2010-05-25
Mass Effect - The Movie
No shock here. MASS EFFECT has been picked up (by Legendary Pictures it seems) for movie-treatment. Cool beans. (official announcement by Bioware at this link) Let's hope it doesn't just look like a Machinima video. :-P
TV: Lost (finale)
I have the "honor" of not having watched Lost much at all until the final season. I caught up on the various bizarre stories and such, and watched as the show wound down to it's end...
The finale was pretty cool, in my opinion. It was a given that those who "worshipped" the show would never be fully happy with it ending (as far as wrapping up "every plot") and the producers kept their promise that it did NOT answer "all questions" (and even brought more up actually). It was a very *touching* finale to say the least (I fully admit being teary-eyed at various points, including the absolute ending). It was a very emotional wrap-up.
CollegeHumor.com posted a video of "unanswered questions" which is absolutely hilarious. Click here for the video. It really is hilarious (if you know Lost at all)!
The dog's final appearance at the end was simply priceless and put the emotional investment over the top, to me. :-) You have to take the finale to this show as you did Battlestar Galactica (the second version, not the 1980's version). You are left with questions, but ultimately, got to have a "cool sendoff" for the characters you invested years of your life getting to know.
The finale was pretty cool, in my opinion. It was a given that those who "worshipped" the show would never be fully happy with it ending (as far as wrapping up "every plot") and the producers kept their promise that it did NOT answer "all questions" (and even brought more up actually). It was a very *touching* finale to say the least (I fully admit being teary-eyed at various points, including the absolute ending). It was a very emotional wrap-up.
CollegeHumor.com posted a video of "unanswered questions" which is absolutely hilarious. Click here for the video. It really is hilarious (if you know Lost at all)!
The dog's final appearance at the end was simply priceless and put the emotional investment over the top, to me. :-) You have to take the finale to this show as you did Battlestar Galactica (the second version, not the 1980's version). You are left with questions, but ultimately, got to have a "cool sendoff" for the characters you invested years of your life getting to know.
MOVIE: Shutter Island
I went to see this with Chris at the cheap-o theater. It was a decent movie (though highly predictable - not like some commercials that made you think you'd be shocked at the end). Not much to say about it beyond that. Worth a matinee price, I'd say.
2010-05-20
Did I Say 42 Pounds? I Meant...
At the YMCA yesterday, I noticed that I've dropped another 10. I'm in the same range as my weight when I was married in 1988. This is getting freaky. Most of my pants are not even remotely "properly wearable" now (just more money I have to spend - yay!). I really.. really hate shopping.. for anyone, any time, anywhere. I could be a millionaire and ... well, wait.. let's not go THAT far.
Anyway. It's really weird being at this weight. I truly never thought I'd go below 250 as I got older. 6'4", 228 pounds (still need to "sculpt things around" so to speak).
Anyway. It's really weird being at this weight. I truly never thought I'd go below 250 as I got older. 6'4", 228 pounds (still need to "sculpt things around" so to speak).
2010-05-19
What I'm Doing
I thought I'd take inventory of my media-type interests today.
Current DVR recording list:
Reading:
Current DVR recording list:
- Smallville
- Chuck
- Undercover Boss
- Survivor
- Amazing Race
- The Biggest Loser
- Hell's Kitchen
- Kitchen Nightmares
- Stargate Universe
- Man v Food
- Food Wars
- Caprica
- Law & Order
- V
- FlashForward
- Doctor Who
- Tosh.0
- Robot Chicken
- Saturday Night Live
- Ninja Warrior
- Deadliest Warrior
- Iron Chef America
- Baggage
- Mass Effect 2 (X360)
- Halo Reach (public beta) (X360)
- Mario Kart (Wii)
- World Of Goo (PC)
- M.U.L.E. (C64 emu)
- (currently waiting for Starcraft II and Mario Galaxy II)
Reading:
- Still reading Stephen King's "Lisey's Story" and "Just After Sunset".
2010-05-08
Forgiveness, Depression, Suicide... or Hope? (a confession of sorts)
My friend Marty was replying to a thread about forgiveness, which caught my eye:
The levels of true DEPRESSION I've been in over my own loss in this situation know no bottom. I actually sent out a "goodbye/suicide" email to many people quite a few months ago. My kids are truly the only reason I wasn't stupid enough to do something to myself. This is why I'm truly scared for when the last of my children ends up on their own. I could end up one of two ways (and tend to think I'm going to teeter back and forth). Superproductive and active, or literally waste away.
