Every Day Is an Adventure

Vows

2009-08-15T11:15:00.000-07:00

1. To every day be true and faithful to you.
2. To never say anything that I can’t take back – even if sometimes we might not agree with one another, I will always do my best to be “excellent” to you!
3. To bring you roses and other presents as often as I can.
4. To hold you and make you feel beautiful (more beautiful than Princess Leia was to the childhood version of me) for all of your days.
5. To clean up after myself and to be helpful around the house, Debra.
6. To make your dream of having a house that is a home a reality.
7. To take you to places that fill you with wonder and excitement.
8. To take care of you when you’re sick and not feeling well (in good times and bad).
9. To always remember how much you inspire me with your strength and determination.
10. To spend lots of quality time with you.
11. To always cherish your meatball sandwiches!
12. To never feel like you owe me anything and to always be thankful for what you give me.
13. To encourage you to greatness and to always believe in my pookie bear.
14. To never stop acting goofy in my love for you.
15. To always find time to go on walks together.
16. To try not to snore and drive you crazy with my bodily functions!
17. To always let you know that we are a family in how I dedicate myself to the commitment that is this marriage.
18. To always get googly-eyed when I look back on the pictures of the great times that we’ve had.
19. To never stop daydreaming about how our life could have more great times and to make those great times a reality.
20. To never stop letting you know that someday I really would like a PSA10 Roger Maris rookie card – even if I know that I would never want you to spend all that money to buy it unless we win the lottery. In that case, I really do want it!
21. AND… to always realize that I have to work for the privilege and the special thing that we have together.

The Red Sox phone in the season

2009-08-11T05:47:00.000-07:00

Thanks, David Ortiz. The memories were great, but nobody believes your Saturday speech. When I sat hanging out with a friend and heard that you and Manny failed your drug test prior to the 2003 season, all I could mutter was that's so "sad."

You've gradually declined for a couple of years now. Bill Simmons hoped that it was non U.S. "baseball player aging" (i.e. lying on birth certificates to get a bigger contract - Miguel Tejada and Orlando Hernandez, for example). The truth was that the line of use and non-use had caught up to the big guy.

It's not that you're alone in this. Most players use (sadly, I believe Jose Canseco on this). It's just how bad this season got with people believing you could turn it around. Your batting average is a liability. You don't play a position. You're over the hill, and it hurts to say goodbye, but we must (wish someone would have done that for John Smoltz before the season started).

On top of this, Lowell is injury plagued. The offense was terrible this weekend in going 30+ innings without a run before the guy who will replace Varitek (Victor Martinez - bold move by the way) hit a homerun. Now, we have to face a future without Varitek's leadership (even if his offense is a liability). Daisuke has been injured and whining. Leadership chooses to believe in Bucholz even though he should have been jettisoned in any good pitching trade (why isn't Halladay pitching at Fenway?).

The only thing left to believe in is Youkilis, Beckett, Pedroia, Papelbon, Bay, and Lester. That's it.

Time to rebuild. This team has officially run its course.

RIP.

The songs of the wedding.

2009-08-11T05:15:00.000-07:00

Well, it's 4 days until the big day and I feel like a 6-year old kid at Christmas. I can't wait to get this thing going. So many great things to do. The big reception with the rehearsal first. All the chairs and tables to set up. The last minute things to buy and prep for. The honeymoon is coming. And no, I didn't choose West Virginia... Ariel did.

And we've been busy doing things - that's why I haven't blogged. We went to Florida (I should blog all of that later) and we went a few places over the summer, but mostly, it was grading the 3 classes that I was teaching and unwinding. It's amazing how much time you can spend doing that. I don't think that we've been hiking since we did Raymondksill and 7 Tubs. Anyway, all of the pictures of those things (and everything else) is here while the videos are here.

But yeah... as the guy in charge of the music (with creative assistance from his wife to be), I put together the music for the wedding. On that note, the dance music is hers. I would have replaced those with more unruly stuff, but Ariel seems to feel people will want to dance (I did the classic rock / country mix in case they didn't).

Wedding Songs Lists

Music to Set up the Chairs to (Bumble and the chair crew people)
1. Now by Everclear
2. Firecracker by Ryan Adams
3. More than a Feeling by Boston
4. Over and Over by Neil Young
5. Crash into Me by Dave Matthews Band
6. Franklin’s Tower by The Grateful Dead
7. Run Like an Antelope by Phish
8. When the Fool Becomes a King by Polyphonic Spree
9. Margaritaville (live) by Jimmy Buffett
10. Friends in Low Places (extra verse live) by Garth Brooks
11. Free Bird (live) by Lynyrd Skynyrd

Wedding CD1(when people are getting there)
1. Do You Realize by Flaming Lips
2. Stand by Me by John Lennon
3. Baby I’m Amazed by Paul McCartney
4. Our House by Crosby Stills and Nash
5. Never Had Nobody But You by M Ward
6. Let’s Get it On by Marvin Gaye
7. Can’t Get Enough of Your Love Babe by Barry White
8. Let’s Stay Together by Al Green
9. Your Song by Elton John
10. Just the Way You Are by Billy Joel
11. All the Right Reasons by The Jayhawks
12. I Will by Allison Kraus
13. Hard Drive by Evan Dando
14. Living Life by The Eels
15. Northern Sky by Nick Drake
16. Anyone Else But You by Michael Cera and Ellen Page
17. 1,2,3,4 by The Plain White Ts
18. Lucky by Jason Mraz and Colbie Callet
19. I’m Beginning to See the Light by Bobby Darin
20. Oh Look at Me Now by Frank Sinatra
21. Book of Love by Peter Gabriel
22. The Luckiest by Ben Folds
23. Theme From Married With Children
24. Grow Old With You by Adam Sandler
25. Question by Old 97s

Walking Down the Aisle
1. Falling in Love in a Coffee Shop Landon Pigg

Wedding CD 2(pictures and walking back the aisle the other way)
1. I’m With Her by Rhett Miller
2. Follow Through by Gavin Degraw
3. Endless Love by Lionel Richie and Diana Ross
4. I’ve Got You Under My Skin by Frank Sinatra
5. Crazy in Love by Beyonce
6. I’m Walking on Sunshine by Katrina and the Waves
7. Every Little Thing She Does is Magic by The Police
8. Younger Yesterday by Polyphonic Spree
9. I’m Yours by Jason Mraz
10. Anyone Else but You by The Moldy Peaches
11. Never Tear Us Apart by INXS
12. Love Remains by Gavin Rossdale
13. Crush by David Archuletta
14. Head Over Feet by Alanis Morrissette
15. I’ve Got a Crush On You by Ella Fitzgerald
16. Somebody by Depeche Mode
17. Today by The Smashing Pumpkins
18. Crazy Love by Van Morrison and Bob Dylan
19. Follow You Follow Me by Redhouse Painters
20. Hesitating Beauty by Billy Bragg and Wilco
21. Lost in this Moment by Big and Rich

1st Wedding CD (getting the party started!) VERSION 2 – THE FINAL VERSION
1. Let’s Go Crazy by Prince
2. You’re The One That I Want by John Travlota and Olivia Newton John
3. Beautiful Day by U2
4. Candyman by Christina Aguilera
5. Can’t Feel My Soul by Teenage Fanclub
6. Mr. Wrong by Cracker
7. Like a Prayer by Madonna
8. Friday I’m In Love by The Cure
9. I Melt With You by Modern English
10. Is There Something I Should Know by Duran Duran
11. We’re Gonna Be Friends by Jack Johnson
12. Into Your Arms by The Lemonheads
13. What I Like About You by The Romantics
14. Take on Me by A-Ha
15. Modern Love by David Bowie
16. Everybody Have Fun Tonight by Wang Chung
17. Hold Me Now by The Thompson Twins
18. Come on Eileen by Badly Drawn Boy
19. You Make My Dreams Come True by Hall and Oates
20. Total Eclipse of the Heart by Bonnie Tyler

The Fun CD
1. I’m All Right by Kenny Loggins
2. Be Good to Yourself by Journey
3. With Plenty of Money and You by Count Basie
4. Everyday People by Sly and the Family Stone
5. Ants in My Pants by James Brown
6. ABC by The Jackson 5
7. Saturday in the Park by Chicago
8. I Get Around by The Beach Boys
9. I’m a Believer by The Monkees
10. I Saw Her Standing There by The Beatles
11. It’s Not Unusual by Tom Jones
12. Sweet Caroline by Neil Diamond
13. Shout by The Isley Brothers
14. Gimme Some Lovin by The Spencer Davis Group
15. Wooly Bully by Sam the Sham and The Pharoads
16. Good Lovin by The Rascals
17. Soul Man by Sam and Dave
18. Nowhere to Run To by Martha and the Vandellas
19. Get Ready by Rare Earth
20. Burning Love by Elvis Presley
21. This Old Heart of Mine by the Isley Brothers
22. I Can’t Help Myself by The Four Tops
23. Baby I Need Your Loving by The Temptations
24. Brown Eyed Girl by Van Morrison
25. Carrie Anne by The Hollies
26. I’m Into Something Good by Herman’s Hermits
27. My Funny Valentine by Frank Sinatra
28. I’m Beginning to See the Light by Bobby Darin

First Dance CD VERSION 2 – THE FINAL VERSION
1. I’ve Got You Under My Skin by Frank Sinatrat
2. Kiss the Girl by Samuel Wright
3. Book of Love by Magnetic Fields
4. Light and Day (orchestral) by Polyphonic Spree
5. All You Need is Love by The Beatles
6. Question by Rhett Miller
7. Falling in Love in a Coffee Shop by Landon Pigg
8. Grow Old With You by Adam Sandler
9. Anyone Else but You by The Moldy Peaches
10. The Luckiest by Ben Folds
11. Everything by Alanis Morrissette
12. Northern Sky by Nick Drake
13. 1,2,3,4 by Plain White Ts
14. Lucky by Jason Mraz and Colbie Callet
15. Follow You Follow Me by Redhouse Painters
16. Love Remains by Gavin Rossdale
17. Follow Through by Gavin Degraw
18. Unforgettable by Nat King Cole
19. Everybody Loves Somebody by Dean Martin
20. Here’s to the Night by Eve 6
21. At My Most Beautiful by REM
22. Somebody by Depeche Mode
23. True by Spandau Ballet

2nd Wedding CD
1. Right Here Right Now by Jesus Jones
2. This is the Day by The The
3. Waking Up In Vegas by Katy Perry
4. The Show by Lenka
5. Kiss Me by Sixpence None The Richer
6. Fields of Gold by Sting
7. Your Love is the Place Where I Come From by Teenage Fanclub
8. Moon Dance by Van Moorison
9. Dance All Night by Ryan Adams
10. Wouldn’t It Be Nice by the Beach Boys
11. I’m Gonna Be 500 Miles by The Proclaimers
12. The Climb by Miley Cyrus
13. Head Over Heels by The Go Gos
14. That’s What You Get by Paramore
15. Untouched by The Veronicas
16. Such Great Heights by The Postal Service
17. Energy by Apples in Stereo
18. Young Americans by David Bowie
19. Little Green Bag by The George Baker Selection
20. I’m Amazed by My Morning Jacket
21. Can’t Get Enough of You Baby by Smashmouth
22. Our Song by Taylor Swift

The Fun CD 2
1. It Came Out of the Sky by Credence Clearwater Revival
2. I Should Have Known Better by The Beatles
3. Walk Don’t Run by the Ventures
4. I Only Want to Be With You by The Bay City Rollers
5. Dancing Queen by Abba
6. Fun, Fun, Fun by The Beach Boys
7. Happy Together by The Turtles
8. Beast of Burden by The Rolling Stones
9. Mercy Mercy Me by Marvin Gaye
10. Got to Get You Off My Mind by Solomon Burke
11. Na Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye by Steam
12. RESPECT by Aretha Franklin
13. Soul Power (live) by James Brown
14. Bop Gun by Parliament
15. Maceo Parker
16. Double Shot of My Baby’s Love by The Swinging Medallions
17. Shotgun by The All Stars
18. Rave On by Buddy Holly
19. At the Hop by Danny and the Junions
20. Chantilly Lace by The Big Bopper
21. Summertime Blues by Eddie Cochran
22. Great Balls of Fire by Jerry Lee Lewis
23. Tequilla by The Champs
24. Run on by Elvis Presley
25. Ain’t Too Proud to Beg by The Temptations
26. I’ve Got the World on a String by Frank Sinatra

Final CD Before Dance Music VERSION 2 – THE FINAL VERSION
1. Eight Days a Week by Ted’s Band (Scrubs)
2. Theme from the Loveboat
3. In Your Eyes by Peter Gabriel
4. Let My Love Open the Door by Pete Townsend
5. Girl from Ipanema by Some Latin Jazz Dude
6. My Life Would Suck Without You by Kelly Clarkson
7. Don’t Trust Me by 3OH!3
8. That’s Not My Name by The Ting Tings
9. I Gotta Feeling by The Black Eyed Peas
10. Love Shack by The B52s
11. Bizarre Love Triangle by New Order
12. Groove is in the Heart by Dee Lite
13. Superfreak by Rick James
14. Like a Virgin by Madonna
15. Get Right Back by Maxine Nightengale
16. Summertime by Will Smith
17. Love Sex Magic by Ciara and Justin Timberlake
18. Clumsy by Fergie
19. Crazy by Gnarls Barkley
20. Umbrella by Rhianna
21. Drop it Like it’s Hot by Snoop Dogg

Dance 1
1. Let’s Get Retarded by The Black Eyed Peas
2. Baby Got Back by Sir Mixalot
3. Can’t Touch This by MC Hammer
4. Ice Ice Baby by Vanilla Ice
5. Push It by Salt N Pepa
6. Single Ladies by Beyonce
7. Hips Don’t Lie by Shakira
8. Don’t Stop the Music by Rhianna
9. Get Your Freak On by Missy Eliot
10. Milkshake by Kelis
11. Promiscuous by Nelly Furtado
12. Rock Your Body by Justin Timberlake
13. Hey Ya by Outkast
14. In Da Club by 50 Cent
15. Blame It by Jamie Foxx
16. Hot in Here by Nelly
17. California Love by Tupac
18. Dirt Off Your Shoulder by Jay Z
19. Yeah by Usher, Ludacris, and Little Jon
20. Tipsy by J Kwon

Dance 2
1. Get the Party Started by Pink
2. Crazy in Love by Beyonce
3. Bootylicious by Destiny’s Child
4. Can’t Get You Out of My Head by Kylie Minogue
5. American Boy by Estelle and Kanye West
6. Dirrty by Christina Aguilera
7. I Like To Move It by Reel 2 Reel
8. Right Round by Flo Rida
9. This Is How We Do It by Montell JOrdan
10. Belly Dancer (remix) by Akon
11. Flap Your Wings by Nelly
12. Stronger by Kanye West
13. Shake Your Tailfeather by Nelly, P Diddy, and Murphy Lee
14. Stand Up by Ludacris
15. Boom Boom Pow by The Black Eyed Peas
16. London Bridge by Fergie
17. Turn This Mutha Out by MC Hammer
18. Don’t Cha by Pussycat Dolls
19. Work It by Missy Eliot
20. Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It by Will Smith

Dance 3
1. Let Me Clear My Throat by DJ Kool
2. Up in Here by DMX
3. You Can Do It by Ice Cube
4. Get Low by Little Jon
5. The Way I Are by Timbaland
6. Lollipop by Little Wayne
7. Da Butt by EU
8. Gold Digger by Kanye West and Jamie Foxx
9. Hey Mama by Black Eyed Peas
10. Candy Shop by 50 Cent
11. Temperature by Sean Paul
12. Get Your Freak On by Missy Eliot
13. Buttons by Pussycat Dolls
14. Independent Woman 1 by Destiny’s Child
15. Hollaback Girl by Gwen Stefani
16. Run It by Chris Brown
17. Back That Azz Up by Juvenile
18. No Diggity by Blackstreet
19. Sexy Back by Justin Timberlake
20. Gonna Make You Sweat by C+C Music Factory

Dance Music 4
1. I Gotta Feeling by the Black Eyed Peas
2. Turn this Mutha Out by LL Cool J
3. Bust a Move by Young MC
4. Bring the Noise by Public Enemy
5. New Jack Hustler by Ice T
6. 99 Problems by Jay Z
7. Magic Stick by 50 Cent and Lil Kim
8. Drop it Like it’s Hot by Snoop Dogg
9. Touch the Sky by Kanye West
10. I’m Real by Jennifer Lopez
11. Ain’t No Other Man by Christina Aguilera
12. Umbrella by Rhianna
13. Whenever Forever by Shakira
14. Independent Woman Part 1 by Destiny’s Child
15. Groove is in the Heart by Dee Lite
16. Get Off by Prince
17. Nothing but a G Thing by Dr. Dre
18. The Humpty Dance by Digital Undeground

Classic Rock CD
1. Suite Judy Blue Eyes by Crosby Stills and Nash
2. Tiny Dancer by Elton John
3. Piano Man by Billy Joel
4. Dear Prudence by The Beatles
5. Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen
6. Paradise by the Dashboard Light by Meat Loaf
7. I Want You to Want Me (live) by Cheap Trick
8. Magic Bus by The Who
9. Dream On by Aerosmith
10. Light My Fire by The Doors
11. Foxey Lady by Jimi Hendrix
12. You Shook Me All Night Long by ACDC
13. Let’s Spend the Night Together by The Rolling Stones
14. Lola (live) by the Kinks
15. Hotel California by the Eagles

Classic Southern Country
1. Changes by David Bowie
2. Walk on the Wild Side by Lou Reed
3. America by Simon and Garfunkel
4. Box of Rain by The Grateful Dead
5. American Pie by Don Mclean
6. Free Fallin by Tom Petty
7. Brown Eyed Girl by Van Morrison
8. Tell Me by The Rolling Stones
9. Margaritaville (live) by Jimmy Buffet
10. Ramble On by Led Zeppelin
11. Rock and Roll All Night by Kiss
12. All Summer Long by Kid Rock
13. Sweet Home Alabama by Lynyrd Skynyrd
14. Family Tradition by Hank Jr.
15. Nothing I Can Do About It Now by Willie Nelson
16. Save a Horse Ride a Cowboy by Big and Rich
17. As Good as I Once Was by Toby Keith
18. I’ve Always Been Crazy by Waylon Jennings
19. I Walk the Line by Johnny Cash

Driving Off into the Sunset
1. Question by The Old 97s
2. Celebration by Kool and the Gang
3. I’m Walking on Sunshine by Katrina and the Waves
4. Rock and Roll Part 2 by Gary Glitter
5. Be Good To Yourself by Journey
6. Gimme Some Lovin’ by Spencer Davis Group
7. Running Away by The Polyphonic Spree
8. Girls Just Wanna Have Fun by Cyndi Lauper
9. Girls Ain’t Nothing But Trouble by DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince
10. I Gotta Feeling by The Black Eyed Peas
11. Independent Room by Fugazichild
12. Hey Ya by Lorene Drive
13. Umbrella by All Time Low
14. California Love by My American Heart
15. Gin and Juice by The Gourds
16. Why Don’t We Get Drunk by Jimmy Buffett
17. If I had a Million Dollars by Barenaked Ladies
18. Desert Rose by Sting
19. Beautiful by The Lemonheads

Five thoughts in my life.

2009-06-15T03:48:00.001-07:00

So here we are at (1) 2 months until the wedding and 31 days until Florida vacation, and we're thinking about the (2) big house purchase. It's a lot of thoughts, but that's good. Here's to the future in that.

And as we think about that, it's nice to think back to a Saturday where we (3) tagged Lower Raymondskill, going through the creek to get to this scene. Even with the residual bug bites, it was the most beautiful waterfall I've seen (and challenging too!!).

So as the sun rises, we look forward to so many things - like evening walks as the (4) lightning bugs / fireflies have returned. Yep.

So please tell me - why do I have to go back to work already? This (5) weekend can't be over yet, can it?

Disney UP Review.

2009-06-10T05:48:00.000-07:00

Best movie of the year.

You'll cry. You'll laugh. You'll cry some more. You'll feel inspired to live your dreams. You'll look at your life and say that while you went 1 way and ended up another, it "made all the difference."

