Family Time: 3 Generations and a Memory

Today was a good day. I wish my wife and older kids could have come along, but they were out of town. So it was still a good day for a few of us. Got to spend some quality time with my youngest boy, and my mom. And I created a memory. And a memory created out of quality time is always a good thing.

So what happened? I took them to see the original Ghostbusters movie. It was being shown at a local theater today. And there really is no substitute for seeing a great film like that on the big screen. Sure, you can rent it, or buy it, but you really do miss some things in translation to the home theater. Things such as the bag of Marshmallows on counter being Stay Puft, a prelude to things to come. Details of equipment, or even the characters. For instance, seeing Gozer on the big screen is much more intimidating. She doesn't just have red eyes. Her eyes are intense, and have a lot of things happening. Let alone the rest of her character. The various ghosts are amazing. Plus it's just plain fun.

Of course everyone in my family has seen the Ghostbusters. I'm not sure how many times I've replaced copies of both films. But even my kiddo was excited about it being on the big screen. Which is great in my opinion. Originally, I remember clearly my parents taking me to the drive-in theater to see it as a kid. I've loved it ever since. I remember there was a light rain, and the windows in the backseat fogged up a little bit. Then a couple years ago, my wife and I went to a late showing at the 2011 re-release and got to relive our childhood all over again. So today was my boys chance to experience it.

It's very reminiscent of my first time as well. As it was clouding up while we were at the show. And this evening, closer to the time I first saw it, it's raining lightly out. It's as if Dad is looking down and smiling. Aside from not being at a drive-in this time around, there is only one really big difference. This time I didn't eat 2 large tubs of popcorn, and throw up in the backseat on the way home. ;) Today was indeed, a good day.

A Writer That's Not A Writer

Writing. Seems a such a funny word. Writer. Even funnier. Author. Well that's downright unthinkable most of the time. I support all writers. Those who truly are, or aspire to be. To write is a gift. Not everyone has it. Some try, and like to call themselves writers, but truly are not. To put pen to paper, and create something is truly a special kind of magic. And like all things special, not everyone can have it. That's a part of what makes it special.

For me, there could be some irony that I am the one saying this. Why? Because I'm a talker, not a writer. It's not because I choose to be. It's because if I do indeed have that special magic, I haven't learned to harness it. You see, when I sit down for my blog, I talk it out in my head as though I'm having a conversation. Sometimes that conversation is directed to someone in particular, other times I'm simply talking to myself, and yet other times I'm talking for the sake of talking. So when you read my blog, you're reading a small part of the tornado of ideas that are being thrown around in my mind.

If I applied myself a little bit, I could throw some ink across the page and it would be a short poem. But while I like some poetry, I'm not a poet. I grew up surrounded by books. In my life I've read thousands. I have ideas for stories. One is a vast universe that lives, evolves, and pulses. But I can't put it to paper. I want to. I'd love to. It's a universe I believe at least some others would like. So why can't I? As I said before, I lack the magic.

Up until I sit down to write, I have a plan. People to introduce. Places to describe. Events from great to tragic. However, once I sit down an illness sets in. Everything gets jumbled together. It's no longer coherent. What was up is now down. What was hot is now cold. What what quite and peaceful is loud and overwhelming. No matter what I do, it never comes back together until I stop and walk away. Then the haze lifts. I've tried writing small parts, cards, memos, horrid pictures that don't remotely look as they should. When I was younger it wasn't as hard. I could wave my hand at the last minute, and the rabbit would just appear. Now that I want the rabbit to appear, it appears to have disappeared.

I have not lost hope. I chalk it up as just not being the right time. The time might come an hour from now, a day, a decade, a lifetime. It may not come at all. It could be a universe that only I am to be privy to. But for now I'll wait. I'll wait, and I'll talk, I'll joke, I'll sing, and I'll sleep on it. And one day, one day I'll not only find the magic, but the ability to use it. Until then, I'll talk and share the other things in my head. I'll be a writer, that's not a writer. Life is funny that way. Wouldn't you agree?

Jackson Vs Ortiz: Bellator continues to fall behind the 8-Ball

In my best Paul Harvey voice here. Hello fight world! This is the Crypt Keeper. Standby for craaaappp! Before you get all defensive, read on further as I'm talking about one bout in particular. And in my sites today is the red-headed step child that's always behind the 8-ball, Bellator MMA.

Bellator directly in my site.

