So Long 2005

I began this year in Salt Lake City Utah. I end it in Charleston South Carolina. I began this year with goals and plans. I end it with accomplishments and satisfaction.

Some important things happened to me this year.

1st. Stephanie.
Stephanie has been happening to me for several years now. However, at the beginning of this year I still did not know what would or could happen to us. I knew that I loved her. She had been my best friend for several years. But I wasn't sure if I ever wanted to be in a real relationship at all. Steph and I didn't bond that way. We came together with the idea that serious relationships only keep people from pursuing their dreams. It was a bad way to start a relationship.

But I came to a realization this year. The real reason that Steph and I came together is that we both believe that following our dreams is the most important thing. Additionally, our dreams are practically the same thing. I also realized that I have been in a relationship for a while now, and I DO like it. I still believe that they are bad for people early in life, but Steph and I are doing it the right way. We are making our own model for success together, and I love it. We are trailblazers.

2nd. Star Wars
2005 was the last and greatest single year for Star Wars ever. I came into last year salivating for Revenge of the Sith. There has never been another movie with this specific kind of presure on it. Since 1980, when we found out who Darth Vader really was, we knew this movie existed. It existed in concept if not actually on film. For 25 years I have been waiting to see how Anakin Skywalker became Darth Vader. If this doesn't seem important well then I don't know what to tell you. But I hoped and prayed it would be what I wanted. New toys were going to come out. New Fast Food promotions. Trailers and Commercials. And of course Tickets going on sale. And "THE LINE" How would it be this year? Which theater would I go to? How early will I have to be there? Will I be able to convince Stephanie to go? How much money will it make? How many times will I see it? Will I like it?

Guess what? It was EVERYTHING and more. The toys were great. I got almost every single one. Which I never have done in a given movie year. I got tickets a month early. I got in line on Wednesday afternoon at 3:55, and Stephanie Joined me around 6. We waited until they let us in at 10. We got good seats. The movie started, I was so nervous I wanted to throw up. I'm nuts, I know. It was fantastic. I was floored. It has been 7 months now since I saw it, and I can confidently say it is the best movie of the 6. It made 50 million dollars in a single day. 16 million at midnight shows alone. There were 3am and 6am shows in some cities. It made 380 million dollars. Stephanie went with me and she loved it too. I saw it 10 times, including once in digital at the humongous Cinerama Dome at the Arclight in Hollywood and once at a drive in. It was as satisfying a conclusion to a series of films and to a part of my life as there possibly could have been.

3. Getting my life together. This is something that I knew would probably be a two part deal. And after year one, I am where I want to be. Coming into this year, I was still a little scared. I still was unsure of what I can do. I was still unsure of what I wanted to be. Did I have the guts to go through with my plans. I talk the talk, but don't walk the walk. I tell people that I won't live a humdrum robot life that I feel most people do. Yet I am still not sure if I can fight my fears and go after it. I am still sloppy, I am still unorganized, I am still out of shape.

Today, I am more organized. I am not there yet. I am less sloppy, but improving. I am in lousy shape still, but plans are in place. I have paid off all of my debts, excluding student loans. I am out of Utah, which I felt was a bad place for us. I am working a job that has the potential to send us off on our movie making dreams. I am more confident in my abilities, I am more focused, I am more determined. The best thing is that I am paying attention. I am in gear now. With still a way to go, I am well on the road, and it feels really good.

2005 was a good year. It was a hard year, it was not always a fun year. 5 or 10 years down the road however, I think we will see that 2005 was the year it all turned around for me. I feel like this was the year I really began my new life.

When 2000 came around, I really got thinking about myself. That year I began to pull myself up. I set a goal to change my life around. To rededicate myself to being the best I can be. It took some time to get going. I was in a pretty deep hole. But 5 years later I feel like the turnaround is complete. I am truly on the right path. Right emotionally, right spritually, right professionally. I have a long way to go. But I finish this year, more confident than I have ever been in my life.

So Long 2005. Thanks for everything......Bring on 2006!

Why can't I have what I want?

Stephanie used to say this a lot to me. And she made sense. It sounds like a selfish thing to ask. But why? If I do not ask for unreasonable things, and I do not ask for anything that has not been promised me, then why can't I get what I want?