I don't know if this is a movie for kids so much as the kid in adults. The beginning is heavy. At one point, Ariel asked me if Ellie was going to die and I nodded because I already knew what was coming. How else does Carl end up alone? But nevertheless, the heavy stuff isn't so much in the death (sitting alone at the front of a church), but in the cracking of the savings jar every time a calamity arises or going to the obstetrician's office and seeing him point at the womb and realizing she's barren. Perhaps even more powerful is the frustration of Carl as he's being forced out of his house by an evil builder that looks like something malicious out of the Matrix only to be told that he doesn't seem like a menace to society when he's given 1 night to gather his belongings and be ditched in the old folks home.

But then comes the balloons and life goes UP!! And it does get positive, but...

For all the kids in the audience, they weren't doing the fun Madagascar 2 and Monsters vs. Aliens thing that we saw them getting into when we saw those movies at the theater (Amish Paradise gets a lot of first run family films and charges $5 a person to see them).

The animation was spectacular. Paradise Falls did seem an ultimate destination for a waterfall aficionado like myself, and things did seem realistic. Russell as the lost little kid without a male role model (a younger Carl) was also really fun and played well in the pictures of the New Adventure Book. Charles Muntz is positively evil and his dogs run between amusing and evil, which makes them the perfect villains for an old guy, a young boy, a talking dog, and a rare bird to have to run away from.

Congratulations, Randy Johnson!!

2009-06-05T05:23:00.000-07:00

In a week where fellow lefthander and 300 game winner Tom Glavine was released, Randy Johnson won his 300th game. Sure, the Big Ugly did tarnish his reputation as the pitcher that killed the Yankees (with a little help from Luis Gonzalez) by joining the Yankees, but as an afterthought in his 40s for the Giants, he shut down the Nationals for the win.

So busy lapping in the spring and summer greens!

2009-06-02T05:04:00.000-07:00

See here for the videos that we've been making of our journeys (to include Bullfrog Love Orgy).

We've been so busy for so long... it's kind of hard to figure out all the places that we've gone and done, but here are some of them.

The most recent place is the final part of the trail at Glen Onoko. We went there last year, but after doing Bushkill falls, Ariel stopped at the first falls (Chameleon Falls). This year, we did all 3 falls, but I wrecked my back on this part of the rocks that we descended (as it was the easy way down - really) while Ariel wrecked her foot, and since then (Saturday), we've been kind of mopey and gimpy.

One can argue the worth of a hike that we take ourselves out on, but views of the Lehigh Gorge that look like this make it all worthwhile.

We like to refer to this picture as a new standard of toughness since it represents the hike that we did to make it to Hidden Sweet, which was through the "trail" that is located in the picture after it. In all honesty, I've never gone off the map like that (through stream, trees, and all kinds of other obstacles to get to some semblance of a rock and boulder path) to get where I was going. It felt like being Lewis and Clark.

The picture of the 2 of us standing is a shot taken from the top of Hidden Sweet, which despite having no view of anything represents the culmination of ascent on our hike that day.

This is a view from the 2nd falls (Onoko) and a view of the top of the 2nd falls.

This next picture is what Onoko Falls looks like after a night of rain. I have to say that it was so much more vibrant and gushing than when I made it to this point last year.

This is a picture of the first falls (Chameleon Falls), which is quite beautiful and difficult to get to on its own.

This is the first of many nameless falls on the trails. In all honesty, with the steepness, it's kind of hard to tell where falls begin and end.

When our day was over on Saturday, we ended up at Beltzville Lake for a Subway picnic. Sure, it's a manmade lake and over-trafficed, but it was a fun day.

The following pictures were taken at Ricketts Glen. I've elaborated on this park many times, so I don't really think I have to do too much for this, but I will say the top picture at Harrison Wright was one of the few pictures that actually didn't get botched by the white light of the waterfalls and the intense sunlight peering through the trees on the mountainside. On another note, that's our friends Steph and Nic in the picture with us. She finally got to see Ricketts properly, and he saw it for the first time.

This next picture was the cherry tree blossoms at the school that I teach at. We missed out on the cherry blossoms at DC (ending up at Mount Vernon instead when we were stuck in traffic way too long).

The following 2 pictures were taken of a very hot day at Mount Vernon that was really neat (save the 2 hours waiting in line to get in the mansion in a herd formation) - even if it wasn't Jefferson's Monticello (so much cooler, but then again, TJ was so much better than GW).

These next 2 pictures were taken at Long's Park in Lancaster. I was really digging the pink cherry blossoms in nature poses this season. Check out the duck in shadows behind them.

The next 2 pictures are the Ephrata Cloister. The people who run the place want $9 to get in, but you can get in the museum for free. You can also shoot pictures over the fence for free after you wander around the graveyard for free. Frankly, spending money to look at several hundred year old recreated houses that belonged to one of the endless cults of no sex in America isn't what either of us wanted to do, so even though it's about 5 blocks or so from our current abode doesn't mean that we've actually truly seen it. And no... Ariel isn't Amish or Mennonite.

The pictures of cherry blossoms here are from down our street. Beau-tee-full!!

The following pictures were taken at Knife's Edge and Bear Rocks just off the Appalachian Trail in eastern PA (outside of Allentown by a little ways).

The following 2 snake pictures (as taken on that trail) are a garter snake and an eastern hognose snake.

The following pictures are from the mountain that is above Cabelas in Hamburg (the biggest Cabelas in the world!). If you look at my pictures throughout all of my hikes, you might be convinced that there is never a day without fog on that mountain. You'd most likely be right. Either that or I have bad luck.

The next pictures were taken on our hike to the Pinnacle, which is located near Hawk Mountain, but is not actually a part of that place. It's about a 9 mile hike that gives 2 excellent views of the surrounding farms and valleys.

This is what I like to refer to as bullfrog love orgy. Cue Marvin Gaye, Barry White, or Slayer... whatever you play, love is in the air!! Actually, there were 8 bullfrogs in the mud puddle - of which 6 were "gettin' it on!"

The following 4 pictures were taken on my 20 miles around Blue Marsh to prove that I could still do it (also, to celebrate the 19th anniversary of my first day in the Air Force) hike. I did it, and I walked the next day, but I wasn't doing well as the sweat stuck to my chest, and I burned a hell of a lot more calories than I took in. It took about a week to feel normal again, but I did it!!

I must say that the green fields was the best nature image of the day - although the sky above where I took the self picture (while listening to Polyphonic Spree) ranked a very close 2nd! A much better way to spend a work day than actually working!!!!

The final 2 pictures are a hike that Ariel and I took along the Tulpehocken Creek where they built a brand new trail that is very well manicured. Not many views, but it does link that 8 mile back and forth trail to Blue Marsh for about a 40 mile total jaunt- if a person is up for it!

Note the fish in the stream. We were contemplating telling the fishermen of their location, but alas, we let them swim another day.

The End of 2 Eras

2009-05-08T07:50:00.000-07:00

The first episode of Scrubs that I ever saw was the beginning of Season 2, which was the Colin Hay acoustic Overkill beginning. I downloaded that song and it has become a part of my life ever since. It's not a big surprise since Scrubs was a mix of music, culture, and sitcom ever since it began.

I didn't watch the show until my friend Pete hooked me on it after he lent me the first season on DVD. Throughout the years, I got the first 5 seasons on DVD, and then it started to lose something as it became a staple of Comedy Central that played almost as much as The Blue Collar Comedy Tour, Office Space, Legally Blonde, and Joe Dirt. Never did the series get as good as its apex with Tara Reid and the whole lead into Turk and Carla's wedding. Not that the series ever was bad, but there was just a feeling of running out of steam that happened as the show left NBC, went to ABC, and seemed to become a question of when Turk and JD would get busy (not that there's anything wrong with that, but they were both in other relationships and it just made the show kind of stupid).

Throughout the years, there were a lot of really great episodes, and perhaps no episodes that stood alone were as good as the Brendan Fraser death episodes, which made me tear up. There's something about a show that can do that.

There are a lot of really great shows and movies over the years (and even He Got Game, which is kind of dumb, but still) that made me tear up. Most recently, we watched Marley and Me, which I have been heard to know that the last 15 minutes makes the whole movie unwatchable for the 2nd time. Perhaps, that's true, but there's something about a movie that connects you with its characters in such a way that you feel a part of the family.

The last episode of Scrubs was about 3/4 of typical last episode wrap ups, and then they went into a cover of Magnetic Fields' Book of Love done by Peter Gabriel, which followed JD's walk down the hallway while passing all of the old characters that were bit players, several episode players, and past stars. The montage of what could be of he and Elliot, Turk, Carla, Dr. Cox, and Jordan as well as their kids was pretty intense stuff for a show that was without a doubt, one of three current shows that I've been attached to in the last 10 years (24 and South Park being the other 2).

And for this, it redeemed the last 3 years of a show that became more about guest stars and former glory (the Simpsons, anyone?).

+++++

On the other hand, as I waited for class to begin yesterday, I popped up ESPN and saw the Manny Ramirez (sexual) performance enhancing drug charges, 50-game suspension, and overall feeling of baseball players did it again, and I didn't even bat an eye.

Bill Simmons wrote it best. I don't need to say it better, but I will say that I thinking about David Ortiz potentially not being the "Big Papi" guy that we all hoped he was on the way home last night (before I read Simmons' words). Even scaried, he was benched in favor of Julio Lugo as DH - something that reminds me of Mark Mcgwire being benched for Kerry Robinson in the 2001 NL division playoffs final game. I still believe, and every once in a while, some happy thoughts of Big Mac - such as his teaching players to hit well - comes along and makes me long for those days, but I know that I'll never see a Cooperstown placque.

And maybe we've come to a weird place in baseball. Somewhere before A-Rod's biography and Mark Mcgwire's brother tried to sell a book on his steroid use, there was a place that made baseball fun. Maybe it was those homeruns, those nasty pitches, or something in the game, but alas, it was a different game. I'm not feeling it this year. I still think players like Albert Pujols are incredible, but I just don't feel attached to it in the same way. I guess you can say that's why I abandoned my fantasy teams. I can't say that's the steroids, but somewhere in this summer 11 years out from that great summer of 1998, I don't root for favorites in quite the same way (even if I still get geeked on a steal of home or a nasty curve ball that drops from 12 to 6 like a brick).

With A-Rod, it was a spectacle. With Manny, it was just another day at the office that was momentarily hiccuped with the news of a once great going to Hell in a bucket.

At least I won't be paying his $25million salary (now $17million after the money he'll lose from a 50-game suspension).

So much for nicer weather...

2009-04-29T09:59:00.001-07:00

I think it's safe to say that the heatwave that we were having last week (90degrees from Friday to Tuesday) is officially over as the cool breeze sets in before a rainy weekend and a weekend that threatened rain pretty much put a damper on any outdoor plans that we were hoping for.

Yeah... the Ricketts Glen trip keeps getting postponed - perhaps someday at this rate - but alas, there have been so many things happening and so much eternal laziness that even when I start to post, I don't finish.

Take last Wednesday for example. I went to get a haircut, waited a while for the gossip hags to finish yammering amongst themselves (while pretending to cut hair) and eventually got in, so I don't feel like a hippie anymore, which is definitely a good thing (even if I have been enjoying the Grateful Dead's 16 minute version of Eyes of the World - the 1 with Marsalis on sax).

When I was finished, I ended up at the office supply store that Carl Edwards does not endorse to recycle my printer.

On the note of Carl Edwards, how about that wreck!

But back on the whole feeling of not feeling like a hippie, I explained to them that I just wanted to give them the printer for recycling (they were offering $50 off a new printer for an old printer to recycle). The woman tried to make me pay $10 for that, but I looked at her and explained that I would throw that technological hunk of junk away before I gave them $10 to relieve my conscience. That said, my conscience is clean because if they really cared about technological waste and 3rd world kids digging through printers for valuable metals, they would have taken my printer and recycled it instead of taking all that raw material out of the ground to make a new one.

So yeah... it's been a week.

Time to clear out what I was going to reflect on here now and respond to Whimsical Ranter.

Reading, Pennsylvania, my city, my city I was from (and the surrounding area) seems to have a lot of problems with its illegal / undocumented alien population and the people who live in contact with them.

For instance, in Shenandoah (up above Pottsville), several youngens were charged with killing an illegal alien, but alas, they were let off the hook of SERIOUS charges because it was felt that the Mexican guy instigated some of the action.

On Saturday in Reading, an illegal alien decided that psychotic anger was the answer to his issues, so he stabbed his girlfriend and bit a chunk out of his 1-year old child's neck. He was arrested after grappling with the child's grandmother, and then, when he got to prison, he hung himself.

While conflicting in nature, these 2 issues show a population that is angry and frustrated and out of control. While I would usually tend to veer away from "over-used" words like racism, I look at the issues of Shenandoah and wonder how this situation wasn't dealt with harsher - even if the people doing the killing were underage. Perhaps, it's the nature of the region, and perhaps it's something in the courtroom discussion, but in something that amounts to a serious show trial, one wonders how these kids weren't handled more effectively. As for the prison suicide, I would wonder how a person could be left alone without someone viewing him to see him commit suicide or if it was a situation that echoed the comments of so-many locals (flagged for offensiveness) that it was just one more dead scumbag (even if he was a horrible and evil human being that nearly killed his own kid).

One must wonder about the sheer animosity and instability that drives someone to the act of cold-blooded murder (be it thought out or not) and wonder what have we become as a society.

I know I do, but then, I would just rather think about happy things like Jacoby Ellsbury's steal of home plate as we go into the second Yankees Red Sox series of the year.

The Party of Jefferson Finally Acts Like It - Or The Navy Does For Them.

2009-04-13T04:57:00.000-07:00

It's no secret that we have no use for some people.
After a few weeks of not doing anything about anything, much less North Korea and their missile launching intentions and actuality (SANCTIONS!! UN CONDEMNATION!!) or any of the other world problems - such as the economy, where he seems to have his tax cheats work overtime while he only really apologizes to foreign governments, bows to their leaders, draws moral equivalencies, and picks a dog, Obama is actually forced into a situation where he has to piss off other countries by executing their terrorist / pirate scum.
Today, we at Every Day is an Adventure come out and declare our appreciation, admiration, and ultimate respect for Captain Phillips who gave himself so his men could go free and the Navy Seals who gunned down 3 pirates who threatened to end Captain Phillips life.
And while we're still waiting to see how the media spin this, we know what our hero Thomas Jefferson did when dealing with the pirates back in his day.
The time has come to end all of these slimebags once and for all. America doesn't deal with terrorists - even if Barack won't say the words.
We'll say it for him.
He had every chance to be the big man on defense. All he had to say was that if there was 1 scratch on Phillips, America would respond with a severe FINISHING retaliation that would begin what the French commandos and India had only begun.
Of course, Obama offers nothing except teleprompter speeches, so what could we expect. At least someone got a standing order out of him so that when the Navy made the determination, we could rescue our citizen.
Here's to people willing to do what they have to do no matter what.

24 continues to be the most exciting thing on TV

2009-04-08T09:11:00.000-07:00

While watching the first 15 minutes of Slumdog Millionaire (and walking out of my own living room after the kid jumped into the crap), I am reminded of how crappy the last season of 24 turned out (save Fayed getting ended and the vampire kill from the first 2 nights) before we lost another season due to the writer's strike.

This season has totally made up for that. Unfortunately, I never get to watch it as it's happening since I'm teaching a GED class until 9pm. Thus, I have to wake up at 545 the next morning to watch it before I teach my other class or wait until Wednesday morning to watch it.

I must say as well that there have been episodes that have made me want to forfeit sleep to see them and I haven't been disappointed by any of them. The plots have largely made sense, there are no more worthless Palmers since David took the bullet at the beginning of season 5, and fortunately, after last season's run... that's a good thing.

With things just getting really good as the villainous Jon Voight (let's be honest - Anjelina Jolie would make anyone go this crazy) make their final play to release the bio agent on 7 unsuspecting cities over 7 episodes, we can only wonder how Jack will save the day and how his daughter will come back from the great beyond to save him through the magic of stem cells. Nevertheless, my money is down that she gets ended (and that it's not a cougar's fault).

We said it here first.

And on another few unrelated notes... not hearing about whether the president's husband is alive or dead (save 1 phone call after surgery that seemed more an afterthought)and Tony's mysterious whereabouts while Jack and the FBI were doing their things aren't near as important as watching her daughter have video sex with a potential blackmailer. You gotta love strong sexy women that will destroy anyone who gets in their way!

Tis Spring Break Week Round These Parts (so I'm bloggin)

2009-04-08T05:06:00.001-07:00

These are actual comments made on students' report cards by teachers in the New York City public school system. All teachers were reprimanded (but, boy, are these funny!)

1. Since my last report, your child has reached rock bottom and has started to dig.

2. I would not allow this student to breed.

3. Your child has delusions of adequacy.

4. Your son is depriving a village somewhere of an idiot.

5. Your son sets low personal standards and then consistently fails to achieve them.

6. The student has a 'full six-pack' but lacks the plastic thing to hold it all together.

7. This child has been working with glue too much.

8. When your daughter's IQ reaches 50, she should sell.

9. The gates are down, the lights are flashing, but the train isn't coming.

10. If this student were any more stupid, he'd have to be watered twice a week.

11. It's impossible to believe the sperm that created this child beat out 1,000,000 others.

12. The wheel is turning but the hamster is definitely dead.

+++++++

These are actual comments made by 16 Police Officers. The comments were taken off actual police car videos around the country:

16. 'You know, stop lights don't come any redder than the one you just went through.'

15. 'Relax, the handcuffs are tight because they're new. They'll stretch after you wear them a while.'

14. 'If you take your hands off the car, I'll make your birth certificate a worthless document.'

13. 'If you run, you'll only go to jail tired.'

12 'Can you run faster than 1200 feet per second? Because that's the speed of the bullet that'll be chasing you.'

11. 'You don't know how fast you were going? I guess that means I can write anything I want to on the ticket, huh?'

10. 'Yes, sir, you can talk to the shift supervisor, but I don't think it will help. Oh, did I mention that I'm the shift supervisor?'

9. 'Warning! You want a warning? O.K, I'm warning you not to do that again or I'll give you another ticket. '

8. 'The answer to this last question will determine whether you are drunk or not. Was Mickey Mouse a cat or a dog?'

7. 'Fair? You want me to be fair? Listen, fair is a place where you go to ride on rides, eat cotton candy and corn dogs and step in monkey poop.'

6. 'Yeah, we have a quota. Two more tickets and my wife gets a toaster oven.'

5. 'In God we trust, all others we run through NCIC.'

4. 'How big were those 'two beers' you say you had?'

3. 'No sir, we don't have quotas anymore. We used to, but now we're allowed to write as many tickets as we can.'

2. 'I'm glad to hear that the Chief (of Police) is a personal friend of yours. So you know someone who can post your bail.'

AND THE WINNER IS....

1. 'You didn't think we give pretty women tickets? You're right, we don't. Sign here.'

Welcome Baseball 2009

2009-04-06T09:12:00.000-07:00

So ok, let's assume I'm Bobby Cox, and I'm running the Atlanta Braves. How better to put myself on suicide watch than to put the game in the hands of Mike Gonzalez.

There's something to be said when a team can be up 4-0 after 8 innings when a pitcher (Derek Lowe) throws a 2 hitter (1 of those hits is really cheap mind you) and the manager decides to put the game in someone else's hands.

Almost immediately, the Philthadelphia Phillies put a run in and up comes Ryan Howard who immediately whiffs while looking bad as someone with a terrible delivery who can't find the plate gets the best of him. Yes, that is $18million well spent.

Then Raul Ibanez does the same.

All the while, there are 2 runners on, and this guy looks terrible.

That said, I'm glad that I'm not counting on this guy to save games for my team.

And you thought K-Rod and Dice-K were an adventure in the making.

Nevertheless, here is baseball 2009.

And here are my fantasy teams: 1 and 2
May the Ephrata Fighting Amish live long and prosper in their respective leagues.

Monsters vs. Aliens Review.

2009-04-06T09:01:00.001-07:00

After spending the past couple of weeks renting crappy videos that we couldn't even finish (Rachel Getting Married, My Best Friend's Girl), stupid teenage movies that don't deserve the hype or press that they get (the shite fest known as Twilight) and other assorted and forgettable stuff (so unaffecting I don't even remember any of it by name), we went to see Monsters vs. Aliens, the new Reese Witherspoon voiced animated movie at the local theater, and I must say it was AWESOME!

