Allow me to introduce the Showbiz Pizza Band...

...performing Love in This Club by Usher!

for Ashley

Merry Christmas, Ashley!

Different Verse, Same as the First

The year: 2007 (to the right).

The result: A Tar Heel victory over Michigan State.

Now...

The year: 2008.

The result: A Tar Heel spanking of Michigan State.

98 to 63.

Holy freaking cow, daggumit.

I'm Thankful.

I know Thanksgiving is still a few weeks away, but I won't let one day of the year keep me from sharing what's important to me.

I'm thankful for Ashley. I'm lucky to have someone I can share everything in life with. I'm lucky I have someone who loves me for who I am, imperfections and all. I'm lucky to have someone who is a intimate lover and a best friend. I'm just daggum lucky.

I'm thankful for family and friends. I'm lucky to have people in my life that mean so much to me. I'm lucky to have people in my life that I know will be there for me. I'm lucky to have people in my life who also love me for who I am. I'm just real gosh-darn lucky.

I'm thankful for freedom. I'm lucky I can believe what I want to believe without fear of persecution. I'm lucky I can share my beliefs with others without fear of persecution. I'm lucky I can argue with people over my believes without fear of punishment.

I'm thankful for education. I'm lucky I had the opportunity to attend a school for free from the age of 5 until I was 18. I'm lucky I had parents who were willing to invest financially in my continuing education. I'm lucky I can continue my education in order to further my knowledge of what is best and beneficial for children. I'm lucky I have the opportunity to lay the foundation for a child's years in school. I hope I do okay.

I'm thankful for everything God has placed in my life. I only wished I showed that thanks to God more often than I do.

The United States of Obama

Some people are just _______ (insert appropriate adjective).

During Obama's campaign visit to Ohio, he appeared in front of a row of flags. Those with some matter of intelligence (or logic, or deductive reasoning) would realize that the pattern of flags included the American flag and the Ohio state flag.

But, noooooooooooo.

Conservative radio host, Bob Grant, thought the flag was Obama's recreation of the American flag with the 'O' at the center. His call-in listeners fueled speculation that Obama was going to ruin our great country. A conservative blogger received emails from outraged conservatives. Do we really want our country led by a dictator?

Too bad Obama's not a dictator. Too bad the conspiracy-crazed conservatives couldn't distinguish the state flag of Ohio from a made-up Obamanation flag.

Which brings me back to my first sentence. What adjective would work best there?

Crazy. Insane. Looney. Paranoid. Fearful. Illogical. Dumb.

Sweetest Day

Ah, Sweetest Day. A day I'd never heard of until 2007. A day I (unfortunately) haven't committed to memory as of yet in my young marriage.

Seriously, in my 25 years as a resident of North Carolina I'd never even heard of the day. I dated Ashley two of those years and she never mentioned it. Then last year, early in our marriage, I was asked what I was going to do for her on Sweetest Day. "What's Sweetest Day?"

Fast forward one more year. It's a relatively cold, balmy day in central Ohio. We go to an outdoor (brrrr) pumpkin-decorating picnic to see our niece. Luckily, my sister-in-law comes up and whisper-reminds me that it's Sweetest Day. "Crap," is what I'm thinking to myself. "I've really got to commit this holiday to memory."

Luckily, I was able to cleverly integrate a sweet snack that Ashley loves (a Dairy Queen ice cream cake with the message "Happy Sweetest Day") into our last-second Sweetest Day festivities.

By the way, she thought I had forgotten (which I had).

Now I know that Sweetest Day is a Hallmark holiday. My next move will be to suggest that Hallmark's website send out email reminders to any registered married man as Sweetest Day approaches.

Anyways, although a holiday every now and again is nice to remind someone why they're special to you, it never hurts to show them they're special just because.

Ashley, you're the most specialist person in my whole world and I love you!

Happy Sweetest Day!

Good Ol' Dennis Kucinich of Ohio

Mr. Brown's creed

I believe that I have found my one true soul mate; the person I laugh with, the person I cry with; the person I celebrate with, the person I grieve with; the person I share with, the person I confide in; the person I wake up with, the person I go to sleep with; the person I live with, the person I die with; the person I love.

I believe that God, even the mere idea of God, is big; too big to describe as fact. It takes belief, strong personal faith, to describe God and all He is.

I believe, because of this, that faith and belief are a separate, even opposing, entity from the idea of government. And should remain separate.

I believe each and every citizen of our free country should have their beliefs and ideas tolerated as well as tolerate the beliefs and ideas of others.

I believe that even after you walk a mile in someone else’s shoes, you still can’t judge them. That is God’s job.

I believe that responsibility is a quality lacking in today’s world. Maybe it should be taught in schools, too. Maybe even throw in another high-stakes test or two! (Or maybe not.)

I believe that knowledge truly is power.

I believe that education begins at home, is supplemented and enhanced throughout school, and should never be confined solely within the school’s walls.

I believe that no one is ever done growing up. The day you cease to learn anything new and valuable is the day you cease to exist.

I believe that free market capitalism as it exists in the United States today serves one purpose: to encourage good, ol’ fashioned greed. It achieves two objectives, 1) helping the rich get even richer and 2) helping the poor get even poorer.

I believe that, even though I plan on voting for Barack Obama, John McCain would make a pretty good president. Then again, after the past 8 years, I think a headless mannequin could do the job and we’d be no worse off. But Sarah Palin frightens me. Truly, honestly frightens me. If John McCain is elected, I hope he remains in good health for the duration of his term.

I believe that cheering for the Tar Heels is one of the great joys of this life.

I believe watching dook lose is another great joy in this life. And I believe people should stop spelling it “Duke” like that’s the way it’s really spelled. It’s dook, people!

I believe that if I concentrate and focus hard enough, any suggestions, criticisms, or insults that I hurl through the television at referees, coaches, and players can and will be heard…by me. And my wife. Who then tells me to stop. Because they really can’t hear me.

I believe that anyone who refuses to place a grocery cart in the Cart Return should be clubbed in the kneecaps with a crowbar so they’ll actually have an excuse for not walking their lazy butt the extra 5 to 100 feet.

