Saturday, February 24, 2007
Friday, February 23, 2007
Monday, February 19, 2007
Top Ten Signs of Getting Old
10. Grey hair.
This has been going on for some time now.
9. Clothes are for comfort, not looks.
I can't even think of a reason not to wear this old ratty t-shirt with my pajama bottoms to the grocery store.
8. You begin to realize that you're old.
You pass a pretty girl, and think, "She's cute." You wonder if she's thinking, "He's old." Then your wife brings you back to reality with, "You're not even on her radar."
7. You can't eat what you used to.
I love dairy. I used to live for dairy. I could drink a 1/2 gallon of milk, or polish one of those giant blocks of cheese in one sitting. Now I have to pour soy milk on my Crispix. As one of my older family members is wont to yell out in restaurants: "Can't have cheese!!"
6. You can't do what you used to.
I used to could stay up all night (you can tell I live in the south now). Now I'm starting to nod off about 9 pm.
5. You start to think about life.
Starting to realize that this life is the means, not the end.
4. The world around you starts to fade away.
I can begin to see it now. I'm in the car or in a store, focused on what I'm doing, nigh-oblivious to what's going on around me. I hope I can reverse the process before I'm like the guy in Toys R Us this past Saturday who waited until he was at the cash register with a line behind him to have a conversation with his grandson about whether or not he really wanted the DVD he was buying.
3. You have strange and unexplained aches and pains.
I can't get out of bed or stand up out of a chair without limping around.
2. You open your mouth and your parents' voice comes out.
Don't make me come in there! I don't care who started it! Settle down! Go ask mommy...
And the number one Sign of Getting Old:
1. Someone mistakes you for a grandparent.
I'm in Martin's in Florence, AL not long ago with my daughter on my shoulders. This worker - who was probably in her 60's; not some kid half my age as I'd expect - says, "She's cute. Your granddaughter?" Wonderful. My daughter's 4 going on 14; I'm 35 going on 53.
Quote of the Day
Did you have a good world when you died? Enough to base a movie on?
-Jim Morrison
This has been going on for some time now.
9. Clothes are for comfort, not looks.
I can't even think of a reason not to wear this old ratty t-shirt with my pajama bottoms to the grocery store.
8. You begin to realize that you're old.
You pass a pretty girl, and think, "She's cute." You wonder if she's thinking, "He's old." Then your wife brings you back to reality with, "You're not even on her radar."
7. You can't eat what you used to.
I love dairy. I used to live for dairy. I could drink a 1/2 gallon of milk, or polish one of those giant blocks of cheese in one sitting. Now I have to pour soy milk on my Crispix. As one of my older family members is wont to yell out in restaurants: "Can't have cheese!!"
6. You can't do what you used to.
I used to could stay up all night (you can tell I live in the south now). Now I'm starting to nod off about 9 pm.
5. You start to think about life.
Starting to realize that this life is the means, not the end.
4. The world around you starts to fade away.
I can begin to see it now. I'm in the car or in a store, focused on what I'm doing, nigh-oblivious to what's going on around me. I hope I can reverse the process before I'm like the guy in Toys R Us this past Saturday who waited until he was at the cash register with a line behind him to have a conversation with his grandson about whether or not he really wanted the DVD he was buying.
3. You have strange and unexplained aches and pains.
I can't get out of bed or stand up out of a chair without limping around.
2. You open your mouth and your parents' voice comes out.
Don't make me come in there! I don't care who started it! Settle down! Go ask mommy...
And the number one Sign of Getting Old:
1. Someone mistakes you for a grandparent.
I'm in Martin's in Florence, AL not long ago with my daughter on my shoulders. This worker - who was probably in her 60's; not some kid half my age as I'd expect - says, "She's cute. Your granddaughter?" Wonderful. My daughter's 4 going on 14; I'm 35 going on 53.
Quote of the Day
Did you have a good world when you died? Enough to base a movie on?
-Jim Morrison
Friday, February 09, 2007
Out of the Mouths of Babes
The other night, we were sitting, eating dinner, and my daughter told me she knew what I was going to say before I said it.
How, I asked?
Her response is the:
Quote of the Day
I can read your brains.
-Julianna, 4 years old
*Update: I have since been corrected; I guess I have bad memory in my old age. Since I don't have time to post anything else, I'll just note that Julianna's actual quote contained the word brains, not brain. As Krista noted, the actual quote is much funnier.
How, I asked?
Her response is the:
Quote of the Day
I can read your brains.
-Julianna, 4 years old
*Update: I have since been corrected; I guess I have bad memory in my old age. Since I don't have time to post anything else, I'll just note that Julianna's actual quote contained the word brains, not brain. As Krista noted, the actual quote is much funnier.
Friday, February 02, 2007
El Laberinto del Fauna
Guillermo del Toro never ceases to amaze. I specifically didn't read or watch too much about Pan's Labyrinth - I didn't even know it was a Spanish-language film.
Taking place in Spain during the Spanish Civil War, it's a fairy tale with a touch of horror and a bit of violence. Extremely intense. It draws you into another world, and by the time it's over, you feel like you need to come up for air.
