Take Lost, for example. I've been watching that from the beginning and it's paid off in spades by telling a great epic story.
However, there are things that I've passed on that I later regretted.
Take Robert Kirkman's The Walking Dead. I bought the first issue about 5 years ago...and it didn't grab me. So, I let it go. About a year and a half later, I picked it up again. Since then, I've bought it on a monthly basis. What a great story that would translate perfectly to an HBO or Showtime series! (Good thing I held onto that first issue, though, as it's now worth quite a bit of money...lol.)
So when I heard the same author was coming out with another superhero book, called Invincible, I thought "Been there...done that." I mean, what could you possibly do to make it interesting? I guess tell another damned good story since I've been buying the trade versions weekly to catch up!
Then when he came out with The Astounding Wolf Man, I really tried to avoid it like the plague. Come on...HOW can you take a wolf man and make that character interesting? Again, I was wrong. I've since picked up the two volumes collecting the first dozen or so issues of the comic.
You'd think I would learn after originally dismissing things like Buffy, The Vampire Slayer until the 6th season, Angel until halfway through the fifth, The Sopranos until season two and a host of other TV, movies, books, etc that are too numerous to mention...
But if it doesn't grab me, I just can't get interested in it...and I know I'm missing a ton of great things out there!
Anything you've missed out on that didn't grab you at first and you later had to get into?
Lol...I'm almost scared of some of the answers I might get on that loaded question! ;)
"When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things." --First Letter of Paul to the Corinthians
(NOTE: Ok, it is RARE that you will see any sort of a religious reference in this blog...but, since this was the quote that came to mind, it seemed appropriate that I use it.)
Isn't it funny sometimes how seemingly unrelated things can all coalesce when you really put them in perspective? Take today for example...
While shopping for magazines at Barnes & Noble, I picked up a copy of Fangoria. I can't remember the last time I read that magazine and I used to get it regularly when I was a kid.
Later, while walking the dog, I smelled the incredible scent of a charcoal grill off in the distance that made me think of past cookouts.
Before I made dinner, I watched part of the original Star Wars (unfortunately, it was the "special edition" that blows but still a million times better than that horrible new trilogy) and remembered when I sat in the theater amazed at the cinematic wonder before my eyes.
Finally, my good friend from Vegas called and reminded me that tonight was his annual 80s party (not to rub it in, but to express dismay that I couldn't attend). I had gone last year as Magnum, PI and had a blast. However, it would have been a stretch to commute this year, being about 2,500 miles away.
Though it wasn't until I was reading through the latest issue of Wired that all of these events hit me.
You see, the new issue is all about mystery. There are articles on magic, points of interest around the globe (like the Bermuda Triangle, Area 51, etc), and other "mysterious" items such as the Kryptos sculpture at CIA headquarters. In the end, it was the short feature by guest editor JJ Abrams (creator of Lost, Alias, Felicity and Fringe) that helped me to arrive at the conclusion that...
...there really is no sense of "mystery" anymore.
Well there is with certain things, but not to the extent as it was when we were kids. People have taken all the fun out of life.
Sometimes, on days like these, I can recall how much fun it was to just...have fun.
In fact, a friend I hadn't talked to in a while texted me tonight and asked what I was doing. I replied with a question...
"Nothing. But you know what I wish I was doing?"
For some reason, she thought it was something dirty.
Nope.
I confessed that, with as warm as it is, I just wanted to go and find a cool miniature golf course, grab an ice cream cone and just enjoy the weather.
Of course I told her that she could feel free to do something dirty, but, gyrating on that clown's huge tongue on the 11th hole is really going to be detrimental to my making par. It's hard enough to get that ball up the ramp without a nympho flailing around on it. It's even more difficult since my friend lives a few thousand miles away. Actually, it would be even more difficult since most miniature golf courses suck these days and don't even have clowns with long tongues as an obstacle. (Carrying those and the windmills around in my car are getting a tad tiresome too. But hey, I need challenges!)