I believe that hip hop music is unfairly tossed aside as artless. Dude, the good stuff is unbelievable poetry set to incredible rhythms and beats.

I'll try to find you some and I'll bring'em to YA!

It seems time to send Sarah Palin back to big-time political boot camp. Answering two separate Katie Couric questions with the same answer? Check! Having a hard time answering a question with a direct answer at all? Check!

Awkward

I want to get this right. Word for word. No misquoting. Straight from the horse's mouth.

Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska and current GOP Vice Presidential Candidate...

"Pray for our military men and women who are striving to do what is right. Also, for this country, that our leaders, our national leaders, are sending [U.S. soldiers] out on a task that is from God."

"That's what we have to make sure that we're praying for, that there is a plan and that that plan is God's plan."

WOW.

Republican foreign policy is a complete joke. It has been for the past eight years. Palin's thoughts only reinforce this.

Seriously, the GOP has hypocritically waged a Holy War, a Protestant Jihad, in Iraq. They wage war in Iraq in God's name. And in the same breath they fight a terrorist organization that wages war in their God's name. How are the thugs occupying the White House any different?

And why does God need the GOP to fulfill His will? What happened to the church? Have we officially given up on the purpose of the church and now depend on the US government to do its job? If that's the case, people might want to consider the McCain/Palin ticket as evidence of the end times, not Obama/Biden.

the first day of school...

at least it was for 1st and 2nd graders. us kindergarten teachers are still screening bright young minds before placing them into classrooms. i'm showing off my mad-crazy reflexes above in a skit for our school's positive behavior system. if the objective was to show how to fluster mr. brown enough to make him remove his hands from his pockets, then they failed...big time. actually, mrs. frush and mrs. weaver were showing 2nd graders how not to get to the bathroom as they irresponsibly brush mr. russell and i to the side, interrupting our engaging conversation. the picture is courtesy of the photo dude from the newark advocate and can be viewed here.

that's right. i'm a star.

The End of Another Summer

Ashley and I kept our niece, Allysse, five days a week this summer. Occasionally, Ashley would keep her alone while I was in class or at work once a week and I would keep her alone when Ashley was teaching. For the most part, it was a team effort. At the swimming pool, at the park, playing putt-putt, visiting Cosi. It also made for a loooooong and tiring summer at times.

Which is why I've really cherished these last couple of quiet weekends with Ashley. They've been moments for us to spend alone and enjoy one another's company. Relaxing and leisurely, compared to weekdays with Allysse at least.

Today was my last Saturday with Ashley of the summer. On Monday, teacher workdays begin. On Tuesday, we start pre-assessing Kinders. On Thursday, I meet my students and their families. The following Monday, 180 days of learning begin.

I feel bad because I don't feel that I took full advantage of my first full summer with Ashley. We were so busy with Allysse that we didn't make as much time for ourselves. Alas, the past is the past and you've got to take advantage of the days alone that you do have.

I enjoyed my Saturday with Ashley. We spent a little time at the pool, took a nice walk at Dawes Arboretum, had dinner at Ruby Tuesday's (salad bar, YUM), took a bike ride in and around Hebron, and had soft-served ice cream at Ashley's favorite, Hayman's. I wish we had more days like this during the summer, but we've got many more summers to look forward to.

I love you.

witnessing HIStory

the one and only dream team. kerri strug landing a pivotal vault on a sprained ankle. michael johnson hitting 23 mph in his 200m run. derek redmond's father helping him limp across the finish line.

these images and events remain embedded in my mind over a decade later. they were memorable for varying reasons. the dream team was the greatest collection of basketball talent ever, playing together and dismantling the competition. kerri strug fought off her own personal pain for the benefit of the team. michael johnson displayed pure, insane athleticism. possibly my favorite, derek redmond, with the help of his father, finished what he set out to finish.

now there's a new image.

i thought the 4 x 100 freestyle relay was a nail-biter. phelps' teammates, especially lezak, stepped up and pulled out a victory. but phelps showed why he is the best during the 100 meter butterfly. why he may be the greatest ever. if it were any other swimmer, i would've conceded victory to the serbian swimmer cavic at the turn, with 25 meters remaining, and in the final 5 meters. but even as cavic reeeeeeeached for the wall, my gluteus maximus rose from the couch and i pumped my fist as phelps willed himself to victory with an extra half of a stroke. the replay was close. really close. 1/100ths of a second close.


on a slightly negative note, phelps could only manage an olympic record. his previous six races resulted in world records. step it up, mike!

but now phelps has 7 gold medals in one olympic games. his name will live forever. on saturday night, he and three other American teammates will decide whether his name will stand alone or with spitz.

all the pieces matter.

the bunk and cool lester smooth from the wire are two integral pieces in david simon's new television puzzle. the two actors, wendell pierce (left) and clarke peters (right), signed on to simon's new orleans project treme. "treme" refers to a musical community in new orleans. the show will follow musicians trying to rebuild their lives in post-katrina new orleans.

hbo has only bought a pilot script. once the pilot is made, hbo will decide whether or not to greenlight a full season. judging by hbo programming co-president richard plepler's recent comments (and simon's already completed masterpiece the wire) i think treme stands a good chance of allowing simon to once again "write" a visual novel.

Lush Life

Lush Life is my 2nd Richard Price novel of the summer. While it wasn't as good as Clockers, it was pure Richard Price.

And that's a great thing.

Forget plot.

Price writes dialogue and characters better than anyone I've read. Ever.

Characters unfold at a deliberate pace. Price doesn't force anything. He allows the characters room to breathe and simply be. Every bit of dialogue doesn't have to push plot. Dialogue, in the case of Price's novels, do as much to reveal and build character.

And don't really forget plot. Plot is still important. Price's novels explore the differences (and similarities) between people and the clash that can inevitably take place when cultures collide. In the case of Lush Life, the clash takes place on the Lower East Side of New York City where established immigrants are finding themselves slowly pushed out by young aspiring bohemians and they're all surrounded by towers of broken promises in the housing projects. The event that pushes the novel takes place early on (and the perpetrator is revealed fairly early, too) and the joy of reading Price is how (and if) you reach the conclusion.

He doesn't disappoint.

