may not have made the transition perfectly, but it was well enough to be included in my DVD collection sometime in the future.

Summer Film Review: Thor

2011-06-30T20:11:00.003-06:00

If you doubt Thor, first consider that it is directed by Kenneth Branagh, and then that he based it off of Shakespeare’s Henry V. Possibly worth a look?

To me, this film was divine. Cinematography: stunning. Acting: great. Sets and costumes: perfect. Editing. Sound. Visual effects. It far surpassed my expectations for a superhero film. The plot was engaging, and perhaps what I liked most of all (spoiler alert) was that it did not have the typical happy ending.

Straying from the superhero genre, much of the camp is unnoticeably absent. Sure you have Norse mythology, and Marvel comics (both of which the film stayed relatively true to). And it would have been too easy to take a muscular blonde man with helmet, chainmail, and cape and make it all look cheesy. The costume upgrades were classy, the props and sets depicted a different world where such fashions were excusable or commonplace, and even when the two worlds came together, these elements were not jarringly alien. Asgard was a world all its own, fleshed out and committed to be the creative staff. Earth had a look to it too. From the lighting, and the sparse settings, the colors and terrain. The two worlds contrasted and complimented each other.

When acting in a superhero film, it can be easy to excuse hard work. But, Chris Hemsworth pulls Thor off perfectly, and as usual Natalie Portman is a treat to watch. Even minor characters like the very funny Kat Dennings (Darcy) or Tom Huddleston (Loki) impress. The depths of villainy are fleshed out with one scene between Huddleston and Anthony Hopkins (Odin), making the battle of good and evil a bit more refreshing.

As one of the first summer films of 2011, Thor set the bar high. With promised appearances in next summer’s the Avengers as well as rumored Thor sequels, for now I’ll just have to wait and hope that lightening strikes twice.

Time Waits For No Pan

2011-06-17T21:01:00.006-06:00

I was trying a couple things here. First, I wanted to working on panning with my tripod since it's something that doesn't always go smoothly for me (pun intended). And secondly I was inspired by a conversation I had a few months ago with Sherean and Justin. We were talking about being kids: our favorite shows, toys, memories. It was very nostalgic and a lot of fun. I think I ended up leaving at least an hour later than I intended, most of the conversation taking place in the doorway as I was "on my way home."

When this was all on my mind, and when I sat down to write the narration for this vlog, the words all seemed a little cliche. Really, it's all been said before, at one time or another. We know time can be cruel, or kind. Fast or slow. Good or bad. Time has a plan all its own, and we can only sit back and let it take us. Eventually each of us comes to our own understandings with the varied ticks of the clock.

So here's my vlog. Not a perfect understanding or representation of the passage of time, but it's mine. And since we're on the topic: this is vlog #6. We're halfway there. How it flies...

Music - "Time" By Hans Zimmer

Earth Warrior

2011-05-31T12:54:00.004-06:00

"Thank God men cannot fly, and lay waste the sky as well as the earth." ~Henry David Thoreau

Music: "Wavin' Flag" by K'NAAN

Hear Me Roar

2011-04-30T23:06:00.004-06:00

Music - "Little Lion Man" by Mumford & Sons

A little last minute, changed it all last minute. But had fun, and did something different.

KaleidesHope

2011-03-29T17:10:00.002-06:00

Michael Bernard Loggins wrote a short piece title "Fears of Your Life" that has been featured several times on This American Life (another source of inspiration to me). Mr. Loggins is a developmentally disable man, he was in his forties around the time he wrote this piece. As the title may suggest, it is about fear. A list of all his fears. He has said of the work: “I write down my fears, my scariness and my frightfulness. This is an understanding process. It helps me real good.”

Everyone has their own unique fears. And I think, as daunting as it may be to see them listed on paper, that I agree with Mr. Loggins: it helps.

His work inspired me in a different way, for this month's vlog. I started listing, however silly or huge, my wishes. In a strange way wishes can be odd cousins to fears, I've discovered. A little more hopeful, a little more optimistic, but possibly rooted in similar soil.

I hope you enjoy my wishes, and maybe get inspired to come up with some of your own.

~Music by Alan Menken

Good Grief

2011-02-25T21:24:00.001-07:00

Music - "The Road Home" by San Bao

Denial. Anger. Bargaining. Depression. Acceptance

The five stages of grief. Numbered, neat. You go through them 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.

Don’t skip over any of them. Don’t let any one pass too quickly. Feel them all, wait for them all, expect them all.

When the idea, the definition of the five stages of grief first came into popular society, they were reserved for mourning death. So intense and psychologically complex that they were only felt by mourners. The diagnosis reserved only for the final moments in the lives of those close to us. It’s only recently that psychologists have realized: there are other things to be sad about.

Breakups. Layoffs. Poor health. People leave, grow apart, close off, and move on. And the happy ending of inevitable “Step 5” acceptance is not guaranteed at all.

The promise of sunshine and rainbows is not really the point though. Acceptance is one step out of five. You either get there, or you don’t, but the point is: in the meantime you have 1 through 4. You get to feel something. Humor. Rage. Ingenuity. Sadness.

As much as we may want to box it up, understand it and define it, we can cause ourselves more grief by even trying. Feelings aren’t nice and neat, they’re not ordered, and they don’t fit well in boxes. So what do we hope to accomplish by trying? Understanding? Validation? Happiness? Wisdom? Acceptance?

What we hope to accomplish, is just to have hope. To know that we hurt. To know that it will get better. To heal, we have to first recognize the pain. Sometimes step 1 in grief, is accepting that you’re hurt at all.

*The audio didn't quite turn out how I thought (again) but I went ahead and posted the version with my narration. I figure it's a starting point, and while I keep working on it at least the scary part of "putting it out there" is over.

Thawed

2011-01-31T01:09:00.001-07:00

Here it is, vlog #1! It didn't turn out quite the way I thought/wanted. I was going to do a narration over it, but it didn't come together in a way I was thrilled with, so I'll also post what I had written and was going to say. The music is Imogen Heap's "Canvas."

Coats, scarves, hats, gloves, space heaters, heating blankets, indoor fireplaces, wool socks. Little heat packs for your hands. Tea, coffee, cocoa. The colder it gets, the more desperate for the heat we become.

There’s actually quite a few factors that effect how cold we feel. Body weight, age, race, humidity, location. Our health and our environment can effect how cold we feel. But there are different variables the impact how cold we are.

Patience.

Heart.

Communication.

Ego.

Imagination.

The warmest of people can still be the most distant, cold individuals. It takes great effort to warm a cold heart. Thaw a shoulder. It takes chisels, hammers, gloves, heaters. Patience. Heart. Communication. And even then they may never thaw.

Some things may just be meant to be frozen. Ice cream. Ice cubes. Snowflakes. Some very beautiful things. Even some hearts and shoulders. Heat is a very subjective feeling. And where we get into trouble is when we decide the temperature for things beyond ourselves. No one needs to hog the thermostat. No one needs to stay tucked in the freezer. But mostly, some of us just need to thaw a bit, chill a bit, explore new degrees, and determine preferred conditions for ourselves.

Video Killed the Radio Star

2011-01-18T12:30:00.002-07:00

"Around Here, However, We Don't Look Backwards Very Long, We Keep Moving Forward, Opening Up New Doors And Doing New Things, Because We're Curious... And Curiosity Keeps Leading Us Down New Paths." ~ Walt Disney

I'm not big on New Years resolutions. Not because I have a hard time keeping them (honestly, I think I've had a good track record), but more because I don't think major life goals should be reserved for one day of the year. Make them whenever you please. Keep making new ones. Push yourself. We all grow and change, constantly. So push yourself, all the time.

The draw of a new year, a fresh slate and blank start, is appealing. I set some new goals for myself, new things to try. One of them involves this blog and my video camera. I want more practice, more of a creative outlet for both. Instead of blogging, I'm going to jump feet first into the volg world. Each month I'll pick some sort of theme and make a short video about it. Beyond that I can't say; the idea is a work in progress. One that I'm kinda excited about.

On a side note, I'm part of yet another blog. This time a photo blog. Every so often we'll get "assignments" and post them for critique and feedback. The first assignment coming up is "to portray the feeling of nostalgia through an image." They're due on the 21st, so look for them all around then.

And don't forget about the writing blog I'm still a part of. It's died down a little, but I'm hoping for some exciting things going that way soon!

And with that, you have absolutely no excuse to be bored. Lots of sites to check out, and maybe even some sparks to your own creativity. Get out there and get busy too!

And to All a Good Night

2010-12-10T23:57:00.002-07:00

‘Twas the night before tomorrow, and all through the street
not a zombie was lumbering, wanting to eat.

Little ones, big ones, covered with blood stains
were nestled in gutters, dreaming of brains.

The night was so still, not an undead walking ‘bout.
The city taken over, with none left to shout.

When suddenly there came such a clatter
one zombie arose. Hoping to get fatter.

He dragged his bum leg to the window with haste,
saw old Saint Nick and wanted a taste.

Licking his mouth and staring quite blankly
he grabbed at his coast which was smelling quite rankly.

With an “Uuuurr…” he riled the fellow zombies awake
all promised a limb to personally take.

A swarm did mount in the streets down below
following the airborne “Ho, ho, ho, ho.”

They ran and they panted, all in a dart
but Santa did know: zombies aren’t smart.

So he landed his slay, right on each zombie head
the reindeer and carriage. Those zombies were dead.

And so Dasher, and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen.
Comet and Cupid and Donner and Blitzen.
Became slayers of zombies, not just pullers of sleighs.
And Santa quite grateful for how much he weighs.

Apologize

2010-11-15T10:24:00.002-07:00

We have opposable thumbs, advanced communication skills (even if we don’t use them much of the time), we create, grow, better ourselves physically, mentally and spiritually. There are many traits that set us apart in the animal kingdom. Most prominent though is our ability to utterly mess things up.

It’s not often you hear someone speaking of an elephant, “well, you made your bed. Now lay in it!” To their dog, “you know, you really hurt my feelings.” Or exclaiming to a school of fish, “you don’t think of anyone but yourselves!” And even if you did, the animals aren’t going to care. They didn’t do it on purpose. That’s a human thing. We foresee consequences, tack results onto our actions. We know what we’re doing is wrong, it’s a low thing to do, and we do it anyways. We can’t help it. We’re not animals after all.

Before we can move on, play and run and laugh, we’re taught as children that we need to apologize. Own up. It’s a very adult thing to do, even if adults don’t do it. Apologies are awkward. You’re acknowledging, “hey, I hurt you. That upsets me. You matter. I’m so, so sorry.” Unfortunately, not everyone is strong enough to utter that simple phrase with such a deep meaning.

“I’m sorry.”

I don’t think you can forgive and forget. You remember the harm done to you. The hurt you cost others. It makes you do better in the future and if you let it, it can strengthen the relationship. You wouldn’t be apologizing, trying to make amends, if you didn’t want the relationship to move forward. The easy, thoughtless thing to do is to drop it and let the person go on hurting on their own with no closure and lots of questions. It’s a very human response. Elephants do grieve. Dogs seek acceptance from their pack. And even fish travel in schools.

To apologize is not human nature. We’re conditioned. Taught from an early age to do better. To walk in someone else's shoes. Eventually I think we do learn the lesson: the person who benefits most from the apology is the one giving it. And the one hurt the most, is the guy who stays silent, giving up.

Sticks and Stones May Break My Bones...

2010-11-08T15:37:00.001-07:00

But words will never hurt me. “I’m rubber, you’re glue. Anything you say bounces off of me and sticks to you.” From a very young age it seems we’re taught that words are the least important aspect of an altercation. Don’t let it get to you, brush it off. You know the truth.

As if trying to play with your tiny little developing minds, you get in trouble or throw a tantrum and the mantra suddenly shifts. “Talk it out.”

When it comes to understanding someone, when the issue involves us directly, then we want communication. We want to get to the bottom of it so we can move on, move forward one way or another. The trick is, getting the other guilty party to cooperate. A lot of the time they’re sitting proudly in their rubber suits, unhurt and uncaring.

So how do you talk it out with these people, if there are no words to use? All the words have bounced off, and you’re stuck. Weighed down by all the words from both parties.

Bullies have been in the news a lot recently, which to me is in some way surprising. Bullying has been around forever. Kids bully kids. Parents bully kids. Teachers bully kids. Friends bully friends. Because people don’t communicate. We don’t talk to who we really need to or want to talk to about the issues we need resolved. We bully to get our way. We guilt and bride and scare people, even some people that we care about. Just about everyone has been bullied and just about everyone is a bully.