Before I get into the match I'm loathing, let me get those of you who don't know me up to speed on my opinion on Bellators current state. With Zuffa's purchase and integration of Strikeforce into the UFC, a lot of fighters were let go for various reasons. Some good, some bad, but none the less there were a good number of fighters looking for a new organization to call home. Bellator had the opportunity to really step up here, add some weight to their roster, and gain some main line credibility as a viable threat to the UFC just as Strikeforce was before their buyout. Bellator dropped the ball. Fighters that should have been picked up were left to walk. And instead of looking at a strong future, they pulled a play out of Dixie Carter's book, and started snatching up big names that should be retired or are just garbage. Essentially Bellator is now the TNA to UFC's status as the WWE of cage fighting. Is sad. It's not to say Bellator doesn't have any good fighters. They do. Their overall product just isn't up to par, and they're too blinded by the well polished turd in their hands to realize it's a turd.

So fast forward to the fight I'm talking about. The recently announced debacle between Quinton Jackson versus Tito Ortiz. What the french toast? Now that we know what match has my blood pressure up, lets take a look at the fighters. Then I'll go into the match.

Lets start with Jackson, who I have respect for. He stepped away from the UFC and admitted he just can't hang with the big dogs anymore. He's close to retirement and is looking at that horizon. He probably has one good fight left in him, but essentially he's done. His attitude reflects this as well. So now he has a contract that allows him to test the waters of the fight world to see if it's really still worth it to him, and he can start making a transition to "professional wrestling" with TNA. A world where his name can still pack an arena, and net some big money. He's at that stage where a crowd chanting, "One more time" actually means something. Rampage, more like Junkyard Dog these days, is a good veteran to Bellator to test its people against to see if they really are ready for that next level. Could Jackson hold a belt? Possibly, but he probably wouldn't hold that strap for very long.

Now for the Huntington Beach Bitch Boy. This classless dingle berry just needs to leave the fight world. It doesn't matter if he wins or loses, he's a bad sport and brings down the fight world anymore. Win, lose, or draw he always has a story about how he broke this, strained that, or some other training mishap that took away from his a game, but he fought anyways. Hey jackass, this isn't the WWE! You don't have to play a heel character! This guy has an excuse for everything. If it was just when he lost, it would be one thing. You could chalk it up to being pissed about the loss. But even when he wins he has something ugly spewing from the suck on his face. Then look at his record. Over the better part of the last decade, his loss record has quickly added up to almost match his win record. Some of those loses are to fighters that are not even up to Jackson's caliber. It's sad. Very, very sad.

The fight itself is good purely for nostalgia purposes. But really it's nothing more than a trip down memory lane as both are far from their prime. It should in no way be the Main Event status it's being given. It's like watching Hulk Hogan go one more round with Ric Flair. Will Tito do the Flair Flop? It's ridiculous. For me, it shows just how involved Spike TV/ Viacom really are with their programming. This fight is entertainment, not a fight. And I know I'm not alone in this opinion. If Bellator really wants to be taken seriously as a fight organization, and not as a stepping stool to "professional wrestling" they really need to change their game up.

TNA Wrestline Sting Vs Hogan. Purely a nostalgic match. So Sad.

This "fight" has the potential to go either way. It could be a money maker provided Tito takes it seriously, and does everything he can to actually deliver a fight. Or it could be just another match on Jackson's path to TNA. Either way, it's a gamble that Bellator has placed way too much in. Queue the music, I'm out. In the words of Paul Harvey, "Good Day."

Reading Solutions

I love to read. For me, ereaders are a wonderful invention. Instead of carrying 5 books in my bag, I have a library on a device that takes a fraction of the space. I grew up with the family bookstore down the road. So it surprises me when I come across someone who says they don't like to read, or don't read. 

There are so many worlds, and new people in books. You don't need electricity to see it. If you get interrupted or have to stop reading, you don't miss anything. It's still sitting there waiting for you to comeback and pick right back up from where you left off. I just don't get how people are so turned off by books. They'll read countless magazines, spend hours reading posts on Facebook and Twitter, countless articles and reports from news sites. People can't even make it through dinner without text. So given how much people already read, it kills me that people won't pick up a book. 

Technology could be the key to this though. Even with Barnes & Noble bowing out of the tablet market, there's still hope. Another company could easily pick up where they've left off and fallen short. Amazon is making a killing. And Kobo is making the mix interesting now with their Arc. Sony, in typical Sony fashion, has an over priced ereader that could use some sprucing up. However, Sony has proven time and time again that it shouldn't be written off. Then you have the plethora of apps for cell phones by all the above and then some. With tablets taking off, these apps could really capitalize if they were marketed better. If more companies would make a better device with an up-to-date version of android, and actually upgrade them to the newer versions like they do tablets and phones, there would be an even bigger market. 