VICTORRRRRRRRRRYYYYYYYYYYY! - Part Deux

this is what the olympics are all about.

sure, it would be great to see michael phelps coast through his events and sweep the golds.

but it's not all about him. it's about representing your country amongst the rest of the world-class athletes from around the globe. and in the case of the men's 4 x 100 freestyle relay, it was about four guys giving their all.

in the end, it wasn't phelps who carried the US to victory. it was the final leg, swam by jason lezak, that brought the US from behind. lezak swam the final 100 meters in 46 seconds. 46 seconds! that is absolutely unbelievable and i hate that i couldn't stay up late enough to see it in real-time.

oh well, that's what the internet is for.

so you think you can dance? - finale

what a finale! mary murphy frightening any and everyone with her botox-induced smile during a dance routine. nigel tapping. robert muraine winning the first-ever televised popping battle. the dancers performing each judge's favorite routines.

oh, and joshua won.

i voted for joshua. he was my favorite all year. and i thought it would come down to him and twitch. no disrespect to katee or courtney. they were both fine dancers. but i thought personality would weigh heavily on who ultimately won. joshua and twitch had an abundance of it. they were both humble, untrained dancers who always had a smile on their face. everyone in the studio audience seemed to love them and i thought those feelings would carry over into the national vote. and they did. in the end, i thought joshua was a more versatile dancer even though twitch was showing major signs of improvement in anything-other-than-hip-hop.

anyways, in my sadness at the end of so you think you can dance?, i thought i'd create my own top ten list of my favorite routines from the year. so, here we go...

#10 - Katee & Twitch - Contemporary



#9 - Kherington & Twitch - Contemporary



#8 - Katee & Will - Broadway



#7 - Joshua & Katee - Hip Hop



#6 - Courtney & Mark - Jazz



#5 - Katee & Will - Pas de Deux



#4 - Comfort & Twitch - Hip Hop



#3 - Joshua & Katee - Bollywood



#2 - Joshua & Katee - Contemporary



#1 - Chelsea & Mark - Hip Hop

40 days and 40 nights...

okay, so maybe stuart shephard didn't pray for that much rain. and he surely didn't pray for rain in drought-ridden areas that surely could use it. so why exactly did he send out a prayer request for rain on his latest internet video produced by the evangelical Christian group focus on the family?



why? for the democratic national convention, of course! actually, not even the entire convention. just the final night. or, more accurately, the final speech, that's going to be given outdoors by Senator Barack Obama at invesco field in denver, colorado.

such a nice guy, that stuart shephard is.

remember a few days back when i posted about the things that get my blood boiling? add Christians like this to my list.

his "humble" prayer request hardly seems humble. in my opinion, it falls more in line with presenting requests to God for that date with the homecoming queen, or hitting the winning shot during the state finals, or passing that test that you neglected studying for. pretty selfish prayer request if you ask me. then he goes on to talk about how if it doesn't rain, he'll trust God's wisdom and will and blah, blah, blah. if you're so concerned about abortion and homosexual marriage, mr. shephard, wouldn't God want you to pray for Mr. Obama, not rain to distort his image and message from the cameras broadcasting during primetime? maybe a change of heart in the senator?

but, nooooooooooo.

i forgot. apparently Democrats aren't Christians and a rain (although not quite on par with Noah's flood) will drown out their message.

anyways, i'll continue to attend church (i hope the presence of an Obama bumper sticker on my car doesn't result in barred church doors - or a biblical flood) and ignore jokers like shephard. because he isn't the first and he won't be the last.

As Green Bay turns...

Ashley and I have had many a conversation about the ridiculous amount of money athletes and entertainers make. It's a heated topic for Ashley that gets her blood boiling much like the mention of No Child Left Behind or Fox News or shopping carts left in the middle of parking lots does for me. Too often, I slightly defend the rich people by putting some of the blame on the consumer as well.

But after the month-long fiasco in Green Bay with Brett Favre, I might have to reconsider. I used to admire this guy. I loved his child-like demeanor on the field. He looked like he was having fun out there. Like it wasn't his job to play quarterback for the Packers. It was just something he did because he loved it. His ability to pull a rabbit out of a hat on the football field left me chuckling at his brilliance.

And everyone knew he was nearing the end. His retirement had been speculated for several years. He even left Green Bay management in limbo as he decided whether to play or retire. And for several years, he decided to come back. Then comes 2008. A press conference. Tears were shed. It was the end.

Or so we thought.

Evidently, he contacted Packers management months later stating he may want to come back. They set up a private plane to pick him up from his home in Mississippi. Two days before his supposed return, he called back the Packers and said nevermind.

Now the past month has taken place. Brett Favre wants to come out of retirement and play. He wants to start again for the Packers (even though Aaron Rodgers has been groomed for this job for years and was given it the moment Favre retired). If they won't let him play, he wants to compete for the job amidst a media circus posing as what's supposed to be training camp. And if that's doesn't work, he wants to be released, free to go wherever (including a division rival that would face the Packers twice a year). And don't trade him unless he agrees with the destination.

Boy, does this guy think the world revolves around him?

First off, his "will I or won't I retire" routine at the beginning of every off-season is enough to make Green Bay want to sever ties like a fickle relationship on its last legs. Second, the NFL is a business and the Packers own the rights to Brett Favre. He understood that when he signed a contract. And contracts are made to be honored. If this guy had a job in the real world (and, no, the NFL is not the real world) his fickleness would've worn thin during the final years and he might have been asked to leave sooner. He surely wouldn't have been given back his job like he's expecting the Packers to do now. If the Packers are now committed to Aaron Rodgers as their quarterback, then that's their call (and I happen to agree with them). The Packers don't have to release him so he can make their rivals, the Minnesota Vikings, contenders. The Packers don't have to ask Brett Favre first if he'd prefer this place or that for a trade. The price of making multiple millions each year is that your rights are owned by the business you work for.

Sounds like a tough gig if you ask me. But what do I know? I'm just a teacher that could never support my family on my salary alone.

Over the past month, Brett Favre has turned into every other whining athlete who believes they deserve more than they make. That they're somehow worth more than any other individual in the United States of America (including the President). That the world revolves around them and their selfish demands.