Your political, religious, life, economic and/or social views are the right ones! You know it! And anyone who thinks, feels or experiences life differently from you… well they’re just wrong. Stupid. Confused. Abnormal.

People are selfish. We only care when we’re directly effected, otherwise are hands are washed. And when we are effected everyone move mountains to facilitate our needs and desires.

You get what you give. You throw things back at people on rubber-suited catapults and you get the same in return. Karma is a boomerang. If you let people get away with bullying, with bouncing, then you’ll be able to get away with it too. Because eventually you just wont care. There will be nothing worth caring for.

You’ll have repelled enough people that those casual acquaintances you still keep wont care enough to fight for you. Because the people who do care about us have tough jobs to do. Our friends, our family, they keep us accountable. They don’t let us get away with crap. They sit us in time-out and they shout if they have to, that confusing, hard, situation altering phrase:

“Use your words.”

The Point is That They Lived

2010-11-01T22:54:00.002-06:00

Some are better than others. Some are even amazing in their own right. But without exception they all follow the same formula: once upon a time to happily ever after. Dashing princes, evil witches, fair maidens, endangered kingdoms, dragons, castles and touches of magic. Fairy tales, in the end, are all the same.

The wonderful thing about these stories are the worlds they paint. Worlds full of adventure and magic. Worlds where good triumphs over evil. Worlds where love conquers all, where characters grow and become whole. Worlds full of mystery and high stakes. Mythical creatures and exotic countryside.

A made up setting and made up characters. Altogether made up tales.

These tales entice us. Ensnare us. Most people would be lying if they said they didn’t want a fairy tale ending. A fairy tale adventure or romance. Even just a little. But when you really get down to it, what are we wishing for?

Most people wouldn’t chance an encounter with a twenty foot dragon even if given the opportunity. Many of us could not make a midnight curfew. And quite of few of us don’t have a magical sword pulled from a rock.

The truth is when compared to fairy tales real life doesn’t quite measure up. Going to work every day may feel epic, and may even involve some monsters. But those monsters you can’t slay. The trials of every day pass slowly, not in two hours of screen or twenty chapters of bound paper script. The changes are slow, the relationships subtle, and the adventures small.

But as great as the fairy tales are, they still can’t quite measure up to real life. Fiction can intoxicate us, but when you think about it not a lot of good ever came from being intoxicated. Impaired or compromised. The cold blast of real life can beat fairy tales hands down. It is infinitely more complex and more substantial. And if you let, it more magical than any fairy tale.

...My Compass Works Fine.

2010-10-09T22:47:00.003-06:00

Often it starts as a little voice of apprehension. A bit of caution poking into your mind and telling you to be careful. Often this is the voice of reason, the voice that prevents you from doing something reckless or something stupid. It protects you. Or, it tries anyways.

Not to be confused with your conscience (although they do frequently sing in duet), this voice tells you yes or no. It helps you make choices, telling you what's good and what's bad. Not right from wrong. Sometimes it whispers, and sometimes it yells. Either way we don't always listen. The volume doesn't come in to play too much, but rather the content dictates how we listen. We always hear it. We just don't always choose to follow the advice.

We ignore the signs, disregard the advice we know to be sound. We act recklessly, and we don't let others help us. We choose poorly. Make bad decisions. And that is our right. Just because you hear something, know something, doesn't mean you have to go along with it. There are no rules. The falls are yours to take. It is the right of each of us to mess up. And in an ideal world we learn from these mistakes, do better, and maybe listen harder in the future. In an ideal world we don't keep falling in the same places, same ways, same hard contact.

There are those of us who only hear the voice of caution. Only see yellow tape and orange cones. The voice is always jabbering, always loud, and always casting doubt. Instead of letting us fall, it pins us down and keeps us from moving at all. No chances, no risk. No progress. You're just stuck.

When the scale tips one way it makes for a clear winner and a clear looser. Doubt is there for a reason. It reminds us there are stakes, it reminds us that we care. It reminds us that we don't want to fail. It can run off with us, overwhelm us, hold us back. It can thumb its nose at us when we fall despite it. We only learn when to listen by falling, and we only learn when not to listen by leaping. We need to do both. We need doubt and we need reckless abandon. Mostly, we all just need a little balance.

Keep Moving Forward

2010-10-04T01:14:00.002-06:00

All stories, we're lead to believe, have a beginning a middle and an end. A start and a finish, with that little conflict in the middle. There's the exposition and the resolution. Stories arch, characters grow and happy ending are achieved.

Which, truth be told, is utterly ridiculous.

The shortest distance between two points may be a straight line, but that's not the most interesting way. Real paths wind and weave and double back on themselves and just suddenly stop. Real journeys take you in circles and make you walk backwards and turn around and try again and walk in the completely opposite direction from your goal which you can see off in the distance and it appears your path will never merge with it. Because real journeys are never short, never easy, and never a straight line.

Sometimes it gets dark, and sometimes you are stuck. You never set out with a map, that's one of the rules of the journey. You find the tools on your way, just when you need them and never for longer than they're required. Things do go bump in the night, and there are things on the path that are out to get you.

So, why bother? Moving down the road, partaking on the journey, it's scary business. It'd be easier to just never cross the starting line. Never leave the safe haven you found along the way. It'd be easy to not try. It's easy because it's comfortable. Stay in your nice routine. Grow into your surroundings. Become your stagnate setting. Part of the crew part of the ship. Part of the crew part of the ship...

It's easy, as long as you make sure to hang your head. Don't look forward, don't make goals, don't hope don't dream don't aspire. Because as soon as you do, the path ahead doesn't look so scary. Nobody does it alone. You find the tools on your way, just when you need them most. And many times, those tools can be people. Someone who knows the way, who will journey with you if you ask them or not. Sometimes trails intersect.

You're only as alone as you choose to be. Each journey does start with a single, scary step. Some even begin with a leap. Beginnings are epic. Endings are cathartic. The middles are filled with twists, bumps, and losses. But the journey itself is worth it. If only for the people you meet along the way.

A Fish Can Breathe Out Here

2010-09-29T08:58:00.001-06:00

We've all seen the cookie-cutter houses, sitting right on top of each other with no yard or room between them. Giant houses, most likely occupied by a maximum of two people. We look at them and wonder, "How awful would that be?"

There's something to be said for space. Visitors to foreign countries tell stories about being shocked by the personal space boundaries (or lack thereof) they encounter with other cultures. A lot of the time we just want our space, and don't need others getting too close.

We also know the stories of single houses in the middle of nowhere. Their closest neighbor hours away. And most of us think, "How awful would that be?" To be so isolated...

Truthfully, different things work for different people. Someone's idea of space may clash with any number of other people's. You can't tell what kind of space a person requires, how much is ideal to them. You can never give someone their space. Space has to be taken.

The interesting thing about space is how we seldom really know how much we need. Until our boundaries are tested, until we have too much or too little, we don't really know what we require. Some truth can be found in claustrophobia, and terrifying freedom can be found in expansive plains. Sometimes the boundary we set needs a toe to press the line one direction or another. However much space is best for us, we only really find out when that second party comes and gets involved. Our space boundaries can change from place to place. Person to person. Day to day.

Whatever the amount, too much space or not enough, it'd all be the same if left alone.

Tale as Old as Time

2010-09-27T19:53:00.003-06:00

Time heals all wounds. According to popular believe, there is no ailment so severe, no pain so cutting that time cannot mend. Just leave it be, it'll be fine.

Medically there's a lot to be said for this. From the initial impact of scalpel to skin, to the last checkup and doctor's ok, the wound does close, leaving behind a new pink line. The stitches come out, the crutches go down and we forget the problem ever even existed.

There is, of course, another way time touches our wounds. Some malignancy is growing under our skin, and we certainly know about it. But we think, "Just wait. Give it some time. It can't be that bad, and maybe it'll take care of itself."

And so it festers.

Time can heal wounds, but first they must be brought to light of sterile surgical rooms. The doctor needs his diagnosis and the treatment must be prescribed. Time alone is just not enough.

There are some injuries made worse by being left alone. Some things time can actually harm. We get used to the way it feels, being wounded. We expect more of the same, and we know the pain will get worse the more time passes. The thing about time: there are two ways we look at it. Looking back, or looking forward. We see the pain behind us, the cause. Or we see the ideal recovery ahead.

But, in order for time to heal we need both. We need the root of the problem, and a goal ahead of us. We need the past and the future. And we need the present. We need to feel where we are now. And a lot of the time, we need a crutch to lean on and a hand to hold. Time will heal. But it will only mend if our present is cared for too. You can heal up and keep running. Or you can mend and walk with others. Either way, no wound will really disappear when left alone.

Everything the Light Touches

2010-09-23T11:38:00.002-06:00

There's this phrase, mainly applied to writing, that you've probably heard: a sense of place. There's more to writing than just characters and story. Setting can make or break a good piece of writing. Readers of fiction and nonfiction alike, we crave vivid details. The best stories create such a sense of place that the setting almost becomes another character. Hogwarts, Neverland. Ghostly populated graveyards, mid century London. A mysterious island. Even an office or a hospital.

Part of fiction, of any story, is escape. As readers we want to be transported to distant corners of our globe. Or to other worlds entirely. Because, it would seem, the place we're in just doesn't suit us. The everyday details of our place may not be exciting to us, but to someone else they can be infinitely interesting. The grass is always greener.

Looking around my room I see the dust that has collected on my TV stand (I should take care of that...), the cluttered stack of papers next to my desk (my 'to do' pile), my bed made neatly as always, ash of incense on my window sill, a stack of vinyl records pushing through the backside of my tiny CD shelf, the trunk at the foot of my bed locked tight. If you didn't know much about me before, that should tell you quite a bit. But to me, this place isn't magical. Or interesting. It's comfortable. Safe. It's my place, but I don't think of it as my setting.

I moved 8 times in college. Not including all the moves back home between semesters. Our houses were crap, and I had just about every living situation you can think of. Dorms, houses, apartments. One roommate, three, four, nine...none. At the time a lot of it sucked. There's people drama, responsibility, sometimes I was overwhelmed and sometimes I was deeply lonely. The funny thing about nostalgia: you don't focus on those things when you're looking back. You remember the sense of place.

To me, hell would be moving over and over again for eternity. I hate moving. I appreciate where I am now, where I've been, and I'm very thankful for what I have. The funny thing about this idea though, the concept of a 'sense of place' is that is doesn't usually apply to the walls around the characters, or the ground beneath their feet. Usually, the place reflects where the character is at that time in the story. Each description of setting also describes the character. The dust, the clutter, the neatly made bed. The ash and the lock.

As the characters grows, transforms, so does their setting. Sometimes the setting gets cleaned up, better than new. But sometimes the wizarding school is set ablaze. Sometimes the graveyard is invaded. And sometimes the island can disappear right before our eyes. The place knows exactly where our characters needs to be, and it can have a funny way of sending them on their way. When the time is right.

The Final Frontier

2010-09-14T22:24:00.000-06:00

Ask someone what freedom is to them, and you’ll probably get an overblown and stereotypical response involving government and “rights” written down on various papers and documents through the history of a single nation in the vastly populated world. A lot of people only associate freedom with fireworks or apple pie, a single day of observation.

Really, it’s a simple thing, freedom. The right to walk outside the four walls that house you. The ability to walk into a restaurant, sit down and have a meal. The knowledge that you don’t have to be treated certain ways, there’s something better. And sometimes freedom is also the right to leave. The right to not come back.

Maybe we don’t notice the simple aspects of being free, at least not until they’re jeopardized. Nothing makes a person scream about their rights like the possibility of having them revoked. The rest of the time we pass in careless advantage of what we can do or say. The weight of the shackle around your ankle or the taste of the gag in your mouth however, is shocking.

More shocking still is when someone chooses to exercise the range of their legs, packing up and taking off. That empty space they previously occupied, growing like a mold on the foundation of your house.

Whichever way our eyes open to the simple nuances of that favorite f-word, there’s usually the same effect. Freedom can be terrifying. There’s something beautiful about the image of letting a bird fly from its cage, but where does it go? Who cares for it? What does it leave behind? Maybe you’ve been stuck, maybe for a long time or maybe just a short while. It doesn’t matter the duration, what matters is what you did with that time. What you accomplished inside your cage. Once you get out, that ultimate climax of spreading your wings can simply be scary. You may take off and find yourself inside another cage you never even knew was there. You may take off and find yourself on a branch alone.

