A New Thinking.

Pondering death and what happens afterwards. We have so many religions that promise different things like peace and happiness, eternal damnation with torture, 32 virgins and so forth.

I don't want everlasting happiness with no free will. I don't want to be tortured for eternity. ok...maybe 32 virgins would be ok.

This made me think of what I would like the afterlife to be. I'd like something more like reincarnation, with a twist.

What if time was a circle? What if we die and go back and start over in a new parallel universe? What if the psyche is transferred to an alien on another planet? So many MUCH more interesting ways to continued life.

I'm sure this has been written about before by people much smarter than I am. I'm just wandering how cool it would be.

True friends...

Recently I had a friendship dissolve for no apparent reason. I tried to reason in my head why this even happened. Eventually I convinced myself that we were never truly friends. On my end we were, but on the other...we were not.

What did I do? I was too nice. What, that's modest of me...lol. But it is true. I did anything for her. I would drop plans just to hang with her. I would agree with her if even on the inside I was screaming "YOU CAN'T TRULY BELIEVE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING!". And the list could go on. Maybe it was love. I did love her. At first in a "I hope she'll be my girlfriend" way and eventually in a "I want to protect her and we're only friends" way. And I thought that she felt the same way, I mean that she at least felt that we were friends.

Upon reflection I see that we were never truly friends. I was only her friend inbetween guys that she dated(granted it was the same guy about 5 times). I was her friend when she needed a place to stay. I was her friend when she asked me to get her some dinner. I was her friend when she wanted to bitch about stuff and wanted someone to listen.

Then she moved out...

After that the only texts or phone calls I got were asking for a favor. Will you order me this and I'll pay you back? Did a package arrive? Can I come over and use your shower because my parents pipes are frozen? Never a "How are ya doin Mike?". Then the texts ended. I guess the favors were done and I was no longer needed. Then I was deleted off Facebook. At no point did I do anything wrong? I just wasn't needed anymore.

I guess she started dating a guy. And that's fine...that's what people do. And I'm guessing we had reached the "I've got a new guy and Mike is no longer needed." part of our story. This time I wasn't even kept on retainer. I was tossed aside like yesterday's jam. I can't lie...I'm still mad at her for this. I will eventually get over it, but for now I can't help but be angry at this girl that I can't help but think played me for a fool.

But this also opened my eyes to the great people I have in my life. The people I should have been doing favors for. The people that call me up and ask how my day is. The people that actually care about me as much as I care for them. If you're reading this and are one of those folks...I love you. And I'm here if you need me.

Wow...alot has gone on since my last update.

I really don't want to go into most of it. But I have to say that the last couple of months has offered some of the highest highs and some of the lowest lows. I've seen crazy things and had some wonderful times. Friends getting married and making new friends has made these couple of months pretty great.

I've been cheering on a friend to do school stuff and I think that I've inspired myself to do so. To do this I've started selling off some comics and other various things on Ebay. I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up, but I still have a little time to think about it.

I want to make this life better. And this is nothing against the people around me. Because they are all wonderful and having fun or getting help from these folks is not a problem. This is all me. I need to fix me and figure out what I want from life and what I want to do. I guess what I'm saying is that I want to fix myself while keeping the great people around me at the same great level that they're at.

Let's get this party started, ball a rolling or kite a flying...

Because I just watched the Where the Wild Thing Are Trailer

First off...Where the Wild Things Are trailer is FANTASTIC! Spike Jonze is amazing!

Second - I've had a pretty good weekend. Between work and afterwork stuff I've stayed pretty busy. But I've had fun and enjoyed the company of those around me.

Because I have an hour left at work.

Been keeping busy lately. Pretty much Get Up - Go to work - do something after work. It's much better than sitting around. Or should I say that sitting around with other people is much better than sitting around by myself.

