Super Taco

Well, today was a good day. Things looked bleak when the rain started, but my brother Evan and I decided to make the best of it. We went to Taco Bell and then to see Super 8 in theaters.

We had a bit of a drive from Taco Bell to the theater, so we ended up leaving really early and getting to the theater about an hour ahead of time. That was also because we were thinking about going to see Cars 2, but we both decided that we really wanted to see Super 8.

To kill our extra hour we went to the Wal-Mart down the road and hung out in the gaming section for the entirety of the time. I saw these in Wal-Mart though and thought they were interesting:


I wasn't sure whether I thought these were laughable or interesting. On the one hand they looked cool just because they were all pretty colors, but on the other hand....REALLY?!! lol.

Anyway, in the game section of Wal-Mart I spent some time mooning over the 3DS and wishing I could buy it, and Evan and I browsed the game selection. But we spent most of the hour in Wal-Mart playing Mario Baseball (actually Evan played, I watched).
It was a pretty cool and fun game.



At 7:30 we finally headed back to the theater and watched the film we came there to see: Super 8.
It was brilliant. I really, really enjoyed it. One of the best written movies, and most compelling I've seen in a while. Not since Tangled have I wanted to watch a movie immediately again after finishing it. The production quality was superb, and the action gave me chills. Most of the time seeing action I don't care all that much. This action had a specific purpose and a real impact.
The kids were very good too and the acting was phenomenal. I was also very pleased with the slow reveal of the movie. You don't know what's going on and it keeps you in the dark a long time so that it unfolds satisfactorily, rather than a really quick, cheap blockbuster reveal.
The writing I think is the best thing about this movie. It has all of the ear marks of a sci-fi extra-terrestrial film, but it is unpredictable, fresh, and original in the telling. In other words, it's just cliche enough and just original enough. I hope that I get to see it in theaters at least one more time...it's worth another $10. And it's one of those movies I want everyone I know to see.

Lonesome

You know how you can be around people, friends even, and still feel lonely?
Yeah, that's how I'm feeling right now.

I finished "Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince" Today.
It is by far my favorite book of the series, I think. I like them all really, but I especially liked this latest installment.
I started the last book of the series but I've only gotten about a page in.

I didn't really get to start the 7th book because I actually went somewhere today. It's shocking really. I mean, the rate at which I go out and see people is not very regular or often.
Perhaps this is why I'm lonely...but, no, it's more than that.

I think the Harry Potter books have an odd paradoxical effect on me. I love them, but I am simultaneously stressed out and depressed by them at times. I think that is probably because of the sense of impending doom about them. And the adventures are very exciting and fun, but everything is overshadowed by the fact that I am not really having adventures or seeing friends myself. I am wishing my life was more exciting and less lonely and trying to live through someone else, i.e. Harry Potter.

Not trying to sound so whiny and like such a loser. But the truth is that almost all the people I want to be with most are no longer in New Jersey. And again it goes beyond that.

Brain Soup...An Invention That Needs Inventing

I think I will start updating with a little something each day. Guaranteed to make you twice as bored, now daily!

Today I got up scathingly early! Which means I barely managed to pry myself out of my complacent bed by 10:00. The bed laughed at me mockingly as I stumbled off to the bathroom, still trying to wake up.
I threw on my worst clothes and headed over to the church to do some painting on the half-pipe for the skatepark. Yes, I am back at the skatepark again this summer. Feast your eyes:


Ironically, or perhaps, completely ronically, a construction truck repainting the the road lines on the way to the church made me late.

While at the park I spent a productive couple of hours peeling paint (not an unsatisfying feeling) that was starting to deteriorate, and then re-applying a layer of primer and a couple layers of gray paint.
I really enjoy painting, and getting paint on my hands is always a satisfying feeling. It was even more fun wiping wet paint on my pants. Yes, if you haven't already realized it, I am one of the odder tools in the box.

In other news I am about half-way through the 6th Harry Potter book, "The Half-Blood Prince" and I am starting to think this may be my favorite book of the series. Things are getting good!


It seems that I am on track to finish the series before the final film comes out in theaters this month, which is my goal. The last film will be the first I've seen in theaters.

In other news, my beard is growing in nicely:

No, that isn't a rainbow-colored octopus creeping up behind me, that is my wonderful ceiling fan that I've had since I was about 10. :]
Yep, I am really advanced and forward thinking.

Cheers.

The Western Warbler

Square dividers stretched as far as the eye could see into infinitude, or at least, until they were obscured by the dark corners of the office. Norris Ninnington sat at his desk puffing on his pipe, a small gray cloud slightly obscuring his lined and concentrated features, like clouds at the mountain's apex.

The computer screen lit the various contents strewn about his desk; newspapers, files, pictures, papers, rubbish, a half full cup of coffee which had long since become devoid of all warmth or flavor. His cubicle was lined with stacks of magazines, news papers and photographs. Large maps of foreign countries in extensive detail were strewn about the stacks. Blueprints showing major structures from all of the biggest cities in over 100 countries. Maps of another kind were also spattered throughout the mess; strange and varying weather patterns from an assortment of years and places.