Flying is best done together. Be it a copilot or a flock. Chances are you can find either, if you just know where to look.

Only What You Take With You

2010-08-17T15:45:00.004-06:00

There's a couple phrases for the place you go when you've been really, really bad. Depending on the age or the crime, it can either be called time-out or solitary confinement. Whether you're 3, stuck at home with not but your pow-pow-power wheels, or a convicted criminal staring at parallel metal bars and unable to poop behind a closed door, the next place for you if you mess up is in a room all by your onesies.

Sit in here and think about what you've done.

The general line of thought goes: we are social creatures, we crave interaction, so without it our will crumbles. We change. We compromise, falter. The logic implies that we need others. It's the thought of being without other people that strikes fear into the depths of our needy souls.

But what if that's not it at all. What if it's not the lack of other people that gets us? Maybe it's the idea of being stuck with ourselves. You have you. The truth is, stick you in a room with just your shortcomings, insecurities, fears, dreams, hopes, imagination, aspirations, past failures. That room is going to be pretty dang full.

For some, we start to miss the past contacts we've made. There's that fear that nothing will come close to what we had before. We can't go back. Others start to realize they've never made a single legitimate human bond before. There's that fear that all this time we've just been messing things up. We can't go forward.

It's hard not to feel stuck. Sometimes it's as easy as turning a metal knob and pulling wood from the jam. Other times it's as simple as pressing illuminated letters and conversing with towers, waves, and networks. And yes, many times you just have to wait to be unhooked.

So we wait.

We don't stay sequestered forever. Eventually we find our way out of the cave. Or someone else finds us. So, should you find yourself stuck, just wait. Chances are you're getting ready to learn some pretty cool things about yourself. And worse case scenario: Darth Vader comes crashing through the marsh and you have to whip out your lightsaber. Yoda warned you not to bring it along in the first place. Sure, the little green martian is going to fail you when you get your muddy butt back to his hutt. But think how awesome your epiphany is gonna be at the end of the movie after going through all that. Go ahead. Search your feelings:

You know it to be true.

The Night is Darkest Just Before the Dawn

2010-07-28T17:58:00.002-06:00

So you have super powers. Some spider from mars bit you during a full moon while you were walking around a Native American graveyard. Whatever, however. It doesn't matter, you're superhuman now. You can fly, and see through walls, and turn invisible and move things with your mind. But so what?

What defines a superhero (or any hero for that matter) is not what they can do, but what they choose to do. Fight crime, defend the innocent. But what if there were no evil to fight? What if there was just some guy flying around in tights going, "Look what I can do!" He'd come off more as a superjerk....

Sometimes the more dynamic (and usually the more important) characters, are the villains. They give the good guy a purpose, they give stakes to the situation. And they have really cool costumes and secret lairs.

But, as important as the evil nemesis is to the plot, I'd also argue that they are usually the more interesting characters. They're the ones that have been bit by a spider during a full moon while walking around a Native American graveyard, but have chosen to do something different with their powers. Much like the superhero, they are usually seeking justice. Only, they take it a step farther and dabble in revenge. More of a vigilante justice. Cut from the same cloth as the hero, dealing with loss and cruelty, they are exactly the same as their super rival. Something inside them has just snapped.

True, some seek power and world domination. But the root of that need for control stems from a loss in their past. The thought process that THEY can do better, and will do better for everyone. People deal with their personal dark and light sides differently. For every bad guy there is one who identifies as good. Every hero has their villain. And the shadows always balance the light.

It's something of a symbiotic relationship. A very interesting one that hopefully has you thinking at this point. If the bad guy and the good guy are the same, if the balance each other, then how does one every defeat the other?

I'm Not Impressed With Your Perverted Mouth Breathing

2010-07-20T00:31:00.002-06:00

It happens a lot growing up. In school we're split in to groups. Group sports, group projects, reading groups, study groups, debate groups. You get together with your mass and you face something. A task or goal or requirement. And for most it's easier, because you're not alone. You have people who are working with you, who agree with you, who think exactly like you. It's a safety you've been conditioned to seek.

There is certainly something to be said for anonymity. If you say something a little edgy, if you toe the line, you have your armada there to back you up. If you can't reach your goal alone, a teammate will help out.

But, to me, there's quite a bit more to be said for standing up, being known. There's a courage in that that cannot be found in a mass. In a group. In hiding. In a flock of sheep (even if they do have a pretty great Shepard).

I can stand up on my own and speak up, and if I make a fool out of myself that's on me. If I say something profound and unique I reap all the intellectual praise. And if you stand with a group and offend someone, you risk turning one (or usually more) person off to the entire cause. And usually when you're hiding, it's because you know you're doing something wrong.

The Path

2010-07-05T13:30:00.000-06:00

Through a formation of navy dragonflies,
lime leafs poking through the stiff water at my side,
I step. Breathe. Step.
The Owl singing of the City in my ear.

He learns to ride.
She learns to kick.
They battle volleys.
A strange pairing catches. Throws.

I push toward you, against the crescendo.
You Transform.
I am transforming.
The breaths don’t come as easily today.

Clothes Make the Man

2010-06-27T00:36:00.003-06:00

Maybe it was under the bed. Or maybe in the closet. Maybe you called it a monster, or the boogey man. Your nightlight protected you, and if you parents managed to tuck you in just right you never had to worry. Something about the sheets placed tightly around you warded off the unknown goblins of the night.

It’s the unknown that frightens us. What we can’t see lurking in the shadows. What fascinates me, personally, is how the shadows can also harbor the forces of good. That’s right: I’m talking about superheroes again. And think about it. Fighting crime largely at night, donning masks. What are these guys hiding exactly?

Your first instinct might tell you: “Duh, their identity…” To which I would counter in my best annoying small child voice: “Why?” Think about it. Someone finds out who Superman really is. They come up to him walking down the street as Clark Kent and decide to off him with a lead pipe? No, not that easy. He’s still Superman, he’d just fight them in his suit and glasses. Same powers, same abilities.

They hide for two very different reasons. The first is almost selfish. They want to be able to walk down the street without being accosted by fan and villains and people needing help solving petty little things. They want a piece of the normal lives they see all around them, the ones the help uphold. Might seem selfish, but I personally don't think there's really anything wrong with the reasoning.

But it’s when they build that "normal" everyday life life that their alter egos become even more precious. If someone finds out Superman is Clark Kent they’re not going to come after Clark Kent. They’re going for Ms. Lane. If you think Kryptonite is Superman’s only weakness then you simply haven’t been paying attention. This is what makes the Superhero character so human. Relatable. Admirable. It’s not only their compassion for mankind, but the love the inevitably find on a more personal level. It’s also their biggest secret and greatest weakness.

The problem is: it’s admirable on paper, but these are characters of fiction. Their dramas and issues do transfer over to the audiences of young boys and girls who read, watch, and tag along with each adventure. The message being not only is it okay to don a mask, sometimes it’s necessary. Go ahead, hide parts of yourself. Split your personality into two contrasting parts, it’ll be more interesting that way. For fictional characters anyways. Our masks might not be so literal, but that almost makes them more dangerous. You can't tell just by a quick wardrobe glance who is hiding something.

In real life sometimes it’s right not to trust what’s in the shadows. But, then again, the lines between dark and light aren’t always clear cut…

See You in Another Life Brotha'

2010-05-23T23:40:00.001-06:00

“This is the place you all made together so you could find one another. The most important part of your life was the time you spent with these people. That's why you're all here. Nobody does it alone, Jack: you needed all of them, and they needed you ... to let go.”

Some focus on the polar bears. The strange organization of Dharma hippies. Smoke monsters. Jungle whispers. Seeing dead people. Hatches and electromagnetism. And let’s face it: the writers of LOST know how to write a serial mystery, stringing you along and keeping you intrigued. But what if I told you I knew I secret? A turn you upside down, twist you around, shock and awe you type of secret? Ready?

It doesn’t matter. It’s a metaphor. The island, the others, the smoke monster, the light at the center of it all. It’s all stuff of science fiction, and like the best of it’s genre it cannot be explained. Even when it is explained (and had you been watching, it was indeed) it’s all fantasy. So let’s start off with that simple idea. Fantasy. Imagination. Sci-fi and mystery. Embrace it. Hug on it. You’ll be much happier when you do.

Now you may be thinking to yourself: “Self! It does matter! I want answers! Clear black and white, insulting to my intelligence and dumbed down answers!” Invested in the show much? You’ve spent six years following it. Ever wonder why? Was it in the hopes of seeing a polar bear rushing through the jungle? The need to spot a Dharma van barreling down a grassy hill? Maybe the sheer joy the smoke monster brought to your soul every time it dragged someone off to meet their bloody death?

No. At least I hope not (for your sake…). What makes the show, what gets people invested is: the characters. LOST is (sorry, was…) a show about characters. Dynamic, complex, relatable characters.

It’s a story about people. People who are lost. How they find themselves and each other, the relationships they build. That is why the answers don’t matter. That is why the end was perfect. Think about it. When you die, would your crowning moment in life be shooting a polar bear in the jungle? Or would it be falling in love? The hours spent typing numbers into an ancient computer, or the number of friendships you built and strengthened? Because the truth is everybody dies in the end. That’s what life is. But that’s not what life is all about.

Super Duper

2010-05-17T00:03:00.000-06:00

Let’s face it, when most people think of superheroes they think of tights. And not in a good way. If spandex is a privilege, not a right, at least these masked cape toters tend to be deserving of skintight stretchy cloth. The muscles, the capes (even if impractical, they’re just fun), cool boots. Lots of black usually and let’s face it: black is slimming. Slim and muscular. Then you throw in a pop of color, that’s dramatic… Striking…

All those bright colors and bulging muscles can be distracting, but then they start in with their awesome super human powers. As an audience, it’s easy to get lost in the razzle dazzle. It’s almost too easy. Enjoyably easy…

Since we’re already talking about superheroes, I feel I need to confess something. A bit of an origins tale to this little story about to unfold before you: I recently performed my own superhuman feat. I watched, on my own, a sizable slew of superhero films. A marathon if you will. Unimpressed? Well, what if I told you I was neither razzled nor dazzled? What if I told you I employed all my film knowledge, devouring DVDs and pondering “POWs” and “BANGs” alike. And when I was finished I came up with something more precious then Batman’s dry cleaning instructions: an understanding of the superhero genre. I’ve decided to use this power, this understanding, only for good. And so: I will share it with humanity.

There are a lot of different superheroes in the fantasy world. A lot of different powers (some better then others, but that’s a tale for another time) and a lot of different themes. I mean a lot. Sometimes they were harder to spot then others. Sometimes the important ones blended right in with the mass of interesting, but not very, other themes. Bend in with the masses. Kinda like how the superheroes blend in among the regular everyday people of their world when they embody their alter egos. See what I did there?

Identity is such a strong theme, a poignant theme, because it’s a theme everyone can grasp and appreciate on some level. Everyone has or will go through a phase in their lives when they are looking for the person they are. The person they are going to become. In the super narration, we see this journey literally, and often times quickly. They don a mask to become who they are. They put on a cape to become who they choose to be. The suits and glasses only come out when they’re being the person they have to be. There is a duality there that implies some interesting things to the viewer: A) The journey of growth and discovery will be literal and fast. There will be a defining moment when life clicks for you and from then on your life will make sense (and be more interesting). And B) Society more then likely will not accept this, and you will have to keep parts of your personality hidden.

Secret caves. Literal masks. Multiple identities. Psychologists would have a field day, not only with these fictional characters, but also with the fans who follow them. Who idolize them. But, in some ways it can be empowering. The heroes of page and film may be misleading generations of comic cruising adolescent boys to grow into men who embrace secret dualistic lifestyles with hidden identity and communication issues, but at least these men are being lead. At least they are being encouraged to have some part of themselves that is honest and confident. Capable and empowered. And let’s face it: the hero usually ends up revealing his secret identity to someone at some point. But we should wonder: why is the hero hiding in the first place?

For that, you’re going to have to tune in next time. Same channel. Probably a different time though. I’m not really sure… Makes for a good cliffhanger though.

The Prince of Tides - Pat Conroy

2010-04-28T08:09:00.004-06:00

I blaze with a deep sullen magic,
smell lust like a heron on fire;
all words I form into castles
then storm them with soldiers of air.