And there's the fascinating allegory of denying self, defying what you're supposed to do (as expected by everyone around you), and following your true nature. At least that's what I got out of it.
Taking place in Spain during the Spanish Civil War, it's a fairy tale with a touch of horror and a bit of violence. Extremely intense. It draws you into another world, and by the time it's over, you feel like you need to come up for air.
And there's the fascinating allegory of denying self, defying what you're supposed to do (as expected by everyone around you), and following your true nature. At least that's what I got out of it.
Thursday, February 01, 2007
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Quote(s) of the Day
Ridicule is often used as a substitute for reason.
-Frank Mills (28 January 2007)
When you are moving forward, making progress, and involved in revival, there will always be opposition, criticism, distractions, discouragement, those who feel threatened, those with different opinions, [and] those who resist change.
-Frank Mills (28 January 2007)
Ridicule is often used as a substitute for reason.
-Frank Mills (28 January 2007)
When you are moving forward, making progress, and involved in revival, there will always be opposition, criticism, distractions, discouragement, those who feel threatened, those with different opinions, [and] those who resist change.
-Frank Mills (28 January 2007)
Monday, January 29, 2007
Thursday, January 25, 2007
It's Time For Animaniacs...
You know, I liked all the Christmas presents I received this year.
But one stands out from the rest.
It's my Animaniacs Season 1 DVDs.
There are 2 things that set it apart from the other gifts I've enjoyed.
1. The nostalgia factor.
When I was in grad school (it's been about 10 years now), there wasn't a lot that made me happy in life. There was Krista. There was going to the movies with Krista at Towson Commons (if you read that article, the Borders was still there when we lived in Baltimore). There was visiting our friends Lynne and Richard (and Betsy) - who we saw about once a month.
And there was Saturday morning cartoons. I got up religiously every Saturday morning at 8 am (which was made easier by the fact that we had two Saturdays - we weren't going to church at the time) and watched the Fox cartoon line-up of Animaniacs, Eek! the Cat, X-Men, Spiderman, and The Tick. It was great joy. And fond memories of a time that had few are a great treasure.
2. Then there's the Julianna factor.
It's awesome to be able to have something that gives me great memories that I can share with my daughter. She dances to the opening tune, It's time for Animaniacs... and she loves it when Pinky and the Brain comes on (What are we going to do tonight, Brain? Same thing we do every night, Pinky - try to take over the world!).
It's great fun.
But one stands out from the rest.
It's my Animaniacs Season 1 DVDs.
There are 2 things that set it apart from the other gifts I've enjoyed.
1. The nostalgia factor.
When I was in grad school (it's been about 10 years now), there wasn't a lot that made me happy in life. There was Krista. There was going to the movies with Krista at Towson Commons (if you read that article, the Borders was still there when we lived in Baltimore). There was visiting our friends Lynne and Richard (and Betsy) - who we saw about once a month.
And there was Saturday morning cartoons. I got up religiously every Saturday morning at 8 am (which was made easier by the fact that we had two Saturdays - we weren't going to church at the time) and watched the Fox cartoon line-up of Animaniacs, Eek! the Cat, X-Men, Spiderman, and The Tick. It was great joy. And fond memories of a time that had few are a great treasure.
2. Then there's the Julianna factor.
It's awesome to be able to have something that gives me great memories that I can share with my daughter. She dances to the opening tune, It's time for Animaniacs... and she loves it when Pinky and the Brain comes on (What are we going to do tonight, Brain? Same thing we do every night, Pinky - try to take over the world!).
It's great fun.
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Saturday, January 20, 2007
Anybody got $400?
This has got to be one of the coolest commercials I've ever seen. It makes me want to go out right now and buy and XBOX 360.
Of course, I won't; but it'd be cool.
Of course, I won't; but it'd be cool.
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Sunday, January 07, 2007
Podcasts and Upcoming Movies
Lately, I've been listening to podcasts during my nearly 3 hours of commute each day. It makes the trip go much faster than turning on the radio and hoping the hour-and-a-half one way trip shrinks down to something more manageable. If you're not familiar with them, podcasts are audio shows, usually produced on a regular basis, that you can listen to on an iPod or mp3 player. Mostly I've been listening to comics podcasts (The Acme Comics Dollar Bin is the best, by far), but the geek in me has really been enjoying Grammar Girl's 2-10 minute discussions on, well, grammar.
Anyway, I downloaded a Buffy the Vampire Slayer-related podcast the other day, and found out about a bunch of interesting films that Sarah Michelle Gellar will be involved in over the next year.
Of course, I knew about Happily N'ever After (out now). I'm struggling with whether or not to see it before I take my four-year-old, Julianna. It's PG, and if it's at all Shrek-like, it could have some humor that, in my opinion, is a little too old for children that young. (Have you seen Shrek 2? Call me old-fashioned, but I don't need to answer questions like, "Why is Pinocchio wearing girl's panties?") Plus, it's got Andy Dick and George Carlin. Not exactly kid-friendly.
Because of its comics history, I had already been following Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (out in March).
