Just like old times…

So, this week I had the good fortune to check up with two of my childhood firends.  Now, that may not sound like something that is super impressive, but I moved around to six different states during that time.  These are friends that I had thought had basically fallen off the radar/grid.  Turns out that I was just looking in the wrong areas, which strangely, reminds me of looking for my keys in the mornings.

I grew up in coastal North Carolina (if you can really call North Carolina coastal), and of course came along with that was the beach boys.  One of my refound friends reminded me that at a young age we were rocking out to the Beach Boys.

I have to say that the Beach Boys music has stuck with me.  Even when my wife and I were waiting/wanting to get married we would listen to the Beach Boys song Wouldn’t It Be Nice.  I have to laugh to say that these childhood memories and experiences has always helped me to have a connection with the beach and beach music.  I mean, really, just look at the link above if you doubt me.

There is still one person left on my childhood trifecta that I need to find.  Of course they are not on Facebook, but I do think that I have their address and phone number.  But, I should probably ask, does it sound crazy to cold call a friend from 20 years ago?  Truly, dear reader, I am looking for an answer.

The greatest part in getting in touch with these two is that I feel like a part of my childhood has been vindicated.  This was probably why finding them is so important to me.

So, to my two refound friends, if you are reading this welcome.  There is not a lot of deep thinking to goes on at the blog, but it’s usually at least a little funny.  Welcome, and feel free to poke around the place, and sorry for the rambling.

So, to you, dear reader, I ask the question:  What/Who would you like to reconnect with from your life?  Why is it important?  For me, it was two friends, and the importance comes in justifying my childhood experience.

Did I just personify?

So, I have a dog, Ella.  This is not a new development or revelation.  Trust, me I didn’t just wake up to discover the fur ball sleeping at the end of the bed.  I am just merely setting the necessary background information.

 Tonight, as happens every night, my dog came to me with her ball, dropped it, and whined.  Perhaps, whined is the wrong word.  She talked in doggese.  By that, I mean she growled, grunted, and head turned to get my attention.  For people who have ever had the pleasure of watching her, they are definitely familiar with it.  It’s simply how she communicates.   I didn’t teach her.  In fact, I think she taught me.

So, as I threw the ball, because she will continue to “talk” to me until I do.  I realized that I think Ella has a fear of linoleum, and perhaps it might extend to all hard flooring.  I say this because I threw the ball through the kitchen and down the hall, all have some kind of hard flooring.  As she trotted down the hall (believe me when I say there is not running), she took a slightly longer route that included walking on every bit of carpet, rug, etc.  Now, I want to believe that it is a fear of far surfaced flooring, and not that my dog is OCD.  However, the more time I spend with her, the more I believe.

So, as all of this ran through my head, I came to the conclusion that I’ve been personifying my dog.  It’s true, I have, and I think we all do it to an extent.  Not necessarily with my dog, but other things.  Ella is not Rin Tin Tin, or Lassie for that matter.  (If I fall down into a well, she wouldn’t get Timmy.  I think she would just take a nap.)  She’s just my dog that sleeps about 23 hours a day.  I want to make her more human than she really is, and you know what?  I’m cool with that, it makes me like her even more.  It may be a little crazy, but hey, who isn’t?

Now, my question to you, dear reader:  what beloved thing in your life do you personify?  What makes it special?  It doesn’t have to be a pet.  It might be a car, rock, or even lawn gnome.  Let’s hear it.  I’m intrigued to know what others do.

My Oscars prediction…

Okay, so I am not really into prognosticating, but I thought that I would take a rough stab at what I thought the Oscars would turn out tonight.  First, let me start by saying that at this time I have not turned on the television to see any of the hoopla.  So, here are my predictions:

1. Somebody will wear something insanely crazy (and yes I do realize that the phrase is redundant) on the red carpet, and tomorrow everyone will criticism them.
2. One (if not all) of the major categories will go to someone who the mass public feels like shouldn’t have gotten it.
3. At some point in the night, someone’s acceptance speech will go on way too long.  Over the course of their rambling oratory, they will thank way too many people and say some bizarre things.
4. During the night Joaquin Phoenix will come up, and quite possibly it could be up on stage to just walk around it.
5. Because of all the chatter about it, people will talk about how The Dark Knight got robbed by not being nominated (and winning) best picture.  On a side note, I’m not saying one way or another whether or not this should have happened, but merely saying that the conversation will come up.