What I seek is not the for asking.
My armies are fit and well trained.
This poet will trust her battalions
to fashion her words into blades.

At dawn I shall ask them for beauty,
for proof that their training went well.
At night I shall beg their forgiveness
as I cut their throats by the hill.

My navies advance through the language,
destroyers ablaze in high seas.
I soften the island for landings.
With words, I enlist a dark army.
My poems are my war with the world.

I blaze with a deep southern magic.
The bombardiers taxi at noon.
There is screaming and grief in the mansions
and the moon is a heron on fire.

Are We There Yet - Ingrid Michaelson

2010-04-25T08:50:00.004-06:00

They say that home is where the heart is
I guess I haven't found my home.
And we keep driving round in circles
afraid to call this place our own.

And are we there yet?

They say there's linings made of silver
folded inside each raining cloud.
Well, we need someone to deliver
our silver lining now.

And are we there yet?
And are we there yet?
And are we there yet?
Home, home, home.
Home, home, home.

They say you're really not somebody
until somebody else loves you.
Well, I am waiting to make somebody
somebody soon.

And are we there yet?
And are we there yet?
And are we there yet?
Home, home, home.
Home, home, home.

Where you will lie on the rug
while I play with the dog
and it won't be too much
'cause this is too much
'cause this is too much for me to hold
this is too much for me to hold.

Home, home, home.
And are we there yet?
And are we there yet?
And are we there yet?

Home, home, home
Home, home, home, home

And are we there yet?
And are we there yet?
And are we there yet?

And are we there?

Yin and Yang - Tao Te Ching

2010-04-21T08:51:00.002-06:00

Yin and Yang aren't sentimental,
they exist without moralizing.
They act regardless of our wishes
within the ebb and flow
of every pregnant moment.

The space between Yin and Yang
is like a bellows -
empty, yet infinitely full.
The more it yields,
the more it fills.

Countless words
count less
than the silent balance
between Yin and Yang.

Hello Seattle - Owl City

2010-04-18T08:48:00.002-06:00

Hello Seattle, I am a mountaineer
In the hills and highlands
I fall asleep in hospital parking lots
And awake in your mouth

Hello Seattle, I am a mantaray
Deep beneath the blue waves
I'll crawl the sandy bottom of Puget Sound
And construct a summer home

Hello Seattle, I am the crescent moon
Shining down on your face
I will disguise myself as a sleeping pill
And descend inside of you

Hello Seattle, I am a cold seahorse
Feeling warm in your sand
I sing about the tide and the ocean surf
Rolling in the evening breeze

Hello Seattle, I am an albatross
On the docks and your boats
I sail above your inlets and interstates
Through the rain and open wind

Hello Seattle, I am an old lighthouse
Throwing beams of bright lights
Red in the morning, blue in the evening sun
Taking heed from everyone

Hello Seattle, I am a mountaineer
In the hills and highlands
I fall asleep in hospital parking lots

Take me above your light
Carry me through the night
Hold me secure in flight
Sing me to sleep tonight

Take me above your light
Carry me through the night
Hold me secure in flight
Sing me to sleep tonight

Tu Do Street - Yusef Komunyakaa

2010-04-15T08:36:00.004-06:00

Music divides the evening.
I close my eyes & can see
men drawing lines in the dust.
America pushes through the membrane
of mist & smoke, & I'm a small boy
again in Bogalusa. White Only
signs & Hank Snow. But tonight
I walk into a place where bar girls
fade like tropical birds. When
I order a beer, the mama-san
behind the counter acts as if she
can't understand, while her eyes
skirt each white face, as Hank Williams
calls from the psychedelic jukebox.
We have played Judas where
only machine-gun fire brings us
together. Down the street
black GIs hold their turf also.
An off-limits sign pulls me
deeper into alleys, as I look
for a softness behind these voices
wounded by their beauty & war.
Back in the bush at Dak To
& Khe Sanh, we fought
the brothers of these women
we now run to hold in our arms.
There's more than a nation
inside us, as black & white
soldiers touch the same lovers
minutes apart, tasting
each other's breath,
without knowing these rooms
run into each other like tunnels
leading to the underworld.

What Do You Hear In These Sounds? - Dar Williams

2010-04-11T08:27:00.004-06:00

I don't go to therapy to find out if I'm a freak
I go and I find the one and only answer every week
And it's just me and all the memories to follow
Down any course that fits within a fifty minute hour
And we fathom all the mysteries, explicit and inherent
When I hit a rut, she says to try the other parent
And she's so kind, I think she wants to tell me something,
But she knows that its much better if I get it for myself...
And she says

Oooooooh, aaaaaaah, What do you hear in these sounds?
And... Oooooooh, aaaaaaah
What do you hear in these sounds?

I say I hear a doubt, with the voice of true believing
And the promises to stay, and the footsteps that are leaving
And she says "Oh", I say "What?"...she says "Exactly,"
I say"What, you think I'm angry
Does that mean you think I'm angry?"
She says "Look, you come here every week
With jigsaw pieces of your past
Its all on little soundbytes and voices out of photographs
And that's all yours, that's the guide, that's the map
So tell me, where does the arrow point to?
WHO INVENTED ROSES?"
and.......

Oooooooh, aaaaaaah
What do you hear in these sounds?
And...Oooooooh, aaaaaaah
What do you hear in these sounds?

And when I talk about therapy, I know what people think
That it only makes you selfish and in love with your shrink
But Oh how I loved everybody else
When I finally got to talk so much about myself...

And I wake up and I ask myself what state I'm in
And I say well I'm lucky, cause I am like East Berlin
I had this wall and what I knew of the free world
Was that I could see their fireworks
And I could hear their radio
And I thought that if we met, I would only start confessing
And they'd know that I was scared
They'd would know that I was guessing
But the wall came down and there they stood before me
With their stumbling and their mumbling
And their calling out just like me...and...

Oooooooh, aaaaaaah, The stories that nobody hears...and...

Oooooooh, aaaaaaah, and I collect these sounds in my ears...and

Oooooooh, aaaaaaah, that's what I hear in these sounds...and...

Oooooooh, aaaaaaah, that's what I hear in these......
that's what I hear in these sounds.

(vandena shiva and henry david thoreau touch the black waters of valdez) - Patrick Lawler

2010-04-08T08:21:00.005-06:00

It happened that
it did not
happen in the
time of the first
mother or in
the time of
sacred snow.
It happened
in man-time
when we needed
to destroy
that it happened.
It happened in
mall-time
when we needed
to destroy
time. This was
a time when
silence and
contradiction
were jewels -
a time of
stickiness.
This was a
time when we
could feel
the TV crawling
across the carpet.
It was a time
of ethereal static -
a time when we had
to buy something.
It was a time
when shore
birds touched
each other before
they died so
they would

know what they

were joining.

The Destruction of Hometree

2010-04-06T10:26:00.003-06:00

Prayer. It means different things to many, many different people. For some it's praise. Others, plea. There are many different ways to pray. Hands folded, heads bowed. Kneeling, facing west. Aloud. Silently.

It's communing with whatever God you follow. Giving thanks, asking for help. Sometimes just talking. It is, should be, a beautiful thing. Something that isn't forced.

FW: This is chilling
In 1952 President Truman established one day a year as a "National Day of Prayer."

In 1988, President Reagan designated the first Thursday in May of each year as the National Day of Prayer.

In June 2007, (then) Presidential candidate Barack Obama declared that the USA was no longer a Christian nation.

This year President Obama, canceled the 21st annual National Day of Prayer ceremony at the White House under the rouse of "not wanting to offend anyone"

On September 25, 2009 from 4 am until 7pm, a National Day of Prayer for the Muslim religion was held on Capitol Hill, beside the White House. There were over 50,000 Muslims that day in DC.

I guess it doesn't matter if "Christians" are offended by this event - we obviously don't count as "anyone" anymore.

The direction this country is headed should strike fear in the heart of every Christian. Especially knowing that the Muslim religion believes that if Christians cannot be converted they should be annihilated

This is not a rumor - Go to the website to confirm this info:
( http://www.islamoncapitolhill.com/ )

Pay particular attention to the very bottom of the page: "OUR TIME HAS COME"

I hope that this information will stir your spirit.

The words of 2 Chronicles 7:1

"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."

We must pray for our nation, our communities, our families, and especially our children. They are the ones that are going to suffer the most if we don't PRAY!

May God have mercy... IN GOD WE TRUST.

Please pass this on, maybe someone, somehow can figure out a way to put America back on the map as it was when we were growing up, a safe place to live and by the Ten Commandments and Pledge of Allegiance, etc!

This email arrived in my inbox the other day. Before I put in my two sense (and you know I will) this is what Urban Legends had to say.

I'd also like to put out a few more sources. CNN.com and a semi-unrelated, Easter article from the Washington Post.

Now, if you visited the links (as I hope you did. That's why I included them. Not to mention: sources are important when forming an opinion) you probably have a good idea what I'm going to say. What I'm thinking. How upset I am by certain closed minded, unverified, and just plain false allegations.

Regardless of your political standings, assumptions can be very dangerous things. Until you've sat down face to face with someone and had certain conversations, you don't really know how they stand.

What bothers me most though, is not the assumptions. The ignorance. It's the hatred. What if one day we had a non-Christian leader elected to run this country? It would not be the worst thing. Being a good person and being a Christan do not HAVE to go hand in hand. Just calling yourself a Christian does not make you a good person. There's more to it then that. And likewise being a good person does not mean you're a Christan.

The Christian faith may very well be in danger. But I promise you, the threat does not come from outside.

There are themes that find themselves in my prayers. They reoccur, they weigh on my mind, and trouble me. I'm thankful, and I give thanks to Him. But there are many other reason why I still pray.

Tidal - Imogen Heap

2010-04-04T08:14:00.002-06:00

Before electric light,
You paddled through the soup of darkness as a crocodile,
Cherry picking in the river,
I would leave crisp note footprints at the Bankside

Watch it closely you will see it begin to move
Watch it closely you see it begin to flicker

While we're here, let's see what happens
What we got, got to loose (what we got to loose)
While we're tidal and flexed on a full moon
It'd be a sure, sure shame to not to

In every wonder what you are
I've blurted everything I know just for a piece of it
Flash frozen, patchworked and fallow
I sprung up in hearts and arrow superhighways

Watch it closely you will see it begin to move
Watch it closely you see it begin to flicker

While we're here, let's see what happens
What we got, got to loose (what we got to loose)
While we're tidal and flexed on a full moon
It'd be a sure, sure shame to not to

Do what you feel just how you like
Nobody has to know
Nobody has to know

Watch, watch...watch...watch, watch...
What we got to loose...

While we're here, let's see what happens
What we got, got to loose (what we got to loose)
While we're tidal and flexed on a full moon
It'd be a sure, sure shame to not to

Do it for England
Do it for love
Do it for us
Do it for goodness sake
Do it for all the times
We wished we had

Do what you want, just how you like
Nobody has to know
Nobody has to know

Rhymes

2010-04-01T08:50:00.002-06:00

April is National Poetry Month. So, I thought I would share some of my favorite poems.