I was a little sad when Brett Favre retired. I thought that one of the good guys of the game was gone forever. Too bad this past month will leave a lasting legacy of him in my mind that will do nothing to distinguish him from the rest of the millionaires who play sports or entertain.

And as much as it pains me to say this: Ashley, you were rrrrrrr...rrrrrriiiiiiiiii...rrrrrrriiiiiiiiiiight.

happy (belated) birthday!

yesterday was the shared birthday of Barack Obama and Governor Ted Strickland.

here in licking county, i "celebrated" by calling local voters to determine their voting plans for the upcoming election. a whole lot of people weren't home or had disconnected numbers. a few people told me they didn't feel comfortable telling me their voting preferences. several felt like they were between a rock and a hard place because they liked neither candidate. quite a few told me that they were either voting for john mccain or not to call back because the person i was trying to reach was a strict republican or that they "didn't agree with mr. obama" right before they hung up without saying goodnight (a couple of those callers were nice and didn't hang up until i told them that i appreciated their time). and then a precious handful told me they were planning on voting for Senator Obama. they weren't available to help volunteer because of lack of time and busy schedules, but i told them that their vote was good enough.

i wanted to help in this election because, for once in my short voting life, i believe in a candidate. i believe in their message. i believe that they might actually do what they say they're going to do.

and this candidate happens to be a polarizing figure (almost, and maybe even more so, than Hillary - to my complete surprise). there are those that believe he's a muslim, despite evidence to the contrary. there are those that believe he's a socialist who wouldn't much less vote for a democrat in the first place. and there are those that hate him because he's black, and i really can't do anything for those people.

but my thought was maybe i can do something to convince someone that Barack Obama is worthy of the hope. and worthy of their vote.

we'll see.

i was standing all alone against the world outside.
you were searching for a place to hide.
lost and lonely, now you've given me the will to survive.
when we're hungry love will keep us alive.

don't you worry, sometimes you've just got to let it ride.
the world is changing right before your eyes.
now i've found you there's no more emptiness inside.
when we're hungry love will keep us alive.

i would die for you.
climb the highest mountain.
baby, there's nothing i wouldn't do.

now i've found you there's no more emptiness inside.
when we're hungry love will keep us alive.

lovely, melodic air guitar solo

i would die for you.
climb the highest mountain.
baby, there's nothing i wouldn't do.

i was standing all alone against the world outside.
you were searching for a place to hide.
lost and lonely, now you've given me the will to survive.
when we're hungry love will keep us alive.
when we're hungry love will keep us alive.

when we're hungry love will keep us alive.

the sweet forever

in my continuing effort to read as many novels by the magnificent storytellers of the wire (david simon, ed burns, & richard price to name a few), i turned my attention to george pelecanos. he penned such thrilling, heartbreaking scripts as the deaths of wallace and stringer bell, randy yelling after sgt. carver "are you gonna help me now?", and michael and dookie's farewell.

the sweet forever, like clockers (which i read earlier this summer), truly embodies the spirit of the wire. and the wire owes a debt to the writers it used to further its narrative.

the sweet forever takes place in dc during the 80's cocaine epidemic. its narrative follows cops (partners tutt and murphy), criminals (tyrell cleveland and his crew), and citizens (marcus clay, clay's business partner dimitri karras, employees of clay's store, and the neighborhood it inhabits). and true to form, the characters are layered and multi-dimensional. while the characters do dabble in black and white from time to time, they spend most of their time unfolding in shades of gray.

to the plot.

amazon.com does a good enough job in their editorial reviews that i don't feel like rambling on endlessly when these editors determine what's important enough to tell for a living.

a few quick notes:

1) the story takes place during the opening two rounds of march madness. the male characters (of which there are plenty) talk of the greatness of these four days of basketball in a way that highlights how sacred it is to so many men, me included.

2) the cocaine epidemic and its destruction of many neighborhoods and lives is at the center of the story. and its poster boy happens to be len bias of the maryland terrapins, who at the time of the story was participating in march madness. all eyes were on him as he performed at unbelievable levels. so many admired his skill as a basketball player and dreamed of the endless possibilities for his future. for those familiar with bias' eventual fate (a cocaine overdose just after being drafted second by the boston celtics), it lingers over the story, suggesting that you can have it all and lose it that quickly at the hands of addiction.

3) dean smith receives several shout-outs. during one first-round-viewing scene, dimitri's distaste for carolina seeps out, being a maryland fan and all. marcus steps up to defend the heels and their legendary coach by referring to their guaranteed ability to make it through the first weekend of the tournament. dean smith holds the ncaa record for 13 straight trips to the sweet sixteen, an impressive record considering "madness" is all part of the proceedings. later, when brad daugherty of the heels is drafted ahead of len bias, dimitri again shares his distaste. once again, marcus steps to the plate and praises the "dean smith" pedigree, referring to 25 of dean's players that went on to be drafted in the first round of the nba draft. you go, dean!

what's on the tube?

since the finale of the wire, the only television worth watching included the conclusions of strike-shortened seasons of the office and lost. summer television is usually filled with an endless black hole of reality television.

but if that reality television show is so you think you can dance? (on fox) that's alright with me. i was a little bummed when will was sent home last week, especially after his james brown' impersonation in the top 8. however, there was little drop-off with the final four guys so the result wasn't a blow to the show. the top 6 was exceptional with the repairing of joshua and katee (the two best dancers on the show). but the other two couples did really well, too. there wasn't a misstep on any of the routines. i guess when you're down to the final six dancers, you better step up.

i really can't stress how much i love dancing, even though i am completely and utterly incapable of doing it myself and know nothing about it. maybe it's that lack of familiarity that makes it so interesting and intriguing. the way you can use the movements of your body to express such a wide range of emotions...wow.


but the summer television season also brought with it some dramatic flare this week, a much-needed break from the reality overload. while i haven't viewed the first season in its entirety, i've seen enough of mad men (on amc) to know i should be watching it whenever i get the chance. the show is about madison avenue advertising executives set during the 1960s. created by matthew weiner, david chase's right-hand man on the sopranos, you can expect that a simple plot description is out of the question. just as the sopranos was never just about the mob, neither is mad men just about advertising. it merely serves as the launching point for the show to explore a world outside the grasp of many today. and the acting is incredible. jon hamm, wherever he came from, i could listen to him talk all day long.