Now, it's true that we do watch a fair bit of animated stuff, but it's all for good because frankly, after a long day of teaching, I don't want to think that much. I want to be entertained and happy, and for all the messages that kids need to learn and those put in for propaganda for adults (the global warming line), it was really good.

Kiefer Sutherland even showed up as General WR Monger leading the monsters to victory over the aliens as a hapless president (played by Stephen Colbert - though he could have been just as easily played by our current worthless leader) watched on.

Nevertheless, I was most amazed by how much certain scenes actually looked REAL. Computers, you've certainly come a long way with how you can make animation awesome.

The other good movie we saw was the Apatow influenced Role Models, which features McLovin', a foul mouthed young African American kid, and Stiffler acting alongside Paul Rudd, who seems to be in just about everything now (he was also in Monsters vs. Aliens as Reese's worthless husband to be that rejects her for her size). I don't know how much a review of it could do it justice other than to say what it's about, but frankly, it's Apatow teenage movie by numbers, so if you liked his other stuff, you'll be rolling for this one.

In the words of Staind...

2009-03-28T05:57:00.000-07:00

It's been a while, so I will try to update you on things. This actually took place the weekend of March 20th.

Since I last left you, I tagged my 42nd state - Michigan. Somehow, I've been to 41 other states, but never the mitten state. Now, I have.

Mind you, I didn't go there to see Cabelas in Dundee, but I still got to visit it, and I must say that while it was a smaller store than Hamburg, PA, it still had some really cool attractions.

For example, the giant dueling bears were cooler than Uncle Tomahawk and the fur trapper dude.

Also, there were a lot more fight scenes, and they seemed to do more with the little critters of the woods than Hamburg did.

Then again, they have an exact duplicate of Angelina Jolie hanging on their wall. How they were able to recreate those lips, I'll never know.

What we really went to see was Ariel's sister since she just had her 2nd daughter.

Fortunately, the day before we got there, she finally had her, and it was a really neat thing to be able to get there that early to see the whole family with their new addition.

Thus, it was 3 full days of getting to spend time with her family in Ohio and just getting to be mellow and happy in that way that a new baby allows for a family.

Unfortunately, Ariel didn't get to make her quilt for new girl until after the visit, but it turned out awesome all the same.

The other purpose of our trip was to get to see the Toledo Botanical Gardens and where we were going to get married, and let me say, it was a good thing that we went out there! We had only seen the gardens in winter, and that time, it was covered with snow.

This time, it was prowled by a 50-pound swan. He was ferocious, and at one point he chased me around. Fortunately, I'm smart enough to stay out of his way!

The place where we were going to get married was the Grand Allee - i.e. the football field. With only 100 guests, we would have been dwarfed by the size of the place. We would have been exposed to late morning heat or weather, and well, we just opted for the pond gazebo.

All in all, I think it's a good choice. We'll be getting married in front of it on August 15th at 11am.

That's only a little more than 4 months away!

Time flies, but here's to the future.

More Time Lapse Events...

2009-03-15T07:41:00.000-07:00

The 2nd week of February brings the annual Eastern PA Sportsman Show. It also brought Daytona, but since there was no party this year AND because I wanted to see if I won the photo contest AND because I wanted to get my mounted photos back either way, I went up to the Sportsman Show and wandered around.

Of course, there are always a ton of taxidermy displays. I think this bear is there every year, but all the same, for as playful as he looks here (save the big claws), I know he is actually big and ferocious and wanting to eat my aunt's chocolate chip cookies.

That's apparently what they do.

Another one of those redundant ever year things that exists there is the picture to the left. Why any hunter cares about whether or not animals were skinned to be turned into fur coats remains a mystery, but alas, it is an interesting thought.

Apparently, Camobooty is becoming really popular. There were lots of displays with pink camouflage breeding wear, and this was perhaps the prime example of such. Frankly, if Ariel wore this stuff around the house, I would truly have to worry.

The kids had a cool fake rodeo ride, and it was also really popular this year. I only wish I could have rode on it!

Alas, I didn't win when it came to pictures, but I did get to show my stuff - FOR $25 and the cost of photos and mounting!!

But it was a valiant attempt at photographic glory (that and I know what won this year to try again next year).

So in order to win next year, we went to Middle Creek in hopes of getting swirling snow goose migration. Didn't work, but it was still a good day.

I shot a couple close ups and I liked this one the best. It looks much better in large size.

I also really liked this one with the geese in the foreground and flying in the background.

A few weeks later, we took a nice late winter walk at Blue Marsh where surprisingly, the ice was still melting on the lake. It made for some cool shapes and patterns as we walked along the "beach."

It also made for some really cool pictures of tree stumps that magically appear when the water level drops.

Ariel was walking tough with the Playground Bully Staff of Power.

I was lost amongst the tall grasses on the Blue Marsh shore.

Nevertheless, the crowning moment of this warm day was the seagulls flying and hovering and floating on the water.

I know that my dad calls them giant flying rats, but they still looked really cool on that late winter day.

Who knows? Maybe one of these pictures could take the crown next year.

The Obama Movie Challenge

2009-03-13T07:20:00.001-07:00

Ok, let's say that you're a world leader with no international dignitary visiting experience and you accidentally decide to buy 25 DVDs for a visiting world leader. What would they be?

Obama gave Gordon Brown of Britain the thoughtful gift of these DVDs. Which ones would you rather have?

Here is the entire list that he gave:

* Citizen Kane
* The Godfather
* Casablanca
* Raging Bull
* Singin' in the Rain
* Gone with the Wind
* Lawrence of Arabia
* Schindler’s List
* Vertigo
* The Wizard of Oz
* City Lights
* The Searchers
* Star Wars: Episode IV
* Psycho
* 2001: A Space Odyssey
* Sunset Boulevard
* The Graduate
* The General
* On the Waterfront
* It's a Wonderful Life
* Chinatown
* Some Like It Hot
* The Grapes of Wrath
* ET: The Extra-Terrestrial
* To Kill a Mockingbird

I am currently working on my list. It's a work in progress, but it will definitely explain why Obama's list will bore the life out of anyone. At least he didn't include Boyz in the Hood.

24

2009-03-10T12:07:00.000-07:00

RIP Bill Buchanan.

There is a reason that 24 is the best show on TV. From the double episode last week that left viewers wondering who would die (the president, her daughter, Bill, Aaron, Red Foreman... ) in the terrorist siege of the White House, which turned out to be Bill, it was a non-stop wait to get to the point where I could get home from work and watch the episode (I was home about 920 last night) and was very miffed that Hulu didn't have the episode up - even at midnight!

And while there are 11 episodes to go, the promise of Jon Voight as the ultimate bad guy with his non-specific weapons of mass destruction to mess up the area around DC with his bad attitude and serious distempter towards America, definitely leaves me wanting more... just not as salivatingly as for the killer episode last time.

Now, Jack ended Jouma and his thugs pretty quickly, but alas, it looks like the makers of 24 had to give in to the Whacko Fringe of people who only see one episode of the show and judge from there at the Huffington Post since you know they're so full of credibility and all.

As for me, I'll go back to my conservative's "wet dream" of watching 24 and seeing the goody guys of the world ending the evil of terrorism and the heroism that Bauer represents any day (as compared to cheering on the sick attempt by Obama to sell his bailout and budget).

A Tale of 5 Events on My TV

2009-02-25T06:43:00.000-08:00

Anna Farris is hilarious. She had me rolling in Just Friends (she actually stole the show), and while I'm not a Scary Movie person, I must say that everything I've seen her in has been entertaining (the Hot Chick and Lost in Translation, for example).

Ok, so I'm crushing, but alas...

The House Bunny is stupid fun in the best Happy Madison tradition, and that's exactly what you get. Why discuss the punch lines. I'll just tell you to watch it because it will make you laugh.

As for the Mamma Mia Review (the things we watch for fiances):

If ever there was a more moronic bunch of spaz ass losers assembled together with no specific purpose, it would be hard for me to imagine (save maybe a party that Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid were throwing for Barack Obama), but we seem to have quite the collection here. Colin Firth, normally workable in roles like the one in Love Actually, is reduced to spaz ass. The prof from Good Will Hunting is a spaz ass. Pierce Brosnan, never one to be worth watching, is a spaz ass. Meryl Streep is a horrible singer, but let's be honest... the whole musical aspect of this film sucked. Abba had one tolerable song and even that nearly vanished in this 2 hour suck fest.

In addition, Meryl Streep's friends were truly useless as people. One could only hope that they got fed to the sharks that were swarming off the island, which I must at least say looked like a fun place to visit if you got rid of EVERY SINGLE ONE of the people who were living or filming there.

The main girl who was getting married didn't know that she was marrying someone from the other team, but when she realized it, the marriage was off. She could have sped up her future by a day or so if she realized that a bachelor party of guys doing Rockette's kicks on the pier was a sign that they weren't your average "dudes."

But let's be honest - being a dude isn't all that it's cracked up to be. Let's take Zack and Miri Make a Porno. There haven't been too many movies lately that I haven't at least stuck around until the end for, but this crapfest sure did win the prize.

Remember how in 40-Year Old Virgin and Knocked Up how the characters were lovable and learned something. Remember how the R-rated jokes seemed to go somewhere? All of that is abandoned here for a lot of profanity and boobs for no reason whatsoever. Remember how usually Seth Rogen is fun to watch because he's a lovable loser who turns out good? Well that vanishes here because he's stuck beside Jason Mewes and all of Kevin Smith and Judd Apatow's recurring actors that no longer need to be funny because they're guaranteed jobs due to the fact that there are only certain people that are allowed in their movies. Remember how Kevin Smith used to be funny? A whole generation is now growing up and not remembering how Clerks and Mallrats were fresh and how the first half of Chasing Amy (until Ben Affleck and ol' girl hooked up) was something that meant something to those of us who watched it and thought we had found 20-something entertaining faire that actually spoke to our lost little lives. Now, he's just trying to resuscitate his career (that is basically about knocking movies out to pay the bills rather than say something new and unique - Catch and Release was the dying swan song of everything shitty he had done up until then) and pay bills. Just like in the case of M. Night, this is killing his once good stuff and leaving us with a newer generation of pungent and septic refuse.

I should say that I stuck it out until the end of Mamma Mia (one of the foulest bunches of stench I have ever watched), but I literally had to shut off Zach and Miri. Maybe I'm getting older. Maybe, I'm just developing taste. Either way, the movie sucked. Watching it again or being waterboarded is not an easy choice, my friends.

Funny all the time movies either work or they don't. Sometimes, they work the first time, but not the next time. I don't know how American Carol would hold up the 2nd time, but I was rolling on the floor in hysterics at this I hate Michael Moore attack fest (complete with lots of slaps and running insults towards, amongst other things, the zombie ACLU lawyers).

Now, I was never a fan of Chris Farley, but his brother seems to resurrect him for this movie. That's a good thing. The jokes are truly conservative by numbers and there is a Bill O' Reilly appearance complete with slap to "Michael Malone" (Bill O' makes the movie), so if those don't promises of entertainment don't make you swoon, I'd stick with whatever else it is that you like, but if they're up your alley, this movie is classic.

There's even an appearance by Gary Coleman. How can you go wrong with that?

Just finished watching episode 11 of season 7 of 24. This season is kicking mucho ass. It's as good as season 3+5 and may prove up there with seasons 2+4 when it's all over.

The evil African leader has been caught, the FBI moles have been caught or killed, and now, Tony has come back to tell Jack that there is a major hit coming within 1 hour. The previews have a major attack coming down on the White House. Jack is in a not so good place, and it doesn't look good for the switch from first half to last half. At least we'll have 2 hours to watch "The Man" save the day from evil. Since there have been no vampire attacks, hacksaws, axes, or anything malicious (other than threatening families), we're due for something big.

SO YEAH... what's the lesson of this post?
Stay away from ALL musicals and give up on Kevin Smith completely, but if you stick with Jack Bauer, the uber hot + hilarious Anna Farris, or George Lucas in Love, then life is good.

Technology as all inspiring demon goddess bitch queen lover!

2009-02-20T06:17:00.001-08:00

I was sent this article about Myspace and the current privacy predicaments with Fecebook today from a friend. I wrote her this letter and have since ammended some things since I had a lot of interesting points that I felt were sharable in the vast Internet wasteland of whoever the hell it is that comes to this site, so if you come to this site, here it is!

My class and I talked about the Facebook thing yesterday, but we were talking more in tune with how Fox owns Myspace and makes Facebook's faults headline news to make Myspace look better. The same can be true with every improvement that Myspace makes (for example, cleaning up predators and pedophiles from the online pages).

In discussing the whole privacy thing, in today's Internet world, everything is fair use. I've said it before - copyrights are dead (though I'm not personally violating them). With Google Earth capturing predator drone sites in Pakistan, which was another headline we talked about yesterday, everything is available to be seen by anyone anytime. If you don't want to be seen on someone's computer, don't post it or build your house in an underground bunker or live in a cave. I'm sure that there are still communes in Utah you can live in, but short of that... there is no going back to the glory days of long before. Romantic natural utopianism (in some ways sadly) is dead unless the human race collapses on itself (something I hope doesn't happen).

With regards to Myspace and Facebook, all things considered, you can make these sites private, and that says something for some people. At least you won't be Stacy Snyder denied a teaching degree because of her alter identity as a drunken pirate. As for me, I have both sites. Then again, I have a Youtube site, a picture site, I computer dated (how I met Ariel), I have made serious bank with old books, CDs, video, and baseball cards on an E-bay site, I obviously have a blog, I have uploaded recommended product lists to Amazon, and I thank Al Gore everyday for making the Internet (even though I know it was Vint Cerf and Bob Kahn).

That said, my Facebook and Myspace are private. I think it's more to keep the kiddies out. They don't really use this whole blog thing. They don't really read, but then again. It makes me feel better, too - like if I ever went for another job, they wouldn't deny it to me because I've made my stuff private and use a different e-mail to open it up.

I should also say I don't own a Twitter site. I think that's about the stupidest form of communication outside of text messaging and that says something. I also don't anonymously review services. I agree with Tom Friedman's feelings on all of that (I'll get more into him later). A book review is one thing, but a doctor review is another thing. I'm not a doctor. What do I know about what he does (and what do people who don't do what I know have any clue about my abilities other than they didn't get the results that they felt entitled to or I had no patience for their lame excuses?). I probably should do what one teacher friend does, which is looking to see if I know anyone that I am in contact with has been on the police reports, but I really don't want to know. If I wanted to know, I would make it a journal, but really, it's all just a forbidden topic.

Nevertheless, what I do like (to a degree) about these social networks is that you can go through Facebook and look up people from your school (that in many cases you lost track of for a reason) or ex relationships that you want to see how badly they're screwed up now (looking for sunken meth cheeks or 8 kids in a trailer park to prove that you made the right decision to go elsewhere). Then again, there's a reason that people hated high school, and looking back at so many of these people, it all becomes SO clear again. I've contacted people (including last night when I was really bored waiting to see if we'd go over or under 5 people in need of help - I won as we went lower) and while looking at their friends, I wondered how many degrees of seperation I would have to go through to get to someone I really did want to talk to. Then I realized that I live in the real world and escaped the past world for a reason and I can get by with so many friends and so I kind of stopped. I'm sure I'll go back to it some other time when I feel bored again, but yeah...

I love what technology can do, but I understand the limitations and problems with it. If I was teaching high school again, I would go offline. I would have to. That said, I temporarily have no use for many of the other people in this world's kids (not being mean - it's just that they are at that awkward age of angst and entitlement), so I don't have to worry about that because frankly, I'm happy where I'm at. I'll stick with college or I'll get a business degree and get involved in a company that outsources and offshores for profit as the person who tells people that their skills are worthless and that they should have paid more attention in high school instead of just playing sports and hoping that being nice + cute could carry them through life.

On the note of outsourcing and offshoring, I FINALLY finished Thomas Friedman's classic work The World is Flat last night (only 7 months later, but I've been alternating it with other books). Now, I could start his Hot Flat and Crowded book - but I won't do that just yet. I'm waiting for my John Maxwell management books to come so I can "be a better person" (my daily affirmation). In the meantime, I'm reading my John Bolton book so I can relfect on my doing what I need to do job requirements - no matter who it pisses off with their sense of deserving an A (even though "deserves" got nothing to do with it).

On the note of technology, I've said often (including to all my classes yesterday) that parents who don't encourage the use of technology and education should be charged with neglect (in the 21st Century job environment not knowing computers or valuing knowledge is deadly). While watching NatGeo, Ariel and I talked about it last night, and she went into that whole thing of young kids, predators, etc. (with regard to her brother in law's monitoring of our flower girl's online habits) and I stated that technology isn't Myspace (though it is). It's Google Earth and being able to look at the bottom of the Marianas Trench or satellite pictures of the Earth (or cool astronomy sites and the like). If I was to breed (and I said this), part of my kid's allowance would be to read and learn things (in addition to chores and "work"). Geeky knowledge and ability at an early age (mixed with management and teamwork) will hopefully take my spawn further than I have gone.

And that really is the point.

++++++

On another note, I am currently listening to the Hold Steady. Their Almost Killed Me album is really good. I have Boys and Girls in America on though. This is the 3rd different band to mention suicidally dead poet John Berryman (Nick Cave does in "We Call Upon the Author to Explain" and Okkervil River does in the Beach Boys homage "John Allyn Smith Sales"). I think I'm receiving message. Perhaps, dogs will start barking in code to me (though I hope not).

This weekend is wedding planning. On a good note, the minister is going to be low cost (he was willing to do it free as a family favor - we will gift him). On a bad note, we couldn't get free chairs, so we had to cut a deal with the "official" rental people to give us a reception set of chairs AND a wedding set of chairs. The first set was over $300 for 125 chairs (we have to figure out exactly how many at the most we will need) and setup. Ariel wants 80 chairs and tables for the reception. My feeling is to cut chair amounts by letting kids run around the garden and to leave my happy moment alone, but alas... for as great of an uncle as that might make me to the kids, I probably wouldn't do well with the parents. Thus, we'll be forcing the kids to watch us in all of our icky lovey dovey glory!!

Happy Valentine's Day / Pitchers Catchers Report Day.

2009-02-14T00:08:00.000-08:00

Another baseball season commences with no love in New York between its favorite and least favorite sons. But who cares? It's all about the lack of gainful employment for Manny Ramirez and a new season of hopes for Boston.

So, whether or not you're getting holiday love, may the day you're celebrating be wonderful.

And with the good Lord willing, may there be a Ken Burns Baseball DVD set waiting for me!!

Your Teen Years Could Have Been Worse...

2009-02-13T12:00:00.000-08:00

You could have been sued for $4billion. Then again, we're not all the center of all things pure and holy and (in the words of Ron White) "loaded."

Only in America can Hannah Montana (err... Miley Cyrus) get taken to the cleaners for being an idiot teenager.

If the judge doesn't throw this assinine case out, it will truly be proof that in America success is only a ridiculous lawsuit away.

South Park said it all here.

A Lot of Days That Work on a Holiday / Numerology Level, Jamie Foxx is the New Bret Michaels (or is it Pacman Jones), and a Ghost Free Weekend.

2009-02-13T05:37:00.000-08:00

If my grandmother was still alive today (she died in 1994), today would have been her birthday. When I was little, I would go over to her house every weekend and build forts, watch TV, and play with my Star Wars figures. She always did so much nice stuff for me. Sadly, when I was in 8th grade, it became obvious that she had Altzheimer's Disease. The rest of her life was a very sad sight to watch.

Today is also Henry Rollins' 48th birthday. As a kid, I was obsessed with him for his sheer stage energy. I saw him live at a shitty little dive club in Sinking Spring called Jams. He called out all of the people that he wanted in his pit and launched into Hot Animal Machine. The person I was with didn't really get it, so we didn't stay long. For me, it changed my life. I saw him play music 2 other times. However, what really changed my life was his spoken word stuff. We met him and I promptly offended him by going backstage at Cambridge. Seems that the guards shouldn't have let us (or the Brits that followed) back to meet him. They got signatures. I got a picture. It was never really the same after that, but I do understand how he wasn't cool about us being there. That said, the scowl on his face is definitely real in this picture.

