Here we are over half way through October and I haven’t put up a single post.  Shame on me!  All I can say is that I have been doing a bunch of things lately and just haven’t had the time to post anything.  So, here it goes:

Went golfing numerous times with my family, messed around with a website, took many, many pictures (please see the gallery for the latest uploads) and of course I was drawing.  Also add to the list that I’m still looking for a job and that pretty much sums it up.

Whew!  I have been a busy guy lately!

With age comes the inevitable, death.  Not for me, I’m actually feeling rather good at the moment.  However, I was informed by the Internet gods that we have lost three entertainers and they are Patrick Swayze, Mary Travers and Henry Gibson. 

I’m sure you all know Patrick Swayze passed and his movies.  Mary Travers you’re probably saying “Who’s that?”  Mary Travers is the Mary from Peter, Paul and Mary, Folk music gods in the 1960’s.  The had hits with “Where have all the Flowers Gone”,  “Blowin’ in the Wind”, “If I had a Hammer” and the unforgettable “Puff the Magic Dragon.”  Henry Gibson was, in my opinion, a comic genius.  On Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In (yet again from the 60’s) he would read quirkey poetry while holding a sunflower and start everyone with “A poem, by Henry Gibson.”  He was on several television shows from “Love American Style” to “Boston Legal”.   I will always remember him as the inept Illinois Nazi leader in “The Blues Brothers.”

I guess it does happen in threes.  So to these three and all the other threes that are out there my condolences.

Since I am an artguy, I usually try to go see animated movies.  I have always enjoyed them since I was young so why stop now?   So with that said, I went to the movies today and watched 9.  The previews looked rather interesting so I was really looking forward to seeing this one.

First off, this movie is darkly beautiful and wonderfully animated.  The story begins with the creation and activation of 9 into a world that looks something like our own.  We learn about this world along with 9 as he meets others like him.  First he runs into 2, an inventor of sorts,  then 5 an assistant, helper and student of 2.  He then meets the the leader of the group 1 and his bodyguard 8. Other characters show up along the way that assist 9 in the quest laid before him.

This movie borrows themes quite a bit from other movies/stories which normally pisses me off, but the story is unique and they don’t blatantly rip-off any movie. (unlike Beauty and the Beast, but that is another post altogether)  Since I have opened Pandora’s Box with that last sentence let me explain.   The first movie theme that was used was from The Terminator.  In this film, as in The Terminator, man has created a machine that is to assist man to have a simpler easier life but ends up turning on it’s master.   The second movie, er, story is Harry Potter.  SPOILER ALERT! A scientist divides his soul nine times and places them in the nine separate creatures that are our heroes.  The big difference is that in Harry Potter, Voldermort splits his soul seven times in order to make himself immortal.  In 9, the scientist sacrifices his soul to save the world.  The third film that is used is Saving Private Ryan.  This is more of a personal feeling,  but I think that you may agree.  Just before the final attack in Saving Private Ryan all of the soldiers as sitting back relaxing listening to a record on an old Gramophone before the battle fore the bridge is about to begin.  SPOILER ALERT! In 9, the group of characters destroy the building that the evil machine lives.  With the treat of the machine destroyed, our group finds a Gramophone with a record on it and begin playing the record.  This is one of the most beautiful and intense scene in the film.   With that said, there is one more thing that I have to say about 9,  this film has is heart and soul (even if it has been split).

All in all I enjoyed this movie and will more than likely see it again.  With that said, I give 9 a 10!  Well, okay, five out of five.

9

Actors: Elijah Wood, Jennifer Connelly, Martin Landau, Christopher Plummer, John C. Reilly, Crispin Glover
Director: Shane Acker
1 hr. 19 min. - PG13 – Genres: Drama

Normally I don’t bend to peer pressure.  Well, not often anyhow but this time I did.  It all started back in 1975…

(add cheesy Wayne’s World squiggly lines fade out effect here)

I was in a musical group called the Small World Minstrels and back in ‘75 we toured California, Oregon, Washington and finally ended up in Canada.  Vancouver, British Columbia to be precise.  We performed at many venues along the way, even the steps of the state capital (California).  We also made many stops along the way to learn things about the areas that we were in.  It was a lot of work but a great time.  The tour lasted for two weeks and we raised the money for the trip by collecting cans and newspapers, selling raffle tickets putting on car washes heck, we even had a carnival.  Like I said it was a lot of work.

