My Wall Part 3...Or How I got to go see the most awesome show ever with the most awesome people ever!

A continuation of: My Wall Part 1, My Wall Part 2




Photo Courtesy http://www.roger-waters.com/


After months of planning and anticipation November 18 and our trip to Atlanta to see Roger Waters came quickly and ended way to soon. After weeks of waiting to buy tickets, then months holding on to them that day just flew by. The most exciting thing was not the show but getting to drive up with my wife and have some time together as well as getting to spend some time with my cousin and her husband. The hours leading up to the concert were great just hanging out and talking. Walking around downtown Atlanta and eating an early dinner at a curbside greasy spoon with Aymee and Brian. Spending time with them was so much fun and yet went by much to quickly. I cannot wait to see them again and have some more time to catch up on all the years that have past. I am in search of the next adventure for us all.


The Wall means so much to me and to find out it meant just as much to my cousin and to know we all had the opportunity to experience the show together was a true blessing. No matter your politics, or social views the themes such as war, peace, world hunger, governments that can’t be trusted are at times hard to find fault with. I may not agree with all things said or expressed by Roger Waters but how can you argue with a sentiment to bring soldiers home, and stop government intrusion into our personal lives. None of this mind you is why certain portions of The Wall mean so much to me, but simply added to the experience.

I won’t rehash things from the previous blogs on this subject rather will move on to what has taken me weeks to wrap my mind around…that is the fact that I SAW ROGER WATERS PERFORM THE WALL LIVE. A WALL CAME UP AND WENT DOWN. Spectacular!!

As we arrived at the arena and made our way to our seats which were more amazing than we could have hoped for I went into sensory overload. The sights such as large portions of wall constructed to stage right and left, the sounds of loud booming music, and the people milling about; all this just gearing us up for the show to come. During the preshow several songs play over the sound system, including Imagine, and Mother by John Lennon both with similar themes that The Wall embodies. As these songs play a homeless man pushing a cart full of rubbish and a sign that read that on one side reads, “Homeless people need money for booze and hookers”, and on the other side “No thought control”. As the man pushes the cart around the arena he makes his way to the foot of the stage. At that point the lights go out and a spotlight hits the man, just as audio of a spine tingling scene from the 1960 Stanley Kubrick directed film Spartacus fills the arena. This reminds us all that we are slaves to something, or someone.

Show Open(I am Spartacus) Atlanta November 18 2010 Filmed by Dale Roberts



As the show seamlessly moves on from one song to the next goose bumps, chills whatever you want to call it welled up inside me. As Another Brick In The Wall Part I hit I could barely contain myself. That song means so much to me and makes me think so much of my own father’s death that I felt as if the world was crashing down. It was so hard to maintain my composure. Such was also the case when during Vera, Bring The Boys Back Home videos showing soldiers returning to their families and children. Very touching and also this quote is larger than life throughout.

“Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired, signifies in the final sense a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed.”

Dwight D. Eisenhower

How can you argue with that?

Another Brick In The Wall Part 1 Filmed in Toronto Courtesy backpackdaveFloyd


Vera, Bring the Boys Back Home, Comfortably Numb Filmed in Chicago Courtesy PinkZeppelins


There is just too much detail to go into each song, from singers forty or more feet in the air standing atop the wall, to guitar solos from the same vantage point. The Wall coming down on top of the crowd, the gorgeous video presentation during the entire show, it was all simply amazing!! As the show continued and The Wall was built it made me think of walls we all have in place, and of those who even now build walls to keep people out, or those who perhaps have had walls up for years and now the true demon is coming out. There is so much that this music and the theatrics used by Roger Waters and crew can show just how things really are. It is amazing to me that over thirty years after being written how The Wall still touches people as more than just psychedelic rock music but in many cases as anthems for their lives.

Roger Waters, all the musicians, singers, technical and production staff put on what to this point was the greatest show I have ever seen. If this show ever comes back around the United States or anywhere near you I highly suggest you go, I know I will. I hope you enjoy looking at the pictures and videos.

I certainly enjoyed the time with my wife, My wonderful cousin Aymee and her husband Brian as well as the few minutes spent with my best friend Ryan and his son John. What adventure awaits next we will just have to see.

Courtesy http://www.roger-waters.com/

Photo By Dale Roberts
The Aftermath, The Wall Came Down

Welcome to my Christmas blog

Welcome to my Christmas blog

I'd like to thank you for the year
So I'm sending you this Christmas blog
To say it's nice to have you here
I'd like to blog about all the things
Your eyes and mind can see
So hop aboard the Internet
Oh step into Christmas with me


In this time of giving I can only give you all the gift of joy, music and laughter,

My wish for you all is to have a Merry Christmas and a joyous day with your families. I know this Christmas is certainly special for us with our family celebrating Logan’s first Christmas. This year may you all be blessed as we have been; no matter what issues arise I always have my family and friends to share a cup of cheer.

Enjoy the following Christmas Music and laughter.

The Ramones - Merry Christmas (I Don't Want To Fight Tonight)


I Believe In Father Christmas - single by Greg Lake


Fountains Of Wayne: I Want An Alien For Christmas


Spike Jones And His City Slickers - "My Two Front Teeth"


By Special Request for my wonderful wife...
Blue Christmas Porky Pig


No Doubt - Oi To The World


Billy Squier - Christmas... (Complete w/Intro)


The Brian Setzer Orchestra - Jingle Bells - Live!


This one is a bit long, but is great!!!
BEATLES CHRISTMAS SUPERMASH ! .. the ultimate Beatles Christmas fan-club message mashup


John Lennon Happy Xmas (War is Over)


Paul McCartney - Wonderful Christmastime Cartoon


Queen - Thank God it's Christmas


And Now for the Funny......

FAMILY GUY - "All I Really Want For Christmas"


SH*TTER was full


Classic Christmas Story Quotes


Charlie Brown Christmas - Performed by the Cast of Scrubs



Have a laugh filled day..