The answer: Welcome to the Real World.

What?!?

The real world? Thats what they tell me. Thats the real world. You can't have what you want. You can't do what you want. You have to grow up, be realistic, the world doesn't work that way etc.

What?!? I say again.

What do I want? Ok, I want to be treated with respect. I want people to honor their commitments. I want people to behave as though they care about what they are doing.

So maybe if I said "I want someone to knock on my door and offer me my dream job" then I can understand that it doesn't work that way. But I don't want that. I'll get my own job. I'll make my own dreams come true. But don't get in my way just because you have given up on your life.

I want you to not forget my sauce with my mcnuggets. I want you to use your damned turn signals. I want you to not be mad at me for going the speed limit just because you left the house too late. I want you to not expect me to do something that you never asked me to do. And I want to not be called selfish if I say I have other plans. I want you to not be out of the "guarenteed in stock" items. I want you to deliver on time your "guarenteed to be there by.." items. And if I ask you to do something, don't reluctantly agree and then pout and expect me to let you out of it. Just say no. And when I just say no, don't get mad at me for it.

I am sick and tired of the lack of honesty that is everywhere. Everyone is playing this strange game of "tell people what they want to hear, until you can figure a way to get out of it."

I just want to do what I want to do. I'll take care of my part, just don't get in my way by not taking care of yours.

-T

Feeling sick again.

I am now making up for my sickness from a few weeks back. The strange illness I had that had no head symptoms. It was a stomach bug, and I didn't know how to handle being sick without snot and goo and sore throats and hacking, hocking, coughing and spitting.

Now I have that. I have all of those things. But no stomach issues. Weird. I'm walking around work, because overall I feel fine. I'm not particularly tired or fatigued. I'm not weak or queezy. I'm not dizzy or nauseaus or anything at all. I feel basically fine, other than my head weighs about 42 pounds.

A side issue to this, is this. I went looking for some medicine at my parents' house. I found some Walgreen's brand cough syrup. Problem is, it expired early this year. Springtime I think. I don't know if its bad for you to take expired cough syrup. Probably not really. However, its also likely that it won't be particularly effective either. So I didn't take it, and looked for something else. I found some Wal Mart brand cough syrup. Checked the expiration date....May of 2003!!! Wait a second.

I wonder how much of a problem this is. I kind of get it. You only use medicine when you get sick. So if you don't use it all, you may not use it again for a while. Additionally, a lot of times, I'll end up buying new medicine each time I get sick. I don't know if everyone does this. A lot of times I'll start to feel it, and I won't take anything right away. Then by lunch I'll realize I need something so I'll go to the store and buy something. I suppose this happened here at my family's house. Well in the case of the 2005 expiration date maybe....2003? I don't know.

I went and bought some new stuff, so hopefully that will work. I threw the others out though.

-T

ERRRRRRR

Somedays you know that the world just doesn't function the way its supposed to. And today is one of those days..... I don't want to and can't get into it today. But trust upon trust dear reader that in the not to distant future, there will be a wonderful rant filled with bile and venom.

-T

Stephanie is Home!

Woo-Hoo Woo-Hoo Stephanie is home. Sonny is Happy, I am Happy. I got some more presents too. Star Wars Pez Collection, Star Wars Video Game and super snazzy fancy pants 4 disc Gone with the Wind set.

I'm glad your back Steph. I missed you.

-T

An extra day

Today was a great day. It was basically like a free day. Nothing really Christmas related to do, so a good day to get some work done. Most specifically, cleaning my room some more.

I spent all day in that room today. Ruthless. Thats the attitude one must have. I have so much crap, that I just don't need. Keepsake type stuff that I will never look at again. So I started chucking it out. And I did alright too.

I watched two movies while I did it. Oh Brother Where Art Thou and Snatch. I love these movies. Very funny, and good for while you are cleaning too.

Tonight, my Cousin Jennifer came over. We watched EDtv. I love that movie too. Very underappreciated. Overshadowed by The Truman Show, but it is much better.

A free day, and effective one at that.

-T

Merry Christmas to all

Its Christmas Day. A magical, and very busy, day for most people. That holds true here as well. But it is great isn't it?