Today is also the anniversary of the Dresden firebombing in 1945, which is the subject of Slaughterhouse 5. Every year, I pretend that I will be able to read it all in one day (I have read it 12 times), but I never finish and 2 weeks or so later, it's finally done. Today, I have the video. I don't know if I'll actually finish that either. So much to do today - chief of which is to take Ariel her roses at work. Also, I have to do that work, pay bills, and all those other dumb things (like shower) that I should be able to skip over for later as I complete all the tasks I really need to do (like get my pictures up on my website).

Last night, a co-worker gave me the Jamie Foxx CD. At first, I thought it was pretty good (for the type of music that it was, which is slow jams hip hop), and today, I actually got a few songs into it before I realized just how bad the lyrics were. At first, I was going to write a long comparison between Jamie Foxx and W.A.S.P.'s Fuck Like a Beast, but alas, that just wasn't true. Blackie Lawless might have been making it "hurricane" (as Foxx put it) at strip clubs (unlike Pacman Jones who only wants his money back for making it rain a little too much), but he's not into women who drive Rolls Royces. No, I think he would have preferred motorcycles, beaten up Mustangs, or hell, whatever 8-cylinder 70's car was left over that pulled into the parking lot. Also, while I'm sure he wouldn't turn down Kim Kardashian, I don't think he's looking for celebutantes that can be name-checked in People Magazine.

So where Blackie was the trashier the better, the real comparison here is the new version of Bret Michaels - complete with video in VH1's top 20 (trust me, it was part of the contract). There's something about Michaels' attempt to redefine himself as something new that shouldn't have been left to a generation years and years ago. There's also something about how Foxx did redefine himself, and maybe for that, Michaels has resurrected amongst the 30 and 40 something crowd that watches his show and thinks, wow, let's go buy some Poison CDs and relive those glory days of Every Rose Has Its Thorn. And while some of the music from all of these guys is pretty good, the main theme here is how repressed sexually all 3 of these guys (bands) are. I literally had to shut off the Foxx CD because I couldn't divorce myself from his assinine lyrics and contract obligations to have hip hop's "finest" join in with his rap about getting it on with digital girls or whatever the hell he was trying to inseminate.

As a result, I put in a CD that I could remove the lyrics from: Slayer's Seasons in the Abyss. I don't know what it is, but I've been able to really get into some of these guys stuff as of late, and while there were points that sounded like what White Zombie became, it's really good - definitely better than Hell Awaits (though it's not even close to Reign in Blood).

It's kind of hard to define what it is that appeals about Slayer. Metallica is really heavy as well and a lot of their stuff holds up really well, too, and they definitely are a more "mainstream" alternative, but there's something just a little bit heavier and dare I say "musical" than most speed metal bands that move into the next level of thrash and heavy. For this, I find it very energizing and while the lyrics can be equally dumb or as the picture shows, insightful of stupid behavior (like some fool I used to work with at K-Mart way back when), there is definitely a need to feel that kind of adrenaline shot to one's day (or drive home from work).

And yeah, the stupid Satan subplot was ditched (long ago) as phony (which was a good thing), it allowed them to morph into the soundtrack music for the Iraq War with Christ Illusion (in much the same way that the WWE changed into the Stone Cold Steve Austen era after the knucklehead early 90's wrestling crapfest). Nevertheless, going back to that heavy does work, but it's not as good as Seasons in the Abyss, which I ended up being very impressed with.

But nevertheless, speaking of things "paranormal," Ariel and I did the haunted weekend at Jim Thorpe last weekend. We drove up after work and headed into the room, opening the door to reveal whatever lurked behind it, and other than the leglamp (minus the leg) from A Christmas Story, it wasn't quite what we had hoped that it would be.

There was never a feeling of a haunted room.

There were never any orbs.

In fact, we slept peacefully through the night without incident (no moved shoes or towels here). Now, I'm not saying you won't get ghostly feelings. I'm just saying, we got zonked... and I even called the ghost Madeline out (Ghost Adventurers style - minus the running away like a little girl after using profanity on big bad poltergeists).

We paid about $350 for a weekend there (before the massages that were excellent - another $160 there by the way), and while Charlie Adams owes us for the room not living up to truth in advertising (Coal Country Ghosts), it was still a great time as evidenced below.

We finished up the weekend at Hickory Run to do a hopefully iced over Hawk Falls, but only got a snowy one. Still, it was a nice walk amongst a short and beautiful and very muddy trail (it hit 50degrees both days we were there).

This picture was taken while walking around Jim Thorpe, which is definitely proud of its Molly Mcguire past.

These phallic looking icicles were taken inside the railroad tunnel on the Lehigh Gorge where the trail begins for Glen Onoko, which was too icy and inaccessible with the gear that we had for the both of us. People were ice climbing, but rather than risk injury to Ariel, we chose not to go up the steep creekside trail.

I don't think you can fathom how big that the stallactites and stallagmite icicles can get, but alas, yeah... they were porntacular.

Here are some pictures from the outside of the tunnel along the riverside.

Here are some pictures of Jim Thorpe from way up at the top of Flagstaff Mountain. That's the Asa Packer Mansion in yellow. If you could see to the right, you would encounter the Harry Packer Mansion that became the Disney Haunted Mansion. The left side of the clocktower building is the Inn at Jim Thorpe.

Happy love picture of the weekend (we look frickin' fantastic) as taken in the Inn at Jim Thorpe's restaraunt. Mmmm... steak is good.

He's Just Not That Into You Review

2009-02-09T06:27:00.000-08:00

Talk about your depressing movies. Billed as a comedy, I don't know if I could get this to qualify, but as something of a tragedy of life, I think the movie succeeds.

So let's see... Scarlett (in post Justin Timberlake singer / ditzy blonde bombshell - as opposed to sexy tomboy - mode) is trying to hook up with a married man. Ginnifer Goodwin is a cyber stalker who doesn't realize that for as cute as she is, she isn't girlfriend material. Drew Barrymore is more interested in gay men. Jennifer Connelly has a really bad pair of eyebrows and can't kick her cheating husband to the curb. AND... Jennifer Aniston is Jennifer Aniston (not a good thing).

As for the men, because this isn't really about them, we can sum them up like this. They're assholes. They're cheating assholes. They're assholes that don't commit. They're gay (not that there is anything wrong with that, but that keeps them from being boyfriend material). They're metrosexual and probably would do better in life if they were gay. They should return to normality and leave the friendzone once and for all. OR... they're Ben Affleck (the worst crime known to man, but thankfully, he was only in the movie for 10 minutes or so of the 130 minutes).

The best line was still the last line - and not just because the movie was over. Ginnifer gets to be the exception not the rule. Jennifer gets everything she wants to. Drew who also is in the movie for about 10 minutes gets a token man of happiness as well, but it seems to be for what it's worth because everyone else has deadbeat loser-ish husbands that should sleep with the fishes. You almost wish that one of these women would club their good for nothing men over the head with a frying pan or a bottle of Pabst Blue Ribbon rather than give it to him.

But alas, the greatest tragedy is in what this movie says about what romance has become, and for that, I am super thankful that I am heading towards the big day on August 15 with absolutely no hesitation and only utter happiness out there. It's a minefield out there. People aren't normal. They don't want relationships, they don't know how to get them, or they're Chris Brown (fortunately, I'm not him). Somewhere in searching the profiles of Match Dot Com to find Ariel, I noticed that in these women looking for their doctor everythings, their prince charmings, and their answer to all their prayers, they were doing it with 5-year old pictures, less than a maimed hand full of interests or likes, and a ridiculous hope that their preppie looks would be enough to win over some asshole guy who is trolling the web for bootie. I've never been a bar kind of meetup person, so I can only imagine everything else that is a meet up is a fixup or serendipity of the highest order.

So yeah... bring back the good romantic movies because if we have to see them, we want to leave with a chance for affection not a rehashing of all the reasons that love never came before we (the guy you're now with) walked through the door.

For our boy, Alex Rodriguez

2009-02-09T06:25:00.001-08:00

Here's to the future of Alex Rodriguez.

Couldn't have happened to a nicer guy.

And you think he couldn't handle the post season pressure already.

6 days until pitchers and catchers report. Life is good.

Thoughts for the moment...

2009-02-03T14:54:00.000-08:00

Sorry there aren't more pictures of what I'm going to blog, but there will be stuff on my main picture page later.

Thoughts for today...
1. Sitting waiting on a new 1 month job to maybe fall into my lap. It became available, so now I wait for the call back. I'm qualified, but if someone else got to the 1 month SAT teaching gig first (and for that money, who wouldn't).... I hold my breath (till my face turns blue) and wait.
2. It was a crazy day earlier today. Work things happen, and for that, I'm never amazed, but nevertheless, we're moving on now and staying positive.
3. Uncle Obama's first best act in office is ponying up $2,065 my way for a tax return. Now, if only he can give me my bailout, I'll be feeling quite nice.
4. I never did blog about my trip out hiking in the icy waterfalls of Tumbling Waters right off PA209 in the Poconos. I think that's because it wasn't a Rickett's Glen winter experience, but there were some really great views as you can see here:

The hike was brutal and showed just how lump-like I've become in this very cold winter. Not good at all. Fortunately, I get to do the whole hiking thing again on Friday the 21st of February as I have the day off while a co-worker covers for me. I'm excited and expect to hit some more waterfalls from that region in a better way. The parking situation was terrible at some of the remote lots as it just snowed and I drive a Toyota Yaris. The ice has been insanely thick. You can see from the video just how extreme it was as the waterfalls no longer looked real (just a pile of ice, really).
5. Ariel and I confirmed the date of August 15, 2009, for our wedding by dropping $400 on a ceremony at the Toledo Botanical Gardens.
I couldn't be more excited about the future, and while there is still a ton of planning, the future (in the words of St. Thomas of Pettyus) is wide open.
The rest of our trip went well, and while we confirmed a lot of potential help, celebrated her niece's 2nd Bday, and tried to stay out of too many horseplay incidents, we had a great time. This weekend is ghosts at the Inn at Jim Thorpe. Check back next Wednesday night for that.
6. I watched about 8 total minutes of the Superbowl. I only saw the Doritos ad today. That was hilarious. Sadly, I can't care that much about football. February 14th... now that's a holiday (Pitchers and Catchers Report Day).

7. What's more absurd... that Tom Daschle can come up $120,000 short on his taxes and still get considered for a cabinet position (eventually quitting) or that Manny Ramirez can turn down $25million for 1 year as just not enough money to play for? All things considered, it will be nice to see Manny making nothing for this season.
8. Life's good. Paranormal State featured Chip last night, and it was a kickass episode with a haunted church where Satanic rituals were held. Oh, hell yeah!
9. Tomorrow is enter the PA State Game Commission photo contest day. I've got my pictures ready... just gotta frame 'em.
10. The RIAA is no longer going to fine people to death for downloading. Instead, they're going to cut off your Internet connection if you download for free.
11. I wish I could have 8 babies implanted in my unable to care for a single baby self after I had 6 babies that I couldn't care for already, but alas, that just proves that Nadya Suleman is a spaz of galactic proportions that actually makes Peggy the Moocher seem responsible.

12. Life goes on... anyway.

25 Things About Me

2009-01-26T06:21:00.000-08:00

25 Things About Me
Everyone seems to be doing this and I don't feel like finishing up my stuff for the next semester in the next hour or so; hence (1 of my 3 favorite conjunctive adverbs - thus and alas are the other 2), I will, too!!1. It's amazing how being in love just hits you and changes everything. In this, I can't wait to get married on August 15. As Mark Twain said in Adam's Diary, "At first I thought she talked too much; but now I should be sorry to have that voice fall silent and pass out of my life. Blessed be the chestnut that brought us near together and taught me to know the goodness of her heart and the sweetness of her spirit!" Then again, as Dr. Seuss said, "You know you're in love when you can't fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams." If I ever hit Powerball or if you peoples want to donate cash, I would love to have Polyphonic Spree play me reception. I'd pony up for them to do the Beatles All You Need Is Love (just like in Love, Actually).
2. Deciding to be a teacher was a satori that I experienced while travelling across the Nevada desert and through the miles long field of bugs, sheer exhaustion, the loss of a friendship, and the worry of running out of gas to end up headfirst into the sunset as Uncle Tupelo played and complete relaxation and knowledge washed over me with the knowledge of where I should be in life. The next morning I woke up to see a sign in Eureka, Nevada, that spoke of the loneliest town on the loneliest road in America. Of course, I know my e.e. cummings, so I read that as "onely," and from that moment everything changed.
3. After driving off from this place, I went to see the Cardinals play the Braves in St. Louis. It was the culmination of a summer spent basking in the glory of the great homerun race. Mark Mcgwire rewarded me with a walk, a single, a double, and a 3-run homerun that travelled 501 feet to just left of center field. It was a game-winning shot that ever since, I always said was the greatest moment of my life.
4. I have learned that (in the words of Kevin Costner in Bull Durham) that I shouldn't think. Nowhere was this better explained than when I thought I knew better than the map while trying to find the Wave on the Utah / Arizona border. This caused a feeling of being lost, an inability to see something that I really wanted to see, and a feeling of being utterly idiotic. It took 4 more years and 2 failed attempts to get into this remote spot where only 10 people get advance passes and 10 people get day of passes (and it is highly competitive AND subject to flash floods whether they let people drive back), but eventually I did complete this goal. A feeling of complete emptiness washed over me and I realized that there was nothing else really to do.
5. Then I met Ariel and when we got engaged on Oct. 11 at Jim Thorpe, I knew that was a slightly better moment of my life. We got a really fancy room with a jacuzzi, and I gave her the ring when she finished getting ready. I asked if she was fully accessorized, and she said she thought so (I was pacing aimlessly which could be explained as ADHD (undiagnosed) or just me being nervous). I told her she wasn't - and gave her the box as I got down on my knee and popped the question. We went out to eat and when we came back, the ceiling leaked from the jacuzzi above, so we had to get a different room. All in all, it was kind of funny and added to the memory.
6. Waterfall photography makes me giddy. Someday, I will return to Ricketts Glen (my favorite place on Earth) to attempt the Huron Step in ice, but for now, no picture is worth potentially falling over the banks and getting frozen like a popsicle. Next up in winter - Glen Onoko at Jim Thorpe + potentially Hawk Falls at Hickory Run and later on, more waterfalls of PA209 (no fresh snow blocking parking lots - I drive a Yaris).
7. Unlike Ben Kenobi, Sith lords are not my specialty, but I am a Star Wars geek - have been since I was a kid.
8. If I could, I would go back and apologize for a lot of things to a lot of people. I have extreme guilt complexes on a lot of things I've messed up on. Sometimes, I feel like the furies are haunting me. If only I was as existentialist as Jean Paul Sartre, I would cast them into the abyss once and for all.
9. I don't get mustache humor.
10. I don't use the D word for female performers.
11. I don't use the M word when referring to 80's haircuts that should have been left in that worthless decade.
12. I have no use for reality television - esp. that which is on MTV and BRAVO.
13. My current greatest regret was not doing more masters classes earlier. I should have let the high school I taught at pay for some of these classes and then I could be doing the things I want to now. That said, I have got more out of these classes the older and more (oh God) mature I have (theoretically) become.
14. The older we get, the more we turn into our parents. This isn't the catastrophe we viewed it as when we were kids. In this, I've learned that if you still have parent problems at an old age when you don't live with them that something is wrong. There are so many arguments not worth having, and frankly, there is enough stuff that drives me crazy than to worry about things from 20+ years ago that I can barely remember (with a version of me that I don't really think all that much of anyway).
15. My political views switched 180degrees when I went to Washington DC in June 2005. I walked around the monuments to all of the dead soldiers and spent 15 minutes in the museum of Native Americans. The latter felt so pretentious and the former felt so unappreciated. After that, little things kept coming out and moving things in different directions. When my parents fligth was held up due to the capture of British terrorists who were smuggling liquid bombs (this after my parents were set to fly Sept 12, 2002), I thought a little different about what we should be doing to protect America. In this, I know that the answer is "WHAT WOULD JACK BAUER DO?"
16. While Fox's 24 is the answer to all things, I don't see myself sitting down to watch a complete episode of Sex and the City. I also have no interest in watching My Big Fat Greek Wedding, 8 Mile, and any Jane Austen book turned into a movie (at least that doesn't feature Alciia Silverstone as a ditzy Beverly Hills gal).
17. The first Legally Blonde is hilarious, but while I did see #2 in theaters, it was a waste of 2 hours of my life that I won't get back. Fortunately, there was air conditioning there (I was in the desert of Utah). That said, I have no desire to watch the musical. I can't see any reason why I would go see any Broadway musical - ever.
18. Pizza, chicken, lasagna, Ariel's homemade meatball sandwiches, chocolate iced donuts, and things with cinammon are just awesome foods. That said, I'm currently unable to go to Cinnabon due to needing to remove 51 pounds from my middle.
19. I love shopping for dress shirts and ties. I keep hoping that I will find the elusive Van Heusen raspberry button down shirt (17.5 34/35 if you see it and want to pick it up for me). I will literally dress up to go in Brooks Brothers and go shopping. They take you more seriously when you do. That said, I work a job where I have the privilege to wear a tie. I love how it makes me feel. Really.
20. I love music. I couldn't live without it. I once remember my friend Brian stating that he wouldn't want to live in a world without Lou Reed. I feel that way about so much music. I always have to have new CDs in vast quantity in my car. You never know what you want to listen to, and for this, it's important to have tons of everything.
21. I believe that copyrights are a 20th Century dinosaur that has been rendered obsolete by the Internet (thank you Al Gore for creating that!). I don't think that anyone could have predicted how great a device that the Internet would be and how it would totally change all of our working, information gathering, file sharing, and communicating lives, but it has totally rendered useless these archaic ways that we used to live within. That the music industry (for 1) wasn't smart enough to realize this was their own fault. Now, it's too late to make housewives worry over excessive and isolated fines while the dam is already burst. The same can be said to textbook companies. If they wouldn't charge so much, they wouldn't have people willing to scan EVERY PAGE of a book to stick it to them.
22. I proudly state that I didn't vote for Obama.
23. I quit caffeine 4.5 years ago. I used to drink 8 cans of soda a day, but now, I am on cold water. It's good stuff - then again, so is Yuengling. All things considered, I still have hankerings for raspberry iced tea, but it's not hard to give that a pass. I know if I back down, it will be just like fast food, which is really hard to back down from (esp. while travelling). I always thought caffeine would be hard to give up, but actually, it was easy. Sugar is the real problem stuff.
24. I was in the Air Farce for 5 years, 7 months, and 4 days. I signed the papers to get out on November 17, 1995, at approximately 1040am. I went in on Good Friday the 13th (my dad went in the Marines on Good Friday as well). I wasn't the person that the military was looking for at the time (and they weren't what I was looking for), but I learned a lot from that time. I don't regret that. My very good friends (the Wards) wouldn't have been my friends without it.
25. I stayed in England after the Air Force. I don't regret that either even though the relationship I was in at the time didn't work out. I can't ever fathom being expatriated again, but at the time, it made me who I am and totally affected my entire outlook. It was a great cultural place where I could speak the language. I thought the people I was with were great, and there were a lot of historical places to take in. I used to dream about my England, but now, I find home to be Amish Paradise. I have my memories and my dreams and my life to look forward to and in that, I too have a home.

People who hate Donovan Mcnabb as much as I do.

2009-01-21T06:01:00.000-08:00

While I won't be participating in anything that has to do with the Superbowl (we're going out to Ohio to visit Ariel's relations and won't be back until late), I just want to say that Donovan Mcnabb won't either. On top of that, he'll be resting and fixing up his yard after two fans took diesel fuel to it while burning Arizona Cardinals cheers on the lawn.

A much better way to support your "team" than some highly over-priced and propagandistic things I could name.

Ok...

2009-01-20T08:52:00.001-08:00

So I said I wouldn't rant about politics and situations that truly annoy me, and thus, I won't be covering the coronation of St. Barack of Obama today.

Instead, I'll be rambling on about other things.

For starters, I will remark that 24 Season 7 still makes me feel good about life. There are cliffhangers with supposedly dead FBI agents getting buried alive, the president's husband about to be ginsu-ed with his dead son's girlfriend as soon as she enters the room, a captured African leader and his wife, and Janeane Garofalo still not having been waterboarded - yet. I'm impressed.