   

A fourth grade field trip from the cynical parent’s perspective, or how I was cramped in a bus for six hours as fourth graders scream back and forth about pictochat

Last week I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to take a day off of work and go on my daughter’s fourth grade field trip the Montgomery Alabama. I was very excited to be able to go on this trip with exception of the early departure time of 5:30AM which meant a 4AM wake up for the entire family. We got up and made it out the door with no problem. We arrived at the school at 5:15AM made it onto our assigned bus, found our seats and were ready to hit the road. Well other parent’s apparently were not conscience of the fact that being late would make nearly 250 other parents and children sit and wait. So as 5:50AM arrived and the last late child made it onto our bus and we watched a pre ride safety video we were on the road.


The bus this early in the day was fairly quiet, the kids that had a Nintendo DS were all in a chat application called pictochat. With each message sent via pictochat you would hear questions such as “who is neya”, “what does that say I cannot read your hand writing” this went on and on the entire day each time we were going from point A to B. A couple hours passed and just as the in ride movie came to an end it was time for a rest stop break just north of Evergreen Alabama. This was a stop which was really not needed and turned out to be one of the worst parts of our trip.

If you have made any trip north via I65 you have seen this rest area. It has one small building with a one men’s room and one ladies room. This small enclosed space soon was jammed with children and parents some fighting for a trip to tinkle, and others racing to get to electrical outlets to charge their Smartphone’s. I myself tried to persuade Bailey to wait as we were only about a half hour from our first destination but being a bathroom connoisseur Bailey just had to go check it out. Well the weather was a bit chilly and windy so the small building was jammed with warm bodies as such the odor was not the most pleasant. As I stood as far out of the way as possible but still keep an eye on Bailey in line another parent and his son made their way into the building and the smell in that tight space was about to get exponentially worse.

As the man and his son entered the building one could not help but notice the fathers cleanly shaved scalp, and his body builder physique that was highlighted by the tightest Affliction Tee Shirt (the sure sign of a true douche bag) any human could possibly get over their torso. Well as he stood there he opened the largest vacuum pouch starkest tuna I have ever seen. He stood just inside the door and ate his protein rich breakfast and stank the entire building up. What an ass, I would at least be considerate of others but this douche sure was not. After the smelliest rest stop in the world it was back on the bus for our final few miles to our state capital.

Once we made it to Montgomery we picked up a really informative tour guide and the adventure began. We first made our way to the Montgomery Riverfront Park which was a bit underwhelming for me. There was a modern day reproduction of a paddle boat steamer , a nearly one hundred and fifty year old tunnel and a nice historical marker for High Red Bluff but all in all a stop we could have done without especially given the wind and chill in the air. Next we made our way to Dexter Avenue where the main focus would be on the civil rights struggle, the Montgomery Bus boycott and Rosa Parks. I myself found the most interesting fact was that the building from which the telegraph message that sent the orders to fire on Fort Sumter but I have always been a sucker for the Civil War and how Alabama played a pivotal role in it.

I know the children need to learn about the civil rights movement and the bus boycott but the manner and words used to do so just seemed so over a fourth graders maturity level. The entire time we were in the Rosa Park’s Museum I found myself so uncomfortable by the words used and the violence depicted in some conversations, photos’s and in fact even the inscriptions we saw on the Civil Rights Monument seemed way to over the head of the audience viewing it.

From the Rosa Parks museum it was off to the Governor’s Mansion where at the gift shop we were greeted with cookies and lemonade which the First Lady of Alabama provides. The tour of the Mansion which consisted of a viewing of three rooms on the first floor was very quick and left much to be desired. It is a beautiful home but as its only been used for the last fifty or so years and is only one hundred and seven years old does not have too much history behind it.

A short drive from the mansion we found ourselves at goat hill, The Alabama State Capital building, this for us all would end up being the highlight of the trip. After a long walk that took us from street level to an underground walkway then back up several staircases into what was the Old Supreme Court Chamber the real meat of the day began. As we moved from chamber to chamber and made our way to the Rotunda a small group was massing in the Old House Chamber. As it would turn out this was a group of 22 Republican Senators getting set to take a Ceremonial oath. They invited us to stay and witness history as it has been 136 years since republicans have held a majority in both the house and senate in the state of Alabama. It was an awesome thing to be a part of.



This made us late for what was a trip to the worst zoo ever…The Montgomery Zoo was a disappointment…So scattered and only one or two of each animal. The only thing good there were the screaming monkeys you will see in the below video.

All in all it was a great trip and I have a great day with my sweetpea!!

Damn you Hostess!!!

When I began this weekend it was with cheer and in an attempt to remove myself from a busy and at times turbulent month in my professional ventures (I love that word, professional, oh and successful)  so I declared it an all monkey weekend on my facebook page.  It was a huge amount of fun to post all the little stupid monkey stuff all weekend.  I even had to find a cleaver way to say roll tide.  Thankfully the Alabama Football store sells a Grey Rally Monkey.

Also I was tempted this weekend by two of my favorite things.  Superheros and snacky cakes (kickass).  So much so I almost spent tens of dollars on hostess cakes at Wal-Mart this weekend. I didn’t as I don’t need then, don’t want them but I sure do want the boxes. See Hostess Snack cakes figured out what I like, oddly named snack cakes with superheros on the boxes. I mean come on GLOBALLS, FLASHCAKES the innuendo writes itself. Plus they have my favorite DC Superheroes. Who wouldn’t want pockets full of GLOBALLS?  Who doesn't want some Batman Cupcakes?  Damn you Hostess!!!

Here’s to a better month ahead for us all.  Now " Lets Go Eat A Goddamn Snack ".

