Hanging with Jes

Woke up early as my friend Jes arrived last night from up north and we were going to hang this weekend.This was more of a one on one visit. And Jes pointed out that this was our first ever one on one visit, which is hard to believe since we've been friends for several years. I think our last planned one on one turned into mini party so this this time we kept Jes' visit on the DL.

Started off with some breakfast and TV, while we woke up. We then headed out back and painted the back of my house for a few hours, we got the majority of it done and with with a few touch ups later the back of my house will be finished.

We headed to Islands for lunch and when we got home we debated on what to do next... go hiking at Vasquez, do some more painting or just chill. Since Jes and I rarely chill or in fact hang out that's what we did the rest of the night. For dinner we made some lasagna, had some wine and we just hung out and watched some TV/Movies (finally watched my Avengers on Blu-ray) and just chatted. It was a lot of fun hanging with Jes.

What Really Matters

I’m not where this story came from, but it certainly does remind you what life’s really about.

A Professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him.  When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls.  He then asked the students if the jar was full.  They agreed that it was.

So the Professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar.  He shook the jar lightly.  The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls.  He then asked the students again if the jar was full.  They agreed it was.

The Professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar.  Of course, the sand filled up everything else.  He asked once more if the jar was full.  The students responded with an unanimous “Yes.”

The Professor then produced two bottles of beer from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand.  The students laughed.

“Now,” said the Professor, as the laughter subsided, “I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life.

The golf balls are the important things – your family, your health, your friends, your favorite passions – things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.

The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house, your car.  The sand is everything else – the small stuff.”

“If you put the sand into the jar first”, he continued, “there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls.  The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you.  Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness.  Spend time with your family.  Take time to get medical checkups.  Take your partner out to dinner.  Play another 18.  There will always be time to clean the house, and fix the disposal. 

 Take care of the golf balls first, the things that really matter.  Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.” When he had finished, there was a profound silence.  Then one of the students raised her hand and with a puzzled expression, inquired what the beer represented.

The Professor smiled. “I’m glad you asked.  It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there’s always room for a couple of beers with a friend.”

A Very Productive Day

Woke up around 7am, got up instead of staying in bed. Was determined to get a lot of stuff done today. As I do every morning I jumped on the computer to check twitter, facebook and my emails. 2 hours later I was finished and about to head outside to get some painting done when my buddy Chris messaged me. He mentioned something that I was thinking about yesterday. We haven't really talked the past few days. I know that doesn't sound unusual but he and I talk via facebook or text throughout the day everyday and to go two or three days without saying much is very odd.

Some Hobbit Holes

So instead of going out to paint I hung out with Chris on Minecraft. He had to go to work in an hour so this would be a short session. One cool thing we did was install Ventrilo, now gamers will know what this is.. but for those how do not it's a way to have voice conversations while in game. So instead of our usual text communication we could just press a button and talk. It's a pretty awesome addition to our Minecraft play. As I mentioned in previous posts Chris and I are recreating our version of Middle Earth. So far we've been doing things separately, I worked on Hobbiton and Chris worked on Land of Men and the Dwarf Halls Under the Mountain. But today we both started to work on the town of Bree. Didn't get a lot done in the hour that we had.. we removed about 1000 blocks of dirt to level out the land and Chris did some filling in of dirt to level things. But we plan to build this town together.. and now that we can chat during the game it's may playing together so much better.

Chris had to get ready for work so I continued to do what I had planned to do before the hour of game play. I headed out back to continue to paint the outside of my house. I started working on this yesterday. It's been so hot out here it's made it difficult to work out front because it's expose to direct sunlight and it's way to hot. But in the back it's covered in shade most of the day so I started painting the back of the house and that what I continued with today. I was determined to get at least one coat of paint on my entire back of the house and I'm happy to say after two hours, a lunch break and another two hours I did just that. I finished the backside of my house.. at least with one coat.. will continue tomorrow and do a second coat and I'm hoping that the back of the house will then be complete.