My Day Without Ashley

Why is it that I write about Ashley more often when she's not around than when she is? Is it because I miss her so much? That I'm more aware of her absence? I anxiously anticipate her return because I don't know what to do without her?

Alas, Ashley was away from me for the day. She left with her mother, sister, and a whole bunch of other women she didn't know for New York City. Luckily, it was only for a day (WHEW!). I've been without her since Friday night and she's riding back as I type.

Me? I'm pretty helpless without her. Evidently my father-in-law is just as helpless without Ashley's mother, too. So we joined forces to take care of one meal today. In my constant effort to find bbq that's just as good as the stuff down in North Carolina, we tried out a place called Hoggy's in Gahanna. Verdict: slightly disappointed. It was voted one of Columbus' best bbq places and if that's the best they have to offer, then they need to stop and take a roadtrip through the south.

Other than that, I cleaned (WOW!) and I read (what Ashley usually does). In her absence, my subconscious must have tried to recreate conditions similar to when she is around.

Good thing she's back on Sunday!

The Dark Knight - Redux

That's right. The Dark Knight was so good, I had to see it again. But this time was different. This time, the events of Gotham City were played out on the IMAX screen.


Most of the best action sequences were shot specifically with an IMAX camera. The opening bank heist, Batman's aerial view of Hong Kong, the chase sequence through lower Gotham and the subsequent flipping of the Joker's big rig (wow, what a shot!), the hospital sequence, and several shots of a brooding Batman (over a desolate, dark Gotham, looking especially gargoyle-ish; at the scene of a particularly devastating explosion). What the 80-foot IMAX screen does is create something "larger than life." It won't work for every movie, but it did a lot to enhance already-excellent aspects of a spectacular film.


Heath Ledger's performance as the Joker stood out even more this time around. Sure, he pulled off the "evil incarnate" thing really well. Some say it's easy to play "crazy," but Ledger's Joker was more than crazy. At times, his delivery of a line could make you chuckle to yourself. At others, the licking of his lips and his high-pitched cackle could send shivers down your spine. He embodied chaos. He didn't do anything for money. He did everything to send a message. His message: Chaos is the only way to live. Order only brings about restrictions and rules. With chaos, there are no restrictions, no rules.


In a particularly well-written, well-photographed, well-acted scene, the Joker sells his chaos routine to the heart of the movie, Harvey Dent, at Gotham General Hospital. The outcome, as you watch the movie unfold, is devastating. The Joker's message rings true as Dent, devoted to justice and peace, falls apart amidst the chaos of the Joker's scheme.

The Dark Knight only got better the second time around. What a deep movie with so much to question and ponder. And it's only a comic book movie!

so you think you can dance? - top eight

just one couple tonight: twitch and katee. they took it all. they stood head and shoulders above the rest tonight. is it a coincidence that katee has been a part of several magnificent couples?

contemporary



broadway

speaking of...

i loosely, and unfairly, attributed the term "partisan hacks" to the talking heads. in reality, everyone covering news is complicit. the hack job belongs to the media.

over at jibjab.com, they offer their critique of the media.

the media (specifically newspapers) took their licks this past season on the wire as well. i'll admit that during my in-season viewing of the 5th season, i missed what david simon says is the point of the media storyline. it's not the fabricator or the prize-seeking culture of the newsroom. it starts with the buyouts of veteran news reporters who know their city like the back of their hand. it starts with stories like the one that ended the season about bubbles and his triumph over addiction. during the 5th season of the wire, the baltimore sun missed every story that was ever important to the viewers over the run of the show. the culture of violence associated with the drug trade (if it bleeds, it leads, but only if it's in the right zip code), the decline of the working class, corruption at city hall, the dumbing down of American public education and the over-reliance on a flawed no child left behind act, and the cooking of police stats to make everybody look good. and that's just the tip of the iceberg. the newspaper ignored it. all of it.

i'll admit that i hardly ever watch the news. but i used to. and there's a reason why i stopped.

partisan hackery

i love jon stewart. and stephen colbert, too. just youtube either name and you'll have hours of must-see tv at your fingertips. their "political" talk shows succeed simply because they offer viewers an alternative, a parody of anything they could find on cnn, msnbc, or fox news (always fair and balanced). an entertaining, funny alternative at that. a breath of fresh air from the blowhards and talking heads that litter every media outlet.

and yes, i'm going to pick on liberals, too.

o'reilly is simply unwatchable, but his brethren aren't much better. what unfolds on each show, whether it's a debate, an interview, or simply a self-righteous monologue, is, as jon stewart would say, partisan hackery.

hannity (from hannity & colmes, fox news) stated in an interview on his show today that barack obama's tour through iraq is simply a photo op. obama's stated his stance on the issue of the iraq war and anything he sees on his trip will be disposed of after its brief stay in short-term memory. in other words, he never went over there with "an open mind."

does this guy prefer throwing pebbles or boulders from the safe confines of his glass house? seriously? is a talking head from a media news outlet actually going to call someone out for lacking an open mind on an issue? isn't that why talking heads exist in the first place? real debate is one thing. these guys (and gals) simply spew their opinions as fact and expect us to buy into it.

this is why i avoid political discussion on most accounts. i'm guilty of the same things i'm accusing the talking heads of. i have my political beliefs and i doubt anyone could change my mind at this point. any conversation i would have would most likely end up an argument.

but the place these partisan hacks have in the general political landscape is frightening to say the least. hopefully, more voters will consistently turn to comedy central for their daily news. it provides every person with the daily percentage of sarcasm needed to maintain a healthy state of mind.

The Dark Knight

“This town deserves a better class of criminal…and I’m gonna give it to ‘em.”

And audiences deserve a better class of summer blockbuster. Christopher Nolan has given it to ‘em. The Dark Knight improves in every way upon the first installment of the Batman restoration project, Batman Begins.

