My Apologies, Here we go again...

I wish I could say that I just took an intentional break from blogging the fact is that I have had the want to write. I say that with the thought that you will make time for the things you want to do. As much as I like to write I just haven't had the time I've wanted to give to blogging. School is back in session and is very time consuming. I've enjoyed it. Last Semester I learned about my own work ethic. I had work and school, which isn't that big of a deal, by no means am I looking for pity or sympathy. I would either be on campus all day, come home and do school. Or I would either go to work and then come home and do school. It was a constant stream of having something to do. I didn't like this at all. Literally, I went to bed knowing that I had more school and class work to be accomplished. This was pretty daunting, but I stuck with it. I found that I could do most anything that was thrown at me last semester. It gave me a sense of accomplishment and courage to face what needed to be faced. So, this semester I have a larger work load, yet feel more at ease about it. I'm also meeting a lot more people and am enjoying that aspect very much so.

I know I promised a movie review for Will Smith's Seven Pounds, however I feel that I couldn't write it after such a long time and lots of movies sense then. If you haven't seen it yet, find a dollar theater or what a couple of months and rent it. It's worth the watch. I've seen several great films in the past few weeks. Here are a few:

Seven Pounds – Great flick. 8/10

5 Centimeters per second - Makato Shinkai's third movie. This animated feature explores the realms of distance and how people can grow apart.It is rather a movie that shows how the world changes people, instead of people changing the world. Shinkai seems to love the aspects of time and space's effects one human life. This is a bittersweet film, where action isn't the focus, yet rather a lack thereof a true portrayal of everyday life. The animation was some of the best I've ever seen and the story was moving and compelling. If you can find a copy, watch it. 9.5/10

The Wrestler - Darren Aronosfsky's newest film. Starring Mickey Rourke and Marisa Tomei. I didn’t have too many thoughts about this movie, on my way in to the theater. However, after the last of the credits rolled a sense melancholy swept over me like a warm blanket. I was surprised at how much I like the movie. I won’t give away any information on the story, but I like Aronofsky’s break into real hum drum life. This is worth a watch. 9/10

Blow – Ted Demme directed and starring Johney Depp, Ray Liota, and Penelope Cruise. I know this movie came out in 2001, yet it slipped past me and I was able to watch it this past week. It was a fun and interesting story. It wasn’t an escapist movie by any means. It was based off a book about the life of George Jung. I really enjoyed it. Check it out. 7/10

The Wackness – Josh Peck and Ben Kingsley star in this movie. It was a unique coming of age story, typical elements yet delivered in a unique way. I loved Kingsley in this film. If you are looking for your not so typical coming of age movie, check this one out. 8.5/10

Baghead – a Duplass brother’s film. This was a indie film released very early this year. It was a decent movie. Typical plot, low budget, but fun regardless. 6/10

Repo: the Genetic Oprera. – Darren Bousman’s Rock Opera. This was one of the funniest movie I’ve seen in the past few months. It was very different and weird (which are good things). I loved the music and the story was compelling. Alex Vega who plays Shiloh sings rather well, (she was the girl from Spy Kids). I loved it. If you like rock opera’s or The Rocky Horror Picture show, this is a must. I hear it already has a cult following. Average movie watcher, probally won’t like it, unless they are fans of Rock operas or this style/genre.

This Film not yet rated. – My first NC17 film. Let me explain. Kirby Dick's movie is a documentary on the rating system of the MPAA. It goes into detail about it’s rating policies and suspicious mannerisms of the association. It was very informative, but at times graphic. I don’t recommend this for the typical movie watcher. It was rated NC17, because of it’s at times graphic content and because it defiantly bashes the MPAA, who ended up rating it with the NC17. Film Students, Movie buffs, or those who have been forewarned only on this one. It was very informative. 7/10

Blade Runner, Final Version – This is a classic and I recommend anyone that likes sci fi to watch it. 9/10


Those were just a few films I’ve watched as of late. I hope everyone is alive and better than they deserve. Till next time!

Seven Pounds.

I will be writing a review for Will Smith's movie, "Seven Pounds." I am going to let it sink in for another day. I do recommend this movie greatly. It was one of the best of 2008. More details to come.

Bah Humbug?

The local schools are out around town. This explains the unusually high level of teenagers roaming the town, almost like a zombie invasion minus the brain eating aspect and add pimples and annoyingly childish antics. I know I know. I too have been apart of such antics. I now realize just how horrible we were to those businesses and places around town. I try to have grace towards the subject at hand, however it seems that during the holidays this is lacking. After all, starting in October most Americans have had Christmas shoved down their throats with increasing force till the holidays seasons disappears with the After Holidays sales, to slumber, with belly full, until a years time has passed and it awakens again to feast on the un-expecting. I also blame Christmas for the overflow of teenagers in my town.
On a better note, with the influx of teenagers to usually quiet places, a whole gaggle of friends are home from college. I haven't really been to sleep before 2a.m. for the past three days. It has been a most enjoyable couple of days. In fact, we had an excellent evening of the movie, "DeathRace", Waffle house, Nintendo Ds, and copious amounts of fire. A most enjoyable time of year. The next couple of days will prove to be busy and filled with people. However, I usually find myself feeling quite empty, late on Christmas Nights. It seems to come and go quite fast, almost like 'Hit and Run'. There doesn't seem to be much time to really sit and actually enjoy the season. My goal this Christmas will be have at least a few minutes to sit and enjoy. I also wish that you will find a couple minutes to enjoy yourself amidst all the holiday rush.
I have to go locate some headache medicine, stupid Dawson's River kids sleeping in each other's bed!