I apologize, to my kids mainly, for ever getting that bad. I've been through some frustrating physical problems in the last few weeks during my non-insured period (trying to rectify that). Back pain, the worse insomnia ever and (grr) constipation on occasion. I know... yum. In any case, as bad as I've felt then, I can honestly look back on my life and say that the depression involved with the gain and loss of Love of an overly truly wonderful woman has really hit me bad. I thought I wanted to die months ago, partly because the kids were in the process of moving on, but mainly because I was doing everything in my power to AVOID the woman that I truly Love with all my heart, and who eventually jumped without looking into a relaionship that (by her description) effectively ended a month later, but which she'll continue to fight for.
To say I've been "unlucky in love" is probably inaccurate. I met a great woman (Jamie Lienberger), went through the ups and downs of my "first girlfriend" who I married, then divorced 16 years later because we'd grown too far apart (affairs along the way did not help, both physical and emotional). The kids and I continued to live, and a few years later I tried it again (Vesta Lee Henderson Maloy). We married quickly. We moved in at the time of the wedding. We were not prepared as much as we thought for the melding of six children. Those were three huge mistakes. The life events made it worse. She left (within 4 months) and I took the lifelong trained mode of pushing her away at all costs to isolate myself - a pattern/method that I despise about myself. So eventually, when I was starting to soften up about her, she eloped. And here we are. I'm alone, definitely depressed, and under the guise of acting as a friend, got involved with "my ex" for one evening, to be summarily thrown to the curb over the following week. I understand, to some degree. I have been the one continuously telling her to work with "the other guy" unless she is prepared to complete end it and move back into working on our relationship.
I feel like I'm living on Days Of Our Lives any more, and that just makes me want to isolate myself even more. But I don't have the comfortable blanket of my kids all living at home. It could be as little as 15 months before I'm completely alone (all dependent on kids' plans). I'm not looking forward to this time in my life. As I continue the career-change path that was thrust upon me this year (which will hopefully end up being the best thing ever to happen in my financial and work-life), I really am hopeful to find something (or someone??) to make the journey better. I've invested my adult life on family and being around people familiar to me. I've heard "Empty Nest Syndrome" thrown at me (a tag I prefer to ignore). I've been told I should start counseling with someone now (sure, I'll start spending that money on top of everything else). I have a relative who basically avoided close family contact for two decades who suddenly wants to be 110% involved in *my* life while they are in the process of making major changes in theirs. But it's all really simple, and has never changed.
I do not want to be alone. I want a wife to spend my time with. I don't drink. I don't smoke. I play video games occasionally and collect comics (i.e., I have a cheap hobby that does not rule me, and I have over thirty years of investment in something that might someday buy me another new home). I'm a geek and slightly a dork in an age where people have finally realized that's a really cool thing to be. I will never be built like these python-muscled stars you see, but 230 is pretty average for 6'4", yes? I've got an ex who says I need the goatee to stop looking like I'm 20, but I hate the maintenance of the hair.
I just want my wife. I'd like it to be Vesta, but I cannot sit and obsess and hope. I did that in the previous decade during another lifetime.
I just want my wife, my friend, my buddy, my personal sextoy and debater. I've been lucky twice. Is three times too many? :-(
- Martin Atencio: If you have trouble forgiving, lots of people ask God to help them forgive. But God is not going to just blast you with forgiving power. You have to practice little bits of it. Once you do that a lot, you will find that you can forgive the person. So in your case, if you want to be free of the prision of these memories so that they won't bother... See More you as much, take 5 seconds out of your day and just bless the person or, if you prefer, ask God to bless the person. Do these little steps every day, and you will find that you can forgive and only then, will you be free.
The levels of true DEPRESSION I've been in over my own loss in this situation know no bottom. I actually sent out a "goodbye/suicide" email to many people quite a few months ago. My kids are truly the only reason I wasn't stupid enough to do something to myself. This is why I'm truly scared for when the last of my children ends up on their own. I could end up one of two ways (and tend to think I'm going to teeter back and forth). Superproductive and active, or literally waste away.