This morning, it was Christmas at our house. Mom, Dad, Sonny and Me. We opened our gifts. I made out pretty well. I got 400 bucks toward a camera that Steph and I are buying. I got some memory for my computer. I got a computer bag that I don't need, but that I can exchange. And, of course, I got some underwear.

This afternoon, it was Christmas at my Granddaddy's place. All of us Andrews folks meet there and Eat....a lot. It was a great time.

All and all, a good day. I was tired and full when it was over, which is what you want.

I talked to Steph a few times, sounds like she got good stuff too. I can't wait to see her.

-T

Its Christmas Eve

One thing I have noticed. If you havent finished your shopping by about the 10th of December, just wait until Christmas Eve. I went to about 6 different stores this morning in no time at all. Very easy. Clearly the best time to go and it is an age old tradition in my family. As we tend to be procrastinators.

Tonight I had my mom's family over for Christmas. We have been doing it this way for a long time. I'm not sure when it started. It wasn't this way when I was a kid. I did Christmas at both Grandparents' houses on Christmas Day. It was nice today.

First. There was Aunt Joyce and the Macaroni Pie!! Oh my is it good. It was conspicuously missing from Thanksgiving this year, but not from Christmas.

Second, there is Aris Nicole. She is the life of the party and the center of attention. As most toddlers are, I'm sure. My cousin asked me if Aris was walking yet. Ha ha. You'll see I said. Though not quite in that jerky way.

Lastly, its a good chance to have a large group of family in one place and a lot of talking that isn't forced. And no TV. I like to see a circle of people all facing inward and talking, rather than focused on the TV. People use the TV as a crutch, to fill in the blank spots in the conversation. Its nice to see a time when that just isn't necessary.

Only one bummer tonight. No Stephanie. I hadn't given much thought to Stephanie's leaving for Boston. Of course I'd miss her, but I was glad for her to get to be with her parents. However, I really didn't expect it to feel like she was missing the way it did. I mean I wasn't overwhelmed with sadness, but I noticed she wasn't there with me and I wanted her to be. I don't want to do Christmas without her anymore.

Its proof that Christmas is what they says it is. A special time to be with those that you love most. I would think that it might be easy to not miss Steph too much, just because I am doing the exact same traditions as I always did. She was never there before, so you might think I wouldn't notice that she wasn't there now. But I did. She easily qualifies as a member of "those I love most" and I wanted her to be here. Next year will be different.

I think I hear Santa....so happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night.

-T

Holidays vs. Christmas

Im going to get into this only for just a moment. Every year, this becomes a bigger deal. Stores getting rid of the word Christmas. And every year. The News comes on and talks about the controversy. And every year they show a bunch of people who think its wrong.

You know what they never show? People who think Christmas IS offensive. You know why? Because no one thinks that.

And you know else? No one cares either. This is just another media concoction. Its another STORY. Stories are what get the ratings. News is when when someone gets murdered. The story is the two weeks after the murder when they bring it up again and again, because they know it gets better ratings than Seinfeld reruns.

This is another story. Another way to fill time and get people stirred up. Its not real. And the worst thing anyone can do, is actually discuss this as an "issue."

Just let it go and enjoy your Christmas. Don't give in to the scam. Don't get suckered in. Remeber War Games. "The only winning move is Not To Play"

-T

Alone at home.

Stephanie left today to go back to Boston for Christmas. The Son and I are struggling with it just a bit. Sonny will be sleeping in the bed with me tonight. And I expect he will be restless, as he always is when she is gone.

Its not that he is too sad, just always on edge. The dog and that gal have some kind of special kinship. Its pretty cool to watch sometimes.

Anyway, I have sworn to have my room done by the time she gets back, so I must get on it. Hopefully I can make some headway.

-T

Once an idiot. Now an A-hole

Johnny Damon is a jerk. More than that, he's stupid. He really stuck it to the fans now. Usually I think the players are just doing good business, and I think that they can work wherever they'd like. This, however, is just not right.

After leading the Red Sox to the once unthinkable World Series Championship, JD has left the Sox for the Hated Yankees. And for once, I think this is a real example of a player having no class. We know it isn't money. The Yankees didn't pay much more than the Sox would have paid.

