Naturally, let me take a quick moment to wish everyone out there a Merry Christmas.
Santa Claus was very good to yours truly and the rest of my brood.....Its times like this that make me realize just how good the Lord has been to me.
As I'd been mentioning, I had a chance to watch a few movies the last few days and I thought I'd pass along some recommendations.
1) Superbad: Wow. This might be one of the filthiest movies I've ever seen and its so vulgar that I had to play a rare card with my teenage daughter. I told her it was too dirty for her. That's a very, very rare card that I don't like to play unless I have too. If you have a teenager, certainly don't watch it with them!! Your face will be beet red with embarassment.
Oh yeah, its flatout hilarious, maybe the funniest movie of the year---and you'll laugh your ass off. Just make sure your kids don't see you doing it. *****
2) A Christmas Story: A holiday classic that I make sure I see every year around Christmas time. The now timeless story of 9 year old Ralphie, set during the mid 40's somewhere in the midwest (Indiana?) and his near obsessive quest for a Red Ryder BB gun ("You'll shoot your eye out kid!"). Its both sarcastic and heart warming, and the great Darren McGavin is joined by Melinda Dillon as the parents that seemingly everyone remember THEIR parents being exactly like. Except for the leg lamp of course. ("Its a major award!") *****
3) The Simpson's Movie: Okay, first off, I laughed. Of course I did. There were some funny topical jokes (some very good political jokes naturally).....but overall it felt like a Simpson's episode that went on just a little bit too long. Sort of disappointing. **1/2
4) Eastern Promises: This movie about the Russian mob in London just came out on DVD. Allow me to offer some advice. Go get this movie right now. It seems as though every ethnicity has their very own "Godfather"---the original for the Italians of course, maybe Miller's Crossing for the Irish....and this is the Russian version. Viggo Mortensen continues to show that his terrific turns in the Lord of the Rings saga and History of Violence wasn't a fluke, and that he might well be the best actor of his generation.
Seriously. This story about a Russian prostitute's diary and the effect it has on the local mob boss (Armin Mueller Stahl--terrific) and his son is perhaps the best movie of the year and features one of the great fight scenes in cinematic history, as a naked (and I mean as in Full Monty naked) Mortensen fights for his life in a bath house against two thugs armed with knifes. Its brutal and violent and realistic and sets a new standard in movie's for hand to hand combat. ****** A terrific--DO NOT MISS--classic.
Later,
Jeff
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Saturday, December 22, 2007
12/22/07--Big week for A.P.B.!!!
Yep, a big week for Andy....Kim & I were very proud the other day when he got his letter of acceptance from Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, NJ. You could even tell that Andy--normally very reserved when it comes to showing emotion of any kind--was very excited about the news. We were especially excited that the letter also included the news that Andy had also been approved for over $22,000 in scholarship money! That's good for a little more than half--which should let you know just how much it costs to send your kid to college these days. AAAAAAAAHHHH!!
Then today, Andy tested for his lst degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do. I'm happy and proud to announce that.....he passed!! Yep, his sister has to bow to him again in class, which I'm sure annoys her to no end. Andy told us the testing was very difficult, including an endurance run of approximately 5 miles, 50 push-ups (never Andy's strong point), sparring, and finally the opportunity to show his knowledge of the form and a chance to show a self defense technique that each student creates himself. It was very hard work and Andy passed with flying colors. Pretty good week for Andy!!!
I went to Blockbuster and rented a whole slew of movies...so I'm going to hope that I have some movie reviews coming up in the next few days....I haven't done any in like forever....much to my dismay, and I know you just live for that stuff.
Later,
Jeff
Then today, Andy tested for his lst degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do. I'm happy and proud to announce that.....he passed!! Yep, his sister has to bow to him again in class, which I'm sure annoys her to no end. Andy told us the testing was very difficult, including an endurance run of approximately 5 miles, 50 push-ups (never Andy's strong point), sparring, and finally the opportunity to show his knowledge of the form and a chance to show a self defense technique that each student creates himself. It was very hard work and Andy passed with flying colors. Pretty good week for Andy!!!
I went to Blockbuster and rented a whole slew of movies...so I'm going to hope that I have some movie reviews coming up in the next few days....I haven't done any in like forever....much to my dismay, and I know you just live for that stuff.
Later,
Jeff
12/22/07--Big week for A.P.B.!!!
Yep, a big week for Andy....Kim & I were very proud the other day when he got his letter of acceptance from Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, NJ. You could even tell that Andy--normally very reserved when it comes to showing emotion of any kind--was very excited about the news. We were especially excited that the letter also included the news that Andy had also been approved for over $22,000 in scholarship money! That's good for a little more than half--which should let you know just how much it costs to send your kid to college these days. AAAAAAAAHHHH!!