Mr. Ninnington's left hand, the hand that wasn't gripping his pipe with white knuckled desperation while he chugged away at it with the conviction of a hyperactive vacuum cleaner, held loosely to the corner of a single paper lying on his knee. It was titled The Daily Eagle, and the headline underneath this read, "Tyrannical Tornados in Shanghai" followed by a picture of an entire office building, not unlike the one in which Mr. Ninnington now sat, being engulfed ravenously by a massive twister.

On his desk another paper titled The Western Warbler bore a headline reading, "Brazilian Monsoons Create New Landscapes!" Over his computer keyboard another paper displayed the headline, "Earthquakes Leave Humongous Holes In Paris!" And upon his computer screen, yet another article headline read, "Weird Weather: To Hit Denver Next!"

The paper held carelessly in his left hand finally dropped to the floor, and Mr. Ninnington came to with a start. He ran his left hand through his wispy white hair absently, and removed his right hand from his pipe to look at his watch. Half past four. There was something about the time that made his right earlobe itch, something that needed remembering. But he was too lost in thought now, too numb from the length of time spent in one place, too apathetic about everything he knew would be coming in the next four hours to care about one little thing he was forgetting. Nothing would matter by then anyway. He would be gone, just like everyone else, becoming just another sensational headline to join the rows and stacks around his cubicle, which, incidentally, wouldn't exist anymore either.

He was starting to drift away into puffing thoughtlessness again, when a loud bang from the opposing cubicle knocked him out of his chair. A six-foot tower of papers, blueprints, and magazines came cascading on top of him as he grunted in surprise. And just as he was looking up to see what it was that had startled him, there was a brilliant flash of white light, and Mr. Ninnington knew no more.

Sermon 44- Original Sin (John Wesley)

This is a quote from one of John Wesley's sermons that I thought was most insightful:

"And so is "the desire of the eye;" the desire of the pleasures of the imagination. These arise either from great, or beautiful, or uncommon objects; -- if the two former do not coincide with the latter; for perhaps it would appear, upon a diligent inquiry, that neither grand nor beautiful objects please any longer than they are new; that when the novelty of them is over, the greatest part, at least, of the pleasure they give is over; and in the same proportion as they become familiar, they become flat and insipid. But let us experience this ever so often, the same desire will remain still. The inbred thirst continues fixed in the soul; nay, the more it is indulged, the more it increases, and incites us to follow after another, and yet another object; although we leave every one with an abortive hope, and a deluded expectation."

The Sun Sets Over Schuylkill County

Twas another grand visit to the mysterious and magical land of Pennsylvania. Not only were elaborate escapades experienced, new friends were made as well.

I joined my friend David as the sun was setting over Schuylkill county in Pennsylvania, and we caught each other up on the latest news. We continued our conversation and set out to grab some soda from the local gas station, listening to the new Owl City CD along the way. When we got back to David's we had some food and drank our soda while watching "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire," which I had never seen, and thus brought with me in case David was keen to watch it. He loves the series as much as I do, so we watched it right away, and after it was finished fell asleep watching the second movie, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets".

The next day we had some breakfast David made for us, and then set out for some fun with his friend Chris, playing a game he made up. The goal was to find as many coins on the streets as we could. Once we hit a dollar from the change we would get a lottery ticket for a dollar. The rule was that we can never use our own money, it has to be coins that we find, that way we never really lose any money on it, and the success is really in finding the change to buy the ticket.

We stopped for gas, and then lunch at Taco Bell, with no success at finding any change. We were surprised we hadn't hit a dollar yet because we only needed five cents. Undaunted we went to Cabella's for a brief look at their gun selection, and a more avid look at their parking lot, before leaving, still short five cents.

We headed back to David's area, planning to check the local car wash. Once there we found an entire quarter. We'd reached the dollar! Without dawdling, and amid whoops of joy, we headed straight to the gas station...and proceeded to lose on our lotto ticket.

After that we decided we still needed some excitement, so we met up with Chris's brother Keith and went geocaching. We wandered around in three locations enjoying an interesting hike along some cool looking rivers, train tracks, and a couple of bridges in the process.

Upon leaving the third location unsuccessful, we were tired and hungry and decided to head back to Chris and Keith's house. There we made a campfire and cooked some hot dogs for dinner, talking until it got dark. At that point it was time for me to make the trek home. We shook hands all around, and plans were made for later endeavors in the hills and forests of PA, before I drove off, certain we would meet again soon.

"Here Comes Inspiration!"

I've decided I'm going to start updating this blog with not only my own thoughts and stories, but also with anything I find that inspires me. In this way I will keep track of the things I find that inspire me, and I will hopefully be able to help others find the same inspiring things.

With that in mind, here is my first inspirational thing that I will put up:

This is a clip from an amazing film called In The Mood For Love
It is a Chinese film from Hong Kong, directed, written and produced by Wong Kar-wai who is one of the most influential and highly acclaimed directors in China.
I find this film and this clip with the music very inspiring, and maybe you will too.

The link (unfortunately you'll have to copy and paste. I don't know how to put a video into the blog post. Will find out soon):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjcTPRkAfL0&feature=related

The music is actually not original to the movie. The piece played here is called "Yumeji's Theme" and was originally composed for the film Yumeji by Seijun Suzuki. Interestingly enough, as the name denotes, Suzuki is a Japanese director. So this is a Chinese film with at least one piece of music from a Japanese director. To me this is surprising considering the relationship China and Japan have traditionally held throughout history.

Just a bit of interesting info.

Hope you like the clip on youtube!