So, these aren’t really tough predictions to make, but have it’s the Oscars.  There’s been 81 of them at this point, and if you can’t guess what happens at them you haven’t been paying attention.  On a side note, I believe that Joan Rivers has been at all of them.

Until next time, dear reader, good night, and I’ll see you at the movies…  (Sorry Siskel and Ebert)

Animated Oscar Three-way Imaginary Fight

In a semi-ongoing topic, I like to introduce imaginary fights, and ask the ever important (at least to guys) question of “who would win in a fight?”   As I was cruising across some of the Oscar information, I saw the category of Best Animated Feature Film.  There were three main nominees:  Bolt, Kung Fu Panda, and Wall-E.  All three are super in their own way, but the question is who would win out if it was a battle-royale that decide the Oscar?

So, my question to you, dear reader, is who would win that fight?  Who would come out the winner and hold the Oscar up as their prize?  The rules are simple:

In the comment section, post the following:

1. Who would win the fight amongst the three?
2. Why would they be victorious?
3. Is there an x-factor that people might not account for?

I’m intrigued to see who the winner of this head to head to head would be.  So, let’s see how you have stayed on top of 2008s animated films.

Generational differences!?!

A long time ago, in a galaxy far far away…

Upon reflection on my previous post on the cultural impact of Star Wars, I realize that there is a strange generational difference between myself (a founding member of AATS), and the 20 somethings I’m interacting with.  I know that this might sound a little bit crazy, I mean I’m at the lower end of the 30 something range, and these 20 somethings are in their early to mid 20s.  So, the age difference in years would be around 6 to 8 years.  (By the way, that’s 2190 to 2920 days difference.)

It hit me like lightning that it was because I was a Gen-Xer and they were Millennials.  I mean, if need proof that I am a clique Gen-Xer, I would point you to my two masters degrees, and the fact that one masters and my bachelor’s degree I don’t use any more.  That’s right, I went through education and didn’t use it.  If that ain’t Gen-X, I don’t know what is.

Understand, that by no means am I a sociologist (so what is that second masters in?), and nor do I play one on television.  I work with a staff that is predominantly 20 and 30 year olds, and I began to notice some difference in our child hood experiences.  The more the conversation would go on the more I began to realize the differences in experiences that we should have shared.

First of all, I think of the Challenger explosionto be a huge cultural point for Gen-Xers.  The first teacher was going to be in space, so every school that I know was watching it.  When I talk to the Millennials, they have absolutely no idea of what I’m speaking of.   Or, their answer is that, oh I was 3 or 4 when that happened.  I mean, for me, that’s why it was so surreal when the space shuttle Columbia exploded.

I also consider the fact that Gen-Xers lived through the 80s and remember them for what they were, and therefore we are not looking to relive the fake “awesomeness” of the decade.  I’m look at the hair, the clothes, and the music of the decade.  I’m not saying that there wasn’t some great stuff, but man, there was a lot of crap too.  However, the millennials I work with idealize it.  To them it almost seems like a mythical time period that everything was just magical.

I’ll probably talk more about this in the future, because trust me, I have more to say.  However, here is my best understanding:  I am getting old, and it’s starting to show more and more.  Not necessarily in bad ways, but I’m beginning to be looked at as the “old guy”.  Truth be told, I’m okay with that because the AATS will be an elite group that everyone should want membership in.  So, bottom line is:  I’m getting old, but (because I can’t let this go) Star Wars has still transcending cultural lines.

When People Attack…

Well, dear reader, tonight I had an interesting experience that I haven’t really had in a while.  I had a person just get bent out of shape at me for no reason at all.  Now, I know what you’re saying, “Surely you must have done something to fire this person up?”  In truth, I didn’t really.  Let me tell you the story.

Well, they look angry!

I was at a work event tonight, and part of my job was to help place some people around a large building to help people find their way to a party.  (I mean it is Valentine’s Day after all.)  I got my orders on where to place everyone and as I was doing so.  I had a group of about 14 people with me, when I got to one of my points to drop off another team.  So, at the point that I walk up, this woman just lays straight into me talking about how there is another party by another company in this section, and that we can’t send people through their party.  