Anyway, I never want to completely put away childish things. We all need to have more fun in life, even if it's with the simplest of actions or events.
And let's not allow people to ruin even the smallest of mysteries...
No, this won't be a tribute to The Human League (though I do love that song).
The thought for this post came about during a conversation I had with a saleswoman today.
Every establishment has those "frequent shopper cards" nowadays and, should you forget them, they'll ask you for your phone number to make certain you get points or discounts or whatever the offer may be.
She entered my number into the system and it didn't register. However, she realized she'd skipped one.
Saleswoman: "Oh, I hit the wrong button and it took me back to the beginning."
Me: "I wish I had a button I could push to take me back to the beginning."
Saleswoman (laughing): "Like this morning with the snooze alarm."
Me: "I was thinking much further back than that."
Suffice it to say that I let that part of the conversation die right there. One, she looked somewhat perplexed and two, I didn't have the time nor the inclination to delve into my lifelong fascination with time travel.
From 1979's excellent (but dated) Time After Time (with Malcolm McDowell and David Warner) through the late 80s/early 90s run of Quantum Leap to more recent fare like Donnie Darko, Lost and even Life On Mars, I've always been drawn to content that dealt with time travel.
I think it's because that's something we haven't quite mastered yet and, as a result, it's one of the few things still left out there in the realm of the fantastic--in other words, true science fiction.
In fact, if you ever want an interesting read, try Ken Grimwood's book, Replay...
I'm not revealing anything astonishing by telling you that the main character dies within the first few pages of the book because that's where the fun starts. He awakens in his own body at age 18 and, with his memories intact, has to live his life over...and over...and over...each time with a shortened life span.
The most interesting point is how he alters his life slightly each time and the consequences that occur as a result.
So I suppose I have two questions for my faithful readers...
If you could press a button and go back, at what point would you start over and live your life differently knowing what you know now? Or would you even want to go back?
And, what are you fascinated with in terms of the unknown? Is it ghosts...the afterlife...the human psyche...or why dogs enjoy the wind blowing in their faces when they stick their heads out of a car window but get irritated when you blow in their face?
Talk to me...because I keep feeling fascination with all of you too!
I abhor doing resumes. I especially despise toiling away on them to upload on a potential employer's website only to discover that you still have to fill in all the information anyway!
The Tribe seems to be off to a blazing start this year as 2008's Cy Young winner, Cliff Lee, drops to 0-2. What is it with that team having reigning Cy Young winners falter right out of the gate? It happened with Sabathia too....but he's consistent because he stumbles out of the gate every year. This year, however, he doesn't have a nice, cushy NL Central division to fall back upon for victories. And I hate the Yankees!
I caught a picture of Tiger in the green at the Masters. Unless they're starting to make the jacket out of foliage, I don't think he'll be wearing one this year. I like Tiger--especially since he gets people to watch golf that normally wouldn't. Not to mention the fact that he's incredibly talented. He'll be back to form...give him time!
It's amazing what a difference there is in the topography between cities like Las Vegas and Pittsburgh. It's difficult getting re-acclimated to driving on roads that are narrow and replete with hills as opposed to the wide open expanse of Vegas. However, it's nice to deal with people that don't have a wide open expanse between their ears as possessed by most of the population in Vegas.
I'm only a scant few chapters into Columbine by Dave Cullen but I can tell you that thus far, it grabs you and prods you to want to read more! Seems the reviews I've read about how well written it is are right on the mark.
I caught a promo on the Discovery International channel about a special on cults that airs next Friday. I had forgotten that the Jonestown massacre was the largest loss of American civilian life until 9/11. Amazing how we forget the little details over time. (Not that it's an insignificant detail...just curious as to how not many people even remember that event nor mention the amount of life lost.)
Speaking of "Lost", it's still the most interesting show on TV (come on...you didn't think I'd go much longer without mentioning it did you? ;) ) I still have my fingers crossed that it doesn't end up like the X-Files, which drowned in its own mythology.