Fun and Family in Panama City Beach

We recently completed our first road trip with two children in tow one of which being only seven months old. It had been so many years since we traveled with a baby I forgot how much stuff we had to pack and bring just to make sure Logan felt at home and had everything he needed. A pack-and-play to sleep in, a walker to hang out in, tons of toys, blankets, clothes, diapers, wipes, the list goes on and on. Loading the car took a while but thankfully the hotel had a cart so one trip unload was great.


We were thankfully able to hit the road around 2PM Friday and Logan with a full belly was happy all the way to Panama City. He spent most of the ride awake and looking around with such curiosity. He is such a good baby and proved it time and time again on our little weekend jaunt to PCB for Kristen’s wedding. The drive in proved to go much more quickly since the last trip down in early July but in actuality both took about three hours. I must have printed out twenty pages of Google maps with directions to each planned destination along with reverse direction back but wouldn’t you know it I used not a single one. My iPhone 4 Google Maps along with the GPS and compass built into the phone worked so well. I made only one wrong turn while driving around town and that was due to my own error so all in all a great device for travel.

Shortly after arrival we discovered that our lodging was located near the Panama City Mall as I had opted to stay near the church and not down by the beach, it was also a little cheaper to do so. The odd thing about the location of the mall was the name of the street it was on. The Panama City Mall is on Martin Luther King Boulevard. Now I am sure some of you are familiar with Chris Rocks routine on what happens in most cities on any street named MLK. If not here is a link to a bit of audio that explains it.

**Adult Language**

Also on this subject Chris Rock has said: "If a friend calls you on the telephone and says they're lost on Martin Luther King Boulevard and they want to know what they should do, the best response is 'Run!'

Well we were pleasantly surprised with that area of Panama City, very easy to get in and out of and lots of shopping not that we did any other than a quick trip by me into Books-A-Million looking for a specific issue of Rolling Stone Magazine.

We arrived got settled and were invited to join Heather’s brother Kevin and his wonderful wife Ann and ever so awesome daughter McKenna for dinner. We were open for anything and I had actually looked at the menu for a steak restaurant named Angelo's Steak Pit earlier in the planning phase of our trip and was excited to try it out. The company at the dinner table was great as we had not seen Kevin and his family since February when Logan was born but the food was sub par especially for the price. My steak although huge seemed to have been more steamed that grilled over a pit, the salad was okay but the French fries were cold and greasy as if they had been fried earlier in the day and sat under a heat lamp, which I confirmed to be the case walking out to the car as you could see into the kitchen and sure enough a huge pile of fries in a serving pan under a heat lamp. For nearly twenty dollars for the least expensive item on the entree menu I expect a little more. Angelo's Steak Pit was blah, and that's no bull!

After dinner with family and a good night sleep at a very nice hotel we were invited to breakfast prepared by Heather’s cousins at her uncle’s house. It was great to see them all and was like getting into a way back machine as we ate breakfast sitting at Heather’s grandmothers dinning room table. It is always great to hang out with the Chisholm’s. Later Saturday we attended the wedding which showed us again just how good of a baby Logan is. He did not make a single peep for the entire hour that we were in the church.

Following the ceremony it was off to The Boatyard for an exceptional reception on the water. Bailey loved running around with McKenna and the other girl’s. As the day turned to night Bailey enjoyed dancing with all the adults which was hilarious. She so loves to sing and dance. Logan spent a lot of time with Kay and he seemed to grow fond of her as he would go right to her. After leaving around 8PM and making our way back to the hotel we found that a party of sorts was happening out by the pool which was directly by the lobby and luckily for us directly below our third floor window. It was so loud I at first thought they could be filming a Tyler Perry movie or perhaps the next installment of Eddie Murphy’s Nutty Professor series as there were some very large loud people at the pool. After a while that quieted down, we watched the end of the Auburn vs Clemson game and had a nice nights sleep after which we were ready to head home the next morning.

After loading up and a not so quick stop to eat lunch at Margaritaville in Pier Park, along with a stop at Dunkin Doughnuts to bring some treats home we took our sweet little time getting back to town and had a pleasant drive home. It was so nice to see everyone and be with family and treated so well.  All in all an amazing stress free weekend with family was just what we needed.

Check Out Bailey as she gets down on the dance floor. I just may have one of a certain uncle of Bailey's doing some hip hop dancing as well!!!



 
 

The Lawmaker, the Coach, the Bookie Barber’s, and Me

When in a familiar place I at times can zone out and enter my own little world and not pay attention to my surroundings. The barbershop is one of these familiar places for me. I have been getting my hair cut at the same place, by the same two barbers from birth. These two men cut my dad’s hair and in turn gave me my first haircut and every other haircut since. As such I can walk in, sit down and fall asleep while they cut my hair. The shop itself is very much a man’s world with calendars with bikini clad women, cigar and pike smoke as well as very irreverent humor that most ladies would fund repulsive. (it is no wonder so many Baptists go there…sorry had to throw in a Baptist joke) Well the last trip I made to see them I was abruptly brought out of my lala land by the entrance of a mid thirties thug-neck (a thug-neck is a white male red neck who has embraced the hip hop lifestyle). As he began talking to one of the barbers I began to listen and found that this thug-neck was there to pay off a $500.00 wager on the Auburn game from the night before. Holy hell I suddenly felt as if I was in the middle of a back room gambling den. Nervousness set in but quickly went away.

I have known for a couple of years that friendly wagers were made at the shop but never of that amount. After the cash passed hands and more bets were discussed and placed I felt as if at any moment the vice squad would bust in. The conversation went on and slowed my haircut to a snail’s pace but I lived with it and enjoyed just sitting ease dropping. As the time passed I couldn’t help but to notice an autographed 2009 Alabama football prominently displayed on the counter. The signature to me was illegible and I paid no real attention to it the white and brown leather football with the Crimson A on it. As my visit continued I the barbers began discussing with the Thug-neck and I a recent visit to the shop by one of our local politicians who serves our district in Washington D.C. I have seen this lawmaker at the shop several times over the years and have had many conversations with him, he is a nice enough man but like most politicians no matter what party they are affiliated with I find them to be at times reprehensible. I last this man in January of this year(2010) just after He had locked his keys in his car. Classic, a well known lawmaker too scatter brained to keep up with his keys. It’s no wonder we have so many issues unresolved, and the priceless thing was his wife berating him when she brought him the spare set.