I honestly don’t know where to begin or what to address other than to say this is the greatest comic book film of all time. The comic book film surge over the past decade has included wonderful efforts such as Spider-Man 2, X2 – X-Men United, and Batman Begins. But The Dark Knight transcends the comic book genre. It succeeds in every way a comic book film should and enters into the realm of just plain great films.

Christopher Nolan has honed his skills as an action director. A stunning opening scene channels the best of Michael Mann’s Heat during a bank robbery. The Hong Kong skyline serves as a backdrop for Batman to showcase his ability to appear and then just as quickly disappear. A chase scene through the lower bowels of Gotham City in which Batman’s Tumbler becomes a big-wheeled motorcycle gets the adrenaline flowing. Even more intimate scenes confined by tight spaces pack an intensity and emotional depth such as an encounter between Batman and the Joker in an interrogation room.

Speaking of the Joker…

The acting is uniformly superb throughout. Maggie Gyllenhaal improves upon Katie Holmes performance as Rachel Dawes. Aaron Eckhart gives an excellent and heartbreaking performance as new Gotham DA Harvey Dent. Gary Oldman (Lieutenant Gordon), Morgan Freeman (Lucius Fox), and Michael Caine (Alfred) continue to shine as Batman’s inner circle. And Christian Bale shows his increased comfort in the role and completely embodies the role of Batman. He is Batman.

But Heath Ledger steals the show as the Joker. I never thought Jack Nicholson’s 1989 performance as the Joker could be equaled, much less overshadowed. Heath Ledger has succeeded in making me forget Jack Nicholson ever even played the Joker. That face. Those scars. That make-up. That laugh. Whatever magnificent plot inspired by the writing of Christopher Nolan and his brother, Jonathan, the Joker spends two-and-a-half hours carving his way through it. The result is frightening.

The Dark Knight is a lot to take in during one sitting. I can’t wait to see it again, hopefully on the IMAX screen for which several scenes were specifically filmed. It’s a film to be taken seriously as one of the best films of the year. For now we’ll call it the summer blockbuster movie-going audiences deserve.

Thanks, Mr. Nolan!

so you think you can dance? - top ten part 2

so sad. i guess it was inevitable that they split up the couples at some point to see what they could do with other dancers. joshua did just fine. i don't want to say he carried courtney (because she's got the personality to match and is a pretty good dancer herself), but he definitely out-danced her. katee ended up dancing with a partner that's just as good as joshua, if not better: will. they're the most talented couple now. chelsea, as lil c commented, could make a mannequin look good. but mark lost out the most by loosing chelsea as a partner. he's still got a quirkiness about him and is a talented dancer, but he and kherington just didn't work.

katee & will - broadway



katee & will - pas de deux (this looked hard)



joshua & courtney - hip hop



joshua & courtney - rumba



chelsea (making a mannequin look good)

One Year

To Ashley.

July 14th, 2007 to July 14th, 2008.

One year.

A lot can happen in one year.

A lot has happened in one year.

Joys and pains. Choices, both good and bad. Laughing and crying. Singing and dancing. Teaching and learning. And love.

For better or worse, good times or bad, love has lifted us up. Love has carried us through to the other side of the first year of marriage. And I know it probably wasn't ideal. But what marriage is perfect? I've done some pretty stupid things in one year, but you love me regardless of my stupidity. You've slammed/locked a few doors on me, but I love you regardless of your temper.

Love rises above all of our imperfections, our insecurities, our ineptness. It binds two people together that may not be perfect, but are perfect for each other.

I believe we've worked pretty daggum well together in our first year. Sure, we've seen bumps in the road, but we've had our highs as well. We're still here despite irregular schedules keeping us from spending the time together we might have desired. We're still here despite all the arguments and disagreements. We're still here despite my fiscal irresponsibility.

And I believe with all of my heart that we'll be here tomorrow, and the next day, and the day after that.

I look forward to spending more years with you. I look forward to being able to read your mind and do things for you without you having to lift a finger or say a word. I look forward to becoming a better (and healthier) husband to (for) you.

I also look forward to your future personal "Song & Dance" concerts. I look forward to any and all future Wii competitions. I look forward to seeing you fulfill your professional goals. I look forward to starting a family with you.

I look forward to eternity with you.

Happy One Year Anniversary.

Love, Brian.

so you think you can dance? - top ten

no, i can't dance. and i know it.

but the top ten on so you think you can dance? sure can.

especially four.

katee & joshua.

hip hop



contemporary



bollywood



samba



broadway



and...

chelsie & mark.

hip hop (and my favorite dance of the year, so far)



broadway



salsa



jazz



foxtrot



both couples have shared a chemistry and displayed a dynamic that works for this competition. there hasn't been one false step with either one.

i really like dancing (despite my inability to do it myself). there's something to say for an art form that can portray everything a book or a movie can without writing or saying a word. and it's more than a painting. it's a moving work of art.

A North Carolina Legacy

legacy: something handed down from an ancestor or a predecessor or from the past

Hate is not a word that I incorporate often in my vocabulary. I often use frustration, disbelief, disappointment, indifference, and anger. Each of those words could be used accurately in the description of my feelings for the late Jesse Helms.

A poster boy for the Religious Right, the Ku Klux Klan, and the plain ol' ignorant, Jesse somehow represented the state of North Carolina for five terms in the United States Senate. How the man was continually re-elected, I'll never fully understand. But as a native of North Carolina, I knew plenty of people who voted for and admired the man.

At the expense of avoiding the effects of one (or more) of the words used to describe my feeling for Jesse Helms, I'll let someone removed from our current political climate reflect on Jesse's life. Here's his obituary.

I'll leave with one thought.

It is of comfort knowing that the backwards politics of Jesse Helms will be nowhere near the election of 2008. I would hazard a guess that he may even turn over in his grave if Obama wins the Presidential election.

Wall-E

From the moment the first preview was released over a year ago, I've highly anticipated the release of Wall-E. We didn't get a glimpse of any particular plot in the early previews. Just character. And Wall-E had me at...well, whatever Wall-E says.

A robot. Fluent in the language of R2-D2. Rummaging through relics from a forgotten past. That's basically the gist given to us in the previews.