No, clearly this is about attention, and how Johnny can get more of it. He knows that if he stays with the Sox, that it is not particularly big news. He knows that if he goes somewhere else, its not particularly big news. But having signed late last night with the Yanks, he is already the number one sports story of the day and one of the biggest regular stories of the day.

Just another way to add to that Damon ego. The thing is, there were things that we all liked about the guy. And assuming that he is a good guy, then all of those quirky things make him a cool eccentric neat kind of guy. However, when you find out that he is a selfish jerk, then suddenly it casts a different light on all of the fun quirky things he did before.

And he gave up the chance at a real legacy. To be one of the few guys to bring the Sox from almost a century of bad luck and losing the big one. He gave up the chance to be one of those special baseball legends. The kind that everyone remembers, even though they weren't hall of famers.

Heres one:




Fernandomania in LA in the early 80s. One of my earliest baseball memories. Fernando didn't end up being a legendary pitcher, but his legacy as a Dodger is Legendary and unforgettable.


Heres one on the way perhaps.



Eric Gagne. I don't know whats going to happen with him. I know that he is THE most popular Dodger out there. I know that people go to the games just to see him. I know that Angelinos stay till the end of the game just to see him. Contrary to what you might have heard. And if he walks from the Dodgers this year, and went to the Giants we would be devastated.

And that just the Dodgers/Giants. A rivalry that has not been nearly as intense as the Yanks/Sox of late. Devastated I tell you.

Johnny, you suck. Everybody around the league. Royals fans, D-Backs fans, Mariners fans, everyone hates you. Everyone is blown away.

Welcome to being the Poster Boy for Selfish Ballplayers everywhere. At least A-Rod will like you for taking that crown from him. And by the way, better not slump in April because the Yanks fans will turn on you too.

Jackass!

-T

The great Star Wars Finale

A couple of nights ago I won an Ebay auction. I paid for it tonight. I got two of the last 5 Revenge of the Sith figures. This is a big deal. Mainly because it might be hard to get them all.

In Star Wars figure collecting, there is one thing that seems to hold true. Its very hard to find the end of the line figures. This means that when they switch from one line to begin a new one, the last figures of the ending line tend to disappear. Mostly, its just that they have the least amount of time from when the first make them and when they quit production.

The Episode 1 line finishes with an Emperor Hologram, Sio Bibble and a Protocol Droid that I never saw. The Episode 2/Saga line ended last year. I got all but the last three, which I never saw. The Power of the Force line ended in 1999 with some cool figures with talking chips that no one ever saw.

So as Revenge of the Sith comes to a close, I'm looking for the end. I have never managed to collect a whole line before. And I am right on it this time.

It started in February with 4 preview figures. I got those. Then, in April, it started for real. There were 32 figures the first night. I bought about 6. I got all of them pretty quickly. I also got a limited Yoda hologram.

Now there were a few other limited edition exclusives. Target had several "Lava Reflection" figures. I never saw them. I'm not huge on chasing exclusives, so I don't sweat them.

I also don't chase variants very much. Not into errors or changes that they do. One Anakin figure had black eyes. Later, they changed it to have the orange "Sith Eyes." I'm not too worried about that though. However, there are some I did get. The Emperial Guard came in both Blue and Red varieties. Later, they had some varying colors on some of the Troopers. I got those. Those were intentional.

So, there were 56 figures that came out by August. Plus different colors on the Imperial Guard, Clone Pilot, Clone Commander and Clone Trooper. That makes 60. Plus there was the 4 previews. That makes 64. Then they announced that there would be 12 more to end the line. They supposedly came out in October. And I found 7 of them that month. The final 5 though, I have yet to see.

Then they announced the new line of toys. The Saga 2 line. New look, new figures, new card design, starting in 2006. And to kick it off, would be 2 figures that bridge the gap between ROTS and Saga 2. Those were Obi-Wan with Baby Luke and Bail Organa with Baby Leia. I decided those would be the last for me. And I have found them.

This means that the line is over. And, as expected, the 5 last figures have vanished from stores.

Ok, all that said, I got two of the toughies on ebay. I had to pay a couple of bucks more than normal, but is worth it. I'm going to get it. With the 2 baby figures, and my Holographic Yoda that will make 79 in total. And then I am done. For a while.