"Say Yes" By Andrea Gibson

when two violins are placed in a room
if a chord on one violin is struck
the other violin will sound the note
if this is your definition of hope
this is for you
the ones who know how powerful we are
who know we can sound the music in the people around us
simply by playing our own strings
for the ones who sing life into broken wings
open their chests and offer their breath
as wind on a still day when nothing seems to be moving
spare those intent on proving god is dead
for you when your fingers are red
from clutching your heart
so it will beat faster
for the time you mastered the art of giving yourself for the sake of someone else
for the ones who have felt what it is to crush the lies
and lift truth so high the steeples bow to the sky
this is for you
this is also for the people who wake early to watch flowers bloom
who notice the moon at noon on a day when the world
has slapped them in the face with its lack of light
for the mothers who feed their children first
and thirst for nothing when they’re full

this is for women
and for the men who taught me only women bleed with the moon
but there are men who cry when women bleed
men who bleed from women’s wounds
and this is for that moon
on the nights she seems hung by a noose
for the people who cut her loose
and for the people still waiting for the rope to burn
about to learn they have scissors in their hands

this is for the man who showed me
the hardest thing about having nothing
is having nothing to give
who said the only reason to live is to give ourselves away
so this is for the day we’ll quit our jobs and work for something real
we’ll feel for sunshine in the shadows
look for sunrays in the shade
this is for the people who rattle the cage that slave wage built
and for the ones who didn’t know the filth until tonight
but right now are beginning songs that sound something like
people turning their porch lights on and calling the homeless back home

this is for all the shit we own
and for the day we’ll learn how much we have
when we learn to give that shit away
this is for doubt becoming faith
for falling from grace and climbing back up
for trading our silver platters for something that matters
like the gold that shines from our hands when we hold each other

this is for the grandmother who walked a thousand miles on broken glass
to find that single patch of grass to plant a family tree
where the fruit would grow to laugh
for the ones who know the math of war
has always been subtraction
so they live like an action of addition
for you when you give like every star is wishing on you
and for the people still wishing on stars
this is for you too

this is for the times you went through hell so someone else wouldn’t have to
for the time you taught a 14 year old girl she was powerful
this is for the time you taught a 14 year old boy he was beautiful
for the radical anarchist asking a republican to dance
cause what’s the chance of everyone moving from right to left
if the only moves they see are NBC and CBS
this is for the no becoming yes
for scars becoming breath
for saying i love you to people who will never say it to us
for scraping away the rust and remembering how to shine
for the dime you gave away when you didn’t have a penny
for the many beautiful things we do
for every song we’ve ever sung
for refusing to believe in miracles
because miracles are the impossible coming true
and everything is possible

this is for the possibility that guides us
and for the possibilities still waiting to sing
and spread their wings inside us
'cause tonight saturn is on his knees
proposing with all of his ten thousand rings
that whatever song we’ve been singing we sing even more
the world needs us right now more than it ever has before
pull all your strings
play every chord
if you’re writing letters to the prisoners
start tearing down the bars
if you’re handing out flashlights in the dark
start handing out stars
never go a second hushing the percussion of your heart
play loud
play like you know the clouds have left too many people cold and broken
and you’re their last chance for sun
play like there’s no time for hoping brighter days will come
play like the apocalypse is only 4…3…2
but you have a drum in your chest that could save us
you have a song like a breath that could raise us
like the sunrise into a dark sky that cries to be blue
play like you know we won’t survive if you don’t
but we will if you do
play like saturn is on his knees
proposing with all of his ten thousand rings
that we give every single breath
this is for saying–yes

this is for saying–yes

Back to the Middle

2010-03-28T08:56:00.002-06:00

28. 100 Heartbeats - The Race to Save Earth's Most Endangered Species. Jeff Corwin takes a look at some of the many species on the brink of extinction.

29. Wishful Drinking - Carrie Fisher's biography. Looks to be a funny, slightly sad and slightly surprising look at Hollywood.

30. The Year of Living Biblically - One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible. Funny, and disastrous.

31. Darkmans - I don't know much about this one yet, other then an awesome coworker recommended it to me. I guess we'll see!

Well, there you have it. 31 books, 31 very short blips for each. And maybe a few that pique your interest?

Lousy Judge of Character

2010-03-21T08:52:00.003-06:00

21. The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo - Swedish crime novel anyone?

22. Dracula - to anyone who thinks Twilight is literature, I suggest this book. Get back to the roots and see what vampires are really supposed to be about. Here's a hint: they don't sparkle.

23. Sunburned Country - Bill Bryson's travel writings from Australia. Enough said.

24. The Graveyard Book - Another Newbery Award winner. There's already talk of making this book into a film, so if you hurry you can get a better seat on the band wagon.

25. Congo - I've heard this book wasn't great, and that the movie was really bad. Gorillas tearing people apart. Yet, I'm curious. May not be the "monster" book I'm looking for, but a thriller? Maybe?

26. Lamb - The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal.

27. Emma - I've seen a lot of the Jane Austen movies, and the stories are good. I have no sense of her writing however, so I think this might be a good place to start for me.

The Plot That Weaves

2010-03-14T08:42:00.002-06:00

14. The Tale of Despereaux - If "stories are light," this one certainly shines bright. This story has so many great messages for readers of any age. Also a Newbery Award winner.

15. The Story of Ferdinand - I was in love with this story long before The Blindside made it fly off the shelves again. Even (especially) if you look tough, it can be your gentleness that sets you apart.

16. The Laramie Project - This is a play about the murder of Matthew Shepard. Yes, it is sad. Yes, it is amazing. And yes, you should read it.

17. Jurassic Park - Even after seeing the movie (of course, the books are always different) this was still a page turner. The ending was a little odd, but overall fun read.

18. The Kiss That Missed - Another kids book. A king blows his son a kiss on the way to bed, and it misses! As it goes flying out the window and around the kingdom, someone must track it down. A job for a brave and fearless knight, no?

19. And Tango Makes Three - More kids books! This one is a little different though, because it's based on a true story: the story of Roy and Silo, two male penguins who decide to try and hatch a rock together. Be warned: this story of love is best suited for open minded people of any age.

20. Verdi - And a kids book about...a snake? Verdi is a young python who doesn't want to grow up. And he tries a lot of things to prevent doing just that. Great story and amazing illustrations.

Stuff We Did

2010-03-08T05:39:00.003-07:00

Thank you, guys. When I was... I was nine and I asked my dad, "Can I have your movie camera? That old, wind-up 8 millimeter camera that was in your drawer?" And he goes, "Sure, take it." And I took it and I started making movies with it and I started being as creative as I could, and never once in my life did my parents ever say, "What you're doing is a waste of time." Never. And I grew up, I had teachers, I had colleagues, I had people that I worked with all through my life who always told me what you're doing is not a waste of time. So that was normal to me that it was OK to do that. I know there are kids out there that don't have that support system so if you're out there and you're listening, listen to me: If you want to be creative, get out there and do it. It's not a waste of time. Do it. OK? Thank you. Thank you.

~Michael Giacchino (2010 Oscar acceptance speech for Best Score)

Because I probably don't say it enough: thank you. To everyone who has supported me through theatre in high school and college, who has watched/helped on and encouraged my films, and to everyone who has taken the time to read my writing. Thanks you.

Even Fairy Tale Characters Would Be Jealous

2010-03-07T08:34:00.003-07:00

7. Tao of Pooh - This book uses Winnie the Pooh to help explain Taoism, and Taoism to help explain Winnie the Pooh. Fun and enlightening, this may be on the top of my list of favorite books.

8. Peter Pan - This is just a classic fairy tale. Different from the Disney film most of us know, and enjoyable in it's own right.

9. The Art of Racing in the Rain - This isn't the easiest story to get through. If you only like happy, shinny on the surface (dull) stories: don't bother with this one. The main character goes through a lot. But the point is: it's ok. In the end, it's okay. Told from the perspective of his dog, there are some great life lessons and views that you can pick up from this title.

10. Harry Potter - Of course, I had to include Harry Potter, but I decided to lump the series together. Great mythology, story and characters. This series is easy to get through, if only because it's a great page-turner.

11. On Writing - I'm not a big Stephen King fan, but I really enjoyed this book. An interesting look at the craft of writing, something anyone who writes anything should pick up.

12. The Prince of Tides - Pat Conroy can be describes as a lyrical author. You may not be drawn in by the story (although you probably will), but his writing style is amazing. Through his choice of words, he sings to you in every paragraph.

13. A Christmas Carol - I know, a Christmas book. And if you wanted to wait until December to pick this one up, I understand. But not matter when, you should pick this one up. Get a taste for Dickens; even if you know the story, he may surprise you.

Who Needs Stupid Books? They Are For Petty Crooks

2010-03-01T08:04:00.002-07:00

The last two months I've shared with you all some of my favorite music and films. I kind of wanted to continue, but I wasn't sure exactly what to do next. Then I remember: I work in a book store. Maybe books? Books are tough for me. It's hard for me to find one that I like, and one that holds my attention.

So, we're gonna do this a little differently, I'll post one week at a time, a title for each day. Books that I like, or am interested in reading. So, let's begin.

1. The Years of Rice and Salt - this one is technically a Sc-Fi book, but it's not your outer space, aliens and laser guns type of Sc-Fi. It's an alternate reality, where 99% of the European population was wiped out by the Black Death. This was the first book that I read and analyzed in depth.

2. The Life of Pi - The son of a zookeeper traveling by boat with his family from India, ends up on a lifeboat with a hyena, an orangutan, and a zebra. Oh yes, and a Bengal tiger. This was one of those books that I was a little unsure of at first, but the ending is well worth it.

3. Assassination Vacation - (Nonfiction). Sarah Vowell travels across America, stopping at places of interest in regards to various Presidential assassinations. Humorous, interesting, and engaging. I'm not a history buff by any means, but I enjoyed this book and learned a thing or two.

4. Home: A Memoir of My Early Years - (Nonfiction). The early life of Julie Andrews. A surprising look at a very talent performer.

5. Revenge of the Sith - As much of a fan as I am, I'll be the first to admit that the latest Star Wars film prequels were not very good. But, if the last installment (Episode III) had been half as good as this book was, there would have been a lot of happy Star Wars fans out there.

6. Memoirs of a Geisha - This is a fictional novel, but very well written and loosely based on real life interviews. The story is engaging and moving, well worth the read.

I Can Give You Stars. Just Drop the Refrigerator on my Head One More Time!

2010-02-28T18:22:00.014-07:00

Last month I shared some of my favorite music videos/songs, so this month I decided to do films. It was really hard to pick 30ish titles, so I tried to focus on some classics and some unknown films that a lot of my friends probably haven't seen yet (and should).

So here's how my list works: the links on the left under the dates all go to youtube videos/trailers for each title. The link on the right under the titles, all go the imdb.com site for the title. And if you haven't been to imdb.com ever, you should. It's a pretty awesome site.

Youtube IMDB

Feb. 1st - Amelie
Feb. 2nd - Across the Universe
Feb. 3rd - Chungking Express
Feb. 4th - Nine
Feb. 5th - Cloverfield
Feb. 6th - In the Mood For Love
Feb. 7th - Dumbo
Feb. 8th - la Dolce Vita
Feb. 9th - Pan's Labyrinth
Feb. 10th - Some Like it Hot
Feb. 11th - Pinocchio
Feb. 12th - the Sound of Music
Feb. 13th - Sleepless in Seattle
Feb. 14th - The Road Home
Feb. 15th - Up
Feb. 16th - Slumdog Millionaire
Feb. 17th - Russian Ark
Feb. 18th - Moulin Rouge
Feb. 19th - Mary Poppins
Feb. 20th - Hook
Feb. 21st - Garden State
Feb. 22nd - Jurassic Park
Feb. 23rd - Cinema Paradiso
Feb. 24th - Good Bye, Lenin!
Feb. 25th - Children of Men
Feb. 26th - Gone With the Wind
Feb. 27th - Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Feb. 28th - The Empire Strikes Back

And here are some extras since February is a short month. And I had problems picking.

Extra 1 - Beauty and the Beast
Extra 2 - The Fall
Extra 3 - V for Vendetta

So Many Words

2010-02-24T16:16:00.003-07:00

So I wrote again today. Feels good, as always. It was for the creative writing blog I'm a part of through work. I don't think that I've really shared those stories here. So here we go:

The first main thing that I've done was my Rick Kirby trilogy (which may become more then a trilogy if I pick it up in the future). But, here are the parts:

Chapter One: Brewing

Chapter Two: Blue

Chapter Three: Belief

I've done some other small pieces, but that's one of the main ones you might enjoy looking at. I started a new one today that I'm going to continue for however long, here's part one of the that:

Chapter One: Roar

Anyways, thanks to everyone who reads my stuff, I really appreciate your support. I also appreciate comments, feedback and criticism ;) Feel free to check out the rest of the blog too and read what my coworkers are writing. There's a link on this blog to the right, or you can just click here.

Zombie Grammar 3

2010-02-13T21:05:00.003-07:00

Who vs. Whom

Basically, you use "who" when referring to a subject, and "whom" when referring to an object. The subject does something, while the object is having something done to them. Here we go:

"Becky is the one who walks with a limp."

"Any zombie whom walks with a limp, I'll attack with a shovel."

Another way to remember it, is with the he/him rule.

Who/whom is fighting zombies with a baseball bat?
Mitch, he is fighting off zombie with a baseball bat. Therefore who is correct. (Mitch [he], the subject, is doing something)

On who/whom did the zombie saliva land?
The zombie saliva landed on Mitch. Therefore whom is correct (Mitch [him] is having something done to him).

Apostrophes

Again, a punctuation mark that can be used several different ways.

To show possession.
"The zombie's dislodged leg was the only weapon I had to use against him."
Even though the zombie's leg either fell or was ripped off, it is still his leg. Even if you beat him with it, you have to give grammatical possession to him.