And that's what we get in the first half of the film from the wizards of animation at Pixar. We follow Wall-E through his daily routine. Wake up. Get some sun, or in Wall-E's case, solar energy to power up for the day. Strap on your cooler like a knapsack. And go to work. Wall-E's objective is to clean up the colossal mess we left behind on Earth. Scoop. Crunch. Stack. Mounds of our trash tower like mountains over abandoned cities.

But Wall-E doesn't throw it all away. The cooler doesn't exactly hold his lunch. Part of the charm of Wall-E is his natural curiosity for our junk. Lighters. Rubix cubes. Old bras. Talking, wall-mounted fish. A fire extinguisher. And an old VHS tape of Hello, Dolly. These all become part of his collection that give an otherwise unintelligible robot personality.

And that's why I adored the first half of Wall-E. The only human dialogue comes from a pre-recorded message by the last human leader on Earth (I loved the "Stay the course" shout-out) and Hello, Dolly. And I can really appreciate that. Books are capable of conveying so much without a single word of written dialogue. Movies don't share the same luxury. You simply have what you can see. And yet Wall-E becomes a fully fleshed-out lovable character without muttering a handful of words we can understand. Such a lovely 40 minutes of movie!

That's why I don't really feel like mentioning, or even acknowledging, the last half of Wall-E. Wall-E couldn't carry the plot of this movie by himself so it was only natural for him to interact with the humans of the future. They were less than lovable. Whereas the first half of the movie was character-driven, the last half was plot-, or more accurately, message-driven. Message with a capital M.

Don't get me wrong. The last act wasn't bad. It just wasn't as entertaining as Wall-E on Earth. We still see and hear and feel with Wall-E, but he's no longer center stage. I'd give the first half of Wall-E 9 out of 10. The second half, 6 out of 10. (If you are good at math, that makes an overall rating of 7.5 out of 10.)

I just hope that in the future (or on the bonus features of the DVD release) they give Wall-E a movie all to himself.

hey, i know that guy!

yeah, that guy on the right.

that's brad. he's one of greensboro's finest.

the news story (found here) focuses on the robbery suppression unit, which brad has been a part of for a few months (and my friend john has been a part of for even longer), and its possible end due to lack of funds.

isn't that always the case? if you're a public servant, forget the deep pocketbook that other jobs can afford.

"you're doing excellent work. crime is down. but we're not going to be able to find the necessary funds to support this unit any longer. insert more important area for funds here is our top priority at the moment."

whether it's crime or test scores, it seems like any positive gains are minimized by the heaping pile of crap thrown upon us by the bigger fish.

get connected

interested in buying a blackberry pearl 8130 smartphone for use on the sprint network?

don't want to pay $499.99 because you haven't fulfilled your 2-year contract?

then head on over to ebay and bid on this item.

the orkin man

my family is visiting this weekend.

we went to cedar point yesterday. my mom, sister & aunt had never been before (dad and bro-in-law had).

best. roller-coasters. ever.

we rode millennium force first. nice little 80 degree drop. two-and-a-half minutes of pure speed. and all you have holding you down is a lap bar.

next we rode the maverick. as david (bro-in-law) and i were preparing for our front-row ride, we marveled at the description of the first drop: "steeper than straight down." that's right, 95 degrees. great ride.

then came the granddaddy of 'em all: top thrill dragster. david and i waited an extra 15-20 minutes for the front row. 0 to 120 mph in less than 4 seconds. straight up. straight down. no more than 20 seconds in all.

have you ever stuck your face under one of those heavy-duty air dryers in restrooms? the x-celerator? top thrill dragster puts you in the same ballpark.

by the end of the ride, i noticed that a swarm of gnats had (unfortunately) gotten in my way. my thrill became their kill (pictures to come at a later date). i paper-toweled them away and moved on my way to other rides (the raptor, the magnum).

but after those three rides, everything else pales in comparison. we finished the day with one more ride on the top thrill dragster (no bugs this time).

figured we'd save the best (again) for last.

clockers

i love the wire. i feel that no American television program comes as close to the wire at capturing the reality of our institutions - the way they function, the people they benefit and ignore - and our way of life.

and, yes, i know it's not real.

but it attempts to depict something real. and tragic. and something that should make us all mad enough to get up and do something about it.

alas, the wire is gone and all that remains are dvd marathons.

but i have found some respite in the program's absence. the wire was as much a visual novel as it was a television show. each hour unfolded as a new chapter in a page-turner. and several brilliant authors - not screenwriters - were responsible for the program's pace and plotting.

one was richard price. david simon, the wire's creator and head writer, loved the novel clockers, written by price. it depicted urban life and the police procedural in much the same way the wire went on to do. so simon went out and convinced price to write for the show. simon's love for clockers even spread to price's scripts for the wire, a couple of "borrowed" scenes shown below.





i recently finished reading clockers, and the wire really shared the same spirit as this excellent story. on the surface (just like the wire), clockers appears to be a mystery surrounding drugs and violence. but deep at its core, the story is much more.

clockers is told from two sides of the law - law enforcement and dealers, or clockers.

at the heart of the law is aging homicide detective rocco klein. irish. alcoholic. married, but distant. father, but even more distant. and a detective committed to doing his job the right way to protect and serve the people worth protecting and serving.

at the heart of the clockers is strike. 19 years old. drug lieutenant who never lays a hand on the product. estranged from his family, and from everyone else for that matter. suffering from an ulcer. and desperately wants to get out of a game where it's every man for himself.

the story unfolds at a slow, yet steady, pace, allowing us to get to know our characters inside and out. we may never condone their actions, but we can understand their feelings and motivations. each chapter is penned with shades of grey.

as the story ended, i felt as if i'd just "read" an episode or season of the wire. but, looking at the date of publication for clockers (1992), it's amazing how much the wire - its dialogue, its characters, its pacing & its plotting - owes to richard price and clockers.

for lovers of the wire, i recommend clockers. i plan to read other novels by price. and the wire also owes its extraordinary storytelling to other brilliant authors - dennis lehane, george pelecanos & david simon.

too much television can corrupt your mind and kill brain cells, the exception being the wire of course. in the meantime, get a library card and start reading!

once upon a time...

am i there yet?

i would ask that question to myself quite a few more times before i arrived at my final destination.

the 400 mile roadtrip from greensboro, north carolina to hebron, ohio was never exciting, but this particular one was torturous.

you see, this trip was going to be special. besides the normal bag of clothes and other traveling necessities, i was carrying an investment - both monetary and symbolic of a deeper emotional connection.

an engagement ring.

i was going to ask Ashley to marry me.

normally, guys rack their inferior brains to concoct the perfect scenario for this moment.

me, i had a plan.

a picnic.

at dawes arboretum.

by the japanese gardens.

her favorite.