And finally upon reading these observations again, why is it that I have the voice of Larry King in my head? Now you will too!
I know many of my usual readers watch Lost so for me to spoil the ending of season 3 with that subject line will make perfect sense. (And if you don't watch it, shame on you because it's the best thing on the mostly barren wasteland that is television right now! So if I ruin anything for you, I don't care...lol.)
Jack Shephard, one of the survivors of Oceanic 815, tells Kate that he wants to go back to the island. Basically, he realizes that he made a mistake coming back to civilization and knows that his destiny lies in returning to the island.
Sometimes I wonder if there's a similar pull for me in the northeast. When I think back on the past 2 1/2 years out in Vegas, I've noticed a few things. I never invested any money in furniture (as the place was fully furnished though I could have used a bigger bed and a few other amenities) and I traded in my smaller Altima for the Xterra which has more cargo space. Subconsciously, I think I was always meant to return by not establishing any long term commitments out there. Save for a few really good friends I made that I will always keep in touch with, I shied away from long term engagements of any kind.
It's difficult to explain, but the relief that washed over me as soon as I started out on my trip was nothing compared to the feeling I got when I entered Missouri. That's because I was finally out of those godforsaken southwestern states! In a weird way, it was as if I'd crossed some unseen barrier that brought me back into the civilized world!
And if I wanted to be really symbolic, I could mention that the moment I arrived at the hotel in Missouri, the storm was over and since then, I've not experienced any snow or rain. The skies haven't been exactly sunny, but I'll take that anyday over a barren, bright wasteland.
That's because the midwest and northeast are real...meaning that there's a tradition that exists that you don't find in those states out west. For example, I remember Mark joking about going down to Chinatown in Vegas. "It was built a few years ago", he laughed. "Wow...rich in history", I replied.
Now that's not to say that each city doesn't have their really cool spots. However, most of the places that I used to frequent originated in places like New York, Cleveland and Chicago. Rocco's Pizza featured New York style pies. Chicago Brewing Company had the best Italian beef sandwiches accompanied by authentic giardiniera. Giuseppe's was a place I discovered too late but still enjoyed before I left...that came from just outside of Cleveland.
Of course it isn't all about the food (though I have to admit that I love when Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations features segments on my favorite cities). But it's a reminder of the people that actually work hard to create something that's real because those parts of the country are populated by generations that have lived through a lot and have been there for years.
The way I see it is that people originally settled in these areas because they had no choice. They were doing it to establish roots and, at the inception of the U.S., wanted to get away from tyranny. Westward expansion was just a way to get rich. That's why there's little heart and soul out there.
And that's what I "lost" when I was out there. Ultimately, I had "to go back" to find the part of me that was missing.
One particular line that I've been thinking of lately (from a song,of course...lol) is this...
My version would be a little different. Live in the midwest or northeast if you want to be real. Live in Vegas briefly but leave before you become completely hardened, cynical and delusional.
Enough rambling...here are the brief highlights of the past few days...
Thursday morning I left the comfiest bed I've ever been in at the La Quinta Inn in Indianapolis. Seriously, you could fit four of me in that thing comfortably. I almost wished I could stay a few more days and never leave that room...lol. I've since learned from my friend Amy that it's an "eastern king bed"...and I've made a mental note for future purchase depending on the size of the place I'll ultimately get!
I checked into the hotel in Cleveland and relaxed for a while before heading out to an old watering hole I used to go to. One of my friends joined me but another completely ignored both of us in our invitation to join us. He claimed he was with his "girlfriend". In the entire time I've known him, he never maintained a relationship more than a week because he got bored. I asked him if he knew the "girl du jour's" name and told him that if there was one person I could count on...odds are it wouldn't be him (there's a history behind that too so don't think that I'm shooting from the hip there...if he had an Indian name, it would be Chief False Promises).