Merry Christmas!

The first Christmas gift of the year! Thank you, Clay! The day went well. Clay and I are building legos, eating Sun Chips, and drinking coffee. You wish you were us.

New Japanese cultural phrases.

Maku Satsu = Killing with Silence. I just loved this concept.

All Your base are belong to us

As I sit up here at the coffee shop, I'm actually off the clock and just hanging out in my corner, I was just thinking about the day. Tomorrow is my last day of the week opening at 6:15 a.m. (This means that I wake up at 5:15 a.m.). Joe returns from PA tomorrow evening so hopefully things will start moving. I think Joe is being taken advantage by the previous owner of the coffee shop and this really upsets me to the point of wanting to tell this owner, exactly what I think. Which could jeopardize the business exchange between Joe and this other guy. This makes working a bit difficult at times and I find myself having more and more trouble biting my tongue. Hopefully it won't be a long drawn out ordeal. well anymore than it already is. Today hasn't been a waste. My wish of getting up earlier is coming true. Even though 5 am is bit of a extreme. I caught up with Mike White for a few minutes and saw the new Automatic silk screen press. I also played some Empire Earth II for a little while. Taking over continents of natives with my superior military always does something to calm me down. I've got the evening off and I think I'm going to go to the park with Kristen for some Hammock Nintendo DS. I am always very cocky when we play Mario Cart, but I do have to try really hard to make sure I win. In her defense, she does win... albeit occasionally. Also, there is potential Mexican food in my very near future. Here are a few things to think about till the next time we meet:

Drive Thrus convenient, however impersonal and kind of lazy.
The color blue, in general colors are weird.
Smoothies: Milk or Water?
White Christmas Lights or Multi Colored:

Till next time my friends! I hope this finds you well.

Grande Venti Mocha Coffee?... So Black coffee then

So I'm pretty sure that Starbucks has ruined my life. I mean Venti is Italian for twenty. Grande means big and Tall sure as hell isn't small. People assume that all coffee shops use the same naming scale that Starbucks uses. How about Small, Medium, or Large? I like that. Well besides having to explain that single origin coffee from the port of Mocha, Yemen isn't actually chocolate coffee the day is going quite well. Joe Landreth is in PA for his vacation with his in-laws. I am currently managing Kahve Bean Coffee house in the Kuppa Coffee building. The day started early at about 5 this morning. After a steamy shower I wiped the haze out of my eyes and have been here since. It is surreal that finals are a minor scar from last week and that VSU's campus will be minus one Asian till January 12th. I have an entire month to work and relax (Oxymoron?). At this point working the coffee counter is a break from the tediousness of college. Christmas is next week and I have been wrapping presents for my friends and family. The older I get the more I see the Christmas season change, in my own eyes. Christmas use to mean lots of presents, eating at my grandparents and my mom putting that tattered red and black blanket up at the front of the hallway, to stop our peering eyes from seeing what Santa had brought. Today it means a lot more. The joy of Christmas has evolved into two things for me. First, it has become a time of year for reflection and enjoying the company of my parents. It isn't about the gifts anymore. I can't really believe that I am saying that. I love presents? Who doesn't? but, they are a small comparison to the times spent with the ones I care about. Yes, I know this is cliché in a sense, but true. I know that as some of you, if any, who are reading this are thinking, “He’s growing up.” Its not just that. I love toys and expect at least one for the holiday season, I mean I still buy legos every once in a while. I’m talking about a paradigm shift. It isn’t just about Christmas, it’s about valuing things that actually matter, and this can happen at almost any age above that of three. I have discovered how wonderfully interesting my parents are. They aren’t only my parents; I have finally earned their friendship, which is something that I value more than any present, unless it’s a Macbook Pro with Final cut 4. Well even then.

Second thing it means to me (and this one does mean I’m getting older) Christmas seems to be a reminder of the year that has gone by. As Lucas (my roommate) said, “They seem to come quicker and quicker.” I hope that Christmas continues to change, because each year it seems that things are different. I know it’s not really the holiday even though I’d like to think so. It is me that is changing. I just hope good things come from these changes. I also hope that I don’t kill customers for Barberitos that park in my parking spaces up front.

I guess that’s my first blog. I’m not sure how this thing works yet, (not the internets, but actually blogging, even though the internets are quite difficult at times). I think I’ll probably just write and see what happens. I’ll also be sure to post my thoughts on Movies that I have seen recently. Enjoy yourself and thank you for taking the time to read this….

p.s. here is some punctuation that I’m sure I left out .,.,..,.,.;;';';'