I apologize, to my kids mainly, for ever getting that bad. I've been through some frustrating physical problems in the last few weeks during my non-insured period (trying to rectify that). Back pain, the worse insomnia ever and (grr) constipation on occasion. I know... yum. In any case, as bad as I've felt then, I can honestly look back on my life and say that the depression involved with the gain and loss of Love of an overly truly wonderful woman has really hit me bad. I thought I wanted to die months ago, partly because the kids were in the process of moving on, but mainly because I was doing everything in my power to AVOID the woman that I truly Love with all my heart, and who eventually jumped without looking into a relaionship that (by her description) effectively ended a month later, but which she'll continue to fight for.
To say I've been "unlucky in love" is probably inaccurate. I met a great woman (Jamie Lienberger), went through the ups and downs of my "first girlfriend" who I married, then divorced 16 years later because we'd grown too far apart (affairs along the way did not help, both physical and emotional). The kids and I continued to live, and a few years later I tried it again (Vesta Lee Henderson Maloy). We married quickly. We moved in at the time of the wedding. We were not prepared as much as we thought for the melding of six children. Those were three huge mistakes. The life events made it worse. She left (within 4 months) and I took the lifelong trained mode of pushing her away at all costs to isolate myself - a pattern/method that I despise about myself. So eventually, when I was starting to soften up about her, she eloped. And here we are. I'm alone, definitely depressed, and under the guise of acting as a friend, got involved with "my ex" for one evening, to be summarily thrown to the curb over the following week. I understand, to some degree. I have been the one continuously telling her to work with "the other guy" unless she is prepared to complete end it and move back into working on our relationship.
I feel like I'm living on Days Of Our Lives any more, and that just makes me want to isolate myself even more. But I don't have the comfortable blanket of my kids all living at home. It could be as little as 15 months before I'm completely alone (all dependent on kids' plans). I'm not looking forward to this time in my life. As I continue the career-change path that was thrust upon me this year (which will hopefully end up being the best thing ever to happen in my financial and work-life), I really am hopeful to find something (or someone??) to make the journey better. I've invested my adult life on family and being around people familiar to me. I've heard "Empty Nest Syndrome" thrown at me (a tag I prefer to ignore). I've been told I should start counseling with someone now (sure, I'll start spending that money on top of everything else). I have a relative who basically avoided close family contact for two decades who suddenly wants to be 110% involved in *my* life while they are in the process of making major changes in theirs. But it's all really simple, and has never changed.
I do not want to be alone. I want a wife to spend my time with. I don't drink. I don't smoke. I play video games occasionally and collect comics (i.e., I have a cheap hobby that does not rule me, and I have over thirty years of investment in something that might someday buy me another new home). I'm a geek and slightly a dork in an age where people have finally realized that's a really cool thing to be. I will never be built like these python-muscled stars you see, but 230 is pretty average for 6'4", yes? I've got an ex who says I need the goatee to stop looking like I'm 20, but I hate the maintenance of the hair.
I just want my wife. I'd like it to be Vesta, but I cannot sit and obsess and hope. I did that in the previous decade during another lifetime.
I just want my wife, my friend, my buddy, my personal sextoy and debater. I've been lucky twice. Is three times too many? :-(
2010-05-07
MOVIE: Iron Man 2
Went to see Iron Man 2 at midnight with Chris and his friend Kevin this morning. Here are my thoughts. Definitely a fun movie to go see. I was very happy with the length, the content, and the multitude of concepts from the comics that were instituted. Certainly worth most of the hype surrounding it's release.
Without further adieu, and with air warning...
*** SPOILERS AHEAD ***
In a nutshell, I'd say this movie overall was "as good as" the first. A very different movie in many ways, but I was happy with it, and the various "easter eggs" (the most visible to the average Joe will be a certain red-white-and-blue-with-start visual reference).
There were scenes where I would swear they made sure Robert Downey looked exactly like Stark from the comics -- it was eerie as heck! The underlying storyline of Tony's impending "end", but not by alcoholism, was a decent basic plotline (was that Vibranium?). The adjustment of duties for Pepper and Tony, also interesting.
Natalie/Natasha: Wow. Er... yum. Er... yeah. I'm single, and can occasionally delve into the superficial, so.. yeah.
Tons of comedic relief in the movie (thanks mainly to Downey, of course). If you thought he was born to be Tony Stark in the first movie, you'll think he was actually BORN Stark and renamed himself to Downey later in life after this movie.
Subplot involving Rhodey and 'that other armor': That was done pretty clumsily (or at least, not thoroughly). There were some story points around all of this that were frustrating to me (but I'm a lifetime collector and have many versions of Iron Man in my head -- i.e., I'm tainted). I would have better believed that Rhodes would have ended up finding a RECORDING giving him a heads up that it was PLANNED versus how it happened in this flick. Oh well.