I talked to my mom about Christmas this year. In all my 41 Christmas' I have spent them with my family. But this year I will not be spending Christmas with them and I wanted to make sure my Mom was cool with it. When I told her she seemed perfectly okay with it, which was surprising. I assumed she would protest.. but she total understood where I was coming from... My buddy Chris is in my military and was transferred to Montana earlier this year (as regular readers will know). He isn't doing anything for Christmas (last year he went home). So he'll be in Montana by himself and I couldn't have that. So I booked a flight to spend Christmas and New Years with my best friend. I'm extremely excited to be able to share the holidays with him.

After painting I came inside and watched some more recorded TV shows on the DVR, mostly Face Off, House Hunters International and Hot Set.

So I'm very happy with how much work I got done. I hope this kind of progress continues tomorrow.

Catching Up on TV & Movies

Today I did some painting of the house and a few things inside but around noon I took a break for lunch and never went back to work. I spent the next nine hours watching recorded TV and some movies.

I started with Syfy's Faceoff, I haven't watched a single episode all season so I sat down and watched one, then another and another until I lost count. I think I watched about six or seven of them.

Then I moved on to a movie that I wanted to see in the theaters but never got around to. Recently I was ordering something from Amazon and it was five bucks short from getting the free shipping so I looked on my want list and saw that this movie Beastly was on sale for $10, so I got it. Well today I finally sat down and watch it and totally loved it. So happy that I have the blu ray so I can watch it over and over. It's a modern telling of Beauty and the Beast. And if you know me well, you will know that Disney's Beauty and the Beast is my favorite of all Disney movies. I love the story behind it, the vain guy only thinking of himself until one day his path crosses a witch who casts a spell on him and turns him into a "beast". He has a limited amount of time to find true love before the spell is permanent. In this movie the beast really isn't a beast, he's more of a guy with some major scars and tattoos (though he looks very cool). The two main characters were good.. especially the guy who plays the beast Alex Pettyfer but the person who I loved the most and really surprised me was the witch played by Mary-Kate Olsen. She was just a fantastic character and so much fun to watch. It was also fun to see Neil Patrick Harris who is a favorite of mine.

After the movie I watched all the Blu-ray extras, alternate ending, deleted scenes and a few featurettes.. all were very enjoyable.

Watching those extra's reminded me that I got The Avengers Blu Ray DVD for my birthday and have yet to watch any of the extras so I popped that in and watched the Gag Reel (which was AWESOME), watched alternate opening and closing and deleted scenes. I watched a few featurettes that were alot of fun and then watched a Marvel One Shot called Item 47. This was a short about one of the weapons that the battle falling into the hands of this couple who manage to get it working and go on a bank robbing spree. I don't have a clue when or why this was made. I don't know if it's a Blu ray special only or aired somewhere. It was pretty cool..

All in all is was a productive day in the morning and then turned into a fun TV/Movie night.

Politics

I don't talk politics very often on facebook, twitter or my blog, but the above video brought me to tears and I just had to share it on all platforms. 

I have many friends and family who are Republican and they have every right to vote however they see fit. But this is why I'm voting for Obama, I not only think he is a great leader but he is loving and caring to all, he believes in equality for all. He doesn't spew hate or intolerance or hide behind religion.

I'm a proud gay man and I'm fighting for my civil liberties, I'm fighting for rights that every heterosexual person has because society sees them as "normal". I don't care about foreign policy, or money or big or small governments .. all I care about is equality for all.. I want to marry my future partner, I want to be able to see my partner if he is in a hospital, I want to share in the benefits of my partner, I want to adopt a child with my partner, I want to live my life the way I was born to live.

President Obama has advanced "gay" rights further then any other president in history. I fear what will happen if Mitt Romney is elected as our next president. How many set backs we will have. 

Some ask how am I'm able to vote for a person based on one issue.  I responded with, this one issue is my life. And it's true, I'm not asking for anything extra out of life, I just want to live, love and share my life as others do. I don't need special treatment, I just need to be treated like everyone else.