Well I again zoned out on the conversation as I was getting highly annoyed with Thug-neck and did not hear its conclusion but as paying for my haircut I found out. I asked the Barber as we were standing at the counter whose signature was on the football. The Barber proudly proclaimed, Nick Saban! He then told me that it was given to them this past week by the previously mentioned member of our Federal Legislative Branch, complete with a photograph of the two barber’s one on each side of our fine lawmaker holding the football. Nick Saban when visiting the White House and the US Legislature had given the signed memento of the undefeated 2009 season to the lawmaker, who in turn last week gave it to the barber’s. This gift seemed odd to me, and in my cynical mind it seems that that act of kindness could be seen as a payoff to a bookie. I mean wouldn’t you want to keep such a thing in your office for all to see? I’m sure it wasn’t a payoff, or related to gambling but you never know these days.

So that’s how you link the coach, the lawmaker, and the bookie barber’s.

“The football team at my high school, they were tough. After they sacked the quarterback, they went after his family.”

Back To School (1986) – Thornton Melon (Rodney Dangerfield)

 

My Wall Part 2

Walls that are torn down often are built right back up. The constant up and down of life can build back and far surpass what you had originally built up to protect yourself.  When I had first planned on following up my original post on the subject of My Wall Part 1 it was to make the second portion more upbeat but forces beyond me have seen to it that that is not the case.
This summer has been stressful and many times my spirit nearly broke and may have actually snapped once or twice. I have been in a kind of self editing mode due to others inability to understand, be civil, be adult, and just be. Just Be! Just Be!! That is what I will do Just Be, and if others want to Just Be along with me that would make things that much better.

Blah, blah, blah, blah…the point you ask, well self editing has been turned off, the switch removed, the software disabled. The terrorist, they lost. I win. I am invincible. It feels so good to be so right and to have others know it for a fact as well.

Suckered you in I know…that little piece of awesomeness was free of charge. Summer has been stressful, but I could not be happier. I have spent every moment possible with my wife and kids. I have enjoyed what time we could spend with our extended family I’ll affectionately refer to here as the Goat family (although we need to spend more time with them). These are the ones who helped me tear down my walls, but none more than my wonderful wife. Every day with her and our children is certainly a gift and I try to never take that for granted.

So walls down, self editing off, summer good, and this fall will be better. In fact in just 71 days my best friends in the whole world will all converge in an arena in anticipation of see a 67 year old lyrical genius sing rock music. That’s right just 71 days from today Ryan, Shelley, Amy, Brian, Heather and I will all be enjoying the show. Roger Waters The Wall 2010. Atlanta we have you in our sights, and you will be rocked.

This fall is going to be awesome. Football. At least one weekend trip to a classified location(which is going to be Logan’s first car ride of more than an hour so fingers crossed). Halloween. Halloween shopping with The Goat’s. The Fair. Thanksgiving(wonder where this year invite early ( ; ) Christmas shopping (Daddy needs a new Surround Receiver and wants a new TV).

Can’t wait. Tomorrow I hit the ground running.

JUST BE!!!!

Blu-Tuesday Number 6 September upcoming releases

This week is just a quick rundown of the movies I find to be of note that will be coming out on Blu-Ray in September.   Each with a quick note and as each week rolls around I will go into more detail.


Tuesday September 7, 2010

Tommy
If you love The Who you will enjoy this flick staring Roger Daltrey as Tommy the Deaf, Dumb and blind kid.  You also get Tina Turner as the Acid Queen and several other rock legends.










MACGRUBER
Have not seen this film based on an SNL skit, but I definitly plan on giving it a rental via Netflix.











It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown
A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving
These two are holiday classics coming out on blu-ray for the first time.  If you want the set of all Peanuts Holiday shows wait until October for a box set.









Tuesday September 14, 2010

Prince of Persia
Have not seen this but hear good things. 












Glee
Glee in 1080P and full HD surround.  Great show.












Tuesday September 21, 2010

Robin Hood
Russell Crowe as an angry Englishmen.  WIN












Tuesday September 28, 2010

Iron Man 2
Not as good as Iron Man but still a great action flick setting up the Avengers for Summer 2012.











Get Him to the Greek
A pseudo sequel to Forgetting Sarah Marshal,  I have not seen this yet but It looks like great fun.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Tony Stark: [to Nick Fury regarding "The Avengers" initiative] I told you before - I *don't* wanna be part of your super-secret boy band!  Iron Man 2 (2010)

Blu-Tuesday Number 5 Time Bandits and to the end of August

Tuesday August 24, 2010.


It is another slow week which is good as it keeps my impulse to buy blu-rays at bay. This week however does have one movie that is an all time favorite of mine. Time Bandits is a movie I first saw as a child and was really my introduction to Terry Gilliam which led to my discovery of Gilliam’s work with Monty Python. So a gateway film if you will.

This week we will wrap up August and next week we will look forward with preorder suggestions for September.



Time Bandits Blu-Ray release 8/24/2010

Released in 1981 Time Bandits like most if not all of Terry Gilliam’s films was not a box office success but is a cult favorite and is highly regarded by many critics. A young English boy finds himself on a time traveling adventure with a merry band of dwarves who have stolen a map otf time and time warps from the Supreme Being. This is a classic good vs evil story with a touch of Gilliam weirdness thrown in. This movie has Giants, Napoleon, Robin Hood, ancient Greece and starring Sean Connery, John Cleese, and Michael Palin. Great fun.  Also as a note the movie was produced by George Harrison who was also instrumental in several Python films being made.  The former Beatle also has a song on the soundtrack of Time Bandits.