Russian physics son-of-genius (unofficially as) Whiplash and other characters: This worked out decently. I actually enjoyed the forced-fight between "War Machine" and Iron Man. The director's chance to slowly beat up one man whil the Widow took on 20 others was classic. Nick Fury was of course completely reinvented to fit the actor and movie -- barely even recognizable as the "Ultimate Marvel" version of the character, much less the classic (about as similar as Hugh Jackman's Wolverine to the comic book... in other words, NOT). But Fury's still "cool", right? (yawn)
Odds and Ends: Baaaaaad replacement for the Rhodey character (needed a manly man, not an accountant-type). I'd swear Tony's father was Walt Disney. I'd swear that the "secret" was a map of Disneyland. Despite great CGI through most of the film, the "garage scenes" seemed very cheap to me (a video with graphics thrown on top). Yes, I'd bet it was Vibranium that was "created".. maybe.. Red and Silver was always my favorite (and possibly all Black). She should have worn actual leather, not that spandex-looking crap (yum). Was Hammer's speech based loosely on Microsoft's Balmer and his renowned outlandish public speaking habits? Software problems... next time don't use OS X (hah - kidding).
Ending: Actually ended up very rushed(!) to me. "Duck!" *whizzzz* "Done!" What?? First movie actually had a better final battle, I feel.
The expected post-credits video: Cool, but... I expected the item found to be bigger, not classic. Interesting.
Without further adieu, and with air warning...
*** SPOILERS AHEAD ***
In a nutshell, I'd say this movie overall was "as good as" the first. A very different movie in many ways, but I was happy with it, and the various "easter eggs" (the most visible to the average Joe will be a certain red-white-and-blue-with-start visual reference).
There were scenes where I would swear they made sure Robert Downey looked exactly like Stark from the comics -- it was eerie as heck! The underlying storyline of Tony's impending "end", but not by alcoholism, was a decent basic plotline (was that Vibranium?). The adjustment of duties for Pepper and Tony, also interesting.
Natalie/Natasha: Wow. Er... yum. Er... yeah. I'm single, and can occasionally delve into the superficial, so.. yeah.
Tons of comedic relief in the movie (thanks mainly to Downey, of course). If you thought he was born to be Tony Stark in the first movie, you'll think he was actually BORN Stark and renamed himself to Downey later in life after this movie.
Subplot involving Rhodey and 'that other armor': That was done pretty clumsily (or at least, not thoroughly). There were some story points around all of this that were frustrating to me (but I'm a lifetime collector and have many versions of Iron Man in my head -- i.e., I'm tainted). I would have better believed that Rhodes would have ended up finding a RECORDING giving him a heads up that it was PLANNED versus how it happened in this flick. Oh well.
Russian physics son-of-genius (unofficially as) Whiplash and other characters: This worked out decently. I actually enjoyed the forced-fight between "War Machine" and Iron Man. The director's chance to slowly beat up one man whil the Widow took on 20 others was classic. Nick Fury was of course completely reinvented to fit the actor and movie -- barely even recognizable as the "Ultimate Marvel" version of the character, much less the classic (about as similar as Hugh Jackman's Wolverine to the comic book... in other words, NOT). But Fury's still "cool", right? (yawn)
Odds and Ends: Baaaaaad replacement for the Rhodey character (needed a manly man, not an accountant-type). I'd swear Tony's father was Walt Disney. I'd swear that the "secret" was a map of Disneyland. Despite great CGI through most of the film, the "garage scenes" seemed very cheap to me (a video with graphics thrown on top). Yes, I'd bet it was Vibranium that was "created".. maybe.. Red and Silver was always my favorite (and possibly all Black). She should have worn actual leather, not that spandex-looking crap (yum). Was Hammer's speech based loosely on Microsoft's Balmer and his renowned outlandish public speaking habits? Software problems... next time don't use OS X (hah - kidding).
Ending: Actually ended up very rushed(!) to me. "Duck!" *whizzzz* "Done!" What?? First movie actually had a better final battle, I feel.
The expected post-credits video: Cool, but... I expected the item found to be bigger, not classic. Interesting.
2010-05-01
Paintball Phun
Today, Chris and his friend Kevin went paintballing in New Smyrna Beach. I went along for a bit to photograph them from inside the field. Thankfully no one got me in the crossfire (two close calls though).
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