Let me stress that there was no slight talking and then she got hot.  Nope, just right into it, expressed at me.  I became this woman focus of hate.  Now, I consider myself a pretty stand up guy that wouldn’t go out of their way to anger a random person.  We understood where the woman was coming from, and rerouted our guests.  All of this was done without ever rising my voice.  After all, I am a Southern, and we just don’t do that.  (Watch out, lightning is about to strike…)  The confusing thing is that she could have just explained it to us, and we would have also responded as calmly did without yelling.

The extra level of interest is that we were the largest “supporters” of this building/group, and the person of anger (or the person rager) worked for the organization who’s building it was.  Needless to say, we pretty well thought that we would have been treated a little bit better.  I mean, I do work for a multimillion dollar corporation. 

On a side note, we were the largest party and were covering a building that had about 10 points of entrance.  Also, it was not our organization that chose to schedule three big parties all at the same time.  Not to mention that I had to get scowls from this woman every time I or anyone on my team came by her vicinity.

So, a bad day at the office?

Now, I understand that she was tasked with making that party a success, but so was I.  The problem was that we were adaptable to change and she was not.  If you’ve ever work these “thank you” events, they can be a lot of stress to the people working in the trenches.  And tonight, both this woman and I were working in them.

So, it just seems crazy that someone, who you would imagine understands the same pressure, would just bug out like that on nothing.  I mean, if I had punched her in the face,  I would have totally expected it.  Oh, and the rest of the team with me did a great job, and did exactly what was asked of them.  They were good sports all the way around.  Also, the big even came of as a huge success, huge success.  (So nice I said it twice.) 

THIS POSTS INTERACTIVE QUESTIONS

So, dear reader, I ask you:  Have you been a victim of person rage?  Post you answers to the comment section with the following.

1. What did they do and how did they say it? 
2. How did you respond?
3. How would have like to respond?  (You know what I’m talking about)

So, let’s hear what’s happened to you?  I might even try to find a trophy for the best/worst story, but there going to have to be “good” to win.  It’s time to exercise those demons that have been haunting you from people being a jerk to you.  Saying the wrong thing, on purpose.  Yelling at your group for acting their age.  Let’s hear it, what are you’re People Rage stories?

On a side note, I want to give a big shot out to my wife.  That’s right, I was at a work event on Valentine’s Day, and she was at home with the kids.  She is truly an amazing woman who deserves every bit of admiration that she gets.  So, pookie, thanks for letting me go tonight, I’ll make it up to you.

Dante’s Forgotten Circle…

The other night I had the “luxury” of going to see a middle school staging of a musical.  (I’m going to allow a second to take in what I have just written.)  Now, I’ve done my fair share of high school theatre, and even some college.  There is a definite progression along the way.  Well, I learned something about myself that night, but I’ll expand on that more in a little bit.

Before I any further, I need to say that these kids did a great job.  They tried extremely hard, had some humorous scenes, and some well delivered line.  No, instead these kids were victims of circumstance and set up.  I would have to say that not having monitors near the kids was a bad set up.  So, on the back end was the singers were a constant 1/2 a beat behind the pre-recorded music.  There were a few of the main characters who did not sign, but instead spoke their lines in a rhythmic style.  Kudos to the kids because they made it there own.  So, kudos to them for all of their hard work.

Me, on the other hand, who has two degrees in music had some rough patches sitting in the chair.  What I have discovered is that Dante failed to write about the specific 10 circle of hell.  In this circle, it would be me strapped down to a chair forever having to listen to an ever going middle school musical.

A friend of mine told me that her hell would be having to listen to eight year-olds tell her jokes forever.  The mere thought made her want to run out of the room.  This was the first time that I realized that there were circles of hell the Dante’ missed while writing the Inferno.

So, dear reader, my question to you is what is your circle of hell?  What is that thing that would torture you for the rest of eternity? 

So, dear reader, I have a couple of questions  for you (which appears to be my new thing):

1. What is your circle of hell?  What is that thing that would torture you for the rest of eternity? 
2. What would it look/be like?

Well, dear reader, it’s time to let those comments fly, and we’ll see you on the comment board.  And remember, this is not a theological conversation, but just more of an academic conversation about the things that drive us crazy.