Also, Richard Kelly (creator of Donnie Darko, one of my favorite films of all time) is following that with Southland Tales, to be released this year.
What I didn't know, is that Gellar (or SMG, as all the Buffy-related sites refer to her) is also starring in an interesting film called The Air I Breathe. She plays Sorrow, opposite Forrest Whitaker, Kevin Bacon, and Brendan Frasier, who play Love, Pleasure, and Happiness, respectively. It's based on a Chinese proverb that breaks life down into those four emotional cornerstones. Sounds interesting. Maybe it'll come to Florence. (It's a May release, according to IMDB.)
The only reason I picked up on this next one is because I remember Krista reading The Girl's Guide to Hunting and Fishing. That will be adapted into the film Suburban Girl, to be released later this year. Why do they change names like that? It's already got a great name, and as the podcaster mentioned, pretty widely recognizable from the book's popularity.
And finally, the most exciting news. She'll also be starring in an adaptation of American McGee's Alice, which is one of the most interesting video games I've ever played. It is, of course, based Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland, but takes place after that story. After Alice returns from Wonderland, her father and mother die in a fire, and she lands in an asylum. She ends up returning to Wonderland, only to find that it's become a much darker place and she determines to help set things back to normal. Or at least what constitutes normal in Wonderland. According to IMDB, this one should be hitting the theaters in July.
I can't wait!
Anyway, I downloaded a Buffy the Vampire Slayer-related podcast the other day, and found out about a bunch of interesting films that Sarah Michelle Gellar will be involved in over the next year.
Of course, I knew about Happily N'ever After (out now). I'm struggling with whether or not to see it before I take my four-year-old, Julianna. It's PG, and if it's at all Shrek-like, it could have some humor that, in my opinion, is a little too old for children that young. (Have you seen Shrek 2? Call me old-fashioned, but I don't need to answer questions like, "Why is Pinocchio wearing girl's panties?") Plus, it's got Andy Dick and George Carlin. Not exactly kid-friendly.
Because of its comics history, I had already been following Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (out in March).
Also, Richard Kelly (creator of Donnie Darko, one of my favorite films of all time) is following that with Southland Tales, to be released this year.
What I didn't know, is that Gellar (or SMG, as all the Buffy-related sites refer to her) is also starring in an interesting film called The Air I Breathe. She plays Sorrow, opposite Forrest Whitaker, Kevin Bacon, and Brendan Frasier, who play Love, Pleasure, and Happiness, respectively. It's based on a Chinese proverb that breaks life down into those four emotional cornerstones. Sounds interesting. Maybe it'll come to Florence. (It's a May release, according to IMDB.)
The only reason I picked up on this next one is because I remember Krista reading The Girl's Guide to Hunting and Fishing. That will be adapted into the film Suburban Girl, to be released later this year. Why do they change names like that? It's already got a great name, and as the podcaster mentioned, pretty widely recognizable from the book's popularity.
And finally, the most exciting news. She'll also be starring in an adaptation of American McGee's Alice, which is one of the most interesting video games I've ever played. It is, of course, based Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland, but takes place after that story. After Alice returns from Wonderland, her father and mother die in a fire, and she lands in an asylum. She ends up returning to Wonderland, only to find that it's become a much darker place and she determines to help set things back to normal. Or at least what constitutes normal in Wonderland. According to IMDB, this one should be hitting the theaters in July.
I can't wait!
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
Miracles?
CNN recently ran a story about a man who was miraculously healed of (legal) blindness.
Soon to be explained away by Scientists, Atheists, and Christians Who Have Proven Beyond a Reasonable Doubt That Miracles No Longer Exist.
Soon to be explained away by Scientists, Atheists, and Christians Who Have Proven Beyond a Reasonable Doubt That Miracles No Longer Exist.
Monday, January 01, 2007
I'm Sorry, Max
Many of the people reading this probably know we are (well, rather, my wife is) expecting in early March.
His name will be James Maxwell.
We'll be calling him Max.
I'm glad we don't live anywhere near New York.
All dogs must be licensed and have a tag on their collars while in public, according to state law. However, the health department estimates only a fifth of the city's dogs are licensed.
I'm glad we didn't name Julianna "Princess".
His name will be James Maxwell.
We'll be calling him Max.
I'm glad we don't live anywhere near New York.
Mixed breeds outnumbered any other variety, with 7,374 licensed in 2005, the department said. More Labrador retrievers were licensed than any other breed, followed by pit bulls, Shih Tzus and German Shepherds.Max has maximum appeal among dog names
Thu Dec 28, 2006 9:40am ET
NEW YORK (Reuters Life!) - If you're in a New York City park and tell your dog Max to fetch, you might find a strange pooch retrieving your ball.
That's because Max was the top dog name in New York in 2005, according to the city Health Department.
The name Max was engraved on 1,228 dog licenses of the 101,274 issued last year, the department said.
All top five names remained the same as in 2004 -- Max, followed by Lucky, Princess, Rocky and Buddy.
All dogs must be licensed and have a tag on their collars while in public, according to state law. However, the health department estimates only a fifth of the city's dogs are licensed.
I'm glad we didn't name Julianna "Princess".
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