The Simpsons Season 13 Blu-Ray release 8/24/2010

I own the first ten or eleven seasons of this my favorite animated show ever, but now they are releasing seasons in Blu-Ray and dvd I have a decision to make. I hate to double dip but as prices come down I think I will have to do so. The Simpsons always delivers the funny and all seasons are packed with extras. If you love behind the scenes and commentary you will love these season sets.







Tuesday August 24, 2010.

The Evil Dead Blu-Ray release 8/31/2010

Most have seen Evil Dead II, but most do not realize it is simply a remake or sequel (depending on who you ask and if you follow the timeline) to The Evil Dead. With the same writers, directory and star this is the first film in the Evil Dead trilogy. Not as funny as the two follow up films Evil Dead II and Army of Darkness but still a great watch if you are into early 80’s horror and horticulture (trust me watch and see what a tree can do). Not for the squeamish or the kiddies but highly recommend this movie.

 
 
 
 
 
 
Cheryl: [possessed] Soon all of you will be like me... And then who will lock you up in a cellar?  [cackles] The Evil Dead (1981)

August 20, 2001

By the time Monday August 20, 2001 rolled around we had already made three or so trips to the hospital thinking Heather was in labor and each time we were sent packing. Then as each Dr visit would end Heather’s physician would keep telling us that she was not ready and to give it a couple days and come back. This was so tough to watch Heather in such a miserable state. She had been put on bed rest nearly a month earlier and we were just ready.

So we made it through the weekend and to the doctor appointment Monday morning. Once again the doctor did his poking and prodding and sent us home yet again. Not ready he said. So we made our way back down to the car and headed home. To cheer my lovely yet miserable wife up I decided to stop at The Nut House Too and get her some chocolate and caramel pecan turtles (these candies have special meaning to her). It made her smile and as we made our way home she was still very uncomfortable and swore that the doctor had put things into motion with his not so delicate examination.

I dropped Heather at home and got to the office as quick as I could to get caught up at work. I was still in a Team Leader Position of a very high volume region and dreaded getting behind on things. At work a little over an hour and away from my desk I was paged overhead. I pick up the line and hear Shelley say to get home and get Heather to the hospital that she is in labor. Heather had called Shelley for the billionth time asking questions and this time it was for sure it. She was ready to go. I was a half hour from home and then it would be nearly a half hour back to the hospital. I have never driven with such purpose in my life.

So I made it home got Heather, and all her things and we made it to the hospital and were in a room playing the waiting game. He next few hours were spent getting Heather prepped, the room ready, blood work, paper work. Thankfully we had Shelley with us and family soon joined as well as I know I was overwhelmed. What should have been a natural birth soon turned into an emergency C-section with me standing in an empty delivery suite and Heather being rushed to an operating room. The cord was wrapped around the baby’s neck and with each passing minute the situation became more serious in nature.

As they wheeled Heather out they assured me that they would be coming back to get me and gave me a paper gown to put on and be ready to go in. Well after 15 minutes of standing scared to death they finally brought me into the room I could not help but notice they had already begun the C-section. So as soon as I sat down on a stool next to Heathers head so I could see her they had the baby out and we heard her cry.

It was by far one of the scariest days but one of the happiest days.

Happy Birthday Sweet Bailey. August 20, 2001

Roger Clemens and those who practice the art of lurking are grinding my gears

Today’s blog update is total stream of consciousness so please forgive me if my thought train derails. To start off I was just reading that Roger Clemens (The Rocket) was just charged with Obstruction of Congress and Perjury by a federal grand jury. This is related to his 2008 testimony before congress in which his statements contradict those made by his former teammates and a former trainer about his alleged use of performance enhancers. In most cases these drugs were not illegal. I find it extremely disturbing that so much time, and tax payer money has been spent on the whole steroids in baseball witch-hunt. You would think congress has other irons in the fire that need tending to. Wars, drug abuse (of the illegal nature not HGH or steroids), education (the lack of) just to name a few issues. Instead they continually step into issues that they have no business being involved in. I mean what could it matter to the federal government and the millions they represent that some ball players juiced. Absolutely nothing.

On top of all of this I have seen some voice the opinion, on talkbacks, facebook, and twitter that they hope Clemens gets jail time and that they hate our current judicial system. Those two points seem to be contradictory to me. What I dislike is how our elected representatives seem to just forget about what’s important and only want their name in lights. I say let them all juice, if they die due side effects, who cares! I know the argument is that it’s a poor example for kids and parents don’t want kids shooting roids but guess what that is on the parent, the kid and the coach. Raise your own kids don’t let others have to do it for you with congressional hearings, as Peter Griffin would say “That really grinds my gears”.



Now on to the other thing that grinds my gears….lurkers. Between facebook and twitter the lurkers kill me. Now how do I define a lurker, a lurker is someone that does not participate at all. They are there simply to lurk, judge, then gossip via other methods. Just silly to me that I should share a single word, blog, or comment on another person’s status and these lurkers just sit and stare. It’s like they have this open window into me but feel it unnecessary to share anything with anyone else other than they like Farmville. Or if they do share something it feels so fake, like they sat for hours just to think of the cool thing to say that will impress. So lurkers I challenge you, good bad indifferent say something to your facebook peeps. This is for those that have not updated a picture, a status, made a comment in nearly six months ( as an example ).

Again just me…so how about some Family guy to end things since I am on what grinds my gears.

Peter (after Lois tells him he's childish): "If I'm a child that means you're a pedophile, and I'll be damned if i'm going stand here and take this from a pervert." Family Guy

Blu-Tuesday Number 4

This is a week that I really have no interest any new release on Blu-ray. The only two of any consequence at all for me would be Nanny McPhee which is being released on Blu-ray to promote the upcoming Nanny McPhee Returns and Furry Vengeance which really just looks like a big stinker to me. The only reason either would be on my radar is that Bailey may want Nanny McPhee on Blu as she loves the movie and she loves funny animal movies but I really hope to avoid Furry Vengeance.