I don't think I'll be collecting this next group just yet. I'm going to take a year off. Then I'll go back and get em later.

-T

Training Classes

Today at work, I began a three day training period. It was like school...except for not. We had a class at 8, at 9, at 10, at 11 and then Lunch until 1. Then, at 1, we had a 3 hour beginning to electricity class.

I have to say. I am pretty much a stud at school at this point. I have done it enough in my life. That said, this is pretty rough. 3 hours of Neutrons, electrons etc. Ohm's Law, resistance, series circuits...man oh man.

I remember why I became an art student.

-T

The Colts and Nomie

First things.....First. The Colts lost today. No 16-0. No perfect season. No nothing.
I'm pretty mad at Tony Dungy, and if I was a Colts fan I'd be livid. He couldn't commit. One way or another Tony. Pick a side and go. All week it was are you going for the record or are you going to back off and rest your team. He couldn't make up his mind. He kept saying he was just going to try to win. And his team played like that today. They played a half-assed game. They played as if they hadn't decided whether or not it was an important game. I wouldn't care that they lost if that had just come out and said its not important. But they tried to downplay the record AND pretend this game was important. All in all, pretty doggone annoying.


Second. Nomar Garciaparra comes to the Dodgers. This is an interesting turn of events. I like Nomar. I was not particularly impressed with the way he handled his last days with the Red Sox. However, I would like to seem succeed. He has been plagued by injuries for 3 years now. If he can stay healthy, I know he will have a good year. So I am glad he is coming. If he stays healthy, he will be a steal for us at 6 million bucks.
And of course, its now Boston West out in LA. Grady Little the manager, Bill Mueller at 3rd, Nomar at 1st, Derrick Lowe on the Hill and Johnny Damon coming to visit LA too.

Woo Hoo. I heard our Owner was trying to bring the Red Sox out here one player at a time. And really, what so bad about that?

-T

The Christmas Party

Tonight was my company Christmas party. This was a big deal, and a long time coming. One of the first things I was told when I go to work was that I MUST be at the Christmas party. So I made sure to be there to make a good showing.

I'm not a kiss up or anything, but I do very much want to continue to make a good showing. And I guess things are going well. My boss referred to me as her "best pipe bender." So that made me happy.

The party was pretty cool though. We played a silly game where we had to dress our boss up like Santa Claus, using tissue and construction paper and some cotton. My Santa won, so I got a 5 dollar Blockbuster gift card.

We had a white elephant gift exchange. That didn't go so well. I picked something and it was really heavy. Then it got stolen from me, so I picked something else. Then that got stolen too. So I tried to steal someone else's. They said I couldn't because that had been stolen 3 times already. So I stole back my original heavy gift. That was the third time that that gift was stolen so I was confident I'd get it. Then, someone stole it from me anyway. And the guy didn't listen when I tried to say something about the three times rule. As my ex-roomate's ex-girlfriend would say..."What the Crap?" Anyway, I just went up and picked another gift. When it was time to open them, my gift was a potpourri crock pot (potpourri sold separately) and the heavy gift was a full case of those vodka wine cooler things. Nuts!

What are you going to do though. Some free food and goofing off. It was pretty cool. Really my first ever company Christmas party.

-T

Melinda and Melinda and Melinda

I watched a lot of Melinda tonight. One very good and two pretty good.

First was another great episode of Ghost Whisperer. Jennifer Love Hewitt is Melinda, and she can see ghosts. The show is fantastic. Its CBS's replacement for Joan of Arcadia, and I love it. Tonight's episode was right on par.

The other Melindas were Woody Allen's film Melinda and Melinda. This was a movie with a great premise that is a pretty good finished film. Its not as good as I hoped it would be, but still pretty good.

A couple of writers are sitting around arguing over Comedies and Tragedies and which are more significant in the world.

So they are given a brief scenario and asked to turn it into story. One tragic and one comic. We get to watch the two movies happen together. They alternate between one movie to the other and back and forth. It was pretty cool. One thing though, I was far more interested in the Comedic version than the dramatic one. The tragic was way too tragic. The Comedic was also kind of serious. Both being a little more dramatic than they are supposed to be creates a problem for the tragedy. However it leaves the comedy as a much more balanced movie.

