New postcrossing!

I received a few new postcrossing postcards in the mail!

I received 2 from Germany:

And one from Norway:

Fortune du jour

"You are sociable and entertaining."












So, either I make friends easily and am fun to hang out with, or I talk too much and make a fool of myself. I'm OK with either of those descriptions.

At the movies: The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus

Movie: The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus
Rating: 4/5 stars

I went to see The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus last night, and I really enjoyed it. Really, I did. However, I did leave the theater with a slightly not-entirely-satisfied feeling, and I honestly can't put a finger on what I felt was lacking in the movie, but something just didn't quite entirely click for me. I almost feel that part of it had to do with the incredible piece of music that was used in the trailer that was not subsequently used in the movie. That irritates me. Especially when the music that is used in the movie doesn't quite live up to the expectations set forth in the trailer. The music in a movie is one of the most important things for me since it can really complete a scene, and the while the music in Parnassus was good, it didn't live up to the music in the trailer. Alas. Even so, the film was very clever and visually stunning! Of course, the big question on my mind going into the movie was how were they going to work Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell and Jude Law into the film, as they came in to finish Heath Ledger's role since he died while they were filming the movie. I don't want to give away how they worked the other 3 into the film, but it was well done. Of course, this may have also been part of what made me feel not-so-satisfied, as I kept looking out for their inclusion, and quite frankly just the knowledge that they were in the movie finishing Ledger's role was a little distracting. I kept finding myself trying to see where they had to use doubles for Ledger and whatnot, so didn't find myself entirely immersed in the film as a result of that, either. All in all, I really did enjoy the movie and I think I'd like to go see it again.

For more information on the movie, visit the official website here.

It's a new year, time for some new goals

OK, so it's a little late in the year to be making resolutions, or goals; I like goals better, resolutions just sound so final and I know my life is not like that. At all. Never has been, never will be. I wish there were absolutes with me, but I simply don't operate that way. So, here are the things that I want to work on this year. I'm hoping that if I get them down so that I can refer back to them at the end of the year, I can see if I actually made any progress or not. Self, pay attention now:

• Be happier. Quit focusing on the negative and really pay attention to the positive. Be spontaneous. Be the type of person that you want to hang out with.
• Take better care of yourself. This is easy, as you've already started doing this, but do it better this year. Remember the goal you set yourself for your birthday? You may be a little behind, but it's still attainable. You've still got 2 1/2 months!
• Treat yourself better. This is easy too! And totally achievable. Learn how to say no. Learn how to take care of yourself the way you take care of others. Be forceful about it when you need to be. Put your foot down. Say no. People will survive, and they won't leave you.
• Force creativity. After awhile, you won't have to force it anymore.
  
• Let it go and move on. It's never going to happen. You know of what I speak. But DON'T DON'T DON'T let this make you feel worthless. You know this is a slippery slope for you, but YOU ARE NOT WORTHLESS. No matter how many times this will happen to you, you are NOT worthless.
  
• Be content with your life. It's OK that things aren't working out the way you expected them to by now. It's just a little hiccup in the larger scheme of things. Also know where things are going is going to help you make this adjustment easier.
• Clean out crap! Scale back. There is so much that is drowning you in physical possessions that you don't even pay attention to anymore. Less is more, and will make you feel better not being tied down to some much stuff.
• Be the friend that you really want to be. Keep in touch, and not just through the computer. See people, face to face. You'll feel better, and so will they.

So, there, that's the list for now. There's the other little stuff: read more, see more movies, blah blah blah, but that list comprises the things that I simply must work on this year. I'm in a rut and that isn't good. I'm tired of being me, and that's even worse. I should really like the person that I am since I don't think I'm really all that bad of a guy, but circumstances being what they are have left me feeling less than worthy lately, and the only person that is going to be able to change that for me is me. So let's start trying. Right now. Self, are you listening? I hope so.