This is why I will be voting for Barack Obama for another four years!!!!

Cloud Atlas - My Review

(MAY CONTAIN SLIGHT SPOILERS)

Tonight I went to the Warner Bros studios to see a pre-screening of Cloud Atlas. This is part of my PGA deal. I get screenings DVD's of movies for the PGA awards but I also get lists of dates when I go actually go to a theater and see the movie for free. Sometimes I get lucky and I get to see the movie before it's even out in theaters. This was one of those times.  I'm able to bring one guest with me to these screenings and I asked my buddy Robert to join me.

Never been to the Warner Bros studio screening room, it's not as bad as some theaters but it's not as great at Paramount's large screening room. Anyways I heard about Cloud Atlas maybe a month earlier. My former boss asked if I had ever read the book and that they were making a movie. I have not read the book so I looked up the trailer and was amazed that I had not heard of it earlier. The trailer looked pretty cool. It's a difficult movie to explain but here is a synopsis that I found online:

An epic story of humankind in which the actions and consequences of our lives impact one another throughout the past, present, and future as one soul is shaped from a murderer into a savior and a single act of kindness ripples out for centuries to inspire a revolution. It also has a great cast.

• Tom Hanks as Dr. Henry Goose / Isaac Sachs / Dermot Hoggins / Zachry Bailey
• Halle Berry as N'Fera / Jocasta Ayrs / Luisa Rey / Ovid / Meronym
• Jim Broadbent as Vyvyan Ayrs / Timothy Cavendish / Prescient
• Hugo Weaving as Mephi / Bill Smoke / Nurse Noakes / Control / Old Georgie
• Jim Sturgess as Adam Ewing / Lloyd Hooks / Hae-Joo Chang / Adam Bailey
• Doona Bae as Tilda Ewing / Sonmi-451
• Ben Whishaw as Robert Frobisher / Georgette Noakes
• James D'Arcy as Rufus Sixsmith / Nurse James / Archivist / Sloosha
• Zhou Xun as Yoona-939 / Rose Bailey
• Keith David as Kupaka / Joe Napier / Ankor Apis / Prescient
• David Gyasi as Autua / Lester Rey
• Susan Sarandon as Madame Horrox / Ursula / Abbess
• Hugh Grant as Reverend Horrox / Alberto Grimaldi / Seer Rhee / Cannibal

All I knew about this movie is that it takes place at various times and that each main actor plays several roles through out time.

I've always like the idea that we go through multiple lives with the same group of people (souls) around us, were all connected forever. So in one life you can be lovers, in another life you can be best friends and yet another life you could be brothers. This story is similar to that and that appealed to me. So we visit several different times, the nineteenth-century, the thirties, the seventies, present day and the two set in the future. Which one looks to be very futuristic and the other looks to be prehistoric but you find out it's far into the future.

You watch as these stories unravel and you bounce from time to time. Each piece adding a little more to the over all story. It's really cool to see how each of these characters are connected over time. I love how their actions in the past effect their actions in the future or how they mimic each other. I enjoy how some of the characters recognize this connection and comment about it.

The futuristic setting was pretty incredible and the special effects were amazing. I'd say about 80% of the age/altering make up was fantastic. There were a few times when it looked like a mask or that it wasn't the persons real face but then there were times that I didn't recognize the person for who they were. At the end of the movie they show the actors name and then show pictures of all the characters they played. I was amazed by some of them as I had no idea.

This is a movie that you can see again and again and pick up even more details. I don't think the writers try and hide anything it's just that there is so much going on it's difficult to take it all in, with the first viewing.

My favorite stories were the lovers in the 30's, though it was very tragic it had some very beautiful moments.  Jim Broadbent character in present day, he brought the humor to the film. All his stuff were good but when he gets to the senior home.. man that was some hilarious stuff. And finally the futuristic stuff. I loved the action, the love story and the meaning behind it all.