On Friday, I was supposed to go out for happy hour with a good friend, but ended up falling asleep, the exhaustion catching up with me from many days on the road. We'll eventually get together at some point, though. I take the blame for that one. Then I met up with another friend late--kind of an old flame that I don't think is worth fanning to keep it alive. ;)
And that's pretty much it. It was business as usual with me just relaxing here at the hotel, enjoying peace and quiet with Jack (who's been snoozing on the bed, curled up in a ball for the most part).
I'd forgotten how great it is to be alone...I haven't had that for a long time...and I'm getting closer to getting that again.
I'm deconstructing Skitch to build what he should be...to build what I want and had temporarily...lost.
Oddly enough, I missed this tome (which Time magazine lists as one of the best 100 novels of all time) when originally released in 1986. I caught it 14 years later, over a decade after I stopped collecting comic books.
When a friend and co-worker (along with the owner of the comic shop we were at) told me that I should read Watchmen, Preacher and The Authority, I reluctantly said "Ok", not wanting to get back into comics because I had outgrown them.
Little did I realize that they had matured well beyond my expectations!
Though it did take me about a year to even crack open one of them, I found that I highly enjoyed the adult storytelling present in the current books. I soon came to see that some of the most talented writers around were crafting stories in the medium. TV writers and creators like Joss Whedon (Buffy & Angel), Brian K Vaughn and Damen Lindelof (both of Lost); film directors like Kevin Smith; and even respected novelists such as Jodi Picoult and Brad Meltzer have all contributed to some of the best comic books of the past decade. Add to that list other great writers and industry favorites like Geoff Johns, Brian Michael Bendis and Robert Kirkman (to name only a few) and you have compiled just a fraction of the names responsible for transforming me into a comic geek once again!
Well, this geek has been eagerly awaiting the release of this film since the first (and I still think best) trailer hit last year...
I encourage everyone to read the book first (as I would with almost any major release) and then by all means see the film. Even at its worst, I'm sure Watchmen will be a sight to behold best on the big screen.
Each day brings a new adventure and subsequent tale...
Yesterday, over what is probably our final lunch for quite some time, Mark and I discussed Yoko's lack of a sense of urgency over having to move out of the condo. Again, Mark has told her repeatedly that he's turning off the utilities the day after I leave. You would think that would stimulate some sort of action on her part. Yet...she leisurely sits around, almost content in her lack of drive...
So yesterday, I mentioned that someone might want to buy the dining room table. She asked me if it was mine. I told her no and that I understand Mark wants to get rid of all of the furniture before short selling the condo. Basically, just trying to help them out. She informed me that she was going to sell the furniture as an entire lot (which is a good idea).
However, my latest endeavor with attempting to sell two pieces of furniture (a computer desk and a bookcase) has been fraught with problems. Most want to buy only one or the other and even that's been a problem. My price is quite reasonable considering that I'm parting with them for half of what they're worth and they're already built. All people have to do is come and haul it away. You would think that would be incredibly simple...but, alas, no.
Anyway, Yoko said that she still had to take pictures of all the items but that she had a few people interested already just by posting on Craigslist. I do find that a tad hard to believe because almost no one will buy anything without a photo.
I mentioned that I hope people plan to come and look at the furniture during the day since there will be no working lights in the evening. She scrunched her face up and looked at me as if I were insane.
Yoko: "Why would they have to come at night?"
Me: "Well, Mark's turning off the utilities the day after I leave."
Again, she looked at me as if this was the first time she'd heard this nugget of information.
So I dove in and asked a follow up question.
Me: "When's your target date for moving?"
Yoko: "I hope to get the furniture sold by mid April."
APRIL?!? I hope she plans on playing the role of Vegas frontierswoman because there will be no functioning utilities after March 10th.
I can't believe someone walks around and takes up space like this on a daily basis, using valuable air which others could be enjoying.
But that wasn't the only tale of Wednesday.
It was Yoko's laundry day.