Great times with a dear, dear friend

Last night, Tanya and I decided to meet up for soup and to catch up some, and what I thought was going to be a short visit ended up being 4 1/2 hours! And I can't wait until we do it again!! Love you, darling!

On DVD - The Hangover

Movie: The Hangover
Rating: 4/5 stars

I really wasn't sure about renting The Hangover. I was really concerned that it was going to be nothing more than another asinine Adam Sandler/Will Ferrell type comedy, so was surprised when it proved to be a somewhat intelligent (this term is used rather loosely here) comedy that is asinine in it's own way, but still smartly asinine all the same.

**spoiler alert!!**
The premise is four guys go to Vegas for a bachelor party, and in a case of mistaken drug use, end up taking ruffies instead of Ecstasy and three of the four wake up in their hotel room the next morning without a clue as to what happened the night before (How did the room get so trashed? Where did the tiger come from? The chicken? Whose baby is that?). The missing member of their party is the groom-to-be, so the remaining buddies try to piece together the events of their evening, discovering more and more just what they got themselves into. As they finally discover the whereabouts of their missing groom, the four make it back just in time for the wedding, with only a camera found in the car to shed anymore light on the situation. Make sure you sit through the credits to catch the pics from the camera; these are almost as good as the rest of the movie.

Not the greatest cinematic masterpiece ever, but I still found myself laughing out loud despite it all. The main cast is hysterical, the supporting cast of characters is outrageous and while there is not a believable moment in the entire film, isn't that really what these movies are all about? Just ridiculous brain candy that we don't really want to think too much about? And this fit that bill perfectly. I don't know that I'd actively rush right out to see this again, but if I were to catch it on TV or some such I'd watch it again.

Latest book reviews at from my bookshelf...!

3. Princess Alyss of Wonderland by Frank Beddor
4. X-Men: Emperor Vulcan by Christopher Yost, art by Paco Diaz Luque
5. A Single Man by Christopher Isherwood
6. Soulless by Gail Carriger
7. The 13 Clocks by James Thurber

Visit from my bookshelf... for more reviews and find out what I'm reading now!

Chicago: my continuing love affair with a city 1/8-1/10/2010

So, an almost picture-free trip this time around, but I spent last weekend in Chicago visiting Chad. There was some concern as to whether I was even going to be able to make it out of Michigan due to the snowstorm we had the night before (7 inches or more when all was said and done), but by Friday afternoon the sun was shining and the roads were clear, so I ventured off. The main reason for the trip was to try to get tickets one more time to see The Addams Family before it left it's pre-Broadway run, and well...

So, we lucked out and got the last 2 tickets that were together for the Saturday performances. We were hoping to be on the other side of the stage than we were last time, as these were limited view tickets, but alas we were on the same side as before, but it was fine as the show is spectacularly good, we didn't really care. We were just glad to have been able to see it one more time before it left Chicago.


Now, to back up just a little, Friday night Chad and I went out to Big Chicks after he got home from work and met his friends Christopher and Ryan there and had a few (too many) drinks, danced the night away and a good time was had by all!

Fast forward again to Saturday and after the show, Chad and I had dinner at Qdoba, stopped at the Apple Store and then wandered back to his place and watched The Hangover, which ended up being significantly better than I anticipated it being (I'll post thoughts on that eventually). We tried to watch Tron (Chad has never seen it) but I only made it about ten minutes in before I fell asleep, and Chad only made it about halfway through. We had had a late night/early morning afterall, so sleep was a priority!

Sunday morning, Chicago Mandy met us at Tweet for breakfast and then drove us around on a couple of errands as it was SO FREAKING COLD and she didn't want us walking around in that kind of weather. I have the most wonderful friends!

A more or less whirlwind trip this time around, but still a much needed break from the real world and a much needed Chicago and Chad fix. Next trip: February 19-21, 2010 for the MoSaI OMNImax Film Festival.

Winter Weather Advisory - a progression

We are currently under a Winter Weather Advisory from now until 4am tomorrow morning.

