Hindsight Is Always 20/20

This is the time of year where it seems like every week there's a holiday. With Thanksgiving coming up, I see alot of my friends on Facebook, posting something that they are thankful for everyday in their status updates. That in itself has go to be challenging, and very cool I might add, at least it gets you to think.

Then it did get me to think, and I'm sure most of you have thought this at one time or another;

Why should it take Thanksgiving, Christmas, Valentine's Day, etc., to become grateful and kind to others?

Let me get this out of the way and say I am just as guilty as the next person when it comes to this. In fact, I just wrote a blog for Veterans Day, that kind of outlines my own involvement in such practices, and I'm the son a of a Vet. Also, this is not to implicate anyone of my friends being any different on any given day, I guess it has more of an effect on encounters with strangers than anything.

It's just interesting to see how people show the potential to behave, well, like people because that time of the year says so.

Isn't that just conformity?

Two Flicks One Post

Between all the drinks, working and football this weekend, I managed to squeeze in some sober time and catch a couple of movies.

First up:

This was my first experience watching a feature film at the IMAX theatre. In 3D no less!

I really enjoyed this version of the Charles Dickens classic. It was quite possibly the darkest rendition I've seen, to the point where I thought kids below a certain age would be totally freaked out by it. However, I guess that's kind of the point behinid this story, which is to scare you into changing your ways.

It was beautifully presented in all of it's digital 3D glory, and Jim Carrey always shines in roles such as these. Not only does he play Scrooge, but also the Ghost of Christmas Past, and Present. Accompanied by Gary Oldman as Bob Cratchit, who is one of my favorite actors of all time.

In the end I will say that it's my favorite re-telling of this story, also the darkest, and is well worth the extra dough for the IMAX 3D experience.

Next up:

I watched Up at home on Blu-Ray. It was a little more on the sad side, even for Disney. It was not all sad, there were plenty of funny moments, especially with the dogs obsession with squirrels. That last observation is more on the personal side because it reminded me of one of my old dogs, Pebbles (RIP), who had an almost unhealthy affinity for squirrels.

Pixar never dissapoints with their graphics, which seem to getting better somehow, and I wish I would have gone to the theater for this one. I really liked the mid-century America feel that this had, which kind of added to the sense of adventure in the film. Also, I may be wrong but, I think that Disney actaully killed 2 people in this movie, and no animals. That's got to be a first.

Anyhow, I was late to this party, but if you haven't watched it, give it a look, It's a fun watch.

Thank Your Veterans

Today is a day to remember those among us who served our country. The sons, fathers, mothers, daughters, and friends that rose up when called upon ready to pay the ultimate price, to protect our rights.

My Grandfathers both served in WW2, and Korea. My Father and Uncle served in Vietnam. I also have known many of my own friends that served in the Gulf War. My Brother was a Marine, my Aunt was in the Air Force, one of my friends and my Cousin, are serving in the Army right now.

For their, and your service, I am forever in your debt.

Lost in all of these media driven feeding frenzies is the fact that, while you may not agree with the reason behind the conflict, our brothers and sisters in the service don't have the luxury of choice, they receive orders, and they follow orders, whether they agree with it or not. For this they deserve even more respect, for putting themselves aside to unconditionally serve our country.

So if you have a chance, thank your Veterans. It will mean more than you think, just to hear the words "thank you".

Some may have never heard it before.

The Holiday Drive

A night of rockabilly, custom hot rods, and burlesque, indeed. Let's not forget some kick ass BBQ provided by Swanky's Low & Slow BBQ, performances by The Ringerz Band, Elvis J (Elvis & Johnny Cash impersonator), and Black Weather Shaman. Topped off with some cool Hot Rods from the Saints and Sinners CC. Held at JD's Bar & Lounge.

This was a very interesting night. It started to become so a couple days before the show, when my wife received a phone call regarding her upcoming performance at the event. Apparently, the bar owner (who for the purposes of this blog will be referred to as crazy byatch), had reservations abut subjecting her regulars to a burlesque performer. Um, this is a bar right? Have you ever heard of any circumstances where they would deny a sexy, scantly clad woman gracing their establishment? Didn't think so. Thanks to the No Hard Feelings tattoo shop next door, and the smooth talking MC of the event, Ken, the performance was still a go.

This was not the end of the douchebaggery.

In the middle of Black Weather Shaman's performance, crazy byatch alleged that a couple of her regulars walked out, and went on the friggin' stage to tell them they had to stop. Never mind the other 100 or so people that were still inside. Instead of huffing and puffing, the band took their gear, and set up outside the bar, and proceeded to rock out, with a spirited performance nonetheless.

My wife, the Lovely Mrs. Morgan La Rue, put on a spectacle of sexiness as always, and had everyone crammed inside the tattoo shop, and standing outside the window. Take that crazy byatch! We took your crowd. I would say maybe next time don't be so prude, but I think she won't be getting that opportunity.

It was a night for two worthy charities, Toys for Tots, and the Daily Bread Food Bank, and at the end of all the B.S., the true human spirit came through and made it a rousing success. The people came through with 634 cans of food, and 300 toys.

My hat goes off to Ken, Kelly, all the performers, and No Hard Feelings tattoo shop, for not letting someone like crazy byatch, ruin what turned out to be an awesome night. Also to Swanky's Low and Slow BBQ, for their gut busting greatness. The night turned out to be good times with good people, good music, plenty of alcoholic beverages, and great food.

It goes a long way to showing that "real" people still exist.

Here's some contact info.....

Swanky's ;
http://www.facebook.com/search/?init=srp&sfxp=&q=Swanky%27s+low+and+slow+barbeque#/pages/Lake-Worth-FL/SWANKYS-LOW-N-SLOW-BBQ/142988729491?ref=sgm


Black Weather Shaman;
http://www.facebook.com/search/?init=srp&sfxp=&q=Swanky%27s+low+and+slow+barbeque#/pages/Black-Weather-Shaman/136567758269?ref=sgm


The Ringerz Band;
http://www.facebook.com/search/?init=srp&sfxp=&q=Swanky%27s+low+and+slow+barbeque#/pages/the-RingerZ-band/112863057806?ref=search&sid=1400947546.612428783..1


.....and don't forget the Burlesque

First Blog Ever

I'm not quite sure what has compelled me to start a blog. Maybe because I enjoy reading some of my friends' blogs, and figured hey, even if no one reads I'll get some stuff off my chest. Not certain how this will go, or exactly what I'll be doing.

So here goes nothing.

I attended mt first ballet last night. It was the Miami City Ballet, at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts. It was an early birthday present for my wife, they performed among other things, to the music of the Andrews Sisters (Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy of Company B, etc.). I enjoyed that part especially, since I have always had an affinity for World War 2 era music, and just that little slice of Americana in general.

But, I couldn't help but notice, man those dudes' pants were way too tight. I mean seriously, it doesn't even look comfortable.

Okay that's not really what I'm getting at.

On a serious note, not the I attend these things regularly or anything (obviously), but it seemed like the building was half (probably more than) empty. For something that takes so much time, effort, and can be so physically taxing, I have to admire what they do. Talk about pure love of what your doing, first of all just to work your way up in the Miami City Ballet is not easy, and to get there and play to essentially no one. You know they're not making SQUAT on this gig. They get by almost exclusively on donations to keep their company going.

I guess overall my point is, I may not be a ballet fan, or love what they do, but I admire how and why they do it.

If I dedicated myself to my craft as harcore as they did, maybe I'd be a little more successful at it.