(add cheesy Wayne’s World squiggly lines fade in effect here)

Last Saturday we had a “mini reunion” and although I had lost contact with most of the people I was tracked down by the ever tenacious April.  It’s all Classmates fault!  She said that they had been looking for me for years.  I didn’t know I was lost or anything!  So they found me and we got together and we had a fantastic time.  It was really great reliving memories with these people and learning things that I never knew happened.  Eric will know what I’m talking about.

April was the first to, hmm how shall I say this, demand that I get on Facebook, then Chuck suggested then almost every one at the event.  So I have bowed to peer pressure, I have drank the Kool Aid and joined Facebook.  I just signed up yesterday and have a bunch of folks that I have tracked down and who have tracked me down as well.  This could be interesting.

There is a planned reunion in January with the Minstrels that should be a lot of fun.  I hope to see more of them next time around and hear their stories!

Man, how time flies.  I went from 45, to 11 and back to 45 all in one evening.  Who says theirs no such thing as time travel?

I went to see Inglourious Basterds last night  with my brother and nephew.  I must say that I really enjoyed this movie.  I am a bit of a World War II nut so I had to go and see what Tarantino did with the subject.  It had the definite feel of his film, but there was a big difference in it.  The story actually traveled from beginning to end in a straight line, something that Tarantino rarely does in his movies.

This film had what every good war film has to have; blood, guts, gore and violence but it had even more than that, it was very well acted and smartly written. (unlike this review)  “Bastards” could have gone overboard, some might say it did, but I found it a nice blend of necessary violence, drama and comedy.  Hearing Brad Pitt’s character speaking Italian was absolutely hilarious.

I will more than likely go and see this movie again in the theater and I plan on adding it to my DVD collection when it comes out.  I give it 5 smilies out of 5.  Well done to all involved!

Inglourious Basterds
Cast: Brad Pitt, Eli Roth, Diane Kruger, B.J. Novak, Melanie Laurent, Samm Levine
Director: Quentin Tarantino
2hr 32min‎ – ‎Rated R‎ - ‎Action/Adventure/Drama/War‎

I was talking with a friend of mine about nothing in general when the topic of life came into play.  He had a very interesting viewpoint on the subject, so I thought I’d pass it along to my 3.4 readers.

1. Make sure your body is healthy and your mind will be as well.
2. Discover the career that is meant for you.  Don’t choose your career only because it’s something that you can do, but find what you have to do.
3. Find that special companion that will support you as you support them in all life’s endeavors, the good and the bad.

Wish me luck on my search as I wish you luck on yours!

I guess when you get older you have to expect the people that you have idolized in one way or another will go from living legend to just legend.  Yesterday was another one of those days for me.  Les Paul, innovator and guitar-god passed away.  I think it’s safe to say that today’s music would not sound the same without Les Paul.

So what did I do to celebrate the life of this trail blazer?  I went to the Red Elvises concert with some folks that I used to work with in Simi Valley!  Although the sound mix was off we all had a good time.    All in all a fitting tribute to the father of the electric guitar.

Boy is my face red!  After my little stint in the sun yesterday without a cap on, my forehead and nose are quite sun burnt.  It’s not all that painful thanks to massive amounts of aloe vera.  Actually I plan to be peeling by the end of the week.  That could be quite fun! (I know, I’m a sicko)

Well in this case maybe so.  I spent most of the weekend (all of today) with my brother and his wife out at their place.  Since I am on strict orders from the doctor to “take it easy” I sat around and did as little as possible.  I still lent a hand when necessary but mostly sat and watched as life played out infront of me. (not an easy thing to do I must say)  As I sat there I completely forgot about the sun that was slowly turning my face into the same color as a boiled lobster!  Oh the pain of it all!

It’s really not all that bad and the aloe vera gel that I have is taking care of it quite nicely.

Yesterday was National Night Out and I spent my night out with my brother and his wife.  They both do work with their local Sheriff’s department so they had to go.  I was at their house, so I went along for the ride.  : D  So we walked around the park where the event was going on.  They would stop and chat with some of the people there and make sure that the little kids didn’t get kicked by any of the horses.  I was on my feet the entire time and today my injured hip feels pretty good.

Looks like things are on the mend! : D