Apparently, no one ever taught her that if you don't have an industrial size washer and dryer, you can't put every piece of clothing you own into it and expect things to come out fine.
As I write this, there were still clothes in the dryer, just sitting there. So, I figure if she's going to do her laundry college style, I'm going to do what I did in school when people neglected to remove their things in a timely manner--I'm going to take the clothes out and sit them on top of the dryer.
Here's my take on it...if you have in suite facilities, why not throw things in every few days to get ahead of the game? She never leaves the place anyway so what's the problem?
Now, as a direct result of jamming the dryer with tons of clothes, it squeaks loudly. So much so that as I listened to it last night, I couldn't help wondering if it was a cry for a quick and painless death. No luck on that front, my permanent press able friend!
To complete the trilogy of tales from yesterday, she and Mark came back from dinner as I was watching Lost.
Right now, that's the only show I watch on a regular basis and Mark is fully aware of that. I thought she was too but just a few short weeks ago, she found that she had to ask me a computer question right in the middle of the show.
What does she do last night? As soon as they returned, she turned on the dryer and I heard nothing but squeaks for several minutes right in the thick of the action.
Later Mark told me that he even told her to be quiet until the show was over (which we do while she watches Big Love). Thankfully, he came out and turned it off until the action wrapped.
So while taking a shower this morning (which is where I think of the weirdest correlations between things, oddly enough), I couldn't help but conjuring up a little ditty based on an old Schoolhouse Rock segment...
So...to the tune of that, I arrived at this snippet...
"Yoko is the subject of this blog post And what stupidity says She does"
The sad thing is that there will be at least 11 more days of it...
People wonder how I come up with weird stuff like this...
Prime example...
First of all, I love music...hence the paraphrasing of the lyric from the Little River Band song entitled "Reminiscing" (I'd ask you to forgive me but, in retrospect, there was nothing better than growing up on 70s AM radio)...
Second of all, I came home tonight and Jack was hungry...of course I spoil him with not only his food, but with what I eat too (which proves that not only people love Soylent Green ;) )
Anyway...Jack decided that he would eat his dry food tonight...he steals it from his bowl and then, with a mouth full of little kibbles, he scampers off into the moonlit living room.
What makes me laugh is that he almost always refuses to eat unless I stand so close to him (though I'm not a young teacher and the subject of young dog fantasies)...so I wait and utilize my night vision goggles (in case Clarice Starling decides to come a knocking) to watch him and wait for him to finish...
I can not only hear the sound of those little teeth crunching the minute bites, but I can see him looking up at me for some weird type of validation...like it's upon my ok that he finishes...hey...eat what you can...enjoy...
But lately...Jack has been a tad mischievous....
He's been peeing on the rug and I finally figured out why.
I remember that my friend's mom found him wandering the streets. Since he was pretty well trained already, I surmised that he must have come from a good family that released him when they were foreclosed upon out here in Vegas.
I've been boxing up my things to ship to Pittsburgh.
I put 4 + 8+ 15 +16 +23 + 42 together and realized that he was, in a way, like a furry Billy Pilgrim, traveling through time--at least in his mind. (The numbers, in conjunction with the literary reference, is a nod to Lost fans)
He recalls his old family (who probably promised him a good life) packing up...and probably thinks that I'll abandon him as well.
I always assure him that his reminiscing on bad times is all for naught...that I love him and am planning on him being next to me on our impending road trip...
And I can sense that he somewhat understands for he looks up at me with those cute little eyes after crunching his food...and then, with a cock of his head...starts to lick himself...
At that moment, it occurs to me...that, on the long road trip ahead, I wish we could truly change places in a Freaky Friday/Vice Versa/18 Again sort of way...
I went to find the pot of gold
That's waiting where the rainbow ends.
I searched and searched and searched and searched
And searched and searched, and then--
There it was, deep in the grass
Under an old and twisted bough
It's mine, it's mine, it's mine at last...
What do I search for now?
--The Search, Shel Silverstein