Grilled out last week with Kelly and Walls. Had some delicious steaks and then watched a GREAT vampire movie called Let the Right One In, which was made in Sweden. Also went to a grill out at Jessica's house on Sunday. Saw the friends and tossed the football. Had a great time ( when I read this I talk like Rorschach from Watchmen and pretend this is his journal). After I left Jessica's place I took Amber and Liz to see I Love You, Man and it was very funny!

Hung out with most of the same folks on Monday. Moved a couple of love seats into Lot 1 with Patrick. Painted picnic tables with Heather and Amber. *cough cough*watched Twilight*cough cough*. Went running on Tuesday, ok I walked but I also ran a lap.

Suppose to go out on Friday to La Parilla(sp?) in McDonough. Walls seems to think he's going to get Clark and Rebekah drunk, but that's just not their thing. Hopefully they'll have fun anyways. Then Saturday is Jeff McPherson's birthday and we're gonna eat at Southern Pit and party the night away at Hollywood Hills. Ok, maybe I won't go to the HH, but I can eat...right?

Speaking of eating...I have to go on some sort of diet. I'm gonna start running, but without a proper diet there's no good reason to even try. So I'm looking up stuff online and realize that eating less costs more??!! Ugh...I'm on backward world.

Alright...time's up. It's time to get off this couch I call blog.

Because I want to look like Mickey Rourke

Seen WATCHMEN twice on IMAX! A very good adaptation of the book. The 2 hours and 41 minutes just fly by. Rorschach's prison scenes were especially awesome! And Silk Spectre II...gorgeous.

I chipped my tooth last night! I was eating an apple...an A-P-P-L-E dammit! It's not noticeable to people looking at my teeth, but I can feel it with my tongue. An apple a day may keep the doctor away, but apparently not the dentist.

OK...promise not to laugh. Promise? Alright. I started watching Gossip Girl on DVD on Tuesday. I'm now through 6 episodes and I'm definitely enjoying it. As good as the O.C.? Nah, but this teenage melodrama has me hooked nonetheless.

Played some tennis on Monday. Need to get in better shape. Played two sets until we left because of the locals. If we're standing right beside each other...do we need to scream? These kids did.

I want to make a meatloaf. A) because it's easy B) because I love meatloaf. I have a recipe for a brown sugar meatloaf. It's difficult because I get off work around 7pm and get home around 7:30pm. By the time I get it together and cook it...it will be 9pm or later. Who eats dinner that late?

The house is getting cleaner. I try to clean up a little everyday. I need to put some corkboard on the back of our upper cabinets because of how bad the back of the cabinets look. I figure corkboard would work well and be useful. I still need to clean the empty bedrooms, but those are last priority.

I have a job prospect. Interviewed last week, was supposed to interview again on Monday until it got pushed back because the interviewer would be out of town. Now I'm just waiting to see when the next interview will be. This new job would take me out of town for a few days a week, but the money will be amazing! Keep your fingers crossed.

Until next time...

Because Lucinda Williams rocked me...

Amazing show! I can't even explain how great Lucinda Williams is to the folks that have never heard her.

Here's the setlist...

1 I Just Wanted to See You So Bad
2 Can't Let Go
3 Happy Woman Blues
4 Crescent City
5 Circles & X's
6 Pineola
7 Drunken Angel
8 Side of the Road
9 Everything Has Changed
10 Something About What Happens When We Talk
11 Lake Charles
12 I Lost It
13 Joy
14 Tears of Joy
15 Real Love
16 Changed the Locks
17 Come On
18 Essence
19 Honey Bee
20 Righteously
__________________________________________________________
21 Motherless Children [with an emphasis on the Macon, GA residence of Blind Pearlie Brown]
22 Things That I Used to Do
[Lucinda comes to a full stop at this point and announces future merch discounts for fans subjected to the "gouging" fees assessed by the Live Nation-Ticketmaster "Mafia"--adding ironically "I'll never work again in this town after saying all this" and then noting that she would go back to playing on the streetcorner if this trend continues]
23 It's a Long Way to the Top. . . .
____________________________________________________________
24 Every Picture Tells a Story
25 Little Rock Star
26 Angel (Jimi Hendrix song) [solo]

Because everything changes

Lots of stuff going on lately.