(later i would learn that she knew i was going to propose because i actually volunteered to take her on a picnic - something i evidently didn't do very often.)

but mother nature - rain in the forecast - and my patience would get in the way.

i finally got to hebron, right as her parents and niece were going to bed. i excused myself from Ashley (an entirely believable, "I need to use the bathroom"), only to sneak into her parents' bedroom and ask their permission to marry Ashley.

"are you sure you know what you're getting yourself into?"

"once you take her, you can't give her back."

after a few silent laughs and a unanimous "yes," i went back out to Ashley, ring in pocket.

i got down next to her and gave a schpeel about how "it's not about doing it the perfect way, it's about finding the perfect person" as a grin snuck onto her face.

two years to the day later, i'm as happy with her answer as i was that night.

snoop dee oh double gizzle?

Ashley found this while checking on Jamie Lynn Spears' new baby girl.

Snoop does country.

A-S-H-L-E-Y

A is for ambition - pressing towards her dreams every day.
S is for silliness - enjoying life and making those around her laugh.
H is for health - treating her body as a temple (and trying to help me do the same).
L is for love - spreading it those she cares for.
E is for excellence - striving to be the best at everything she does.
Y is for "Yummy" - the sound she makes when she thinks of ice cream.

they're baaaa-aaaaaaaaack!

contrary to my previous post, the 2008-2009 tar heel basketball team's future looks bright.

very bright.

all 3 underclassmen who declared for the nba draft chose to return on monday. green will return for his senior season and graduate with a degree from unc regardless of his nba plans. ellington and lawson return for their junior seasons.

the tar heels should be the overwhelming favorites to win the 2008-2009 national championship, but games aren't played on vegas odds. they're won by the coaches and players.

on a side note, i'm interested in seeing how ol' roy treats ty lawson after his dwi arrest. he made a mistake and there should be consequences. sometimes, big time college programs sweep these issues under the rug. i hope roy addresses it an appropriate manner for his team.

Missing Ashley - A Postlude

I'm back.

And with no further traffic tickets.

Lucky for me. Ashley would've had none of that. She didn't enjoy the first one to begin with.

It's nice to be back.

I got to spend the day with the two ladies in my life, Ashley and Allysse. I think both were pretty happy to have me around. I was happy to be around them.

Summer school classes start tomorrow, but with plenty of time outside of class I'm looking forward to my first full summer with my wife.

Happy 1 year (minus 28 days) anniversary!

Missing Ashley - Day 5

Well, that about does it.

I've spent the last 5 days catching up with family and friends. It's been nice.

Now, my family in Ohio awaits.

All that stands between Ashley and I are 400 miles - minus one state trooper.

See you tomorrow.

I love you.

Missing Ashley - Day 4

Only 2 more days.

2 more days until I can park my car in a cool, shaded garage.

2 more days until I can play with my Wii.

2 more days until I can sleep in my own bed.

And cuddle.

With Ashley.

2 more days until Ashley.

I miss you. And love you.

Together We Can

A wonderful educator and mentor of mine was honored at a retirement celebration today. The curriculum facilitator (aka "Assistant Principal") at Hunter Elementary, Sue Mercier, is calling it quits after 38 years with Guilford County Schools, 13 spent at Hunter.

I first met Sue as a nervous, wide-eyed junior intern. She was intimidating. Larger than life.

But over my next 5 years at Hunter (2 as an intern, 3 as a teacher), Sue had an incredible impact and influence on me. She provided me with the knowledge I needed to grow as a teacher. She was always there to offer encouragement (and, boy, it was needed during that first year or two) and constructive criticism when necessary. She helped mold me into a confident teacher.

I've missed being around Sue and working with her this year. Her presence at school always served as a security blanket.

But I think her influence on me made my job transition easier. New tasks and circumstances arose this year and I rolled with the punches. I have no doubt that she played an integral role in helping me secure a job teaching kindergarten next year.

Sure, she didn't type up the resume (actually, she helped me with that last year), nor did she write the letter of interest (she actually helped with parts of that last year, too). She wasn't answering interview questions for me either. But everything she's taught me over the years, the knowledge and confidence she helped equip me with, were present.

She will be missed at Hunter Elementary.

She told me to give her a call any time. Even if I am all the way in Ohio.

Only now, she charges a consultation fee.

Missing Ashley - Days 2 & 3

Oops.

I was suffering through the misery of missing Ashley so much that I forgot to post about it last night.

Instead, I helped one of my best friends, Brad, celebrate his 27th birthday. It was nice to see Brad and two other friends, John and Tim. I need to find some male camaraderie in Ohio.

Today, I ate lunch with Mr. Black, once a former sidekick in kindergarten (yes, Mr. Brown and Mr. Black, believe it), and Mr. Budusky. And that male camaraderie thing keeps popping up.

Tonight, I hung out with an ol' Tar Heel, Jeff, who I actually hung out with once in Ohio. Plus, he's a male. I guess that qualifies as male camaraderie.

Everyone asked how Ashley and I were doing in our first year of marriage. I had great things to say about my lovely, caring wife.

I miss you.

How was your day (off)?

Missing Ashley - Day 1

What a day. What an interesting day.

It began at 4 am. It involved saying goodbye to Mrs. Marietta-Brown. It involved a West Virginia state trooper. It involved my ex-kindergarteners, all growed up and ready for 2nd grade. And it involved some bbq.

The kids had to be the high point.

Everything else involved some type of frustration or sadness.

It made me miss Ashley even more because I didn't have anyone around to cheer me up.

And I haven't even made it one day without her.

Hopefully tomorrow will be better.

How was your day?