Why do I believe this? Because people love multitasking devices with the most current software. Communication, entertainment, and internet access everywhere. Something to entertain the kids, something to keep everyone in touch, something to help out with scheduling, navigation from time to time, and something to take you away for just a little while. We have the capability. We have the access. We need to get the word out, and more people involved. Not just the big companies. Public libraries could increase their traffic dramatically if they were to get involved. I've come across a couple, but not many. What's that? You need to return your book, but can't get off work to drive? That's okay, it's an ebook and you're connected to the internet! Pretty sure I just heard a "Ka-Ching!" Plus libraries have audiobooks. What's that, another electronic item in your basket? Ka-Ching! The possibilities are endless. Big companies are starting to take advantage of some of these options, as are a handful of libraries. 

So maybe some of these people feel they don't have time to read. Maybe they're a bit intimidated. Just maybe, they don't want to carry extra weight. The technology is the cure to these issues. Get the advertising out there people. Encourage people to read. If people got away from the TV for a little bit and started reading, like the days of yester-year, our countries education levels could start to see an improvement as well. You don't have to unplug to read anymore. Instead, plugin and read up.

Undead Snorefest

So time for a little opinion kiddies. The zombie thing has been played out. Don't get me wrong, I love a good zombie. But it's gotten pretty ridiculous recently. Movies, TV, video games, books, comics, advertisements, radio, slippers, magnets, the list goes on. Much like an apocalyptic story, they're everywhere.

Growing up, my favorite monster quickly became the zombie. For the most part, if you wanted a zombie tale, you were looking for reading material. There were a few zombie movies out there, but not a lot. You had versions like the mummy. Cheesy and barely inspired stories. Then you had George Romero's original trilogy. Those were great movies that made you double check the doors at night. I would watch those with my dad on many occasion. Just about every Halloween, he'd paint his face up zombie style too. I even remember going with him to see Return of the Living Dead 2, while my mom and little brother were across the hall watching Throw Mama From the Train.

Zombies had that appeal because they weren't common. Vampires, werewolves, ghosts, and various others were a dime a dozen. They even had their own cereals, courtesy of General Mills. Now I know some of you are saying, "What about Frankenstein's monster?" He was just that, a monster that was pieced to together by several dead people, and therefor not a zombie. Even the Monster Squad stayed clear of zombies, with a loosely connected mummy that was essentially nothing more than a wad of toilet paper.

Fast forward a few years. New breeds of zombies were starting to come out, and the first Resident Evil games stepped forward. This combined with the monsters and demons from Doom coming to eat you, zombies had a new platform. Even a good remake of Night of the Living Dead found it's way into theaters. And for about a decade it was good. While there were some absolutely horrible movies made, there weren't a lot. The entertainment biz was taking care to make good zombies. Then came the early 2000's to present. Zombies crawling from the ground, zombies made by viruses, zombies that aren't really zombies, but are merely people infected by viruses, people turned into zombies because they're bit by a mosquito that had previously fed on a zombie. Zombies have joined their undead brethren in becoming a dime a dozen. There are few zombie movies that I enjoy anymore.

The biggest allure that zombies had was that you didn't know what you were going to get because there just were that many of them. Now, you know just about everything you need to just by seeing an ad for the new show. What's worse is when Hollywood takes a great book and then tries to convert it to the big screen. I weep for World War Z, as I do for the many other books that Hollywood has done completely wrong. While most of the world is excited to see what new zombie movie is on the horizon, I'm patiently waiting for Netflix. That way, when I fall asleep my snoring doesn't bother anyone. At least the Walking Dead, hasn't taken a huge fall on its face yet.

Orange is the New Black... or is it?

Time for a brief show review. So after seeing some light advertising on +Netflix and my wife coming home saying we needed to check it out, I gave Orange is the New Black a look. After seeing some great originals on +Netflix I was looking forward to seeing what they had in store for me this time.

Lights, camera, and what is this? It took me a couple attempts to get through the first episode. The first half of it is horrible. It's easily confused with skinamax. There's virtually no story, and lots of sex going on. We're not talking artistic in a Sparticus kind of way either. It's just a raw, in your face, amateur film. I got about 15 minutes in the first time before I had to turn it off. I was disappointed. But wait, I'm not done yet.