Saturday February 21, 2009 - Went to the AMC BEST PICTURE SHOWCASE! For those that don't know it is when the AMC theatres play all 5 of the Best Picture Oscar nominees. Met Terri at her house at 9am and took off for Phipps Plaza in the ATL. Got some breakfast at the mall and actually got to bring it into the theatre! Got pretty good seats towards the back and started watching Milk at 10:30am! All of the movies played in one single theatre, so we got to keep our seats all day. Made friends with the folks around us and I even won two movie posters! One of The Reader and another of Slumdog Millionaire! Took a break in the middle (because I had seen The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) and we ate lunch and fiddle around Atlanta and the Phipps Plaza.

The order of the movies...

10:30 a.m. - Milk
1:05 p.m. - The Reader
3:45 p.m. - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
7:15 p.m. - Slumdog Millionaire
9:45 p.m. - Frost/Nixon

Had an Oscar party-ish the next day and had a great time with folks that are really into the whole Oscar magic(lol). We even did a "fantasy Oscar league" that messed up, but we assume that Adam and Stacy tied for the win, eventhough 4 of us answered the same amount correct. But Adam and Stacy got the big categories, so the win was theirs. The Oscars were pretty good to. Hugh Jackman was surprisingly good as the host. I was on the Mickey Rourke bandwagon, too bad he lost. Sean Penn was good in Milk though, so I won't cry over my spilt milk(bad pun intended). Clark and his wife Rebecca made it to the party as well and hopefully had a great time. If you're reading this and have ITunes you should check out his podcast "The Sounds and Sights of Cinema" on the DVDVERDICT podcast list. He plays score music from movies and gives movie reviews...very cool stuff.

Patrick and Marlena have moved out of Lot 1. Now there's just 5000 and me. This will make paying rent pretty tough (eventhough our gracious landlords are helping us out by lowering the rent). I've got potential roommates, but no definites. And if it really gets out of hand I can just move in with Wes. I also realized that I need to buy more stuff. The house is empty!

I'm going to the Lucinda Williams concert at the Tabernacle tonight! I'm a big fan and I've seen her at the Variety Playhouse a few years ago. Unfortunately I was very sick that night, so this concert will be much better for me!

Well...February is ending. On to March!

Because we can be happy!

I've noticed (and had it pointed out) that my I blog when I'm down. Well let's change that.


I've had some pretty good times the last couple of months. I had a wonderful Christmas and enjoyed all the various parties that have been thrown in these months. I've had my share of vodka and the silliness that comes with me being intoxicated. I've had great conversations with great friends. I've enjoyed some movies at the big screen and at home. Watched a pretty good Superbowl(eventhough the wrong team won) with an amazing group of fun people.

I had a wonderful birthday week. Went out to eat on my birthday with a great group of folks. Also got visits at work from friends that brought me various delicious desserts. My folks even brought me lunch to work! On Sunday(the day after my birthday) I went to the Georgia Aquarium with Bill, Terri, Walls and Kelly. It was amazing! Just watching these creatures swim around without a care was surreal. And the sea otters and beluga whales cracked me up. Got to pet a shark and stingray! Afterwards we picked up tickets for Terri and myself to go to the ALL DAY BEST PICTURE SHOWCASE at Phipps Plaza in Atlanta. I picked up a new hat at one of the malls up that way as well. We finished with dinner at Cheesecake Bistro. That was a bust, but I enjoyed hanging out with friends and that's all that matters.






I'm addicted to listening to my Ipod on shuffle. Finding the deeper cuts is always a thrill for me.

I've gained 10 pounds, but I'm not letting it bother me. I will have to get back to walking though. And I need to eat better.

I'm having an Oscar party at my house. I'm the current reigning co-champion! This year it's all mine. I can't wait!