9am

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noon

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On DVD - The Ugly Truth

Movie: The Ugly Truth
Rating: 4/5 stars

OK, so The Ugly Truth is just a plain fun movie. There's really nothing much to it, and it's obviously predictable, but it's still a nice bit of fluff to watch and not think about. Both leads, Katherine Heigl (TV producer and control freak Abby Richter) and Gerard Butler (public access cable shock host and self-proclaimed expert on what all guys want, Mike Chadway) are great in their respective roles and all the supporting cast are hysterical. Probably not something that I'd ever buy, but as a rental, it was well worth the money spent. It's definitely for adults (the R rating is justified, as most of the dialogue in the movie is sexually explicit, and there is a nice ass shot of Eric Winter, who plays Katherine Heigl's boyfriend), but fans of the formulaic romantic comedy who don't mind a little more explicit movie will enjoy this.

At the movies: Avatar

Movie: Avatar
Rating: 5/5 stars (Some might argue with me on this point, but taking everything together as a whole, the movie is stunning.)

Simply put, Avatar is AMAZING! Not the most original story ever told (best described by varying comments overheard in the theater and discussed amongst ourselves afterward: Pocahontas meets Fern Gully meets Dune while the boys play Cowboys and Indians), I can honestly say that I have not seen so visually stunning a film as this in a long time. Everything about Pandora, from the Na'Vi to the flora and fauna to the actual landscape itself was breathtaking and beautiful. So much detail went into every aspect of the creation of Pandora, it's just unbelievable.

Again, the story is not all that original (and really, at this point James Cameron just needs to stop going on about how original it is!) but the movie is so encompassing that you do get lost in the film and can forgive the minor story flaws that creep in. Which is another point that S and I were discussing after the movie; we each had a point at the beginning of the film that just didn't seem right to us, but by the end is was just blurred in with the rest of the film and forgotten, so apparently not all that particular. The one thing that I still can't get over, though, and I've thought this since I saw the very first trailer for the film: It's 140+ years in the future, we have the ability to travel to other planets and survive on them, and they haven't come up with anything better than a wheelchair for Jake Sully? It's mentioned at one point that his spine can be repaired and his legs fixed, but that costs money. Understandable. But really, a wheelchair? You can't come up with something better than that? Just a personal nag.

Really, a stunning piece of cinema. If you are wondering about seeing it in 3D, I'd recommend it. I've only seen the 3D version so I can't give an honest comparison, but I can tell you that the 3D version is spectacular. Very engrossing, and it doesn't really detract from the film at all. I also didn't see too many of the "look at our sweeping, amazing 3D shots that are going to look ridiculous in 2D" moments that I think many of the 3D films are guilty of these days (A Christmas Carol, I'm looking at you). Now I'm just hoping that our local IMAX theater will be able to acquire a print of the film, because I'd really like to see it again on the IMAX screen.

For more information on the film, visit the official site.

Hatter M, Volume 2: Mad with Wonder by Frank Beddor & Liz Cavalier, art by Sami Makkonen

Hatter M, Volume 2: Mad with Wonder reviewed at From My Bookshelf.

Hatter M, Volume 1: The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor & Liz Cavalier, art by Ben Templesmith

First book of the year, Hatter M, Volume 1: The Looking Glass Wars reviewed over at From My Bookshelf.

2010 - Hello to a new (and better) year

OK, so as I'm sitting here nursing a cold (not the most auspicious beginning to the New Year), I'm taking a minute to reflect back on 2009 and the hopes for 2010.

2009 really wasn't a bad year. Honest. I had some amazing moments this year. Looking back through my blog from the last year though, I had fewer posts this year than I have the last two years. I feel like I've been foundering, trying to find some kind of focus in every aspect of my life. I always look at the new year with some kind of sense of wonder - that there is so much potential in the coming year. However, right now, at this moment, I feel like I'm standing on the edge of something bigger. Maybe this will be the year that it comes together for me. What it is that I'm waiting to come together, I don't have a clue, but things feel right. Or different. Or both. I don't know, it just feels like something is going to happen.