Last night, we started watching the new season of Paranormal State.

As faithful readers know, Ariel is obsessed with ghost shows on TV. Each one has it's own flair. There's the annoying British woman, there's the guy who screams and swears at ghosts while yelling he's not afraid and then if things clang, he runs like a little girl. There's also a Paranormal State copycat. Either you watch that one or this one - then again, if you're all too connected in the metaphysical, you can watch both of them.

Paranormal State definitely delivers what it promises - fear of ghosts with cliff hangers into commercials. Then again, it delivers consistently with its trademark endings - wrapping up too quickly and not revealing all details that get disproved - like last night's first episode with the things that were buried in the yard.

However, that wasn't the biggest downer about the show. Instead, they brought in a lame psychic / medium (read: someone who drinks a whole hell of a lot in order to believe that he or she can talk to and see "dead people" while assisting in a paranormal investigation) that wasn't Chip Coffey (a person who drank just enough - but not TOO much - in order to believe that he can talk to and see "dead people" while assisting in a paranormal investigation that is headed by a post teen guy who is earning his 15 minutes of fame gathering minions that worship and adore him for braving the paranormal) to assist with the investigation into a Native American disturbed spirit (isn't that always the case) that quickly became a former owner that couldn't move on with his afterlife (then again, isn't that always the case) in a seemless switch that totally disregarded the original dead Injun premise (like magic!).

So frankly, if you guys are reading... bring back Chip and leave that loser woman off the show once and for all. You owe it to the fans.

Really.

The demonologist in the 2nd show was ok, but she's not Chip. Really - nevertheless, it was cool how you did the inclusion thing with the ghost that suffered from disabilities. We've finally reached a new level of political correctness where even our poltergeists get to be non-homogenous.

And if we're doing 2 episodes a night, you can at least give us some clarity without your changes and rush endings.

Geezum...

Bride Wars Review With No TRULY Revealing Details.

2009-01-20T08:44:00.000-08:00

Ok, so it's a chick film, but I laughed and laughed.

Maybe it's because right now we're figuring out all of the details of our wedding (some of which are changing as we accomodate more guests to Ohio), and at one point, one of the grooms to be makes a remark about women planning weddings (I won't ruin it for you, but I was rolling).

Maybe it's because I remember sweet and sexy Kate Hudson in Almost Famous (when she was at her zenith and nobody cared about her inability to pick a husband - that means you Black Crowes schlub).

Maybe it's because Anne Hathaway either does family friendly fare or naked films (none of which I've seen by the way) and it was an image while she was on the rope (and we wonder how she ended up in that dating predicament with that last schlub).

All the same, it was a very enjoyable movie, and for guys who are suckered into chick films you can do a hell of a lot worse (the new Sandra Bullock movie comes to mind - then again, 99% of Sandra Bullock movies come to mind).

And while the ending tied up TOO quickly, it still was enjoyable and is worth owning.

Next up - He's Just Not That Into You for the anniversary / Valentine's Day weekend in 3 weeks.

The State of Music...

2009-01-17T17:26:00.000-08:00

So I started working out again. I've been doing the treadmill - no weight lifting - yet. Trying to get rid of this belly. Seeing if I can get rid of 51 pounds before the wedding. Seeing if I can improve my energy in this winter drain...

And yeah... it's snowing again. I'm predicting a blizzard with the weatherman predicting snow through until Monday. Whether it happens or not is another story. I think the weathermen are in cahoots with the supermarkets, but alas, I shouldn't peddle in conspiracy theory - even if it's most likely true.

Anyway, to make this stuff happen, I'm probably going to have to do a lot more cutting down on what I eat to go with the running, but the calorie counts are nice. The energy is nice. So yeah... I'm positive about the whole thing.

But a lot of it comes down to music. I was energetic today with my mp3 player takes, but it wasn't like I was when I had AC/DC, Metallica, and Slayer running through it full volume. There's just something about metal that brings out the animal inside for a workout, and frankly, I probably should have just gone to a specific folder, but alas...

The point is that I have no idea how people do the whole slow jams R+B shite for workouts (let alone much else). Now, I'm in no way a metalhead - more a casual listener of almost all genres, but not much for the whole rap and whatever you would call Beyonce's If I Was a Boy (codependent pop slop modern day R+B perhaps), but that kind of stuff. I'd also add any leg humping strip joint hangout lyric music that comes through on the radio when I let Ariel listen to the pop station rather than one of my CDs (inevitably, we should just go with 80s music or something we can both agree to - hell, the new Pink would be fine even if it's not great all the way through).

Now, to each his own, I say, but don't make me listen to this uninspired mopey / bedroom music for those who shouldn't breed when I'm working out. Play it when I shop so I get in and out, but not while I'm trying to shed this Santa Claus in training belly that I've got going.

If you want to play anything, and I know it isn't for everyone, the album to play for the gym is Slayer's Reign in Blood. Perhaps, the greatest thrash album of all time if not the best metal album (if we're not including Hendrix or Zeppelin as metal since we really can't fit them in there).

The point here is this: from Angel of Death to Raining Blood, what you have is a thunderous level of guitars, drums, screams, and aggression, which is pretty much what metal is supposed to be about (well, that or American teenage boys' obsession with cars, gals that are out of their league, and drinking away the week, but frankly, if you want that, you can do Motley Crue's first album, which is also in contention for best metal album of all time as would be AC/DC's Back in Black - even if they're Aussies). What you have is a soundtrack of historical and grotesque visions of horror that pass under the senses while opting for the drilling and fast-paced assault on the immediate world around the speakers.

There is a shock value, which seems juvenile, and perhaps for that, it leaves many to wonder just why this album is so amazing 23 years later, but from the howl of Angel of Death to the thunder and lightning of Raining Blood, there is not a moment of respite from the maelstrom. Nevertheless, for as celebrated as the first track is, the album truly picks up by Jesus Saves, the 5th track and twists and tosses the psyche until its ending.

If you love metal that is thrashed out and uncompromising, this is the album.

All the same, life isn't all about thrash and doom and gloom. It's also about a myriad of other genres and emotions, so I add in the 3 CD volume of last year's greatest songs of my life (mostly what I drove around to while cruising through 2008).

2008 CD 1
1. Follow Through by Gavin Degraw
2. Falling in Love in a Coffee Shop by Landon Pigg
3. Follow You Follow Me by Redhouse Painters
4. Anyone Else But You by the Moldy Peaches
5. Beautiful by James Blunt
6. Real Love by Jamie Callum
7. Green Eyes (live) by Evan Dando
8. You Are the Everything by REM
9. I’m With Her by Rhett Miller
10. In the Summertime by Mungo Jerry
11. Saturday in the Park by Chicago
12. Everyday People by Sly and the Family Stone
13. Ants in My Pants by James Brown
14. Beautiful Day by U2
15. Be Good to Yourself by Journey
16. Umbrella by Rhianna with Jay-Z
17. So What by Pink
18. Smile 4u by Magnapop
19. Untouched by The Veronicas
20. Beginning to See the Light by Bobby Darin
21. Question by Rhett Miller
22. The Luckiest by Ben Folds

2008 CD 2
1. Singer Songwriter by Okkervil River
2. Aspect of an Old Maid by Mendoza Line with Will Sheff
3. Dollars to Donuts by Mendoza Line
4. Candy Jail by Silver Jews
5. Walcott by Vampire Weekend
6. 3 Dimes Down by Drive By Truckers
7. Come on Eileen by Badly Drawn Boy
8. The Villain by The Old 97s
9. Accidents Will Happen by Nick Cave
10. Middle Management by Bishop Allan
11. Farewell Transmission by Songs Ohia
12. Palmcorder Yanja by The Mountain Goats
13. Everlasting Scream by Elf Power
14. Alec Eiffel by The Get Up Kids
15. No One Else by Piebald
16. Reptile Style by Reigning Sound
17. Strange Times by The Black Keys
18. Jesus Lived Six Years Longer Than Kurt Cobain by The Bollocks Brothers
19. Rooks by Sheerwater
20. I Go to the Barn Because I Like to Burn by Band of Horses
21. White Winter Hymnal by Fleet Foxes
22. Brokedown Palace (live) by Bonnie Prince Billie
23. Waterloo Sunset by The Kinks

2008 CD 3
1. Northumberland West by The Sadies
2. Suffering Jukebox by Silver Jews
3. We’re All in This Alone by Mendoza Line
4. On the Bubble by The Broken West
5. Time Bomb Highschool by Reigning Sound
6. Campus by Vampire Weekend
7. Missing You (live) by Evan Dando and Tom Morgan
8. Leave the Lights Off by Whiskeytown
9. We’ll Get By by Gary Louris
10. The Velocity of Saul at the Time of His Conversion by Okkervil River
11. The Funeral by Band of Horses
12. Down on Me by Eugenius
13. The Best Ever Death Metal Band Out of Denton by The Mountain Goats
14. My Mathematical Mind by Spoon
15. Blue Veins by Raconteurs
16. The Righteous Path by The Drive By Truckers
17. Umbrella by All Time Low
18. Devil Without a Cause by Kid Rock
19. We Call Upon the Author by Nick Cave
20. Raining Blood by Slayer

The 12 albums of the year in no particular order:
The Stage Names by Okkervil River
Vampire Weekend by Vampire Weekend
Dig Lazarus Dig by Nick Cave
Everything All the Time by Band of Horses
Lost in Revelry by The Mendoza Line
Reign in Blood by Slayer
Swingers Soundtrack
April by Sun Kil Moon
The Believer by Rhett Miller
Mouthfeel by Magnapop
Lookout Mountain by Silver Jews
Blame it on Gravity by The Old 97s

The most unappreciated movie of our lives...

2009-01-13T09:23:00.000-08:00

Hot Rod...

If you found Napoleon Dynamite to be even remotely funny...
If you found Step Brothers to be piss your pants funny...
If you think people getting hit in the balls is funny...
If you think Borat's wife (Isla Fisher) is kind of hot in a goofy way and should be with someone better than him (who doesn't)...

Then have I got the movie for you.

I was literally rolling on the floor.

Jack's Back

2009-01-13T09:11:00.000-08:00

The whole Tony is back from the dead angle isn't even that hokey - at least compared to Die Hard 4's suspension of disbelief. That said, the show is "borrowing heavily" from Die Hard 2, but alas, Jack Bauer is just a more no nonsense version of John McClain from Die Hard 1.

Then again, that's not a bad thing.

And so we're back with torture first and foremost on everyone's minds... still wondering when Janeane Garofalo will get waterboarded for being a traitor (why else would she be on a conservative television show when she's just way too liberal for what the show has come to be about). Until then, we'll roll through the fact that there are less characters than a Russian novel (as opposed to the season 2 years ago when everyone was a character and had a storyline somewhere and somehow and none of it connected back to the central theme) and all of them seem to be going in good directions that we want to see play out (then again, 2 years ago, it was a great season until the aftermath of the suitcase nuke clouded up everything until Fayed quickly got his ass kicked and then it reclouded with dear old dad, the angry Asian villain, and the capture of Audrey Raines and the resurrection of her "dead" dad).

And maybe it's good to not have nukes, chemical weapons, biological weapons, and angry Islamic terrorists (or Russians or various other people Jack once knew), but then again, you can never tell. Until then, we'll just let Jack, Tony, Bill, and the Chloe-ster kick ass at unravelling the great government conspiracy that is once again filling the small screen.

The Third Time's Not a Charm.

2009-01-13T08:50:00.001-08:00

What a difference 11 years makes... or even 8 for that matter.

I always used to say that the greatest moment in my life was Mark Mcgwire's 55th homerun in 1998. As the culmination of a summer, of 3.5 days driving out of California to be at a game, it was the moment that led my life to literary joy (the subject of the story of my life) and the direction of my life (the decision to be a teacher).

There's something conspicuously absent about a plaque from 2 years ago when Cal Ripken and Tony Gwynn got in. What could have been the greatest Hall of Fame class in ages (especially if Rickey Henderson would have retired then instead of playing on for the sake of records and not knowing what else to do with his life).

In a room where Mark Mcgwire memorbillia fills every corner, every nook and cranny, it still smarts to think of the man not being a part of Cooperstown. For what people knew or didn't know, for the legality and oversight of andro being legal in baseball at the time and somehow diminishing of his accomplishments, for the fact that people want to claim to be pure and respectful to the game (when most people don't know crap about the history of the game) want to give props to history, and for those who believe the worst in the man for what he didn't say (when they didn't listen closely to what he did say), it's just another sad and cold January day.

And once again, Mark Mcgwire was passed up for the Hall of Fame at Cooperstown.

And once again, the world passes judgement as Mark Mcgwire drifts further and further into a life without baseball.

But worse of all, we forget about the magic of that memorable 1998 season.

And despite the fact that driving to a baseball game and the 501-foot blast that changed my life is now #2 on my all-time memories list (to my engagement), there is something lost in my history that just makes me wonder.

August 15, 2009

2009-01-12T12:56:00.000-08:00

The date established...
I give you Ariel's song for our relationship.

First post of the new year...

2009-01-05T11:07:00.000-08:00

3 hours and 52 minutes until the new job begins.

Kelly Pickler's awful new years presentation on Dick Clark's Rockin' New Years Eve where even though he is recovering from a stroke, he still sounded WAY MORE coherent than she ever could, and yeah... I'm here and it's a new year.

Thoughts for the new year...

Went to Middle Creek yesterday to see the geese, but there wasn't much to see. A circle of white bird bodies over a small hole in the ice, but that's it. Not even geese feeding in the fields.

Did a walk of Tulpehocken Creek the weekend before. It was 6 miles, and it felt good, but alas, I need to get myself moving a whole heck of a lot more since I felt rough the next day.

Now, I'm feeling gimpy. It's too cold to hike most days and there is no snow and no ice formations, so it's hard to want to put distance in, but like I said, I have to start getting me into shape if only to look good in the Brooks Brothers suit on August 15 (the wedding date).

In the end, the plans will consist of the following:

1) wedding in Ohio. We were thinking Marblehead Lighthouse, but it could be changed to accomodate guests who will end up at Ariel's sister's place for the reception.

2) honeymoon through Mammoth Cave, Land Between the Lakes, Opryland Hotel in Nashville (it has a river that runs through the building!), the Smokies, and then the Shenandoahs before returning home.

As for the rest of the year, the definite plans include

1) Weekend in Ohio the end of this month for Ol Girl's family birthday deal-e-o.

2) Inn at Jim Thorpe ghost weekend in the beginning of February.

3) Cherry Blossom Parade in Washington DC at the beginning of April

4) Florida weekend in late July to see the Wards and do Disney.

5) Unspecific trip to Herkimer Diamond Mines in New York.

6) More trips to Ricketts Glen.

7) The snow geese of Middle Creek at the very beginning of March.

If we do the things that we didn't get to do, it would include:

1) Antietam Battlefield Memorial in December.

2) A Dickens of a Christmas in December at Mount Hope Winery.

3) The Philthadelphia Phillies relatively new stadium, which I haven't been to yet. Hell, I haven't been in a live game since 2003.

4) More waterfalls on PA209 (upper Tumbling Waters, lower Raymondskill Falls, and Deer Leap Falls for sure).

5) Worlds End Falls with leaves still on the trees.

6) The PA Grand Canyon from the floor of the valley.

7) Polyphonic Spree and Okkervil River if they get off their butts and tour locally.

So yeah... I'm procrastinating (though I did actually do a huge Powerpoint, an Excel sheet, and some xeroxing)... hoping for the best and letting my stomach relax a little from lunch before I hit the treadmill. I'm not impressed by my MP3 player having too much music on it to work (that's an interesting conundrum, and I don't have a cable to take stuff off of it).

And yeah... it's 2009 and when will someone beat the Eagles and knock their sorry butts out of the playoffs? Really.

In the spirit of the end of the year... (UPDATED)

2008-12-31T06:31:00.000-08:00

I was assigned to do homework for tonight. New Years Eve is going to be pizza, champagne (for Ariel) and Yuengling (for me). It should be noted that we'll be lucky to have 2 glasses each and not pass out. Being older isn't quite the party that young kids think it is. Then again, I'm 37 and she's 33 and our party days are long behind us. We have some older movies, and it's going to be a low key night.

In addition, the biggest stuff is the goals and the wedding planning. I have been thinking about where I want to go (I liked her original idea of going to Ohio at a lighthouse with some family) and she's been thinking about where she wants to have this (she's in favor of very small and tropical and alone), and frankly, whatever we come up with is going to take some time to work and save towards (esp. with the lack of education $ coming my way until mid February). UPDATE: we chose August 15, 2009 for the wedding date. More to follow on that.

Anyway... the New Years goals...

1. Exercise. I could really deal with losing 35-50 pounds by July 1. To do this, I will...
A) cut out clownfaces (for real this time).
B) cut out donuts (for real this time).
C) cut down on calorie drinks.
D) eating sizable portions.
E) eating at normal times.

F) to TRY to eat more healthy as well.

2. Not waste as much time online.

3. Read more books. I read 9 books since the end of August. That's not that good. I said that I wouldn't buy a new book until I hit book 20, but I'm going to cave in to get Charlie Adams Ghosts and Legends of Coal Country because we need to read up about the ghosts and legends of that area. I really should read 25 books by July 1. That's about 1 a week. With what I've started, I can do that.

4. To always be affectionate and appreciative of Ol Girl.

5. To not get so worried and worked up about things that I can't control. Follow Dale Carnegie's advice.

6. To do more professionally with photography and writing.

7. To finish the 2 stories of my life that I have begun by the end of the year.

8. To not get angry about things that won't matter in a short amount of time.

9. To eliminate the 2nd job in favor of something that works better for who I want to be by the end of May so that I can work gainfully for the summer.

10. To not waste money on things that don't matter and to use it for more practical things.

11. To not procrastinate the things that I need to do.

12. To be more helpful around the house.

New Years Eve has always been a low key night for me. Yeah, one year, I did go see Phish at Madison Square Garden, which was fun, but not kickass life is awesome and perfect fun. Sure, in younger days, there were parties, and some were better than others, and beer and liquor were good until hangovers hurt more than they used to (thanks Hank Jr.) and now, I'm just looking for a night of quiet reflection on where 365 days have brought us and where a lifetime is taking us.

Yeah, it's cheesey, but still, at 37 and 1/3, I have to figure this out at some point.

And so it is Boxing Day.

2008-12-26T13:14:00.000-08:00

It's official - I took back Christmas - and it was great.

I guess you could say that Christmas officially started Tuesday at 2pm when I left work. Just the feeling of not working for 5.5 days straight is a great feeling. I love the feeling of sleeping in. That's what I'll be doing the rest of the weekend - because I'm lazy, and because I can, I will.

Oh yes...

It should be imporant to note that I'm off until Monday. I'll have 2 quasi days of work, and then, I'll be off again for 2 days, back for 1 day, and off for the weekend. Life is really good.

I haven't done much all day. It was nice to sleep in, and well, I did load up the new MP3 player (the one I bought myself with my parents' cash way back when on Black Friday) to about 2gb full (out of about 7.5, which is all the 8gb holds - until I tweak it and get rid of crap inside), but the rest of it is something for later.

However, with regards to the beginning of Christmas, you could say it began when Ariel, my aunt, and I drove through the freezing rain that wasn't freezing any more to visit my relatives in West Chester. The ice that coated the highways and sidewalks (a pain in the ass and $17 worth of super heavy duty Prestone stuff to clean the sidewalks off later) was also quickly gone. So yeah, we got to take in the Irish side of the family, which is always a good thing because they're definitely super nice and welcoming.

However, today, it's all but over except the memories I share with you now. I played around with all of the video from the holiday, too. It came out rather well I must add though only 1 of the videos is up for public viewing.

And yeah... it was the most beautiful time of the year with a gift certificate to the haunted Inn at Jim Thorpe already booked for our anniversary (the day the L-word first came up) from February 6-8. On that note, we did get the haunted room 310 - so check back for that story! Right now, we're intending to do a video - kind of like the arseholes on TV who do the ghost stories - we'll be mocking all of their sorry selves and calling in Chet, screaming we're not afraid, and acting like spazzes all in the name of paranormal numbskullery!