Oh well. I'm through for today. Hopefully tomorrow can be this good.

It's the cold weather...

...makes me sad.

That and all of the thoughts that I have rolling in my head. I just feel down today. I'm trying real hard to be positive. Really hard.

Just rolling along

Life has been pretty good lately. Gotten to see the friends a good bit. The new car has been such a relief. I can actually go places and not worry if it will start back up again! Been working a good bit and I've almost finished Christmas shopping.

Short and sweet update!

Here's a trailer for a movie I'm REALLY looking forward to...

The Wrestler

A NEEEEWWWW Car...dingdingdingding

Ok, maybe I don't sound like Bob Barker, but I did get a new car on December 8, 2008!!

A 2009 Toyota Scion xB!! It's silver and has lots of room for taking people and other various objects wherever they need to go.

Pictures soon!

Jeffrey Combs

Maybe you've heard of Jeffrey Combs. He has done movies like Re-Animator, The Frighteners and I Still Know What You Did Last Summer but is known (in my circles) as the best Star Trek guest actor EVER! He has played at least 7 different parts on Star Trek DS9, Voyager and Enterprise.



Weyoun is the most popular of these characters. He was a Vorta and served as a second in command of the Dominion. There were actually 8 Weyoun clones and he played all of them. He had an eerie charisma and always had the best lines. If you ever hear Walls and I say "Time to pack!" it's in reference to Weyoun.




Brunt was the Ferengi that even other Ferengi hated. Always one-upping Quark and trying to lead the Ferengi he was another great character.



Shran is an Andorian Commander and sometime helper on Enterprise. I'm only 14 episodes into the first season of Enterprise but he's already been on the show twice. And Combs is brilliant as always.

Combs stars in all kinds of B-Movies and guest spots on television. Even playing Captain Cold on THE FLASH television show. He is such an under rated actor. I recommend watching Star Trek...period, but watching the episodes with Combs makes it that much more pleasurable.

After the November breakdown...

Ok...I didn't really have a breakdown. More like a month long semi-depression. I re-read the blogs and that's definitely how I felt (and still feel in a way) but I've decided that worrying about problems doesn't fix them.

So things that have happened recently...

The Atlanta Falcons are 8-4!!! I said at the beginning of the season that they would win 7-8 games and that would be INCREDIBLE!! The better part is that we still have 4 games left!

The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets beat the Georgia Bulldogs!! Can you believe it?

I've had 2 days off!! And I enjoyed them in the recliner. Football on Sunday and Star Trek Enterprise with Walls today. We watched a funny episode where Trip gets pregnant and another episode that Jeffrey Combs(Re-Animator) plays an Andorian. If you ever get a chance to listen to the Star Trek Enterprise opening song and compare it to the other Star Trek opening songs...you will laugh.

I've been getting sleepier earlier in the night. And sleepy during the day. Does this mean I'm getting old? Nah...I'm forever young.

I finished reading Ben Edlund's The Complete Tick! The inspiration for the animated (and short lived live action) TV shows. The comics were hilarious. I'm thinking about reading some "real" books. I just don't know what. If anyone reads this...suggest something. Maybe I'll start with Cormac McCarthy's The Road.

Played some Great Dalmuti with the Phillips clan and Pat the other day. Of course I won :)!! I had a good time and got to see little Gracie again. Seeing her really does make me happy. She's so beautiful!

If you haven't played The Great Dalmuti I would recommend giving it a try. It's a very fun and easy game. Just be prepared to switch seats.

I watched the 1st season of The Big Bang Theory in less than 24 hours!! What an awesome show!! Especially for geeks like myself, who understand what the guys are talking about.Of course I'd believe the stuff from the X-Files before I'd believe that an uber-hot chick would befriend these guys.

So raise your glasses and let's bring in December with good cheer and happiness for everyone.

Positive thinking

My dog has been sick this week and I'm worried sick eventhough he's better and just a little lethargic right now. He's eating and using the bathroom and has seen the vet already. I can't help but worry.