The other thing is that Will Farrell is in it. And I HATE him. I, once again, hoped that this would be a Will Farrell performance that I liked. And......it was ok. He wasn't too bad. A little annoying, but not so bad.

Overall, a pretty good night for Melindas though. And a productive night for the Tom and Steph movie watching team.

-T

King Kong Sucks

Steph and I had a little chat about King Kong tonight. I checked the box office report for yesterday. 9.6 million. Thats not bad I guess. In fact, only 20 movies ever have made more money on an opening day that was a Wednesday.

20th place. Oh its sooo funny. Pokemon the movie made more on its opening day than King Kong. What can I say? I'm rooting for it to fail. I'm a jerk. Fine. But Peter Jackson is so overrated. Lord of the Rings was such nonsense. So it gives me great pleasure to watch his super movie struggle.

Its not just PJ either. For about a month now I have heard people talking about this movie. How it was certainly going to pass Revenge of the Sith for this year's title, as well as potentially threaten Titanic for the ultimate prize. Just let me say this. Never ever say Titanic. Yes, someday something will probably pass it. It will be a freak of nature though. One that you won't see coming. Secondly, it apears to be no threat to Revenge of the Sith either. Lets compare. King Kong 9.6 million on opening day. Opening day for Revenge of the Sith was 50 million. In fact, Sith made almost twice as much as Kong in Midnight sales alone.

Additionally, its a Monkey!! You know? A Monkey. I'm the first to say that you can make anything happen in movies and it should be believable, but lets be honest. Its a technical masterpiece? I believe it. Its a touching story about love in the strangest of places? I'll believe it when I see it. And I will see it.

In the end, I really do hope that every movie I see is the best one ever. Honestly though, I take a little sick pleasure in watching it not do well. Lets hope it doesn't do any better over the weekend.

-T

Cold as Crap

Man it was cold today. I mean cold, yo. Seriously though, it was really cold today. I have been loving life after Utah. Knowing that is in the low teens back there almost every day. Ha ha ha. Its so nice here.

But today? No. It was cold. In the low 30s. Oh, poor me right? Its not as cold as other places, right? True, but does that make it warm here? No.

It was windy as heck. The boat ride out to the fort was rough. The water was choppy. It was pretty damned cold all day long.

Just thought I'd take a minute to complain about the weather. Its old school. Complaining about traffic is soooo clearly the new complaining about the weather.

-T

How to get motivated

Sometimes I don't know what my issue is. There is nothing I love more than the feeling I get when I am working on a film. Its one of the few things that I found that I do very well, and also really really love. Yet sometimes, its hard to get started on something.

Its like when you try to start riding your bicycle, and the pedal is really hard to push at first. Then, once you finally get going, you are cruising and loving every minute of it.

I just don't know whats wrong with me. I want nothing more to do this. It seems though that everyday, I'm just too tired to do anything about it. And tired would have never stopped me before.

Got to get my crap together.

Fort Sumter

Today was my first day working at Fort Sumter. Let me just say, it was like Whoa! I mean it was really cool. Just being around there is amazing.

The first thing I noticed is how quiet it is. You are miles away from anything, so naturally it is quiet. There are ships that pass by, and an airplane every now and again. But its very very quiet.

And that is spooky considering everywhere you go, there are reminders of how loud it was there one time. For 34 hours the Fort was bombarded by cannons mounted on islands and beaches all around. There are pictures of the bombing in the Fort Museum. Its just amazing to think how loud it must have been. This, in turn, makes it all the more spooky when its that quiet.

I find myself wondering if any ghosts are watching me. All in all, its pretty doggone cool.

-T

A little Old Charleston Fort Action

Today Steph Sonny and I took a little trip out into Charleston once again. We went out to Sullivans Island to the beach. We went to the beach near historic Fort Moultrie.

Fort Moultrie was used by the Colonials during the Revolutionary War. It was used on and off during wartimes throughout the next century and was used again as an active Fort as recently as World War II

We had a good time, and Sonny got his picture taken with a 250 year old Cannon. It is one of the cooler places to visit in Charleston.

