The ongoing prattlings of a lifelong geek and his random luck with love, work, children and rediscovering himself.

2007-09-27

THEATER: Annie

Playing as part of the Broadway Across America series (held in Orlando at the Bob Carr), this production was about what you'd expect from Annie. I was not overly impressed with the acting, per se, but the sets and music were absolutely awesome.

Various versions of Annie over the years have tainted me, obviously, as I kept wondering why certain things happened the way they did. This did not "ruin it" for me, though. Annie was one of the least-important musicals in our BAA subscription, so there was no expectation for anything more than what was seen. Perhaps I'm being cryptic, oh well.

2007-09-26

Halo 3

I can honestly say, I was impressed and happy with Halo 3.

Having just finished the Campaign (on Heroic - I did not want to get in a horrible mood playing scenes over and over and over for days trying to finish it raw on Legendary), I must say the story ties up very nicely.

I also LOVE the fact that they pulled the same AWESOME move that many good MOVIES pull.

What move?

The ending. AFTER the credits, more specifically. ;-)

SPOILER ALERT - Click here to hear what I really have to say, including details about the storyline and game. It will expand over time. DO NOT CLICK IT if you do not wish to know about the game's story and ending before playing it!

2007-09-21

Band "Football Program" Ads

With the "Football Program" season finally over, I've produced this year's program with all the same quality and effort as last year's (biggest program yet as far as I can tell). I was able to get several ads for the girls, since this is their Senior year, into the program from various parties.

Click the thumbnails to see the ads.

       

2007-09-03

Family Tree

What the hell is it about males, their bloodlines and allowing stupidity to split up a family??

At this moment, I cannot think of a single healthy relationship involving adult males inside of my family's recent 50-year history other than that of my father and I.

My mother's father was (reportedly) a drunk and generally a "bad husband and father" and left his family.

My dad and his brother have had no relationship for at least 15-20 years. My uncle Joe is now on his literal death bed, and if his wife is to be believed, does not wish to have anything to do with his brother... or me, the kid he last saw at the age of approximately 10 or so. So he's going to die in the next 3-4 months apparently and I do not get to see him. His daughter met me once a few years ago (she was working) and she has refused contact with me (multiple phone calls to the phone number she gave me, which ended up being her parent's house).

Interestingly, the tiny bit I know of my dad's father, who died when dad was still in high school, makes him SOUND like he was all about FAMILY.

I have vague information even about my ex-wife's family, plus first-hand experience with her paternal grandmother and her racist, hateful views. This came out while we visited her with our firstborn daughter and many sickening comments came out of her mouth (we actually left her home in the middle of the night on the first day visiting and stayed in one of Jamie's friends mobile homes for the rest of that trip). Information I gleaned on this later made it seem like she obtained this attitude partly (or more?) from her then-deceased husband. "Old world attitudes" was what one member of that family told me. Inability to evolve is what I call it.

What is it?! Why are men so freaking STUPID? I have sought, off and on, to reunite the Malena Family (at my father's level, since there are two branches, his and his brother's) since I got married, and now I find that I'm refused access... so far as I can tell, by my "Aunt" Loretta.

I know that my father and uncle have had their falling out. If they choose not to fix it, that's between them. But now I actually have my uncle in "sight", and the only way I can go visit him is to DEFY his wife. Maybe he really doesn't want to see me and my children. Maybe she's just being overprotective. My head tells me that she is not to be a factor in this (if he dies and I COULD have gotten to know him again, do I hold it against her?). And about about my cousins, Latisha and Joseph Malena? Do we never become family, friends, whatever, because of the stupidity of our parents??

I absolutely hate this situation. I already have a strained "relationship" with my oldest daughter. I always wanted to have a big, united family where you would find cousins, uncles and the like coming and going freely, but that's denied me... and my kids. :-(