One of the more confusing instances, occurs when the person's name ends in the letter S.
"May I borrow the baseball bat? Whose is it?"
"It's Chris's. So no, you may not. You'll have to use a shovel."

An apostrophe also applies when the possession falls to a group.
"The zombies' graves were now empty, since they'd risen from the dead."
Even though the zombies are not currently using their graves, they still retain possession of them.

And now a little taste of things to come in the future:

Back to basics, with verbs. What is a verb? A verb is a word that shows action. Here's an example: take the verb "to swashbuckle."

I swashbuckle.
You swashbuckle.
He/she/it swashbuckles.
They swashbuckle.
We all swashbuckle.

The action is swashbuckling. This is the verb. The first part (the I/You/He/etc.) is what we call the Noun. And on a side note, I'd like to hear a pirate say "noun."

Live Together, Die Alone

2010-02-02T00:35:00.000-07:00

Dedicate a Song With Words Meant Just For You

2010-01-31T01:44:00.001-07:00

For whatever reason, I decided towards the beginning of the month that I was going to post one music video every day on my facebook. Music that I like, music that some of my friends might not have heard (or seen the video to). I missed the first three days of the month, so here's some bonus videos:

1- Anna Nalick "Breathe (2 AM)"
2- Five For Fighting "100 Years"
3- Sarah Bareilles "Love Song"

And here are all the ones you might have seen on my facebook.

Jan 4th - Imogen Heap "First Train Home"
Jan 5th - The Avett Brothers "I and Love and You"
6th - Weezer "Keep Fishin'"
7th - The Heyday "Come in or Stay Out"
8th - Ingrid Michaelson "Breakable"
9th - Newton Faulkner "To the Light"
10th - Eric and the Adams "Every Move"
11th - Linkin Park "New Divide"
12th - Red Jumpsuit Apparatus "Your Guardian Angel"
13th - Panic! at the Disco "New Perspective"
14th - Imogen Heap "Canvas"
15th - Evanescence "Bring Me To Life"
16th - Psapp "Hi"
17th - Kelly Clarkson "I Do Not Hook Up"
18th - Dido "Don't Believe in Love"
19th - The Honorary Title "Stuck at Sea"
20th - One Republic "Apologize"
21st - Adele "Hometown Glory"
22nd - Tickle Me Pink "Typical"
23rd - 3OH!3 ft. Katy Perry "Starstrukk"
24th - Greg Laswell "How the Day Sounds"
25th - Lady GaGa "Paparazzi"
26th - Black Eyed Peas "I Gotta Feeling"
27th - P!nk "God is a DJ"
28th - Mika "Lollipop"
29th - Gomez "How We Operate"
30th - Michael Buble "Haven't Met You Yet"
31st - Darren Hayes "Pop!ular"

Enjoy!

Zombie Grammar: Lesson 2

2010-01-28T13:40:00.002-07:00

The semicolon.

So you read something, and you go to that final period at the end of the sentence. But wait, you still have questions. What did that just mean? It's unclear. What is the author trying to say?

The semicolon holds expectation. So the sentence you're reading doesn't get you to that final point of understanding but, it ends with a semicolon. Never fear: there's more to come!

Sounds easy, but when to use one?

-Between two related sentences instead of (or where there is no) "and" or "but."
"I remember him from when he was alive; now he's a drooling, gimpy, pale zombie."

The important part is the relation between the two sentences, because the semicolon can be used to add relation where a period might otherwise imply none.

"Mitch's clothes were torn and dirty. It's tough digging your way out of a grave."

vs.

"Mitch's clothes were torn and dirty; it's tough digging your way out of a grave."

Because of the semicolon here, you know that Mitch's torn and dirty clothes are a direct result of his digging out of his grave after coming back to life as an undead brain-muncher.

Semicolon's get overused however, and other forms of punctuation can work instead.

The dash.

The dash can be used to bridge fractured sentences.
"I'm afraid of them - why do they call them zombies and not undead? - how long can they survive before they die again?"

The cool thing about the dash is: it's kinda fool proof. You can't really use it wrong (unless you're using it to join two words you shouldn't. Like "un-dead." And even then I'm sure there's exceptions.) The dash can also often be used instead of a semicolon, because the dash is similar while less formal.

The colon.

-Announces what's to come.
"Zombies are all after one thing: brains."

-Joins oppositional statements.
"Man rules : Zombie drools."

There's also some other uses, such as in lists, time, specifying speakers, etc.

The Ellipsis.

The ellipsis acts more like a pause. Think of it as a count to three type of thing. Sometimes I like to think of it as a punctuation whisper.
"There's a zombie right outside...I don't think he knows I'm in here...I'm so scared right now...don't let him in..."

as opposed to...(for the record this could have read "as opposed to:" but I chose the feel I wanted).

The Em Dash.

The em dash works more breathlessly. It's a pause, but quicker, like you're talking really fast.
"Run--there's like a million zombies headed this way--no! No time for questions, just get inside--do it now!"

This is obviously a very brief overview, and each mark can be used in more ways then I just listed. If you're interested in them, I recommend Lynne Truss's book, "Eats, Shoots & Leaves."

Zombie Grammar: Lesson 1.

2010-01-26T22:44:00.006-07:00

Than vs. Then.

Than is used in comparison.
"The zombie chasing you is faster than the zombie chasing me, because mine has a limp."

Then is used in several different ways.

-At that point in time.
"If zombies attack then I'll be ready."

-In addition, on top of.
"The zombies started running after me, then they tried to eat my flesh!"

- Next or afterward.
"First the guy died, then he rose from the grave as a zombie."

-In that case/therefore.
"If you see zombies outside your house then yell 'code blue' and gather your weapons and supplies."

Loose vs. Lose.

Loose implies the opposite of tight.
"The zombie's ear was loose, and so it fell off."

Lose implies missing or losing something.
"If the zombies catch you, you may lose a limb."

Good vs. Well.

Good is an adjective. Basically it describes nouns/pronouns. It can also be used with linking verbs (taste, sound, be, look, feel, etc.)
"The zombie thinks I taste good."

Well describes verbs. It can also be used as an adjective (healthy).
"The zombie can't run very well."

Clean Cup, Clean Cup, Move Down, Move Down, Clean Cup, Clean Cup, Move Down

2010-01-25T09:35:00.003-07:00

Everyone's heard the metaphor. Glass half full. Glass half empty. The psychoanalysis behind which way you view your life when forced to compare it with table settings. Full or empty. Look at the space not taken up by liquid, and determine whether you're an optimist of a pessimist.

It's a pretty narrow, black and white way of thinking about things if you ask me.

Your glass is half empty. Fine. Maybe you're not a rose colored glasses type of person, and that's okay. Call it pessimism if you have to, but in that case the last thing a pessimist needs is to be told they're damaged. They don't need to be told they're doing life wrong. They're not. The glass half emptyers could be the ones to have it right. What's better than potential? What's more inspiring than promise? If your glass if full, give up now, you have nothing to aspire for.

So you're a half-fuller. How nice for you. But, who filled your cup? You? Doubtful. Someone else (or something else) poured for you. And maybe that's okay, it really depends on who or what the something is. Chances are you're too close anyways. Sure it looks positively brimming when you press your nose up to the curved glass surface. Eventually you will take a step back though and realize there is room for more. There's been room for more.

So, cups? Really? It's all just glass in the end, and I'm okay with what's on my table.

Define Dancing

2010-01-05T00:24:00.006-07:00

I like dancing in my room, sometimes singing too (although singing in the car is a lot more fun).

My faith consists of Jesus, Lao-Tzu, tarot, karma, ancient runes, native American totems, and many other philosophies or ways of thinking that may, yes, contradict each other but suit me just fine.

I fall in love with the wrong people.

There's nothing like a good story.

Sometimes I'm literally OCD and have to count things or do things a certain number of times, but it's gotten better as I've grown up.

It's harder to wear your heart on your sleeve than it is not to. I've learned to keep my sleeves rolled up and close to the body. It really doesn't change a whole lot though.

My goals for the moment are to learn guitar, make progress on my book, and figure out a tattoo.

I'm a film snob, so don't talk film with me unprepared.

I think my shyness is my greatest weakness. I also think my shyness brings out weakness in others.

My emotions and my passions get the best of me.

This stream of conscious writing has been brought to you be Chris's ten fingers (maybe eight, with limited pinky support).

Beautiful Disaster

2009-12-30T10:34:00.002-07:00

Well, December certainly brought about a lack of blogging. At least on my part. All I have to say, is I'm glad the holidays are over, and bring on the new year.

You get a lot of stuff on the holiday. Stuff you don't really need. And it's okay, because it means there's a lot of thought coming your way. People are thinking of you, and you're thinking of them. And maybe the thoughts don't always match up, they fly through the snowy air toward your family and friends and land in wrapped boxes with bows on their tops. We wait for that one day, to strip them of their colored paper clothing and peek at the contents inside. It's all kind of silly honestly.

I think that's the reason why Christmas has become my least favorite holiday. Give me groundhog's day! Or Halloween. Thanksgiving or St. Patrick's day. It's probably an unfair assumption, but I think Christmas is by far the most commercial holiday (with Valentine's day a close second). For a lot of people it's not about spending time with family. It's about getting (not even so much giving). And don't get me wrong, I don't see my family and friends this way. Maybe I've just worked retail too long. Seriously, people will buy anything just to buy something.

Maybe I just don't want the right things... My list to Santa is random and specific. Hit or miss. And I'm fine with either. It's all the same really, because there's not a whole lot either way that I need. And I'm grateful for that.

Anyways, I hope you all had a happy holiday. Thank you for the cards, gifts and thoughts. And most of all thank you to all those who I got to spend a little time with this month. I hope the new years is kind to you all.

I am a Poor Boy Too

2009-12-08T12:27:00.002-07:00

I love Christmas. Baking and decorating and wrapping presents. I really look forward to it every year. But it seems like every year when it actually gets here, I'm not in the mood. The anticipation, the cold, the work, it just doesn't feel like a payoff half the time. I'm trying to get into the 'Holiday Spirit' and today I finally uploaded a bunch of Christmas music on my Zune. So, I thought it might be fun to share with you some of my favorites, along with some of my personal holiday traditions.

So, the music.

Dar Williams is a new addition this year, and I really like this song of hers.

Ingrid is new this year too. It's not the best quality video, but whatever.

And this is probably my favorite version of this song. Ever.

For some reason I'm equating Owl City's "the Tip of the Iceberg" to a Christmas song too. And I found out one of the bands I really like, the Honorary Title, has a Christmas CD. Which is kind of random.

Anyways, I hope you're all getting in the spirit of things, and enjoy some of my music.

Let It Be Written, So Let It Be Done.

2009-11-30T18:51:00.004-07:00

Well, it's November 30th, so you know what that means. At 12:01 am, NaNoWriMo will be over. The goal was to write a novel, 50,000 words, in one month. My grand total is 41,245 words, 79 pages. So no, I did not make it to the designated 50,000 word goal. I did however make it to the end goal. I finished my first draft.

I know I have more I'll need to expand, I'll have some parts that I need to totally scrap. But that's all part of the editing process I guess, and I'm as excited for that part as I have been for the rest so far.

Today I went to Kinkos and had it printed and bound. I'm gonna put it away for a little while (until January-ish) and then start editing. After that it'll be ready for people to start reading. So many thanks to everyone for their support, and I'll be sure to keep you all updated!

The Time. Who's Got the Time?

2009-11-28T00:17:00.003-07:00

I mentioned last post that I was working on a blog with some people from work. Well, it's up and ready for you all to take a peek. There's gonna be a few of us writing on it, and we'd love any feedback, comments, responses, thoughts or opinions. So here's the link. Check it out and let me know what you think!

My book's going slow. Supposedly you're supposed to get to 35,000 and then the rest flies by. This has not been the case for me. I have over 37,000 and it's crawling by now. At this point though, 37,000 is a LOT more then I came into this with, and if it takes me longer then a month to finish and make it good, I don't really care! But, there's still a few days left, so who knows. Wish me luck, check out my other blog, and I'll keep you posted as always.

Boldly Go

2009-11-18T19:01:00.004-07:00

As of a moment ago, I have 30,106 words logged on my novel.