Tomorrow is going to be interesting because I will be doing some work at Fort Sumter. This Fort was built during the early 1800s and was a central character in the Civil War. The Civil War began in Charleston in the early part of 1861, when Citadel cadets fired on the Federal Troops that were housed inside. It all started here. Its some serious serious history. And I must say, its pretty neat to be working there.

The cool thing is that I'll be adding something to the place. I worked for over a year at Hill Air Force Base in Utah. For the last three weeks, I have been working at a new elementary school in Mount Pleasant. Both are places that I will most likely never visit again. But this is different. This is a place that has some significance, and more than likely I will be visiting several more times in my life. I am excited about adding somehting permanant to the place.

-T

A little excitement tonight

Well, we had a little excitement around here this evening. Steph and Sonny and I went up to McDonalds to grab some dinner. When we got back, there was a police car here. My brother was talking to him. Turns out, while we were gone, my brother heard some screaming out in the woods. He said a woman screamed Help at the top of her lungs from out in the woods behind our house. He said he heard her, then a man yelling something he couldn't make out, and then the woman screamed again. Then he said he never heard anything again. So he called 911.

We didn't really know much after that. But about 20 minutes later, my brother was driving out of the neighborhood and he saw the police dragging a handcuffed man to a police car. We could hear dogs barking like crazy out in the woods. We assumed the arrested the guy and where now searching for the woman. Scary.

A bit later, my brother talked to the cops again. He said that they found the woman and that she was ok. They wouldn't say any more than that.

Anyway, its pretty freaky. I know its going to be one of those silly things that no one ever finds out what happened. We will see I guess.

-T

The Matrix

Steph and I were talking about the movie The Matrix tonight. Mostly just because sometimes we feel like WE are in the Matrix.

The catch about the movie however is that it takes the cheap way out. Its a great metaphor for the way the world is. We are plugged into some strange system of jobs and television and family life and politics and cars and entertainment and it all just feels phony. The movie gives us what we want. The thing that would make it easy. The Matrix is real. Everyone wants a revolution. Everyone wants to revolt from their humdrum life, but its just too hard. Nothing is clear. There is no obvious path to take. No one knows who to revolt against.

In the movie, they give us an easy one. The human race has actually been enslaved. The entire human race, not just one group or another. All races, religions and genders together, oppressed by machines. Not other humans, but machines. The easy way again. The enemy is a faceless, mindless monster. It is off in the distance and not subject to debate. An easy-to-hate enemy with no question of its intentions.

Stephanie pointed out also that Morpheus just gives Neo a pill to make him see. Also the easy way out. No need to have to convince him or sell him on the theory. Give him a pill and he will just understand. Furthermore, the pill wakes him up out of the Matrix. Which means there is no way back. Again easy. Neo can't just go back to the Matrix once it gets to hard. You take away his choice and make him be the savior.

What I would like to see is this movie, but where there is no Matrix. Where Morpheus attracts Neo to be the savior, but he has to do it in the real world. Where Neo's job as savior is to convince the world that there is a better way to live. To lead a revolution of mind and spirit without the benefit of a single obvious enemy to revolt against.

What I am talking about is making a cross between The Matrix and Fight Club. There is a real movie in here somewhere, and Steph and I are going to find it.

-T

Apology part Deux

Just a quick add on to my apology from the other day. Turns out that the city of Charleston is getting into the New Urbanism act. The Magnolia project is a large scale redevelopement project going on in an urban wasteland on the North end of town. They are stripping the area out and redesigning it as a high density residential, business, entertainment and retail area. They are even buying and old freight Railroad right of way with commuter rail potential.

Good for you guys. My bad.

-T

Winter Meetings

Its early December and Baseball is in full swing. Yeah. Didn't you know? Its winter meeting time. Owners, GMs, Players and Agents have all gathered in Dallas this week to talk trades and contracts. To make their teams better. Unless they are the Marlins that is.

And it is ON in Dodger camp. The Dodger Message Board is blowing up with rumors. Including the one I have been waiting for: Manny Freaking Ramirez!

The Dodgers are positioning themselves to go after my boy and I couldn't be more excited. Oh please Oh please Oh please...............

Bridge Explosion

Today is a big day for me. Today they began the demolition of the main spans of the 77 year old Grace Memorial Bridge here in Charleston. The Grace Bridge was always the special one. It, and the Silas Pearman bridge made up what was just generally referred to as the Cooper River Bridge.