A couple of roommates will be moving out next year. And my other roommate has made it perfectly clear that he cannot pay more than $400 rent. So we have to get another roommate and I just don't know who or how. So I worry.

My car has been acting up for a while. Now the brakes are starting to grind. I don't want to put more money into a car that I don't think will run much longer. I don't have the money for a new car. So I worry.

My sister is having problems with her marriage according to my mom. I don't see or hear from my sister very much, but I still love her and my nephew. So I worry.

I find my friends drifting away. So I worry.

Life has a funny way of hitting you below the belt. I try my hardest to be positive, but it's hard to do. Maybe everything will be ok. Maybe it will all go to shit. Let's hope for the best, right?

Cold...cold...colder...frozen!

That's the way I feel sometimes when people think they know me. I wish that people would attempt to know each other. It seems that most folks get a first impression and then log that as "knowing" someone.

We're all deeper than we appear to be on the outside.

It seems that we are a nation of "I don't care's" and "whatevers" today. Maybe tomorrow we'll know each other.

Time flies...

I was just checking the blog again and noticed it had been a week since I posted something. It seems like only yesterday I was posting those videos and trying to figure out which musical sequences from movies that I love.

It seems like only yesterday that I was getting my drivers license or yesterday that my cousin was having her baby...who's now 18! I'm amazed at how some days seem to last forever and our lifetime flies by in the blink of an eye. Today I'm 32 and tomorrow I'll be 64 and chances are I won't double in age again(unless I'm uberfit).

I think I'll take it slow tomorrow and savor every bit of it.

Music in Movies

Some scenes from movies with great music! I've seen this on a couple of blogs.



This scene from 28 Weeks Later is VERY intense. The music fits the scene perfectly. The name of the song is "In A Heartbeat".



Hedwig & The Angry Inch is one of my favorite musicals and the song "Origin of Love" is my favorite from the movie. I bought the soundtrack for all of the songs!!



Another great song from Hedwig & The Angry Inch called "Wig In A Box".



Queen's "Don't Stop Me Now" used to beat zombies and dance a little in Shaun of the Dead!

It's that time again...Deep Discount's 25% off sale - November 2008

Why, oh why, does Deep Discount feel the need to do this to me? Do they know I don't have the money to spend? Do they know that Ramen noodles are good for me and are trying to steer me to them? (BTW...Ramen noodles are chocked full of calories!! NOT good for you)

Twice a year (usually June and November) Deep Discount has a sale of 20% off. I usually drop about $200 or more on this sale. I use it to pick up TV on DVD that I've skipped or a movie that I didn't want to pay very much for. This time the sale has been bumped up to 25% just to get us to spend more, or maybe the economy sucks and they know we need it. So I'm looking through my collection and checking out the new DVDs and Blu-Rays that are coming out and I'm making a plan on what to buy.

So far I've made one order for...

• THREE STOOGES COLLECTION: Volume 1 - 1934-1936 $ 14.99
• THREE STOOGES COLLECTION: Volume 2 - 1937-1939 $ 14.98
• THREE STOOGES COLLECTION: Volume 3 - 1940-1942 $ 14.90
• THREE STOOGES COLLECTION: Volume 4 - 1943-1945 $ 14.90

I'm a big fan of the Three Stooges and these sets are great! I made the order on Friday November 7th and got them in on Monday November 10th! Talk about fast shipping...and it's free!!

I will definitely pick up Hellboy 2 on Blu-Ray and Scrubs: Season 7 by the end of the sale. These are no-brainers. But now I have to decide on other things I "need". Will I finally pick up those Mystery Science Theatre sets? Do I have to pick up A Clockwork Orange on Blu-Ray, or is the DVD good enough? I know that I should be worrying about the economy or when gas will rise again, but I can get these DVDs and not worry about spending money or driving anywhere to use gas. Ooohhh decisions...what will I do. The sale ends on November 23rd...we'll find out then.