I think the thing that's surprised me most about this whole process so far, has been how much fun I've been having. In the back of my mind a calendar is crossing off the days left in the month and the number of words I'll need to reach the 50,000 word goal before December 1st. But the majority of my focus has been distracted with the joy of spending time with my characters, seeing what they do and where they take me. It's weird, but I feel like I get to spend time with a really good friend. The end goal is always there, but I think I'm going to be sad when the grit of this unknown middle journey is over. It'll be worth it.

I haven't blogged much this month because of it. I'm also getting involved in another blog with some coworkers. We're working on getting it up by the 25th of this month, so I'll be getting you more information about that. Basically a lot of writing for me at the moment, and I love it.

If you're curious, you can watch my progress with my novel right here on my blog. To the right, underneath the links for my past blogs there's a little box I've called "NaNoWriMo Stats." There's a little red bar that fills as I log more words. I'm told when I reach 50,000 it says "Winner!" but we'll all have to wait and see together ;)

Thank you all for your support, and I promise as soon as the writing and editing are done my novel WILL see the light of day and I will be looking for people to read it and give feedback. I'll keep you posted about that too.

Mine's Copper. I'm a Hound Dog.

2009-11-07T15:29:00.003-07:00

Bronze gets a bad wrap. For most people, it means third place. Last place. Why’d you even place? It’s not first, it’s not even second. It’s the last thing you can get before you get nothing at all. I think, personally, bronze is pretty awesome.

In high school I was in Destination Imagination. We’d compete every year, and we’d always do great in regionals. We didn’t have a big region competing against us, so we were almost guaranteed a place a state. State was a lot more competitive, and they gave out actual metals. My first year, we didn’t place within the top three. Much less the top two, the teams who go on to Nationals. My second year we were a lot more together. We had fun and put together something really solid. We went to state again, and this time we got third place. I’m not gonna lie, we were a little disappointed. We got a special award for out technical achievements, but being third meant we wouldn’t be going to state. It meant we barely got a metal at all.

The thing was, had we gone to state none of us would have been able to walk at out high school graduation. Of course they were scheduled the same time. So while we all felt we did an amazing job, it was kind of a blessing to not have to worry about that choice.

When I finished GONE, I made little bear awards for everyone. They were gold. I’d heard about the golden bear awards at the Berlin International Film Festival. With a bear as my mascot, I thought it’d be perfect. What I didn’t realize, was that most of the awards aren’t gold. They’re bronze.

Each one of my projects is different. Each one is important to me. And none are better then the rest. But, like I said, I think bronze is pretty awesome.

Could You Show Me, On the Bear...

2009-11-03T04:41:00.001-07:00

I've been having some issues with them, so the first one cuts off the first second or so. They're a little quiet and and picture's small. But here they are!

I Ain't Afraid of No Ghost

2009-11-01T13:16:00.001-07:00

The first motion I recorded was Kara on our college-grade couch kicking her feet halfheartedly as I sat behind the view finder. Since then, I've filmed and edited 34+ films (not all of them have been great) and upgraded to an actual digital video camera. Not to mention the slew of slideshows that have come out of my computer.

The acting isn't always great, the cinematography isn't perfect, and the editing has been limited. But each and every project has taught me something.

Joanna and I had the idea for COPS a while ago, and I don't quite remember how it started. It was one of those funny ideas that we weren't sure would ever become a reality. It's been a very important project for me.

I started out by looking at some actual screenplays and television episode shooting scripts. I wrote our script in screenplay format, if anything for the practice. Although that being said, some of my favorite moments weren't in the script, but were little things added in on set. Goes to show you how important a little flexibility is.

We started filming on October 11th, and finished on the 27th with the goal of a Halloween release. I picked up Adobe CS4 Production Premium (my new editing software) for the first time on the morning of the 28th. I finished the process on the evening of the 30th with only three days of trial and error with this very complicated editing software. That said there's a lot I know can be done better. But you have to start somewhere. And I've had a blast.

I'm working on uploading it (in two parts) on facebook. I tried to put it on my blog, but the file was too big. Anywho, check it out and I hope you enjoy it!

When You're Fast Asleep

2009-10-21T11:51:00.009-06:00

When we're little, it's easy to just fast forward past the scary parts. They're usually few and far between anyways. Maybe you're afraid of monsters in your closet. Maybe it's just a movie that scares you. Your parents tuck you in and kiss your forehead, and it doesn't matter anymore. Your only care is whether or not Santa saw you sneak that cookie, or who you'll invite to your birthday party.

Regardless of how care-free your childhood is, we all discover nightmares eventually. They come for you, out of your subconscious paranoia. People say they're cause by being sick, eating before bed, laying a certain way or praying a certain way. Maybe that's what makes them so scary: we don't really know.

You wake up with the covers disheveled and your chest heaving, and you feel like your body has just betrayed you. Why would my mind create something like that? What does it mean? How can I prevent it from happening again? And what caused it?

The nightmares are usually based in that same fear. A paranoia of some unknown that festers and grows silently until it dominates your blackened bedroom, if only for one moment. A fear of falling, drowning, failing, or just dying.

In the end the nightmares are kind of pointless. It's easy enough to run from the nightmares, you just wake up. They don't really seem to serve any grand purpose. Usually, as it turns out, the fears that do find us, the ones that really stop us cold, aren't the ones we've seen from our pillows. They're the ones that jump out at you from around the corner. The ones that meet you on the streets during the day, and surprise you with their simple bold existence outside of the world of sleep. Those are the ones that really test your courage.

Baby Steps

2009-10-09T22:42:00.002-06:00

With a face full of carpet, it's hard to see much else. Each static strand seems to hold you down like thousands of tiny arms. Your lines of sight drifts, lowers and examines. Crawling can seem like a lot, much less standing on your own two and putting one in front. The good news? The carpet is soft.

Some just rock. Shifting their weight from their knees to the palms of their hands. That may be as far as they get for a while. Some take a hand or two. That may only gets them to a nice teeter though. But eventually everyone stands. In their own way and in their own time.

The point isn't really the standing up, it's the starting out. It's the nostrils full of flooring. It's where you started out. Because inevitably you will fall down. Again and again. You'll have to start completely over, and then you'll just be glad you ever learned to crawl in the first place.

Pumpkin King

2009-10-06T09:24:00.001-06:00

Carving a pumpkin is a lot like being in a relationship. You start with a blank canvas. You go to the store, weigh the competition, and pick out the one you like the best. The right size, shape, and lack of fungus.

On the way home you start to think about what it'll look like when you're done with it. Some people have planned ahead, and know at least what they will try for. Others just have an idea of a Jack-O-Lantern, something they've seen before. The Jack-O-Lantern people expect them to carve.

You start by cutting the top off. Your first look under the pretty orange surface. Sticking your hand in you discover that it's pretty much a mess of slimy, smelly, disgusting goop that leaves your hands feeling hard and cold.

At this point there are two types of people. First, the type who painstakingly clean the inside of all the seeds and stringy goo; the type that isn't afraid to get their hands dirty. Then, there is the type who try to get someone else to do it for them. They try to cheat the system. Their only concern is the end result, which usually ends up being an unremarkable, still goopy mess they'll forget about in minutes.

Either way, it probably doesn't turn out the way you were expecting. Even if you've planned ahead and did all the work, it probably won't look the same way it does in your head. The point is that you tried, and hopefully had some fun in the process.

Off I Go

2009-10-04T12:43:00.005-06:00

He never had a problem with heights. He had problems with falling. Tripping. Dropping. Failing. It was almost therapeutic in some ways, to stand atop the 30 foot wooden telephone pole. His 5’9” bringing him to 35 feet and 9 or so inches above the earth. It felt higher.

A single braided rope hug down directly in front of him. Of course, it wasn’t within reach.

There were three potential ways down. Fall. Leap. Or climb back the way he came. Getting up was half the battle and he knew climbing, going back to the start, wasn’t an option.

He looked at the rope attached to his waist. It seemed so small. What if he missed? He had every intention to leap, but what if the leap turned into a fall? There really was no way to tell. No way to guarantee. Nothing he’d done before prepared him for this, equipped him with the proper leaping-from-a-30-foot-pole technique.

He could feel eyes settling on him, waiting to see if he would fall like the others. The eyes were almost as unnerving as the teasing wobble of the pole beneath him. He had one chance, maybe the only chance. Who could say if or when he’d climb his next 30 foot pole.

His feet barely fit completely across the width of the pole. His toes hung over the very edge. He looked down. You have to look down. His eyes locked on the hanging rope in the distance, shifting in the breeze. And his knees bent.

How Can You Read This? There's No Pictures!

2009-10-01T21:22:00.004-06:00

November is National Novel Writing Month. For those who are interested, you can join the ranks of aspiring authors in much need of some motivation. The goal is, like it sounds, to write a novel in one month. 50,000 words. The idea being, it's easy to procrastinate when you don't have a deadline. Now it doesn't have to be perfect, and that's kind of the point. No editing or revising allowed. Just get out those 50,000 words, and you can come back and edit later. Kind of a neat idea in my opinion.

So you have a month or so to get your stuff together if you're interested. Here's the website. I'm hoping at the very least, a certain cousin of mine might be interested?

Into the Fire

2009-09-29T09:08:00.001-06:00

"When Charles Darwin looked at life, he saw that all living things—from the tiniest ant to the largest whale, and even human beings—are related. In his view, everything alive today descended ultimately from one common ancestor, like relatives on a family tree.

Do you find this idea beautiful or disturbing? What do you see when you look at life?

We’d like to know.

This fall’s Open Call is a chance to share your vision with the world. We challenge you to make a three-minute video that offers a compelling perspective on the living world. Do you think life is a battle for survival? A harmonious web of interconnections? A fleeting chance to realize your dreams?
Be creative in your thoughts. You may want to tackle something profound, something political, or just tell a story about your dog.

This Open Call is inspired by a series of NOVA films on Darwin and evolution that will air this fall and winter on PBS, and your work may be presented, via broadcast and broadband, in conjunction with this event."

-December 31st, 2009 submission date
-18 & older/ US resident
-3 Minutes in length
and, the website if anyone is interested.

Wish me luck!

Nazis. I Hate These Guys

2009-09-27T11:41:00.003-06:00

I'm haunted by Glen Back and the Nazis. No joke, as it would be awful to joke about the Nazis or a loudmouthed conservative media figure. I wouldn't dream of it. I work at a book store. About every few months Mr. Beck comes out with a new book. An updated version of his hatred and another way for him to pry more money out of the hands of people who only read a book if they already agree with the arrangement of the letters inside. He's on Time magazine sticking his tongue out like a two year old. 'Glen Beck Day' was just declared. The man is everywhere, even in spite of his spelling ability.

Ironically enough, the Nazis are making a media comeback. My morning was set in motion by the Sunday comics, specifically Doonesbury. And just a few days ago I read that Kirk Cameron (along with some friends) are planning to release a new version of 'The Origin of Species.' One of their principle arguments links evolution to the Nazis. I found this video and I think it addresses things rather well.

I just don't get people. I don't get why the best outlet for your political frustration is keeping your mind closed. I don't get why people choose to read a book, someone's opinion, that takes the same stance on issues as the stance they had before reading the book! Instead of getting both sides, looking at something in a new way, reading someone else’s book.

I do get the Nazi thing though. The Nazis were a bad group, hands down. And when you're ignorant or emotional, they are an easy metaphor. A false metaphor (unless Obama has committed genocide that I'm not aware of), but a very very easy one.

There are better ways to disagree, and there are healthier ways to educate yourself. We'll never get along, but it seems to me that sticking to teams and partaking in name calling, is kind of a step backwards...

My Tail's Froze. And My Nose Is Froze.

2009-09-23T12:29:00.003-06:00

Cold shoulders. Cold hearts. Cold as hell. The cold gets a bad wrap. Today we're expecting a high of 50 degrees. It's cold. Sure, sometimes the cold can make my knees ache or make it hard to get out of bed in the morning. But sometimes you need to just be cool.

It’s tempting to heat up. To loose it. Customers are rarely right. And working retail at a place where I'm one of the only to hold a college degree, well, it can be frustrating to say the least. People get sick. Dreams die. Things don't go as planned. They go the way they're supposed to, and we're best off when we don't fight it. When we keep our cool. Roll with the punches.

The truth is, it's not usually the cold that makes my knees ache. Rheumatism takes care of that. The cold is not the reason it's hard to want to get out of bed. The heat is. If my bed wasn't nice and comfy, warm, if I didn't want to stay right where I was, then really the cold would be nothing. Sometimes we just don't want to pull away the covers of our comfort zone. But, things will never move forward if we don't make the separation. If we do, eventually the climate does change. Not too hot, and not too cold. Just right Goldie Locks. Just right.