The next few weeks are hit and miss so next week rather than a weekly update I will finish up the entire month of August suggestions. Don’t get me wrong there are other movies coming out on DVD and Blu-Ray but I really could care less about The Last Song with Miley Cyrus, that’s not exactly my type of movie.
So since this is a short week I will give you my top five Blu-Ray suggestions for the first six months of 2010.

1. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy. Don’t miss this remarkable set of the theatrical versions for the Peter Jackson directed Lord of the Rings. There no doubt will be another set of the extended versions but no fan should go without this theatrical release of all three films. The set also comes with digital copies of each for viewing on your apple mobile device or laptop.









2. Avatar. The Biggest movie ever. Very re-watchable and again a double dip will be upcoming with an extended version but another can’t miss.















3. Zombieland. Woody Harrelson cracking Zombie skulls in a theme park. What more can you ask for, as well as perhaps the best cameo ever in any comedy. Another must own on Blu-ray.









4. Toy Story and Toy Story 2. The entire family loves these movies and on Blu-ray they look and sound awesome.


5. Sherlock Holmes. This is just a great action adventure set in London and is big fun.

All of these are just great looking and sounding on Blu-Ray and all enjoyable and very re-watchable. There were other very good Blu-rays the first half of the year but simply on story and how the movies look and sound these are the best in my opinion.

When Tallahassee goes Hulk on a zombie, he sets the standard for "not to be fucked with". Zombieland (2009)

Scott Pilgrim VS Eat, Pray, Love VS The Expendables

I declare summer movie season over. Going into this summer I did not have very high expectations for any movies and with that being said I have been pleasantly surprised more than once. You rarely see original stories, or style in movies these days and this summer we have had two very original very good movies. Inception being the first which I have already discussed in an earlier blog, Scott Pilgrim VS The World being the second.

This week saw three big movie releases but the only one worth seeing is Scott Pilgrim. If you must go see Julia Roberts be charming and eat Italian food, or Sly relive his former glory with the help of his friend at least buy a ticket to Scott Pilgrim and just go to the other piece of garbage. At least support something so brave and original as Scott Pilgrim.

Scott Pilgrim VS is an awesome 8bit side scrolling nostalgic look at love with all the video game action you could ever want. I have not read the original source material but very likely will and very likely will go see this film in theaters again. From the opening Universal Logo which was in 8bit video game graphics and accompanied by an 8bit midi score of the Universal these you know you are in for something special.

Many times movies of this nature are so predictable but this one catches you off guard you go from a quite character driven seen between Scott and Ramona and the BLAM right into a roaring action sequence that would make any video game or comic nerd geek out as well as keep non believers satisfied and thirsting for more.

You will see many familiar faces in this movie, Michael Cera, Brandon Routh, Chris Evans, and Jason Schwartzman. All gave great performances that keep you in the story of Scott and his tortured love for Ramona.

So go see Scott Pilgrim VS The World. Go see it tomorrow. Go See it twice.
Enjoy.

You're pretentious, this club sucks, I have beef. Let's fight. Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010)

Blu-Tuesday 3 Meet the Griswold's

This week’s installment will be short on DVD/Blu-Ray news due to it being a lackluster week as well as the DSL issues I had over the weekend cutting into my prep time.

Date Night (dvd/Blu-Ray)
My movie dealer keeps pushing this on me to purchase which makes me suspicious. Either it is really good or he just wanted the pre order to go toward his monthly count. This will be one Blu-Ray Heather and I will definitely give a spin via Netflix but certainly not a blind purchase.

National Lampoons Vacation (Blu-Ray)
This is a must buy for me. Get the family in the trickster and head to Wally World with a stop to visit cousin Eddy. Yes Please

National Lampoons Vacation (Blu-Ray)
Not a must have but if I catch it on sale and am so inclined it will be mine. This may be the first movie in which I saw bare breast when Rusty was with the girl from the German Beer Garden and who can forget his rousing visit to the Parisian Cabaret. Oh Hell I just made this a must own on Blu-Ray as well.


"Honey, we're not normal people. We're the Griswolds. " European Vacation (1985)

Horrible Hump Day

Most mornings at our house are uneventful and we like it that way. Roll out of bed; hit the shower all the while still in a state of slumber. It often takes quite a while to get into gear and allow my eyes to focus and get going for the day. This was certainly not the case this last Wednesday. It started as another day would with the exception of my wife laying back down because she was light headed. As she rested I rushed to the shower to get the daily routine going to get us all out the door on the road for the work day ahead. I was rushing along and just as I was about to shut off the water and step out it happened.

Thud….with that loud thud the tub beneath my feet vibrated violently. It was as if someone had taken a solid object and struck the outside of the tub. I honestly thought I had knocked the shampoo bottles over, when I realized that is not what it was I asked Heather “what was that?” and got no response. I then open the shower curtain and see my beautiful wife passed out (all be It momentarily) on the bathroom floor head resting in the side of the tub. This was not the way either of is wanted to start the day.

I quickly jumped to action and helped her up and made sure she was ok. As she stood she collapsed again and I had to support her to keep from face planting back on the floor. She came to and I began moving her slowly to the bed to assess the situation. As I begin helping her through the small hallway in our bedroom that allows access to our walk-in closets she passes out yet again, and this was the scariest moment of them all to me as for forty-five to sixty seconds I could not get her to respond. I have had other experiences with my mother passing out but could always get some response within fifteen to twenty seconds. So this had me mortified, terrified any other big word for scared you can think of plug it in.