Like I said, I had some amazing moments this year. Going out to Maine for M's graduation. C and me at Walt Disney World. Several trips to Chicago. Wicked one last time. The Addams Family on Broadway in Chicago. Getting the harem together, all at the same time, finally! Tori Amos and the generosity of a stranger. The Lion King on Broadway with my mom for my birthday at Wharton Center. Florida in October for my dad's retirement party. Banana Shpeel with C and friends. These are all fantastic moments and the reasons why I keep going, for more moments like this.

However, there were some extraordinarily frustrating and sad moments this year as well. A general sense of unpurpose for a majority of the year. Multiple times of feeling used, by several people around me. Tom passing away, after 15 months of battling cancer. A general battle with some form of personal depression; a depression that no matter how I feel I've got it conquered, seems to never leave the peripheral of my life. It's all just damned frustrating, and something that I want to work on this year.

Resolutions never really seem to work for me. I never stick with them. I'd rather try to look at the bigger picture and try to make small changes. Which sounds suspiciously like a resolution, right? Well, it is, but I don't call them resolutions. A resolution is a firm decision, and nothing about these are firm decisions. They are a general want to make a change in my life, be it small or large. I think the thing that I want to do most of all is start taking care of me. I take care of so many other people that sometimes I forget that I need to come first, every once in awhile. I don't mind taking care of people. It's what I do, and I honestly wouldn't feel complete if I didn't take care of people, but I need to start focusing on me as well. I put aside me so many times for others that I think that's part of why I feel used; because I let people use me. But I need to start being firm. Say no. Every once in awhile. I can't just stop taking care of people, like I say, it's an integral part to my being, but I do need to start taking care a little more of me. I want to read with more focus this year. I think this is going to be the easiest for me. That didn't get off to such a great start today, as I haven't read a thing, but there is still time for the first day of the year. I want to recreate my look. This will go hand in hand with my also wanting to take better care of myself. I say every year that I'm going to loose X number of pounds, and that never works. I've weighed more or less the same now for years. However, the big change this year was the gym that the Boss put together for us at the Office. I took advantage of that regularly towards the end of the year, and I can see results, so if I continue doing what I'm doing, I think I'll be recreating my body, and then I can continue recreating my look as well. It's all part of making myself a better person and being better to myself. I feel like I've let myself go over the last couple of years, and that these are small steps to move beyond that. I want more organization in my life. More focus. I want to be happier. It's all potential. It's all possible. I just need to have faith in myself to accomplish it, which is something that I've been lacking for a long time now. Faith in myself. Stop basing my idea of myself on what I think others have thought of me. I took a small blow to that faith this year, but it was a good learning experience. It forced me out of myself, just a little, and I'll be interested to see where I can take myself this year. I want some love in my life. Not just the kind that comes from my friends, which I will never give up, but I do want something more. I want something a little more intimate. And it's not about the sex. It's about the caring of two people for each other.

And right now I need to end this train of thought before I get myself upset again. Small steps. It's not going to happen in a day, David.

So there it is. My hopes for the coming year. I purchased a book on a recommendation from a friend, The Happiness Project. I'm hoping it will give me some small insight to how I can recreate myself to have a little happiness in my life, each day. It may be something small to start out with, like making sure I have a cup of coffee before I leave for the office each day, but it may be small things like that that will make me happy. Find time each day to read. Call the family. Reconnect with friends, and not just through my computer. CALL THEM! It's not that hard. Go see them. That's not that hard either. Start going out. Meet people again. Let people know you exist. These are all things that will make you feel better about yourself, David. Make connections with new people. All achievable. Just believe in yourself. It's not that hard to do. You did it once. You can do it again.

Happy New Year, David. It will be. Just believe in it.