The two bridges have been being demolished for a few months now, but today was the first day that they took the big bombs to the Grace Bridge. So there it goes. Crashing down into the water. Its a weird sort of sad. Weird, in that its not really sad at all. Yet it is still. I have been following that new bridge's progress for 10 years. And the part that you never remember will happen is this part. Its a great day really. That old bridge did its job well for a long long time. It deserves its rest at the bottom of the sea. Where fish will play on it. That sounds peaceful.

But I am going to figure out how to get a piece of that thing to keep forever though.

-T

A small apology

I would like to make a small apology to the city of North Charleston. For weeks I have been expressing my disdain for this city and its apparent apathy toward planning and smart growth. While I still have reservations, I have discovered something that clearly indicates to me that someone is at the wheel.

So...I apologize.


Last night, I discovered something called The Noisette Project It is a waterfront development, designed to refurbish and revitalize the old Navy Base and adjacent areas. Really, this is a great project and is a clear step in the right direction. Mixed-Use...meaning business, retail, entertainment AND residential. Woo Hoo... Mixed use and density are what IT is all about.

That said. I still have problems with the overriding culture of this area. I read LA papers online and LA messageboards as well. And they all joke about the "LA CAR CULTURE" Everyone does. But I promise you, the car culture in this town is 10 times greater than that of LA. Easily. And that still is a problem.

Now I hate to give an "I'm sorry but..." kind of apology. I really mean it. I thought no one was running this town, but clearly that is wrong. I am going to go down there and see this first hand this weekend.

-T

Rent

I saw Rent today. And it was pretty darned good. Not the best thing Ive seen this year, but pretty doggone good.

One thing of note is the very negative way it portrays New York City. Now it doesn't go out of its way to say NYC is bad. But it offers no views of anything good about the place. This is pretty out of the ordinary for pop culture in recent years. Since 9/11, New York has been the darling city of the world.

Rent was a runaway hit on Broadway in the mid 90s. When New York was really just beginning its comeback. And I imagine the seeds of Rent were starting in the late 80s, when New York was still very much viewed as nasty, trashy place.

So, in some ways this movie seems a little outdated to me. But not so much. I mean even the Glorious New York of today has its share of ultra poor areas. Yet it is interesting anyway.

Really a good show though. I'm really interested in seeing this performed live somewhere some way. Hopefully I will get to.

-T

Its On Now!

Well, what we have been waiting for is now official. January 4th 2006. Texas vs. USC in the Rose Bowl for the National Championship. 12-0 vs. 12-0. Two undefeateds. No doubts, no arguments, no controversy, no complaining, no whining, no overrateds, no disrespecteds no nothing but pure badass vs. badass football gaming.

So Texas and USC each played their final opponents today. The only potential roadblocks to getting the game we all want.

And just so there was no doubt that we are getting the best game, Texas took Colorado to the proverbial woodshed. Texas won 70-3. Meanwhile, on the other side of the country, USC beat the crap out of Crosstown UCLA 66-19. Let it be known that both teams are clearly ready to go.

I can't stand it. This is going to be awesome.

-T

Week 4 in the books

I finished my 4th week of work today. And it feels alright. I'm getting paid well. Most importantly though, I'm fitting in well. What I mean to say is just that I feel comfortable in my knowledge and experience, and I know that I do know what I am doing.

Now for another weekend. I simply must see a movie this weekend. It has been forever.
We'll see.

-T

LOST...once again

Just thought I'd write quickly about LOST. And oh by the way, I am feeling a bit better. Having spent all day walking around trying not to disturb my sick feeling.

Anyway, I watched last night's LOST tonight, and once again it was quite good. I am definitly back to the point where the show is great. And I now have to deal with a large break in the action.

Steph and I watched all of season one in a single week. It was hard enough waiting a week between episodes. Now I have to endure a long winter hiatus.

This watching a TV show on the Network's schedule is for the birds. Its like the DVR. I just don't start watching a show until well after it starts, then I can skip the commercials. Well, I will just wait until summer from now on. Then I can cram full seasons into short periods of time. Its really the best way to do it.

-T