After shaking her, slapping her face lightly she finally came to after what seemed an eternity. As I lifted her up and began to move her towards the bed I realized that I HAD JUST JUMPED OUT OF THE SHOWER and our bedroom door well its wide open. So that I would not permanently damage the eye sight of our young daughter I made my way toward the door all the while using Heather as a shield and kicked the door shut. Finally after making to the short distance to the bed I rush to put some clothes on and got a glass of juice for the patient in hopes that it helps give her some strength. After a few minutes of rest Heather began to feel a bit better but a trip the either the hospital or doctor was definitely in order.

You see she had been on a new antibiotic since last Friday for an infection and she had been feeling better until Tuesday. She began feeling horribly ill Tuesday afternoon but after some naproxen to relive pain and fever she began to feel better. So we figured this may be related to her passing out but not sure why. As we made our way to the car after allowing some time for Heather to recover a bit and making sure she had not hit her head we notice that her skin is red and for the lack of a better term full of red pimple like goose bumps. This I found weird and unsettling.

Well after seeing the Doctor we found out that the powerful antibiotic she had been taking was the culprit. She had an allergic reaction to it which caused her body to pretty much rebel and put her to the floor of our bathroom. She was given a shot that contained a powerful cocktail of steroids and antibiotics as well as a new antibiotic for what was now a worse infection that what she had to begin

An awful day but all is well now.

Blu-Tuesday Number 2 A Kick-Ass week for Blu-ray

Tuesday August 3, 2010.

This week the most notable DVD/Blu-ray release is Kick-Ass. I am sure the most hardcore movie fans have seen the movie and will no doubt be picking this gem up for sure but for those who have not, please allow me to persuade you.

***Before we go further just a suggestion. If you do buy DVD’s but do not have a Blu-Ray player I would suggest buying Blu-Ray combo packs. Most major new releases will have what is called a combo pack with three copies of the movie. A Blu-Ray copy. A DVD copy. A Digital copy. So on the day a movie is released if you have pre ordered it from a store such as Movie Stop you will get it for the lowest price as they match. So tomorrow for if you had gone to Movie Stop and reserved Kick-Ass with $5.00 down you would owe a balance of around $17.00 for a total of $22.00 plus tax. For that you would get the combo pack with a Blu-Ray, DVD. Digital copy. As well as a tee shirt from the pre order promotion. Not a bad deal when other retailers will be seeing it for $19.99 on DVD only. Even if you do not have a Blu-Ray player yet it’s a smart investment to go for the combo if you are going to by the dvd anyway. If you know you want a movie to own it is always best to buy the day it comes out or wait a year either way that’s the beast deal. It’s even better to pre order. Just a thought. So on to talk Kick-Ass.

Kick-Ass

Based on a comic of the same name Kick-Ass certainly lives up to its title. If you enjoy movies with a sharp wit and crave an original take on superhero or vigilante justice this movie just may be for you. I must warn you it is not for those that are easily shocked, or those who cannot tolerate hearing a twelve year old girl saying the most vulgar things in the most elegant of ways. This is not for children as it is a hard R rated film. The story takes so many elements from pop culture, films, comics, music and intertwines them with such ease that you will want to see Kick-Ass again and again.

One of the best things about this movie would have to be Nic Cage. If you have seen him in The Weatherman I liken his character in Kick-Ass to the one he played there. A man pushed to far who takes matters into his own hands. In Kick-Ass he is Big Daddy, a Batman type vigilante striking back at the mob all along the way training his 12 year old daughter to be Hit Girl. In her own rights a bad ass with a knife, with which she can kick the ass of any bad guy with ease. As they go about their adventures they cross paths with the title character Kick-Ass who after a first failed attempt to fight crime was left with sever nerve damage and thus impervious to pain. From there they take you on a ride that you shall enjoy. I would say this is a must buy for any true movie fan. I already have my Blu-Ray Combo pack pre ordred.

All The Rest
There are just a few other notables this week. Most are re releases on Blu-Ray here are just a few.

The Breakfast Club (The Brat Pack is born)

Escape From New York (Snake Plissken need I say more?)

Elvis on Tour (Earl er this year watched this on HDNET and it is awesome I must say. I great live performance and back stage look at Elvis as he toured 15 Cities in 15 nights)

That’s it for this week. I will leave you with this from Kick-Ass.

“Jesus, guys, doesn't it bug you? Like thousand of people wanna be Paris Hilton and nobody wants to be Spiderman.” Kick-Ass

Fired on an Easter Sunday!!

My former Burger King peeps should enjoy this. This past week I was talking with the sandwich artist at our local subway and as per usual my nearly nine year old daughter was listening with purpose. As the Subway employee regaled us with a story of dropping an entire pan of marinara sauce on the floor in the back I briefly mentioned that once while working at Burger King as a teenager I had played a part in spilling a ten pound bag of mustard all over the floor. My daughter immediately interrupted the conversation and said “Did you get fired?”. I informed her that I in fact was eventually fired from the BK Lounge as some call it but not for accidentally spilling mustard. No I was fired for my car breaking down on Easter Sunday.

That’s right fired on an Easter Sunday for something beyond my own control. What a pisser that was. Back then Burger King had a hierarchy of management that was ever changing. There were a few good people who managed to stay at one store but there was always a turn around every few months it seemed. On such turn around sent the store manager that had hired me across town and put the meanest woman I had ever meet in my eighteen years in charge of the store I worked at. She had been at the store a few months and for some reason had it out for Heather and I as we were dating at the time. Who knows why she was like that as we never let our relationship get in the way of our important job of flopping whoppers.

Well this mean woman with the attitude of a troll forced into sunlight sent down an edict that any whopper flopper who over Easter weekend does not show up for their shift will get fired. No matter the reason. No matter past work history. That was it. Well I had no reason to worry as I had never called out. In fact I threw news papers twice a day, attended high school and still worked nearly 30 hours week at the house of whoppers.