But in more serious notes... Ol Girl got me a Brooks Brother's suit! And while it's not pressed, and the pants aren't yet tailored, I look pretty damn shit hot in that and the Joseph A. Banks bowtie she also got me.

And yes, I did wear the other bowtie for Christmas Eve - though I will admit I was the only one who appreciated it - well, Ariel said she did, but I think she prefers me in regular ties all the same!

It should also be noted that she finally saw A Christmas Story, and while she found parts of it funny, she didn't get it in the same way that some other people do.

And yes, I am the kind of person who has to laugh out loud every time I see the "pink nightmare" stocking at Wal-ly World. I was going to buy it for my dad, but I didn't want to waste the money. Still, it was hilarious to look at.

In addition to the Brooks Brothers suit, Bumble also got his Bumble statue! Now, his sorry little life is completely complete!

I already said in other posts about a lot of things that I got Ariel, so I'll let you trip through my archives (the light fantastic). The only last minute gifts I got her were a Nike wicking shirt (like Under Armour makes) with socks to match and a new pair of gym shoes, but this was the outfit that I got her.

And she hooked me up with socks, boxers, candy, and a Pedi-egg that definitely made my feet look a whole lot pertier than they had been. Sorry - had to do it to prove that it really does make a difference.

Yep, it's giddy holiday love!

Speaking of which, we've begun reading the "classic" Christmas story Rescued by the Magic of Christmas, which is halfway romantic, and the rest of it is me adding my touches to the story (like about the side characters liking "booze," which results in a 3 minute prolonged belly laugh). Yep... it's a holiday classic with memories to last forever as Carly pines over Jake who was her brother's friend before he and her former fiance died in a Mt. Hood accident. Yep... it's that good.

Everything went pretty a-ok. Last night, we did drive around Gring's Mill and the neighborhood I used to live in (and save the fact that it was memories of a childhood best left forgotten instead of remembered when I should have been celebrating Christmas), you could say it was the most memorable Christmas in years.

You might even call it the best ever.

I know I'm still riding high on the holiday spirit.

Hope yours was memorable as well.

Friday morning, very early - 621 anyway...

2008-12-19T03:21:00.001-08:00

Ok, so the last of the essays are graded, and the finals are over (I still have to look at them and post the grades). I should probably be doing that, but I have plenty of time before work. PLENTY, I tell you!!

I also got a job teaching GED, which starts the 5th of January. As a result, I won't have to slum in hospitality (I always swore I would never go back to food service, and when it looked like I would have 6 weeks at 15 hours a week - no increase in my advising hours to save me at the end of the semester, I went and applied for a job, but fortunately, didn't have to take it when the job offer came through). There are a lot of make up hours for the 5 days off and the 2 nights closed early for the 2 holidays, so there won't necessarily be all of the available hours I truly want to have in the next so many days (planning for the GED classes and getting a digital frame loaded with pictures for my sister for Christmas AS WELL AS making the year end CDs).

In the end, the lesson is 1 of St. Thomas Pettyus stating, "most things I worry about, never happen anyway." I'm trying to take that same Wilbury approach from Master Dale as I read his How to stop Worrying book. I really need this. Gotta keep myself karmic and mellow. Just because.

Tonight, Ariel and I go to see Rhett Miller. As you know, I went to 1 concert in summer (Mark Kozelek), but last week we went to see Gavin Degraw, The Veronicas, Leslie Roy, and Jack Dillman.

I don't want to oversimplify the first 2 acts, but let's just start with Jack. It takes a lot to do solo acoustic in front of an audience. If you're going to try, A) make sure you have charisma, B) make sure people know your stuff, and C) make sure people are tied to the chairs or forced to stay in their places because it's a small packed club if you want them to stick around while you're whining your life over 1 guitar. Dillman at least covers C.

Leslie Roy sounds like Melissa Etheridge. That's not necessarily a compliment, but instead of being the 8th generation of Meredith Brooks impersonators (she even sings a song about being a psycho bitch) to take a single acoustic guitar to the stage and hope for the best, she has 2 others joining her for rollicking angry 30something female aimed tunes. It goes over well, and it's not half bad, but it's nothing you'd buy a CD for the way home.

I had aspirations of the Veronicas being great. Then, I got the CD, and well, let's just say that they're riding an Austraillian wave of Katie Perry influence to somewhat stardom (see Take Me on the Floor). Unlike in younger days, I don't look at bands's pictures. If I did, I would instantly be turned off, but I admit, I like Untouched, I do. It's just... I don't know. Pop music is so disposable and momentary... even at it's best, I can listen to most songs for a month or 2 and then I need something new. It has to say something to me about my life, and I'm not untouched. Of course, I could say that I've gone to work and haven't been hugged or smooched, and now I need some affection (ok, I could use some affection after work), but still... what's worse is that it's all acoustic here, and they're all synthesizers. In the end, they do the 2 previously mentioned songs and 4 other ones. They sit on their chairs and sing along with 2 gee-tars, and well, that's that.

Then, it's Gavin Degraw. He starts with Follow Through, and that works just well for the little pop fiend in the front. She has a sign with her and the big G that says "this is the start of something good." It's really touching, and if this was a room filled with carefree high school girls, it would probably not be alone. But it is. And it's a small club. And the drunk guy beside me is voicing his disapproval. And the girls who are dancing with each other in front of us are snickering. And the drunken Barbie dolls who are standing in front of us while we keep arm length from their swirling drinks are between caring and not caring, but it's clear that they probably side with drunk guy beside me who is in his late 30's and just doesn't remember how it feels that great to love a band (I really like the book title from the Minutemen song that says "our band could be your life"). For the time, I feel really great to be in the presence of fandom, but then, I'd like her to be a little restrained with the sign, too. Then again, the pole on the side of the Chameleon club where I'm standing is obscuring my view, too, so well, I can't complain. If I did complain, I just wish Gavin would have acknowledged the sign with a, "that's awesome! if you put it down so my other fans can see it, I'll autograph it and let you take 10,000 camera phone pictues of me for all the girls at school to see."

See, I'm a problem solver.

But nevertheless, Gavin is good. Surprisingly so. I had only really heard him when a former student made a CD of his stuff. At the time, I preferred Neutral Milk Hotel, and I still do. For that, it was kind of cosmic that between Dillman and Roy, the DJ played Holland 1945. It was the best song of the evening (Neil Young's Powderfinger by DJ was great as well), but Degraw did some good stuff. Then he went into banter. And then he went into Silver Bells. And then he went into some birthday song. And then he went into longer banter. Then we left into the Lancaster rain, and that was that. Remarking about what was played, the feeling of Stevie Wonder 60's / 70's Motown was evoked in light of cover (Tracks of My Tears), and it was a good evening, although a little wet walking from the street parking (my fault, sorry Ariel), and yeah... it was a nice evening.

Doing the Elf Dance!

2008-12-16T06:02:00.000-08:00

Well, Elf Dance 2008 didn't upload properly from Jib Jab, but you can view it here.

Such is today...

2008-12-11T06:29:00.000-08:00

Principal: Mr. Madison, what you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.

Billy Madison: Okay, a simple "wrong" would've done just fine.

I"m the biggest winner... now, if only I could get a new and better 2nd job.

2008-12-02T05:06:00.000-08:00

I won at this fine site. You could too... if you're smarter than I am.

Currently grooving to...

In memory of those killed and wounded in Mumbai

2008-12-01T15:49:00.000-08:00

It's hard to get an accurate number of dead and wounded with the numbers going up and down. I hear from between the 170's and 195, and frankly, it's all too disturbing with nearly 300 more wounded.

I promised I wouldn't take this blog political. I'm trying to live up to that, but this stuff just further depressed my alone time at the end of the week, and thinking and reading about it now just adds to the thoughts of how scary and evil some people can be.

The wold is just an ugly place sometimes.

But here's to the power of healing and togetherness and making things right WHATEVER that takes.

It was 1 year ago tomorrow (Monday)

2008-11-30T12:34:00.003-08:00

That ol girl and I went to our first movie date together.

We went to see Fred Claus, and while I don't remember that much about the movie, I can say that it was a memorable experience.

She who was known as Ol Match Dot Com Girl at the time and I went to a megaplex theater near where the 2 of us now live. We're both really shy, so there was that initial banter that tries to get conversation going, and we hit the theater, got tickets, and went in to get a seat. After about 30 minutes, she excused herself and didn't come back right away.

Instantly, I had visions in my head of a co-worker who actually ditched out on a Match Dot Com date and called friends to pick her up. She never went back in and never explained that it wasn't a good time. She just left!

I started to fear that this was going to be the last Match Dot Com attempt I was ever going to make.

Previously, I had gone on about 15 of these "dates" with various degrees of success - if success is meeting someone that you enjoy being with (since I wasn't using Match Dot Com for booty calls).

The gal previous to Ariel was actually 6 dates before she just stopped answering calls. I gave her 2 calls over several days and when I didn't get a call, I just figured... no interest... no explanation needed. I had set myself in for the end, and 2 minutes before I left for the New Pornographers concert in Philly (October 2007), she rang and said, "call me."

So I did. Twice.

She never picked up, she never returned my call, and that was that.

No hard feelings - it was 6 dates that weren't improving our situation together, but it wasn't like we were arguing or not clicking - just shy.

Anyway...

I had about 1 week or so left on my membership, so I contacted another series of gals, and 1 e-mailed, so I e-mailed back never hearing anything.

My subscription ended, and that seemed like that.

Then, I got an e-mail and I had to pay to subscribe again to open it to see who it was from, and it was from the last gal that I responded to after she responded to me. It was an insignificant and meaningless e-mail, and I felt cheated, but I was on again.

In the end, Ariel was the last person I was ever going to communicate with. I knew that as I e-mailed her, and when we met, I felt like I had made it here for a reason, and I wanted to see how this panned out in reality (since online dating is like a job interview with even more high pressure since it's all about love - not something trivial like a job).

And there I was on the date, sitting there thinking I had been abandoned, but she had come back, and there was hope, but she vanished again, AND CAME BACK again, and was to vanish back a few more times because she was sick (not nervous - sick, like Drew Barrymore in the beginning of Fever Pitch).

But I held her hand as we left the theater, and when we got back to her apartment, I got a kiss goodnight, and I must have been in my right frame of mind because I called her to see how she was feeling the next day, and we continued on from there. In the beginning, we were shy, and it took a while to truly feel comfortable and at home, but now I am, and I can be goofy and sing along on the radio in voices of whoever is singing (male or female), and it's just really great.

We go places, and we have fun. We miss each other when we're not together. We do the kiss and hug and love you hello thing. I want to do the pro-wrestling thing, but alas, we don't really do that. Sometimes, you just want to put each other in headlocks (for fun). We don't fight (there's no point, and besides, you can't take mean things back). I look at her and see beautiful, and frankly, that's the way that I like it.

So yeah... today, we went to see Four Christmases for our 1 year together celebration (I work until 8 and wouldn't be home until 830 tomorrow).

I don't know what kind of expectations that I had for the movie, but alas, it was a good time, and a fun movie for all parties involved.

I gave belly laughs, and it felt like it was going pretty fast even though they stayed long at the family's places.

There were a lot of recognizable faces (Robert Duvall, Jon Favreau, Jon Voight, Mary Steenburgen, Dwight Yoakam), and while I confused Sissy Spacek for Mia Farrow (2 actresses best left in the 70's) and didn't recognize Tim Mcgraw, it was a fun time.

I really like Vince Vaughn as an actor.
Ben: "That's awesome. Do you know Vince Vaughn? Have you ever met him?"

Alison: "No." Ben: "I really feel like we'd get along well. I just-- He seems like a fun guy I feel like we'd hang together well."

Alison: "Mmm-hmm."

Ben: "I feel like he'd like me. You know, I'm sure a lot of guys are like, 'Oh, I'd like to hang out with that celeb', but I really think he would want to hang out with me, is like the cool thing."

Alison: "I'm sure he would. Yeah."

And I really think Reese Witherspoon is well, kind of attractive as well. And I appreciate her acting in the first Legally Blonde (the 2nd 1 sucked), Walk the Line, Just Like Heaven, Sweet Home Alabama, and Pleasantville.

As a whole, she's done some crap (Cruel Intentions comes to mind) and she tried to find herself in horror movies (American Psycho), bitchy movies (Election), and topless scenes (Twilight), somehow, she is America's sweetheart, and that's fair enough. When she's really good, she works well, but the problem here is that she didn't get along with Vince, and it really shows sometimes. They're not exactly Drew and Adam in the Wedding Singer.

But it was a great movie... and it always is a great time.

So while she's sleeping off the end of a vacation that she came back from too early and like a trooper still went and did the meet family thing yesterday afternoon, I'm going to end this blog with a happy giddy feeling of 1 year of love.

A Year in the Life - Dec 1 - Anniversary of the First Date

2008-11-28T03:19:00.000-08:00

If a picture says a word, here is 13,000 words - 1 for every month we have been communicating with one another. Sometimes, in the course of life, we get nervous, get shy, and just don't take chances to do the things that really make all of the difference in the world.

I don't know where I'd be with out Ol' Girl. I really don't. I'm glad I took the chance because I found the "real" stuff!!

For the love of Wal-ly World

2008-11-28T02:51:00.000-08:00

If it's Black Friday, then it's getting up ridiculously early in an effort to get gifts for the IMPORTANT PEOPLE (8' digital pictures frame and 2gb SD card for my sister ($40 and $10), Kid Rock (for my dad - don't even ask - something about being the new Lynrd Skynrd or something) a 4gb flashdrive for my sister's boyfriend ($9 - he's impossible to buy for - esp. without a list - as is my sister), the Kung Fu Panda DVD for my friends's kids ($9) and The Pink CD (which was probably the only overpriced thing at $13.88, but like Kid Rock, it came with a free mp3 download)) and chapstick for the ol girl (she's a chapstick fiend)). In addition, I picked up the Alvin and the Chipmunks DVD for a co-worker (oh, she will owe me big for that) and a 8gb RCA mp3 player for myself from my parents!! They had 4gb SD chips for $10 a pop, so I got 1 for my parents and 1 for my sister as well. They're most likely going to be Christmas presents as well. In addition, I got myself an 8gb flashdrive to send music to another friend because HEAVEN KNOWS you can't just have 1, 2, or 4 gb to send music with. 8gb is 2,000 songs, so let's hope in what my friend gets, she will be happy (and return the drive). I also got thank you cards for the interview I went to the other day - gotta give myself some leverage and inevitably, I have to write people Christmas gift thank yous for getting me my presents on my Amazon Dot Com list. And in an all things considered move as well, I got new sheets for Ariel and I. We have army green and pastel yellow, so I decided to get that light blue color that always looks great on button down shirts for when she comes home tomorrow.

All in all, people weren't that bad. There was a lot of banter and it was nice that they let us inside to line up in various departments (2 years ago I was stuck outside and got shut out of my DVD / CVR combo). Last year, I went, but I didn't go bright and early. I got the 24 DVD sets then, but this year was more specific purpose. Sure, I got DVDs for myself ($2 Wedding Crashers and Perfect Storm), but I really did go mostly for other people.

I helped out some old ladies grabbing portable DVD players ($50) and the elusive Kung Fu Panda (well hidden, you are) as well. Yeah, it was all fun and nice games until it came time to go from electronics to DVDs and then I was off like Usain Bolt with a cart in my hands (a lethal weapon if someone was to get hit in the side with that).

So that leaves some stuff for my mom, dad, and aunt to go (I got a lot of other stuff on Wednesday at The Red Wal-ly World (Target) and via Amazon and Columbia House). If you know what to get a 60 year old woman who seems much older and doesn't allow for clothes to be bought (and really has everything she needs save a gift card for a supermarket or Wal-ly World), let me know. I also have to get something else for my sister's boyfriend, and of course, I'm going to get flowers for the ol' girl. Wal-ly World has really sweet roses for $10 a dozen. They come in a variety of colors, and they're always a hit. Besides, Ariel has vases and she likes to arrange flowers (Mighty Morphin Flower Arranger) herself.

So yeah... it's 614, and I'm about to go back to bed. Fortunately, I didn't sleep solid (woke up around 3ish, went back to bed until 4ish) and so I was able to get a primo spot in line for my stuff.

You've gotta love the Wal-ly World. I know that I do - benefits be damned, I'm all about the cheap prices (and you should be, too).

Bumble continues to play Powerball until he gets his bailout for $25billion

2008-11-26T12:20:00.001-08:00

This is hilarious.

Feel the music, and live beautifully in the glow of the new Subpop

2008-11-25T07:09:00.001-08:00

Subpop was once Nirvana, Mudhoney, and all of the Seattle lumberjack shirt wearing bands that made grunge what it was. In the labels of my childhood, there was SST, Dischord, Alternative Tentacles, Wax Trax, and then, there was Sub Pop. Sure, there were major labels that had a lot of good music, but they weren't a collective. Now, there is the new Sub Pop, which is made up of Band of Horses, Iron and Wine, The Postal Service, and Fleet Foxes (amongst others).

In 1991, I had the extreme honor of getting to see Nirvana at the Reading Festival before they got huge. Somewhere in the middle of their set, I ran out to try to get a shirt, and they were already sold out. The dancing skinhead and the grunged out guitars seemed to make the rain all go away (I think Thurston Moore stated that again after my snail mail sentiments that went out with the pictures that I took at the 3 day festival in England). It was one of those magical moments, and it's nice at 37 to be able to say I saw someone in their heyday (like Nine Inch Nails opening for Jesus and Mary Chain before anyone knew who they were or Blur when they only had a single out, but unfortunately, not the Oasis show at the Cambridge Boatrace in 1994 - how'd we miss that one?!).

There are bands I would have liked to have seen in those days. Neutral Milk Hotel in 1998 would have been the bees knees. The Stones in the late 60's also comes to mind (before they became one of the most OVER-RATED bands ever by existing and playing into 2008 - but they're not alone because as is the Who for the same reason. If Keith Moon was still alive, hey, I'd be there. Janis Joplin always sucked and for people thinking she was good, I'm just confused, as I'd rather be hog-tied than listen to her as she is perhaps the most over-rated person to ever play music - more so than Little Wayne is this month (or is he already forgotten in hip hop's fickle sense?). The Doors were always loved by that quasi poetry crowd that thought Jim Morrison was a genius for his lyrics and actions and F bombs, and thus, they're over-rated because Morrison's poetry is worse than that of Jewel (EVEN THOUGH some of their stuff is good). Rounding out the top 5 classic rockers that are over-rated would be Queen for creating sports stadium rock before it was an album. A few good songs is not a career, and for having to hear 2 songs (We are the Champions and We Will Rock You) over and over, I can only hope Freddie Mercury was forced to endure musical Purgatory).

I would still have liked to see the Misfits or Black Flag or the Dead Kennedys or Minor Threat or Skinny Puppy, but I would have liked to have seen all of those guys as a teenager - not a 37 year old. Frankly, 37 year old me doesn't even want to play any of them (not named the Misfits) more than 2 times (between them) a year. The Misfits are just great at any age, but going to see them live in this day and age...

Then again, I would love to have seen Metallica on the 1988 Monsters of Rock tour for And Justice for All (granted, the Master of Puppets tour would have kicked butt; however, I have no interest in seeing them opening for Ozzy). The monster heavy metal sound in an arena full of like minded headbangers before they went all commercial with the Black Album. Oh hell yeah. Nevertheless, for pure metal, I would love to have seen Slayer kicking Reign in Blood live at full volume. I'd want to be a comfortable distance away when the mosh breaks out during Raining Blood and see if it's really how Chuck Klosterman describes it in his book Fargo Rock City, but frankly, I don't see why the God of Rock Writing would lie (Nick Hornby isn't a "rock writer's he's self described as pop music and branches out in a lot of directions WHILE Rob Sheffield's Love is a Mixtape is very good, it just isn't "great"). And yes... I am serious. I still love that album, and can somehow divorce it's lyrics from the fact that I am repulsed by horror movies... even when singing along... but that's a LONG blog for later, so stay tuned and I promise it to you as a Christmas present.