So the first part of episode one was garbage. The next day I was thinking to myself, maybe I didn't give it the chance it deserved. So I went back and turned it back on. After a second time, the first part of episode one is garbage. But once you get past that, it does start to get better. So after the first episode I'm thinking maybe. But I just don't know. So I watched the second episode. It continued the trend of slowly getting better. And it had that little something that started to draw you in. Not so much a connection with any character, but the story line itself.

Before I knew it, I had watched all of its episodes. As a whole, the show is just okay. But individually the episodes are good. Each episode focuses on specific people, in specific settings. So they take a life of their own. And while they're nothing spectacular, they have just enough to keep you coming back for more. The last few episodes, however, that's you're meat and potatoes of the show. A lot happens, and it's fast. Those few episodes are what the entire season should have been. While not as intense, or insane as OZ was a decade or so ago, it grabs you. And every so often you catch yourself going, "Holy cow!" There are a few easily predictable scenes. Fortunately these are little things that don't take away from the show.

The actors are good for the most part. They take characters that are just meh, and really make them into something you're interested about. While there are a couple that are pretty stale. For instance, Kate Mulgrew really lets you see her chops, in a persona (and accent) that's light years away from her Star Trek days. In contrast though, Laura Prepon just isn't impressive at all. Every time you start to think she might do something with her character, you're left with nothing. She may very well have left her best work on "That 70's Show," because you certainly don't see it here.

So in all, it's an alright show. If you're a fan of police, crime, and prison dramas, this is really nothing more that a season filler for another show, or an in betweener for those brief periods between season. It will pull you in for a few minutes. But after that, it leaves you with little. Personally, I'd recommend Lilyhammer, or House of Cards before this. Keep em coming +Netflix, I'll keep watching. But this is just my opinion.

What Exercise Should Be

There's one word that so many people hate. Even the hardcore individuals who do it, and preach it everyday. Exercise. It hurts, and isn't something we look forward too. But exercise isn't exercise when it's something you enjoy. At that point, it no longer seems like work.

I, like so many others, HATE running. I can't stress that enough. I've tried to get into it. Even when I was in the USMC I hated it. For a while I even ran twice a day during those years. That actually made me hate it even more. Briefly I enjoyed lifting weights while I attended NMMI. But it wasn't a heavily crowded gym, and I had a good friend to lift with, who was very knowledgeable. It was a rush to see my max increase. But after that, it bored me to death. And I know I'm not alone on this. However, everyone has something they enjoy.

Some love running. Some love weights. Some live for bicycles. The list goes on and on. For me it's swimming. For that matter, it's just about anything that has me completely surrounded by water. SCUBA, snorkeling, so long as I'm in the water, I'm happy. It's the one exercise that isn't exercise to me. It doesn't matter what I'm doing in it, just that I'm there. When I'm in the water, it's a whole different world. Above the water is noisy, people laughing, screaming, having fun, and the chaos of life is nearby. But under it, below crashing waves, and the splashes of divers, it's a silent and peaceful world. Much like riding my motorcycle, it's a place that lets me clear my mind, and just enjoy what nature has provided me.

But it doesn't end there for me. A pool is good, but it's not the best. Don't get me wrong, I love going to the pool too. But I like moving water. A lake, creek, or river a great. But the ocean is ultimately where it's at. Riding the waves, hovering in the water, and feeling the undertow and currents pushing me here and there. And then there's SCUBA. You can go to the same spot often, but no trip is ever the same. Strap an air tank on your back, some fins on your feet, and then you make an escape into the deep blue. The fish in the area vary, every approach on the coral is different, and sometimes you'll find a boat, or some other man made creation to explore. And sound. Sound is totally different under the sea. Crabs, and lobster clicking away, boats cruising by, bells and various things banging and clanging. To those who are land locked, these things don't seem so special. Once you're under water though, you can't tell where it's coming from. Not only that, but how close it is. You're surrounded by muffled, unique sounds, and all the chaos of the world is blocked out.

You can kick, pull, wiggle, and more. But there's nothing like that feeling in the water where you briefly get that point of weightlessness. You're in a space all your own. That's how exercise should be. It's not work. It's just an escape that helps you reset. And at the end of it, when you're all done, you'll realize just how hard you pushed yourself without knowing it. You'll know from the aches and pains. You won't curse it though. You'll welcome it, and go back for more.

Me in the East China Sea