Easter Sunday rolled around and I was invited to attend a Jazz Brunch with Heather, her dad Tony, his wife and her daughters. What a blast it was. We all had a great brunch and spent the morning talking and dancing (I may have had one dance I’m not the boogie down type). We left and drove back to Heathers dad’s house I told them all goodbye and headed out for the short drive to my house to change into my BK gear and head to work. Well just as I approached Municipal Park the traffic was jammed up. Municipal Park on a beautiful Easter Sunday back then was a cluster. As I sat the car began to overheat, then shudder and just as I neared Forest Dale Drive the car died. Thankfully a police officer helped push the car up and onto the curb.

This being the days before a cell phone was easily available to those of lesser means I had but one option. Walk the couple of miles or so home. So in my Sunday best on a hot afternoon I walked home with purpose. It took me a little more than 20 minutes to make the walk that in a car would have taken less than four or five. My first call was to BK advising what had happened. Well guess what that mean troll fired me right then and there over the phone. All I could think was what a bitch. I mean who does that and on Easter of all days. That was the only time I have ever been fired and I can honestly say in a roundabout way I am better for it. Although it did lead to months of night porter duty at another Burger King which was at times a scary experience.

"I didn’t want to call it Burger King so I called it the BK lounge. " Dane Cook

Blu-Tuesday July 27, 2010

As most know I am a big fan of movies, and as such I look forward Tuesday’s as that is the day that new DVD’s and Blu-ray’s drop. So each Monday prior (this post is going up Tuesday since I spent last night going from Vista to Windows 7) I will post a coming attractions blog of sorts to highlight or in some cases dismiss what’s new for the week. If it’s something I have seen I will give a quick break down, if not I will still give an impression from what I have read or what I thought of the trailer etc.

So here we go Tuesday July 27, 2010.

Clash of the Titans
We are starting off with the biggest new release of the week. I have not yet seen this remake of the early eighties classic (which I love) but I am willing to give it a chance. I heard so many bad things about this movie but most if not all we simply related to the 3D conversion. The film was not shot with 3D camera technology and the effects were not purposed for 3D and thus looked muddy and horrible on the big screen. I have heard good things about the story and that Sam Worthington (Avatar, Terminator Salvation) did a good job as Perseus son of the King of the gods, Zeus. Thankfully I waited and skipped the much criticized 3D version of this in the theaters. We will definitely rent (Netflix) this on Blu-Ray and give it a spin in the PS3.

Batman: Under The Red Hood
An animated direct to video release that I will be getting a copy to watch via Netflix. I mean come on its Batman.

Other than those two new ones this week you have some releases like an Extended RAMBO, Fanboys. So it’s a rather light week this portion of the summer normally is. Next week however Kick-Ass will be coming out and It’s a must buy for me but we will save that for next Monday.

Since it was so slow with new releases this week I will just give you a quick rundown on recent favorites.

Cop Out. This is the first movie directed and edited by Kevin Smith that he did not write. So the dialog is not up to par with Clerks, or Chasing Amy but it’s still a good movie. It’s a great homage to buddy cop flicks of the eighties and nineties. Lots of foul language but you all know that does not bother me.

Hot Tub Time Machine. This comedy homage to movies of the past is just a great fun look back at eighties teen flicks with a more adult twist of raunchy comedy of today. “Great White Buffalo.”

Clash of the Titans (2010) "I have watched from the underworld... it is time for the mortals to pay! "

Inception and the midnight movie experience

It had been years since I last went to a midnight movie opening. Although I hadn't planned on doing one this summer as the release date for Inception grew near and my interest in seeing it grew exponentially when asked if I wanted to meet at the midnight show last Thursday I could not refuse. When comparing notes I believe the last Midnight premiere I attended was The Phantom Menace. It was definitely not worth the lack of sleep, other than seeing the fan boys and girls dressed up. It had been so long I forgot how unruly some people can be at that late hour.

I mean don’t get me wrong, I love to crack jokes at what’s going on around me and on the screen during commercials and previews, but not in public. My fiends and I do so in private at our homes or at least via text as t not make a huge spectacle of ourselves. Well last Friday Morning at twelve midnight we were just lucky enough to have the most annoying group of what I reckoned to be late teen early twenty something’s. After ten minutes I was ready to get up and pour my extra large tub o diet cola right into their laps.

Just as the urge to smack a kid in he head came to me the lights of the theater came up. A theater employee announced they had technical difficulties with the theater we were in and we would have to move to another. Now this was a good thing and a bad thing. The good we could get the hell away from the noisy ass’s behind us. The bad we had to fight for good seats in the next theater. The room was nearly full so three seats together in a stampede of movie geeks like myself would be difficult, but we managed. Not the best seats in the house but good enough. The crowd was still loud for my liking but thankfully once the feature started all fell quiet.

Inception would have to be the best movie that is not about an established character (Batman) that I have seen in years. On one viewing I would say it has shot to the top 5 of my favorite movies ever. Now after repeated viewings it may fall a bit but not much. I love movies that leave so much up to your own imagination. How do they do it? What did that mean? What happens after the screen goes dark. All things you too will be asking I am sure.

Inception is a love story, it’s an action movie, it will appeal to both men and women.
My best friend in fact called it “Eclipse for Men”. It is great counter programming to the sparkly vampire movies but its far more than that. I don’t want to talk to much about it but I will tell you the cast is great. Joseph Gordon-Levitt is an actor who I particularly hated before this movie. He does an exceptional job as does the man the ladies swoon over Leo. But even the supporting cast did an excellent job of pulling you into the world these characters occupy.

Go see Inception. Take a friend with you. Tell tow other friends. I believe that the better this film does (and it deserves to do so) the quicker we will get the next Batman movie from the Nolan’s.

Go See Inception!!!!!!!!!!!!

“You mustn't be afraid to dream a little bigger, darling. “Inception (2010)