The Twilight Bark? But Dear, That's Only a Gossip Chain

2009-09-15T10:00:00.001-06:00

It looks like there is a sequel to Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog in the works. No word yet as to when it would be finished or released. If you haven't seen the first one yet though, you really should get on that...

There are going to be some major changes to Walt Disney World coming up, specifically to Fantasyland. They look amazing! Thanks to Andrew for finding the video. It sounds like (unless I'm mistaken) that these changes won't start until 2012, which is right around the time that the Disneyland/California Adventure changes will be finishing up.

For summer 2011, there's still talk of a fourth Pirates of the Caribbean film, with Johnny Depp of course. People online seem to think the title of the fourth installment is going to be "On Stranger Tides."

In the more immediate future, there some great looking films on their way. Where the Wild Things are on October 16th, and The Princess and the Frog on December 11th.

The Stage is the Other Way Dear

2009-09-13T11:34:00.004-06:00

I saw Miss Saigon at the Arvada Center last night. I know a couple people that were in it, and the shows at the Arvada Center are always good. I'd never seen Miss Saigon, or heard the music before.

It's a musical (more like an opera with very little dialogue) based off of Madame Butterfly. It's set in 1970s Saigon during the Vietnam war, and focuses on a romance between and Vietnamese girl and an American GI. They were still in "preview nights" which means they may make some changes before it opens, but overall I was impressed. Everything from the sets, lighting, choreography, and costumes were all executed very well.

For anyone else who'd like to see a good show and support the cause, here are some dates for you:

Oct. 7th - Nov. 15th, 2009 - Wicked (at the Denver Center)
Nov. 24th - Dec. 27th, 2009 - Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (at the Arvada Center)
Nov. 27th -Dec. 26th, 2009 - A Christmas Carol (at the Denver Center)
March 4th - April 4th, 2010 - Mary Poppins (at the Denver Center)
April 20th - May 16th, 2010 - Nine (at the Arvada Center)
April 28th - May 9th, 2010 - In the Heights (at the Denver Center)
July 20th - Aug. 1st, 2010 - South Pacific (at the Denver Center)

Miss Saigon also runs through October 11th at the Arvada Center.

Gadgets and Gizmos Aplenty

2009-09-03T17:34:00.003-06:00

I remember, a couple times growing up, preparing for a tornado. My sister and couldn't really wrap our heads around utter disaster, we just knew that if we were told, we were to run to the basement. The basement was safety.

Naturally, we figured that if we'd be safe there, so would other things. Like our stuffed animals. Being the standard childhood vice, we had a lot of them. At tornado time we scoop armfuls from our beds, run to the top of our stairs, and fling them down into safety. Clearly it was safest for our toys to fly through the air, down a flight of stairs and crash to the floor. As opposed to the type of flying and crashing a tornado would evoke.

There never was a tornado, and we'd always ended up hauling them all back up and placing them at the feet of our beds, each in it's respective place. That was how it was to be a kid though. You didn't have to worry about food, family, or pets. People would take care of you. The only thing left for you to take care of were your toys. Stuff.

I have too much stuff. I've come to this conclusion recently, because we're getting ready to do a garage sale. I easily banished heaps from my room. And I still feel like I have too much. I feel like it's all sitting at the foot of my bed, wanting my full attention and protection.

We attach a lot of sentimental value to things. There's the "this was from..." type of stuff we hold on to. Then there's the "maybe one day I'll need..." type of stuff. I wonder if memories are really so fragile that without objects, special moments might be forgotten. Or one day we will be so utterly not taken care of, that we won't be able to make due without yesterdays safety net items. I think it might be fear that makes us hoard. Which really when you get down to it, is the wrong reason to hold onto anything. Sometimes it's better to take an armful and toss it.

God Help the Outcasts

2009-08-31T00:22:00.001-06:00

I have this joke with some of my friends, that God is allergic to peanuts. It came about when I was at a loss for words. I was trying to articulate my view of God. And I came up with a peanut allergy.

I take a very scientific approach to faith. Evolution. Art. History. The most complicated inner workings of our planet. I think God can be found in all of it. And I think he knew he was creating curious beings from the beginning. I think he knew we'd want some explanations.

Maybe it seems like science and faith should be at odds with each other. Kinda like God and an allergy. I mean, if He's God, all powerful, how could he have an allergy? A weakness? Kryptonite? That's just how I see him. I think God is cool. Sure, He could un-allergy himself. But, I think He would let us have things, experience things, that He might not Himself.

Like life. Mortal right now life. He may be the publisher of my life story. He may even know how it ends already. But he's not me. He's not Chris. Why would he create something, and then deny himself that creation? Why isn't God alive, in the flesh, literally here and now?

I think that heaven is a big party, with board games. God can't be on everyone's team all the time. But, like any good parent, he'll let you win once in a while. And of course, that's what it is: letting you win. It's not as if he doesn't know all the answers...

Us, on the other hand. We don't have all the answers. There will always be things we won't understand. Like how the elephants at the zoo can paint. How people can say animals don't have creativity. How gorillas learn sign language. How humans can say we're the only ones who communicate. How people can love God, but hate each other.

Closed minds or closed hearts. I feel like sometimes there are answers around us. Only, some people are allergic. Maybe by choice. Who really knows?

Where a Million Diamonds…Shine.

2009-08-27T20:17:00.004-06:00

This morning marked the end of vacation, and back to work I went. It was a good break though, and I had a lot of fun.

After my graduation party (and the events in my last post) we went up to Idaho Springs and Georgetown for a few days. It worked well because it's far enough from the city, but still not quite the same as camping.

We started in Idaho Springs.

Built around mining, Idaho Springs was celebrating the 150th anniversary of the gold rush. While we were there we toured the Argo Mine. It wasn't a guided tour like I expected, but still very informative and interesting. We stayed in a hotel in Idaho Springs, and had a lot of good food. Including Beau Jo's Pizza (which I hadn't had in a long time).

We also spent a day in Georgetown. We road on the Georgetown Loop Railroad, and toured another mine, the Lebanon Mine.

It might not all sound very interesting, but it really was. Between just having finished Molly Brown's biography, to visiting her house, and then seeing and learning about all the early mining in the state, it was a great way to celebrate our state (which is 133 years old this year!)

Real Gone

2009-08-22T13:15:00.006-06:00

GONE 3 is here, and my graduation/premier party was a lot of fun! We themed it like LOST, and set up a bunch of tarps and stuff in our backyard. We did a barbeque, I set up a LOST version of Mafia (it's a game for those of you who haven't played) and of course we watched GONE 3.

I did a small award ceremony for my cast, so say thanks. Everyone got a golden bear award, and then the choice of a DVD set or a soundtrack of GONE.

For dessert I made everyone Dharma Fish Biscuit cookies. They were a lot of fun!

Overall it was a great night! I got to see some friends that I hadn't seen in a while, and got to spend time with family, and got to show off my movie! Which by the way, I'll post below (of course). It's a little longer, so I had to split it into two parts.

Overall it was a lot of fun. I need to give a big thanks to all my family and friends for not only helping with my party, but helping me into and through college.

Eggs, Flour, Miiiil-k!

2009-08-21T00:47:00.001-06:00

This morning we got up early to go downtown and get John's headshots done by a friend of mine. His site is here for anyone looking for headshots in the Denver area. It was a lot of fun, and afterwards Sherean, Justin, John, and I went to a great breakfast at Lucile's. The food's kind of Creole style, and I got to try Beignets!

After breakfast John and I went back downtown. He got to see the Capital building, the Denver Public Library, and the Civic Center Park. Then we went to the Denver Art Museum. On of my favorite pieces was called 'Fox Games' by Sandy Skoglund. The whole section of the room was painted red, while grey fox statues played all over. It was very interesting.

Then we hoofed it over to the Molly Brown house. That was very cool, but I'd just read her biography so it probably wasn't as fascinating as it might have been had I not. But at the same time it helped 'cause I could explain things to John as we went through the tour.

The we came home, had lunch, and started baking for the party tomorrow. I'm excited to finally have a graduation party, and to premier GONE 3 (I'll post it online too, don't worry). I just spent a big chunk of my day baking, and I'm tired. It should be fun though, and I'm feeling very blessed at the moment to have so many family members helping out in so many ways. I'll be sure to post pictures when everything's done!

Take a Look Through My Eyes

2009-08-14T10:03:00.001-06:00

Rose colored glasses. The general idea is that they distort someone's view of the world, filter out important things and leave the viewer missing out. You must not be getting the whole picture this way.

Obi-Wan told Luke Skywalker that many of the truths we cling to depend on our own "certain point of view."

I'm reading Molly Brown: Unraveling the Myth by Kristen Iversen. I don't really read a lot of biographies. I read Neal Gabler's Walt Disney (which is an amazing book), and Julie Andrews's Home, but other then those I haven't poked around in the genre too much.

It's really fascinating getting someone else's story. Even if it is a third person account. The trouble being that, usually once you get to the end of the biography, you know what's going to happen. Walt Disney isn't alive anymore (and no, he wasn't cryogenically frozen either). So you know the end is going to be sad.

But it's worth it, if only to put on someone else's glasses for a bit of their rosy outlook. Even if it's technically more of a monocle handed down over time. To see the world from someone else's unique point of view. When you get down to it, isn't that the point of any story?

Dream a Little Dream of Me

2009-08-12T01:24:00.004-06:00

Maybe there's some truth to the superstition of not telling people about your dreams. If you have a good dream, you're supposed to keep quiet, and only then will it come true. Sounds easy enough. You don't have to really do anything, just stay quiet. The trouble is, dreams are exciting. They're confusing and interesting. The trouble is in the not talking about it part. Dreams are easy to have, but hard to hold.

I loved the stage in High School. Any time I could act was a good time in my book. On stage, in class. Which is really odd considering how shy I was. I was told that was the mark of a good actor, that I became these characters that were nothing like who I am. So I decided to go for it. College and then who knows what after that. This was my dream.

When I didn't get accepted to the acting program at college, it really wasn't a surprise to me. It was upsetting, yes, but I don't know if I even thought I was that great. I went for it anyways, deciding a degree in theatre was close enough, even if acting wasn't my major.

I don't know if it was the people that did it, or if it was just part of the inevitable self discovery everyone goes through, but eventually I came to not like acting. It wasn't fun anymore, it stopped being my dream. My dreams turned to writing and to film. Similar, but different enough.

I have one of those dictionaries that defines certain symbols in your dreams. Acting is actually in there. It says that "when acting occurs in a dream, the message will revolve around your imagining ability and how it is being used to create your life experiences."

In other words, acting symbolizes my ability to imagine things. Like dreams? Maybe not all dreams are created equal. Maybe some are invented. Or, maybe sometimes dreams just grow, and change. And maybe that's good. Let's face it, if we all stuck with our very first dreams, if our dreams never grew or matured, there would be an overabundance of space cowboys and ballerina princesses in the world. And there probably wouldn't be any janitors or OBGYNs.

A very wise woman once told me that there isn't anything wrong with following your dreams. I say there's also nothing wrong with changing your dreams, shaping your dreams, or even just letting the grow wild for a while.

Follow the Sultry Sound of my Voice

2009-08-07T09:31:00.000-06:00

So, for those of you who are unfamiliar with the medium, a podcast is essentially a radio show. Usually without commercials and usually around 45 minutes long. I listen to a few each week (I can give recommendations if you're curious, they're free it just takes up a chunk of your time) and I've been thinking it would be fun to try my hand at it. I have no clue technically how to create one, but I figure it should be a fun learning experience.

First off, I have no idea when it would be done. No release date and I won't give one until it's finished. I don't even know how I'll present it. Most podcasts are free online to download off of various sites or places like itunes. Seeing as I won't have any way of getting the rights to the music I'll use, and seeing as I don't want to get sued, it may end up as a burnt CD for whoever is interested (and you don't have to be interested).

What I do need is a vote from you (yes you). Vote on the content. I have three ideas, and I won't tell you what they are. What you'll be voting on are the titles of three podcasts ideas I have in mind. They are:

-Faith, Trust, and Pixie Dust
-When I See an Elephant Fly
-P. Sherman, 42 Wallaby Way, Sydney

So even if you don't really comment on my blog, PLEASE just leave me a quick comment to vote on the one that sounds the most interesting. I'll keep you posted on the rest!