I saw most of the other bands that I wanted to see. Sure, I would love to go back to the early 70s and see Credence Clearwater, Crosby Stills Nash and Young, The Grateful Dead, and the Beatles at Shea Stadium. Billy Joel or Elton John in clubs in the early 70's would be cool, too. So would Frank Sinatra when he was younger than I am now. Hell, I'd love to see Stravinsky's The Rights of Spring back in the days when people were rioting in theaters because of the content and the radicalism of such a beautiful BALLET. Then again, Hank Sr. and Gram Parsons would make brilliant shows, but so too would a younger Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, or even a Hank Jr.

The point is that music, any music played with feeling and life, is the point of life and I realize how inspired I am by it as it takes over more of the things that I want to write with this novel that I am about to kick out of me (I can feel it coursing through my veins in these liner notes I seem to be writing).

I can feel how bands like Husker Du must have felt as they were imploding with internal strife and the suicide of their manager and the lost years it created for Bob Mould, musical genius, before he came to create Sugar, and I can still remember sitting there in that London theater and seeing him take the stage with The Act We Act, the song of my 1991-1992 relationship's disolution and feeling all of the greatness come out of him once again (after Workbook and Black Sheets of Rain failed to live up to the true Bob Mould), but it was too late because that was Nirvana and Pearl Jams and The Smashing Pumpkins days (past present future in August 1992).

Now, now all I want is to go see Okkervil River and Band of Horses... yeah, them too (but without all the little emo kiddies around). I'm older and mellower, and frankly, I just want to feel the vibe. I'd love to see Polyphonic Spree again, but they'll never be as good as that first show at the Philadelphia Theater of Livng Arts in the summer of 2007 when I saw them at when they redeemed their tour and my life that was sitting there bored in the corner before they took the stage and ran forward and came alive all at once.

I'm going to see Rhett Miller at the end of the month and taking Ariel because Question is truly a song that makes me think of that night I proposed, and I have always thought he and the Old 97s rock. We're also going to see The Veronicas (a flavor of the moment female fronted loud guitars and synths band) open for Gavin Degraw because it's cheap and it's local and I have only seen one concert this year (Mark Kozelek whose version of Follow You Follow Me with 1 acoustic guitar and a female vocalist was positively haunting and the rock and roll moment of the year - not just because it made a hot sticky night in the First Unitarian Church worth the cost of admission in a show that would otherwise have been sit down and watch and try not to fall asleep tunes).

And I love music. I wouldn't want to live without it - except maybe Katy Perry (no matter how catchy she is) or the vast majority of radio music (though I really do like Pink's So What) or this crunk style cRAP - hell, almost all cRAP for that matter.

Last night, I finished up Nick Hornby's Songbook for the 2nd time. I have done parts of it with my classes (the section on Teenage Fanclub's Your Love is the Place Where I Come From and Puff the Magic Dragon). The book isn't so much about the specific music as the feelings that the music generally evokes. It's not a where was I when I heard it thing (as I often feel), but rather an expression of music as something completely necessary and vital in our lives.

I can remember my friend Brian stating that he wouldn't want to live in world without Lou Reed. I think about how music is complete and total and necessary and one needs to have so many genres and different discs because you never know when you want to hear THAT SONG.

Right now, that elusive song is The Floors' Jesus Lived 6 Years Longer (than Kurt Cobain). Blender had it listed as one of their 1001 songs to download.

It's not that I'll care about it in 10 weeks. I just want it on CDs for the car now. Isn't that the point.

It's like I want the music below in my car. I like it a lot. It makes me feel good.

I hope it makes you feel good, too.

Enjoy their music here (and scroll below this for lots of new posts)!

Actually, these events are older, but I'm not expecting people to go back to look for them.

2008-11-25T05:58:00.000-08:00

So many things happening for so long, and it hasn't seemed like there is enough time to write it all. Seeing as this blog was meant to be the chronicles of Ariel and I and the things that we do, it's important to write those here.

I'm currently being inspired by the sounds of Shearwater's Rook CD. It's not really music that you can do much to except type, which is nice. I have ambitions to work on my novel as soon as I finish all of the catching up stuff that I want to do, have to do, and the like. I have a lot of music I intend to try out for the purposes such as the new CDs by Bon Iver and The Fleet Foxes, so we'll see if they inspire the story of my life post the decision to be a teacher (that's already been written about). As for Shearwater, the album was described as out-Okkervil Rivering Okkervil River, but with as great as The Stage Names is, frankly, it's not happening. Rook is soaring and depressing through the lives of rock stars, dead and alive. At points it is minimal and orchestral, while at other times it rocks out in an anguish that seems to come from the grave. Time will tell how many of these CDs end up in my collection. Perhaps it could be used for occasional night time driving or perhaps it will be the greatest CD ever.

Only time will tell.

As the music becomes haunting in that way that background music in an M. Night Shymalan film does, we move to Poe.

October 14th, we went to Mount Hope Winery to see Poe Evermore. I'm not a Poe guy at all. In fact, I think he's INCREDIBLY OVER-RATED (definitely not up there with literature I'd really want to read: Orwell, Vonnegut, Hawthorne, Faulkner, Tolstoy, and a few others for their singular works - Steinbeck, Heller, and Fitzgerald), has an unhealthy infatuation with dead teenybopper Xwives, and well, let's just say, I'm not into slasher horror at all, which isn't necessarily the problem with ALL Poe, but it does cover enough of it that Poe can cross the boundaries at times. However, in a beautiful mansion with wine tasting beforehand, Poe can come off as quite well done (at least until the wine wears off and he goes back to becoming the same Poe that ended up dead on the Baltimore stree when his future brother in laws decided to let him die).

Nevertheless, the The System of Dr. Tarr and Prof. Fether was actually really good (at least as performed by the actors located to the left). And it's not that Tell Tale Heart was bad. The woman very seriously shrieked out in horror and banged on her prison cell, which is the mark of any great actress, but frankly, it was PAINFUL to watch, and for that, I had to close off. Berniece was just eerie and gross. Living dead girl buried alive and getting her teeth pulled out by lover who misses her just isn't a turn on to me. Call me crazy, but...

Yeah... it was a good time and they'll move to a Dickens of a Christmas soon, so let's get holidayesque and festive!! Christmas is coming and you can buy me presents here. I don't mind at all.

++++++

In a Place of Dead Roads style of writing, we go still further back to the weekend previous to that and talk of the tales of wandering around Hawk Mountain in search of birds that weren't really flyilng, but it was beautiful that day (at least for the weather and leaves).

Inspired by the end of the season and the leaves of the previous weekend, I knew it was time to make a stand against the coming of winter, which has set in full on raging and I can feel the Seasonal Affective Disorder coursing through my veins as I seek to bundle up in the cold and try not to get too crazy regarding my knucklehead neighbors that want to start parking wars with where I can park my Yaris, but alas... karma is on my side.

The day began looking for Matthias Schumbacher's grave due to the fact that he and his victims make up a serious Charles Adams told ghost story in this northern "Eck" corner of Berks County.

The grave, which I have been to before is covered with grass as it is broken and just a stump, so instead of showing that, I will say that it's near this statue, which looks a lot cooler anyway... not least because this picture of it is awesome.

All things considered, natural images like this tree hovering over a cave area, are just as haunting as the unholy memories conjured up into modern life by the thoughts of some 1800's serial killer.

And yeah... here are some images from that hike.

And while it was the last beautiful one of the season, it was a vision of majestic expanses that covered miles with their rusty colored leaves that surrounded the River of Rocks, and pushed out to the farms and fields in a way that only the Appalachian Trail's surrounding area in Pennsylvania can.

Bill Bryson would be proud of that as he remembers his visions of Katz on his most memorable hike.

I would be proud of Ariel for her ability to capture images like the one to the left. The whole drive was like this.

Pennsylvania gorgeous. Come and visit us. We'll put you up (for a small fee!).

And so I leave you with a soaring image that leaves on the voice of Hannah Marcus and the guitar of Mark Kozelek ushering us all into the winter months with the last visions of autumn.

Forwards, Backwards... (more posts to follow - I promise)

2008-11-24T06:39:00.000-08:00

I haven't posted in weeks. Been busy. Very busy.

And here we are on a Monday morning, Ol' Girl is in Boca Raton enjoying the sun and surf - at least watching it that is. I'm sitting here in the adjunct room reflecting on politics... killing time between classes where the students are writing surveys on me.

Strengths - lots of time spent individually evaluating student papers on the board and at Barnes and Nobles days.

Weaknesses - Not enough time for grammar. Too much time spent trying to encourage students to do their work and trying to avoid negativities that COULD happen. Nonetheless, this is 5 years at this college. I should know that they're going to do it or not going to do it. I should just be like Andy Reid and bench my problems with their own decisions of what they did and didn't do. Make the right decision and let Donovan go to trade or free agency. What the hell is this with these NFL length contracts anyway?

Don't get me wrong; I'm not an NFL guy. I don't have a team. I'd be jumping on the bandwagon, and besides, I can't even name you EVERY NFL position, which is the only way a person should be allowed to say that they follow football. Hometown loyalty is one thing, but let's also be honest; Philthadelphia is a craptastic ass city with nothing good in it.

NADA.
ZILCH.
ZERO.

The closest I've come to following the Eagles is when Jeff Garcia took over and won consistently when Mcnabb was injured a few years ago.

Then, they let him go, and they returned to sucking.

But anyway... it's the last day of teaching before 6 days of Thanksgiving vacation. For that, life is good. No more waking up to an alarm clock on cold days, so I'll just get to update this site, finish up the photo album, work on the real deal webpage, and write for myself.

Having Ariel in Boca Raton allows me the time to do this to keep my mind off the fact that the apartment feels empty without her.

When you're here, I sleep lengthwise
But when you're gone, I sleep diagonal in my bed.

Hershey Bears vs. Philadelphia Phantoms

2008-11-15T08:36:00.000-08:00

I'm not a hockey fan. I don't play one on TV, but then again, I don't claim to or claim to be.

That said, Ariel had 4 free tickets to see a game, so we went with her brother and sister in law. They're a little more into the whole hockey scene than us since they've been to see a game in the last 5 years. The last game I saw was on a Match Dot Com date 6 years ago. She was overcoming Peruvian jungle virus from eating foods that she shouldn't have, high school students at the time were approaching me, and well, it was actually more amusing than all of that sounds.

I also went to another game a few years earlier, but that was for something to do when I was in that post relationship stagethat we all go through from time to time. I was mopey and annoying, so I left early to go be moody in private.

Thus, I was very psyched to actually have a good game this time. So were the fans. After all, they were foam paws and foam bear heads!

The game was pretty good as well - save the $7 beer. For those people that don't know, this is what a $7 beer looks like.

In the end, we won the game - 7-3. In the 2nd period, we were actually losing (we as in the home team, since it's root, root, root for the home team when you're not a TRUE FAN of the game). This was due to bad calls that were quickly answered with taunts of B-U-L-L-S-H-I-T! (2 in total) that fired up Hershey for the win.

The videos below are the Oskar Osala hat trick and aimless skating around. I thought it was a video of a knock down take off the helmets fight, but alas, like the DUMBASS that I am, I deleted that 1; I am stupid, Stupid, STUPID!

Anyway....

ENJOY.

Madagascar / Kung Fu Panda Review

2008-11-12T14:41:00.001-08:00

As the oldest person in the theater THAT DIDN'T have kids, you might say that it felt uncomfortable to laugh and cavort in my chair, but alas, ol' girl (who is actually younger than me) didn't mind. Neither did the kid next to me who was equally bouncing around in laughter ALTHOUGH I clearly was more into it than he was.

These youngsters today are hopeless.

Earlier in the year, the 2 of us had seen the original Madagascar and all things considered, seeing as we hadn't seen a movie since Nick and Nora, it was time to go. The theater in Amish Paradise has $5 first run movies as a way of giving back to the economy in these dastardly times, so why not?

And yes... David Schwimmer is worthless, but there is Chris Rock! And there is Ben Stiller and Mrs. Will Smith! And Borat is there and he's not doing the Borat thing (and we'll forgive him for being married to Isla Fischer when she is so much cooler than his sorry self will EVER be). And Bernie Mac is there. Yeah, Bernie Mac did a voice over for Madagascar before he untimely died. And so is Cedric the Entertainer and Will I Am (who unfortunately made a name associating himself with talentless hack Fergie).

But it's the penguins and the monkeys that make it happen. Well, Chris Rock, too (because he's never done anything bad other than I Think I Love My Wife), but yeah...

The animation and fun are what it's all about, which is a good segueway to Kung Fu Panda.

I can pretty much sum up the movie by its early on quotes:

Legend tells of a legendary warrior whose kung fu skills were the stuff of legend.

It is said that his enemies would go blind from over-exposure to pure awesomeness!

Sure, Angelina Jolie is just a little too omnipresent in life that we don't need her voice (at least we didn't have to get confronted with her "big-mouth bass" lips), and Dustin Hoffman was probably fulfilling contractual obligations while Seth Rogan, Jackie Chan, David Cross, and Lucy Liu served bit parts here and there, but somehow it all worked out nicely, and it was fun, and it was Crouching Tiger and Kill Bill's training scenes for young kids. It was the don't be ashamed of who you are, don't judge a book by it's cover, believe in yourself thing for kids, but it was also Eastern Philosophy for young kids, and wouldn't it be cool if we could somehow make the Tao Te Ching accessible to kids (or adults for that matter - then again, I think there is something in one of those chapters at the back about not insulting people with "big-mouth bass lips")

It's hard to think of too many kids movies that fail, and for that, maybe it is time to see Bolt and feel goofy and kidlike with John Travolta and Hannah Montana / Miley Cyrus (whatever her name is this week). Maybe, Monsters vs. Aliens can't come soon enough and it should be March 27th already! The beautiful Reese Witherspoon, Kiefer Sutherland, Seth Rogen, Paul Rudd, and more!

As Will Smith might be paraphrased to say - Aw, hell yeah!!

Places that I want to go to (and if I win Powerball, I could afford to)!

2008-11-07T16:44:00.000-08:00

This is a former post that was resurrected and updated.
1. River rafting the Grand Canyon like these Imax film makers. And to think that this is an Imax film. Even with the Dave Matthews Band music behind it.... goll dang.

UPDATED quick review of that: From the moment that the water starts flying out at you and you are thrust through the chutes of the Colorado River, you know that it's on - even with Robert Kennedy Jr. and Robert Redford on board for some sort of political star power, you know that this is a super fun experience of natural joy. Dave Matthews' more cheery songs add to the mix - as does the journey to Havasupai...

PERFECT LEAD IN!!

2. I'd definitely go check out Havasupai Falls. If I won Powerball, I could go in and out without staying overnight and worrying about meth addicted Native Americans trying to rob or kill me.
3. I'd definitely go back to the Wave. Just because I can. I'd take my dad because he was really into the pictures and the story that went with it. While I'm there, I'd be taking in Buckskin Gulch. I'd also want to get a houseboat to do Lake Powell properly as well. Cathedral in the Desert would be fan-frickin-tastic.
4. I've never been to Oregon, so I would definitely have to take a visit to Crater Lake. Let's be honest; looking at this picture, how can you resist it?
5. I've never been to Washington either, so I'd have to see Olympic National Park and Puget Sound and all of the places around Seattle. I'd definitely check out a game at Safeco to see the master hitter that is Ichiro.

BUT THAT SAID... I'd really like to see the waterfall paradise of North Cascades National Park and especially Green Lake Falls. I need to see what it looks like - maybe to be the first to be able to take some kind of picture to put on the web and prove that it really is as good as those satellite photos say.

6. I'd definitely be all about Machu Picchu to do the archaeological wonder of South America. I'd definitely have to have my Neruda packed for that.
7. I'd also be going to Egypt to see the pyramids, but just like with Havasupai Falls, I wouldn't be staying. I've only heard bad things about Egypt and frankly, I'm a picky eater.
8. In order to get all 50 states, I'd have to go to Iowa as well. I'd be checking out Effigy Mounds National Monument. I've wanted to see them for quite a while, so I'd definitely be driving through there to see the sights.
9. In Michagan, I'd be foregoing the sights of Detroit and Ann Arbor and going north to Isle Royale National Park. Lake Superior in winter looks incredible, but I could handle it in fall as well.
10. This woman I work with and her husband own this place in Maine. My parents went there last year. It's right next to Acadia and all of the other great coastal Maine spots. how can you go wrong?
11. The closest state to me that I haven't done other than Michigan is Vermont. I definitely want to make it to the White Mountains in the near future. Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream. Lake Champlain. That independant spirit. So much better than stodgy Reading, PA. Then again, I don't live there anymore... so I'll kick back in Amish Paradise.
12. Someday, I will go back to England. There are a lot of places that I want to revisit, but I'd really like to see the Uffington Horse again.
13. The ideal summer vacation could just be Yellowstone, the Grand Tetons, western South Dakota and Devil's Tower. The Black Hills and the Rocky Mountains are incredible.
14. Any of the national parks in Alaska would be cool to see. Denali would be the best to see, but frankly, just to be up in grizzly country and to watch them feed on salmon (like my parents did) would be awesome.
15. Hawaiin volcanoes at the National Park of the same name would also be great and would get me another state on the list.
16. North Dakota doesn't offer much in choices, but I'd like to see Roger Maris' grave in Fargo. Sure, there are naturey things to see, but I'm more about paying my respects to Roger.
17. I would drive down from South Dakota to the most redneck looking bar right over the border and drink beer and eat lunch in Nebraska just to get that state. What else is there to see in that state? It's one of the 9, so...
18. Apparently, Jesus statues are everywhere (like this one in Monroe, Ohio), and while I'd be down for pictures of that, I'm really all about seeing Touchdown Jesus at Notre Dame.
19. Darwin, Minnesota, houses the world's largest ball of twine. Then again, Cawker City, Kansas, boasts large string as well. I'm so there.
20. Dale Sr. is Americana. I'd really like to see his grave and memorials in Kannapolis, North Carolina.
21. I'd like to go on an African safari to see the mountain gorillas. They're in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda.
22. If I hit Powerball, I could afford scuba lessons, so I would be all about the cenotes of the Yucatan. If I was there, I'd have to see their pyramids as well.
23. If you were in Antarctica, wouldn't you go see the penguins? I know I would, but I would also want to see the arch at Spert Island and fumeroles as well. I'm a wuss when it comes to the cold, but I could definitely be down with that.
24. Easter Island is way up there on the list of the things to do and see as well.
25. On the subject of archaeology, I would want to see Rock Lake to see the lost pyramids underneath it as well. Tell me that scuba training wouldn't make my life the bomb?!!
26. I'd want to go to the Columbia River in Washington to see where they found Kennewick Man - just to pay my respects.
27. Fenway Park on the Monster seats for the World Series. Tell me that wouldn't kick ass!!! I could afford it if I won Powerball.
28. The entirety of the Zion Narrows has eluded me due to my lack of technical climbing ability. I would train in that and take it on. If I was trained for that, I would do random canyons in the southern Utah parks, but especially go to see Blue John Canyon.
29. I'd like to go back to New Orleans to see what that's like now that Katrina has done horrors to her once picturesque self.
30. I'd like to take that proper trip to the Scotish Highlands and really see the islands (such as the Orkneys, the Inner and Outer Herbides, and finally get to see Loch Ness.
31. I would definitely want to go to Yosemite National Park and pretend that I could take pictures like Ansel Adams. I could definitely afford his equiptment.
32. I'd also like to go to Cork, Ireland, if only to see the cliffs and feel a little bit of the Irish countryside that people rave about.
33. How can I forget Glacier National Park in Montana? How could I never have been there already?
34. Angel Falls in Venezuela would be fun, too. I don't think I'd want to be there that long, and I wouldn't want to go until Chavez left power, but still... that place is beautiful.
35. Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe is the grandaddy of all waterfalls and I definitely couldn't miss that.
36. Last but not least (until these places are completed and I can move on to other places), I would like to see Japan. Tokyo would serve the purpose.

The thing is, you never know when you're going to lose your favorite places. The Taliban bastards blew up the Buddhas of Bamyan and fortunately, I got to see the Old Man in the Mountain before it collapsed.
I can always go back to DC, Ricketts Glen, Baltimore, and the yearly Florida vacation (you know where to go for those pictures), but other places aren't as easy. Granted, I'd have tons of cash, so if you're a really good person, I'd probably invite you along.

Hell, I might even visit you and encourage you to come with - twisting your arm if necessary.