What’s the greatest movie of all time?

So, after my Public Service Announcement on Star Wars (the more you know…), I began thinking about the greatest movie of all time.  I should start by saying I watch a lot of movies.  That’s right, I love movies, and I don’t care who knows it.  There have been some great ones, and there have even been a few stinkers that I actually turned off.  You don’t realize how big of a deal that is, but I saw Kung Pow:  Enter the Fist and didn’t leave the theater.  I’ve also seen movies that made me question parts of my life and challenge me to be a better human being.  Still others were the ones that transported you to another place and time, and simply entertained.

As you can tell, I like movies (almost as much as I live music).

So, my question is now posed to you, dear reader.  What is the greatest movie of all time?  What is the film that had a major impact on your life?  Did seeing it give you insight into your own plights?  Or is it the movie that gave you classic line after classic line?

A couple of quick things:

1. Place your answer in the comments.
2. Give the title of the movie and why you think it’s the greatest of all time.
3. This is not limited by genre.  Everything is wide open.
4. There is no such thing as a wrong answer.  (Okay, there might be, but…)

So, let’s see what you think about this stuff.  There are some great movies that I have on my list, but I’m not sure which one is number one.  Let’s hear it, dear reader, what’s the greatest movie of all time?  Be daring, make an argument for a movie that people wouldn’t think of being the Greatest of All Time.

A New Hope…

Alright, dear reader, I need to poll the audience on something.  I’ve gotten to the point that I think I’m going crazy about the following issue:  people never having seen Star Wars.  Now, I’m not talking Episodes 1 – 3, but the originals (a.k.a. the good ones).  I am running into a surprisingly large number of people who have never seen any of the films.  What makes it worse is their almost militant about not seeing them.

Don’t get me wrong, I am not an obsessive fan that dresses up as a Ewok every chance I get.  (I leave a moment to let that sink in…)  Edit: Okay, one more side note to throw in here:  the spell check recognized the word Ewok, further proof that Star Wars has touched all areas of society.  Now if I can just get it to recognize AATS. Alright, so I really added them into my dictionary, but Ewok, Hoth, and Skywalker should be in it any way. Star Wars is a cultural “touchstone” that has gone beyond some random scifi film.

It was a film that captured the imagination of a generation.  It explored good and evil, and the struggles that we all have in finding ourselves.  (For the record, I am not a film scholar, but instead a schlep that like films.  Just check out my post on not being a hipster for proof.)  Empire Strikes Back was a movie that made it okay to know that other people had weird relationships with their families.  I’m thinking of “I am your father” and Leia kiss Luke while on Hoth.  Talk about family issues, the Skywalkers could be on Springer if they were in the Chicago area.  And still to mention, it has been parodied numerous times.

I might be most likely to attribute this to my status as an active member of AATS.  (For those of you who are not regular readers, that’s the American Association of Thirty Somethings, or a.k.a. my made up most awesome group ever!)  Most of the folks I’m talking to are in their early 20s and don’t seem to get the significance of Star Wars.  This tragedy doesn’t stop there, but it includes lost of other great films that they should have seen:  Airplane, Blazing Saddles, Brave Heart, Caddy Shack, Transformers: The Movie.  Okay, perhaps not the last one, but the others seem like classic movies that all people should at least be familiar with.

So, I guess the signs can only point in one direction:  I’m getting old, and I don’t want to admit it!  That or the generation under me has lost their minds.  But, most likely it’s the first option.

So, dear reader, I have a couple of questions  for you (which appears to be my new thing):

1. Am I going crazy on this whole not ever watching Star Wars thing or, is it nothing?  Tell me the truth…
2. What movie or movies should all living Americans see?
3. Who’s up for starting a chapter of AATS?

Well, dear reader, it’s time to let those comments fly, and we’ll see you on the comment board.  And remember, these are not the droids you are looking for…

Check out a new blog…

Alright, so I’m officially encouraging folks to go out and read a good buddy of mine’s new blog http://iamsuchagirl.wordpress.com  Don’t let the name fool you, he is not a girl, nor would he ever be confused as one.  The name of the blog is … You Married a Commedian.  So, head on over that way and see what you think.

Also, don’t forget to let know your thoughts on my dissection of a four-year-olds birthday party.  Until then, dear reader, happy hunting…