I can't forget the music as it's a big part to several of the stories and the sound track to this film was pretty amazing and I'm sure I'll be buying the CD when it comes out.

Overall I give this movie an A. It's very ambitious with a running time of almost 3 hours (2:44). I didn't once look at my phone to check the time. I was invested in this world and these characters. Every story had some high points and lows. It was blended together so seamlessly and made the experience fantastic.

Sun Stroke and Screenings

Well the plan was to continue painting but once again it was so hot outside. I was actually outside for an hour before I had to come in to cool down. I did manage to get back out there for a half hour before feeling sick. I think I got a little to much sun. I called it a day on painting and spent he next few hours watch TV and trying to stay cool.

I did start feeling a bit better so I tried to work on things inside the house like fixing my ceiling in my living room and various other things around the house.

At 4 I got ready and headed into town. I was going to have dinner with Robert and then we were going to a pre-screening of Cloud Atlas at the Warner Brothers Studios. (Will review in a seperate blog). While at the theater I ran into my buddy Bruce and his friend Gregg (a fellow LOTR fanatic).

Wasn't a few productive day.. hope I do better tomorrow.

MASH 4077 Podcast Episode 41

Show Notes

Kenny Mittleider from Knights of the Guild, Alien Nation: The Newcomers Podcast & Confessions of a Fanboy Podcast, Simon Meddings from Waffle On Podcast, & Al Kessel from Tales from the Mouse House, Fast Forward & Just Because Podcast discuss one of the most successful and longest running television series in history.. M*A*S*H

Today we cover Season 2, Episode #17 - For Want Of A Boot

41st Episode Overall

Directed by Don Weis
Written by Sheldon Keller
Production code K417
Original air date January 12th, 1974

Set during the Korean War in the 1950’s

Plot Summary: In this episode Hawkeye will do anything to get a new pair of boots: In order to get Zale to get him some, he must get an appointment for Zale with Futterman, the camp dentist, who will only do it if Henry will give him a pass to Tokyo, and Henry will only grant the pass if Houlihan will get off his back, which she will do only if the guys throw a party for Frank's birthday, with a cake, and Radar will only help get the cake if he gets a date with Nurse Murphy, who will only date someone with a hair dryer, and Klinger won't give up the hair dryer unless he gets a section 8 (and Frank won't sign). Inevitably, the deal falls through, much to the Hawkeye's chagrin.

Hope you enjoy it, Kenny

Painting the House - Day Two

Woke up, made pancakes for everyone for breakfast then headed outside around 9:30am. It was another hot day but I did have two helpers with me today so I was hoping we'd at least get the front of the house done (same goal as yesterday). About an hour into painting my buddy Robert joined us, now we would get the front done for sure... so I thought.

By noon everyone was hot and exhausted. We stopped for a lunch break and I took everyone out to Chili's for a nice lunch. Got back around 3pm and started back up. It was miserable outside and we kept having to take breaks inside to cool down and not get heat stroke.

Needless to say we didn't get a whole lot done. Around 5 we all went inside to relax a bit and Robert had had enough and was heading home. Rupert and Aaron soon followed around 5:30. I went back out for another hour until the sunlight was gone. We did make progress but of course not as much as I would like.. I've come to realize that this is going to take two to three weeks to get the entire house and garage done.

After sundown I worked on a few podcasts before watching the latest Once Upon a Time with my bestie Chris. Again another fantastic episode, I loved Snow's outfit and I like this tougher Snow White. Emma was really starting to bother me with the "I'm in charge" attitude but it was nice once she saw her mom in action she realized that she needs to let go and do what Snow says. They did have a great mother daughter moment in Emma's childhood room and looks like a new big bad is coming to Storybrooke. Can't wait for next weeks episode.

So this weekend of painting the house didn't go as planned but I got a good start and will continue to work on it until it is done. I'd like to thank Jen, Rupert, Aaron and Robert for helping out this weekend... you guys are the best.