That said...Where would you want to go?

Top 5 places I wouldn't want to go.
1. Anywhere in Italy.
2. Anywhere in Iraq.
3. New York City (won't go back except for the 9/11 Memorial).
4. The touristy beaches of the Mid Atlantic states
5. Rockville. I'm not going back there.

Perfect music for these gray and rainy days of November (esp. after election results)

2008-11-06T06:55:00.000-08:00

A Scary Week (and not just because I learned what Vulva Chic was)

2008-10-27T15:15:00.000-07:00

Last Thursday, I was rewarded with my 2 tickets to LA Theater Works's War of the Worlds presentation at the school (since I served as 1 of 3 discussion people in the middle of the month). For a radio show presented live, I must say that they did a good job. Now, I've seen the Tom Cruise vehicle (actually pretty good once they get Dakota Fanning to shut the hell up with her annoying little girl screaming) and the earlier version that was since colorized (serious campiness with minimal terror). Nevertheless, my favorite version is the one with Will Smith, Jeff Goldblum, Randy Quaid and the eternal bachelor - Bill Pullman (Independence Day). Let's be honest - it's not a Bill Pullman movie if he doesn't lose the girl someway, somehow (Mr. Wrong, Sleepless in Seattle, Singles, and let's be honest, he wasn't going to get any lovin' in Lake Placid). The only notable exception to this trend is Spaceballs (because While You Were Sleeping was a Sandra Bullock stalker chick crapfest).

But back to War of the Worlds, I always hated that stupid virus / bacteria ending. Too quick and too lame is what the good folks (me) who run this site say. It sucked in the book. It made the Cruise movie feel flat, and well, let's be honest, it wasn't good in colorized versions either. However, with Independence Day, it at least worked to break the shields for the intergalactic battle to end all intergalactic battles (oh, HELL YEAH!).

The Fresh Prince kicks ass and makes the almost end of the week work well.

Thus, the next day, I was teaching my class, and we were going through essays and looking at student URLs and first paragraphs (because that's what I get paid to do), and we were looking at body image since one girl was in the Our Bodies Our Selves site trying to determine how the fashion industry is complicit with eating disorders (definitely not a stretch), and what should come up but VUVLA CHIC.

For those of you that are curious of the definition, this is what Vulva chic means.

Now, it's not like I hadn't thought of the subject - frankly, it is something that crosses the mind of men as we actually enter into situations where it may or may not occur, but let's just say that it made for an interesting and EDUMAKASHONAL day. Actually, most of the class was interesting discussions on the death penalty, censorship, George Carlin, do it yourself art, ghosts, the changing perception of homosexuality, Pacman Jones, and the Williams sisters. I always learn so much and have to be on my toes for all of the different directions that their papers can go, so I feel happy - almost like a real college teacher.

And yeah... that's where my weekend led off. It was scary weekend.

On Friday, Ariel and I went to the Pagoda to hear Charlie Adams tell his ghost stories. It was nice since there was food there and it was free in honor of the Greater Reading Literary Festival. I had been to see him before and it was at the very end of a long Halloween season of stories, which are always entertaining, but can be draining. This time, he was draped in hat, cape, and fully on for an evening of stories (with ring bologna, pretzels, Goods' chips, and Goldfish crackers - yum, life is good with Berks County food!). In it were the standard bearers - Hawk Mountain and Gring's Mill - but he entertained questions of the young, the curious, and mwah (the haunted Inn at Jim Thorpe that Ol' Girl and I are hoping to go back to in February to celebrate 1 year since the other "L" word was uttered for the first time).

Saturday was a worthless rainy day that we didn't do much except end up at Park City Mall to go shopping. I really want to get a giant Bumble ornament and I was trying to continue my trend of taking back Christmas (last year's first Christmas was put on hold due to Ariel having to go back to Ohio for a family emergency), so this year is all about the holiday festivities. It's going to take some convincing, but frankly, it will be done!

Sunday was a mega day of fun. We started out looking for the elusive bow tie that I want to wear for my wedding and that Ariel will let me wear. In addition, I got to feel the way that a $1000 suit makes you feel when we went in Brooks Brothers, but unfortunately, as I am too po to pay those prices FOR NOW, I had to leave empty handed.

We wandered the expensive stores and eventually ended up driving through Valley Forge to see all of the deer that are everywhere. The bet was whether there would be deer before the arch. Ol' Girl said no, but I said yes, and as usual, I was RIGHT!

And trust me, they are everywhere. They definitely need to cull that population somehow, but alas, deer are pretty - like Bambi was, so frankly, it's not going to happen.

Afterwards, we managed to avoid some parking snafus, a rat running wild on the streets of Philthydelphia, and ended up meeting my sister and her longtime boyfriend at Eastern State Penitentiary for a fright fest.

This is supposed to be one of the scariest Halloween places in the country, and it really is a haunted prison, which makes it cool. The people go out of their way to be scary and if teenage girls crying about being scared and potential of getting spooked even more inside is anything to judge by... In the end, they did a good job. Not wanting to give details away, I would definitely recommend it, but I have nothing in this decade to judge fright by. All I can say is that it wasn't a stupid ass toxic dungeon theme or anything of that nature.

A definite plus.

Life since then... cold and gray and dark as the rains of late October fall down on my little Amish Paradise. It could be worse - I could be the Phillies trying to reverse the Curse of William Penn and to be 3 defensive innings away... but here's to tonight and the good things in baseball.

I definitely need multiple Dale Carnegie books to calm this feeling that I currently have, but alas, that's a whole other story and this is the happy adventures, so... I'll focus on happy things like flowers for fantastic fiances...

Yeah.

So last night was the cold and rain and gray and dark, but in between it all was the first time I carved a pumpkin since 1995. I don't remember much of that night, but I have a picture to prove that I did it!

Last night, we did some video for the memories, and eventually, I got settled into the experience of carving - trying hard not to overcut and connect the eyes to the eyebrows, but while mine wasn't the more creative of the 2, it did seem to mean well!

My Friend Pete Jams with Weezer - he's the horn player

2008-10-22T14:18:00.001-07:00

World's End, Sullivan Falls, Ricketts Glen.

2008-10-19T20:49:00.000-07:00

It's hard to believe that the weekend is really over. They always go so fast and a person just has to ask... WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO THE TIME OFF? That said, I'm at least off tomorrow on this 3 long days of work and 2 days in between to catch up on grading (so much to do - so little time).

And in the end, what did we learn?
We learned the Red Sox couldn't hold out hope with this team, and when hope backs your team, we just can't support them anymore. Really.

So today was the first day of frost. Waking up this morning to a freezing cold room that reflected 30 degrees outside, I couldn't get myself out of bed. In part, I was still tired from staying up to find out the game's score since I attempted to fall asleep after the 7th inning (Varitek's ugliness at the plate had a lot to do with that, but then again, so did the courtesy I was trying to extend to Ariel when she couldn't fall asleep with the lights and TV on), but ended up screwing around on the Internet until past midnight.

And yes... I can be courteous!!! If you don't believe that, see here.

The weekend was really early to rise on Saturday to meet Little Laura at Diatribes of the Easily Amused in an effort to go hiking in the great north of PA. I've known her since 1990, which is when this picture was taken (she's all the way on the right) and since that time we've communicated mainly by letters (and then e-mails) with some phone calls thrown in. As I wasn't in the country until 1996, it was hard to actually get together, but alas... we've stayed friends and it was nice for her to get to meet ol girl (especially now that we're engaged).

We had been planning a Ricketts Glen excursion for some time, so the last weekend of color in the north of Pennsylvania seemed like quite the time to do this thing.

All the same, this weekend wasn't the summer when we went and the water was flowing like a busted fire hyrdrant. Instead, the water was trickling down at a snail's pace, and let's just say that this doesn't make a good backdrop for photography.

Nevertheless, this was the last weekend I will go up this year unless I meet someone who has ice hiking ability and the weather (and Al Gore's climate police) cooperates. If all things work out, I would get to see something like this, but the reality is that I will most likely be doing my hiking in the ice on PA209 where there is less danger and new beauty.

Danger was highlighted on the trails this weekend as a woman was evacuated after an ankle injury. The thin trails made it difficult to get the stretcher out with firemen balancing from all corners and I quickly thought back to the accident from the winter and wondered to myself how people could find it in themselves to go back through the treacherous to rescue someone caught back in a place that could be that potentially dangerous to their own lives. It's a very brave feeling, and for that, I'm glad we have people that can do that.

Thinking back to my own first journey into the ice, I have to think how GALACTICALLY STUPID I was to descend the first sliding board staircase and how lucky I was to find an alternate trail back up after reaching the Huron Steps and knowing that there was no way in the world I wanted to risk going down them.

I think now how easily I could have been a popsicle, and I think just how lucky that girl was knowing exactly where she went in near. Frankly, I still love the feeling of being somewhere new and beautiful in unique conditions, but I don't want to risk injury or death doing it.

And while Ed Abbey was right when he said:

"Let them take risks, for Godsake, let them get lost, sunburnt, stranded, drowned, eaten by bears, buried alive under avalanches -- that is the right and privilege of any free American.''

There are ways to do this that I am more comfortable with.

But all this is getting ahead of and behind myself.

For the things that happened on Saturday, there was a journey through Centralia that is always an interesting occasion where the mine fires still burn and the sulphorous incinerations smell of rotton eggs. The fires weren't as pronounced as those from the video above (taken last winter), but Steph had never seen the place, so we had to go. Most interesting was the wind farms at Locust Ridge that now stand tall atop the mountains to the east of Centralia. Built in almost no time, it's nice to see people dedicated to newer forms of energy that don't deal with paying for oil out of the Middle East.

That said, this weekend, I paid $2.79 for gas in my little Amish Paradise.

After leaving Centralia, we drove north to World's End State Park for the overviews of the leaves. It wasn't a long stay, but it was a spectacular visual experience, and besides, it sure beats walking to the top, although (as evidenced from the views of 2 years ago), it's a beautiful walk - if you can find the trail.

Unfortunately, the leaves weren't that colorful as it seems that World's End State Park resides on the north side of the line of color.

Nevertheless, the Loyalsock Creek was still gorgeous in its gentle flow.

As for Sullivan Falls, after the steep and quick descent through what slightly resembles a path with a few rootgrabs and tree leans to make it not "so" difficult to approach, we enjoyed the calm and leaf covered pitch pool - even if it wasn't covered in the green emerald glow it was on my birthday.

But the day was about getting Little Laura to Ricketts, and that we did, although the journey became one of getting Ariel to the bottom because she wasn't feeling well. Fortunately, Little Laura was able to stay with her so as to not leave her alone (1million expressions of gratitude to that!), and I was able to provide an option to all of us reascending the ginormous mountain now before us. Not to elaborate on that story (she's better and that's all that matters), I rushed up the hill in Bumble record time (4 miles in just over 1.5 hours). Most of this was trying to beat the dark. I wasn't feeling the cold, but I was sure that Little Laura and Ariel were, so I rushed back to the car (leaving the camera and backpack with them so I wouldn't be tempted to take pictures or bogged down by weight) and drove down to pick them up.

As we drove off, this was the view out of the park.

All in all, it was a very good day (save the first feeling of frost when we got out of the Ruby Tuesday's in Bloomsburg BRRR!!!). We got to see some great views and even if Ariel didn't feel well, the important thing was that she was taken care of. In even trying to descend as far as she did, she was a trooper, and while she could have braved the ascent, it was better not to try.

So yeah... we've got 1 more good autumn weekend before the leaves start going kaput.

Here's to the adventures to come.

Nick and Nora's Infinite Playlist Review

2008-10-17T07:29:00.000-07:00

It's official - I'm old.

Overall, the movie was good, but it wasn't High Fidelity, which is probably the best music movie of my time.

Then again, Nick and Nora wasn't trying to be.

What they both had in common and what appealed to me was the love of mix tapes (which is so 1995 since we've already moved through mix CDs to just add songs to the iPod) and how a song can make the difference in all that is life.

I love music. I live music. As my friend Brian once said regarding the Velvet Underground, "I wouldn't want to live in a world without Lou Reed," which is a little extreme, but frankly, they did some great songs (Sweet Jane, Rock and Roll, Pale Blue Eyes) and I wouldn't want to not have access to them - hence, the tons of gigabytes of music I have stored on my hard drive.

Nick lives music. His ex-girlfriend Tris who he sends music to just experiences music as a way to be around people. One could argue she's never felt a lyric and contemplated writing 20 pages on it (such as Simon and Garfunkel's America which states "Kathy I'm lost I said, but I knew she was sleeping, I'm empty and aching and I don't know why, counting the cars on the New Jersey Turnpike, they've all gone to look for America). The volumes and volumes of mix cds she gets she throws away and Nora picks them up and feels them and lives.

What happens through the rest of the movie is basically a night / adventure / romance to remember. With that, it's a high school version of Before Sunrise where the guy gets to keep the girl. No need for plot details. It's not like you need to worry about being given away the details. It's a feel good movie with predictable play from Michael Cera who can only play one character (though he does that well) and Kat Dennings (the older daughter in the 40 Year Old Virgin) is actually more amusing and relatable. Listening to Cera whine the bimbo Tris for any length of time more than to establish he's whiney over her is reason to believe William Burroughs' Words of Advice for Young People (never get involved in a boy girl fight) let alone listen to anyone whiney complain or cry over lost love (yeah, Pete, I'm sorry about that trip to Harper's Ferry).

But what's making me so old is not the music. Vampire Weekend and Band of Horses are good. Some is mopey stuff, some is grow on your stuff, and well, yeah... it's modern indie rock. What's making me old is that I'm twice as old as the characters in the movie. If I was there age now, I'd probably be trying to be them - caught up in the scene like some hipster, but I'm 37 and I don't care about Finding Fluffy or naming members of most bands (let alone knowing the names of all of the songs). I just care about the lyrics, the beat, and the feeling, which doesn't change.

And for that, I'm more Nick Hornby's Songbook, which is a must read for everyone old like me.

Poconos Trip Oct 11+12

2008-10-14T06:59:00.000-07:00

Well yeah, I'm back!!

I won't be blogging regularly, but when I do something cool, I'm going to post it, so yeah.

A lot of things have happened since the last time that I blogged. First and foremost is that I moved out of Chateau Bumble and into Chateau Ariel and Bumble, which is smack dab in the middle of Amish Paradise, Pennsylvania. In that, Ol Match Dot Com girl is now to be known as Ariel (my Disney princess).

Trust me... moving out of the ghetto that is Reading, Pennsylvania, which proudly ranks 32nd on the list of most dangerous cities in America (and we don't even have a rap song to commemorate how bad we are) is a GREAT thing!

My Amish Paradise home is quite different than Reading. Let's just say that instead of getting woken up to hear gunshots, car accidents, and police pursuits, I get a fat opossum keeping me from coming outside!

Last weekend, we went to the Poconos to ring in the fall leaves. Let me just say, it was beautiful. No where is this more true than on Route 84, which is smack dab in the middle of this video.

Of course, the pictures never seem to do these trips justice, but somewhere in the oohing and aahing was a true natural beauty that even Al Gore and his climate police can't keep from us (like they did last year).

For this trip, we knew what we were in search of since we had been up there on 2 other trips.

The first trip took us to Bushkill Falls. Bushkill is a really nice waterfall that you have to pay to get in. As a result, they kick you out for the winter because they don't want to take a chance that your sorry butt is going to fall down and seriously hurt yourself, thus needing a rescue or something costly like that.

To maintain your safety and ease of access to the main falls, there is a boardwalk trail and several quiet and spectacular falls on the back end, but the crown jewel is still this main falls.

The second part of that trip took us to Glen Onoko in the Lehigh Gorge. I wasn't expecting the primitive trail, which wasn't that tough for me since I do a lot of hiking, but Ariel was still new to hiking at the time and the root grabs were kind of difficult (as was the steep terrain to get up to the first of 3 waterfalls). I topped out at the 2nd one and we turned around after a proud accomplishment of the day.

I will most likely be going back when she goes to Boca Raton for the Thanksgiving holidays with her sisters.

After this trip, we went back and tagged Silverthread Falls, lower Tumbling Waters, Raymondskill Falls (the biggest in the state), and this sweet falls known as Dingman's Falls in the late part of the summer.

Thus, the stage was set to go back up for last weekend to witness more falls during the leaf change period of time.

I did my planning for the whole time and eventually, I got an expensive room at a relatively local hotel that could affectionately be referred to as Not Quite as Relaxing as It Sounds Inn. I dropped $160 for a jacuzzi room to add ambiance to a romantic weekend, and I had great aspirations for the whole weekend.

In the end, this was the room that I got. It looks good, and let's say that it could have been very acceptable for what we were going to do had it not been for things I will explain later.

As time went on, I decided that this weekend and not Christmas would be time for the engagement, and I contacted several reliable women that I know to include Whimsical Ranter, Helen, and my sister (amongst others) as to what kind of ring to get a gal who wants a solitaire. The best advice amongst all the diamond confusion was to take her for a walk through, and let me just say, it paid off since the ring that she got was nothing like what I would have gotten for her.

Anyway... back to the trip.

The first waterfalls was Indian Ladders, and had it not been for picking the wrong trail of the 2 options - the one that led us through sticker bushes that trashed both of our legs, it would have been a great trip. The waterfalls were quite beautiful as seen below.

This was the crown jewel of Indian Ladders. Unfortunately, the light wasn't that great for photography, but let me just say, I was impressed at this remote little gem of Pennsylvania's forests.

From here, we went on and knocked out the first 2 waterfalls at Geo. Child's Park - Factory Falls and Fulmer Falls.

Factory Falls isn't exactly the most picturesque of falls unless you take the picture with both its upper and lower sections. All the same, it's a very peopled park that is right off the highway. You can eat a picnic lunch while tagging the falls along the boardwalk. You can also get annoyed by people who don't belong in nature and / or their evil children.

The second falls, Fulmer Falls, is taller and more picturesque. There is also a third falls called Deer Leap Falls, but somehow we didn't get to see that one. I'll call it hunger because that sounds better than I saw a cliff, but didn't walk the last 200 or so yards.

Fair enough.

From here, we went back to the Inn and took a nap before going out to eat at the Inn at Jim Thorpe.

This is a pretty ritzy place in a town that seems to be patterned after a Swiss town. There are almost no franchises (save a Subway) and the houses are all reminiscent of an older art community. To top it off, the inn is supposed to be haunted, so when we go back in February, we'll be staying in one of the haunted rooms!

Anyway... we were getting ready and I have to say that I'm pretty impatient to begin with, so while pacing around (in nervousness of the coming proposal), Ariel thought that I was pushing her along. Eventually, she finished getting ready and I asked her if she was fully accessorized. She thought she was, but I whipped out the ring box to show her that she wasn't. At this, I was officially engaged!

Thus, "I frosted her!" (to borrow from How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days)

We then went out and did our celebratory steak and shrimp dinner followed up by wandering the streets of Jim Thorpe.

When we came back to the hotel, I noticed the floor was wet. I thought it was from our time in the jacuzzi before we left, but alas, it was due to the jacuzzi above us leaking. When we told the manager, he offered us a towel, but Ariel was insistent that we get a new room (something I had no complaints about at all!).

In the end, we lost the jacuzzi, but we paid $70 less, so I guess that's ok in that it didn't dampen the evening.

The next morning, we got up and tagged this lovely waterfall at Hickory Run. It's called Hawk Falls, and we got there and proceeded out just minutes before everybody and his / her uncle came down the trail.

I was at the park before and I don't remember it being that standout (it's no Rickett's Glen), but it's still beautiful with a lake and a boulder field that you can hike to.

Nevertheless, we were only there a short time before we headed back to Jim Thorpe to see the Old Jail where the Molly Maguires were hung for rabble rousing and union building in those days of Pennsylvania's coal mine heritage.

The biggest attraction the Old Jail is the mysterious handprint on the jail cell, which was left as a Molly's innocence of the crimes he was charged and hung over. You can't take a picture, so I'll just show you the gallows instead.

After a short walk around the town, the weekend was over. It always goes too quickly, and well, we drove home to the 80's CDs we were listening to all weekend, did the laundry, and called the relatives to let them know about what had happened as well as to get her dad's blessing (I guess I'm ok since I got it!), and that was our special weekend.