Then today, Andy tested for his lst degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do. I'm happy and proud to announce that.....he passed!! Yep, his sister has to bow to him again in class, which I'm sure annoys her to no end. Andy told us the testing was very difficult, including an endurance run of approximately 5 miles, 50 push-ups (never Andy's strong point), sparring, and finally the opportunity to show his knowledge of the form and a chance to show a self defense technique that each student creates himself. It was very hard work and Andy passed with flying colors. Pretty good week for Andy!!!
I went to Blockbuster and rented a whole slew of movies...so I'm going to hope that I have some movie reviews coming up in the next few days....I haven't done any in like forever....much to my dismay, and I know you just live for that stuff.
Later,
Jeff
Then today, Andy tested for his lst degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do. I'm happy and proud to announce that.....he passed!! Yep, his sister has to bow to him again in class, which I'm sure annoys her to no end. Andy told us the testing was very difficult, including an endurance run of approximately 5 miles, 50 push-ups (never Andy's strong point), sparring, and finally the opportunity to show his knowledge of the form and a chance to show a self defense technique that each student creates himself. It was very hard work and Andy passed with flying colors. Pretty good week for Andy!!!
I went to Blockbuster and rented a whole slew of movies...so I'm going to hope that I have some movie reviews coming up in the next few days....I haven't done any in like forever....much to my dismay, and I know you just live for that stuff.
Later,
Jeff
Monday, December 10, 2007
12/10/07--Good Lord Almighty!!! Its MEEEEEE!
I'm not even going to get into where I've been....suffice to say...my life is not without its drama. However, we just got back from our big trip to NYC, where we took Andy up for his big interview with the college of his choice. Here's a quick rundown on the trip:
We flew out Friday afternoon--HA!---make that...we were SUPPOSED to fly out on Friday afternoon. Delays in our flight made it turn out to be Friday EVENING.
JetBLue, you understand. Our flight was scheduled to leave at 5:15pm. So we get to the airport and the wife informs me that our flight has been delayed by "about 30 minutes". So I'm walking around, make a phone call here and there, and then she comes up to me and informs me that "its been delayed another hour". Apparently something to do with the weather conditions in the New York area.
Except...we're checking the big board and can't help but notice that the only flights that are NOT leaving are...you guessed it, the JetBlue flights. Yep, your Continental and Delta flights to NYC appear to be leaving right on schedule. Funny how that works, huh? Well, at long last the plane arrives, the crew arrives...we get on the plane and are ready to go.
NOT!
We're on the plane, getting situated and the captain comes on the p.a. system and announces....I shit you not...that during the process of pushing the plane away from the gate, the front wheel had been broken---and we have to switch planes. Unbelieveable.
So we go back into the terminal and we're trying to get some answers about whether or not we're going to be eligible for our (get a load of this)...$25 coupon towards our next flight on JetBlue...and this guy pipes up that the first delay wasn't "the airlines fault".
He tells us that it was do to "weather problems". I quickly pointed out that it seemed as though the other airlines weren't having any difficulties getting away. He told me that obviously what had happened was that the planes had left the gate and then returned.
Seriously--that's what he said. So we finally are getting onto our flight...and I ask the gate attendant who the guy that had said that was---ya know, was he a "representative of the airlines"? And he says....no lie....
"Nope...he just flies with us a couple of times a week and knows everybody."
I was actually waiting for him to say that he had spent the night before at a Holiday Inn Express.
Our 5:15pm flight left promptly....at 8:05pm....right on time (for JetBlue).
We got into chilly, dark and forboding Newark, NJ....at a crisp 33 degrees and colder than a witches heart....and got to our hotel around midnight. I love to travel...really.
The next morning we got up for Andy's big interview with the good folks at Stevens Institute of Technology (Stevens Institute of Technology: Hoboken, New Jersey, USA)
Andy had prepped for the interview for the better part of 3 months, with everyone offering all sorts of tips and advice on how to conduct himself. So we get there, and there's another kid waiting to be interviewed. And his name was Andy. And his last name? Boden. I'm talking one stinking constant away from being the same person.
So Andy finally gets in for the interview....and it lasts maybe 20 minutes. And then we're invited in....for about 5 minutes. Mostly happy talk. All that work...all that prep....and its pretty much a "hey, what's happening?" kind of interview. After the interview we made our way via train into Manhattan and headed towards the Union Square GreenMarket that they have every day.....just awesome....all the farmers from upstate NY come and sell their veggies, fruits, nuts, honey, pies, cookies (oh yeah---they have cookies!) Its really fantastic. We then decided to head up to Times Square and then over to Rockfeller Center to check out the Christmas tree in front of NBC. It was the holiday season....a Saturday afternoon....and it was complete insanity. Right around 1 million people in a 6 block radius. I felt like a sardine. What a disappointment.
We headed back over to the Jersey side for dinner in downtown Hoboken...which will hopefully be home to Andy in about a year...and found a very nice restaurant with good food and complete idiots at the next table. Nothing like having your wife and kids with you and hearing lots of talk about "f'n this...and f'n that". Mind you....Lord knows I should watch my mouth in that regards....but it ruined a perfectly good evening.
The next morning we got up and ventured out to lovely Jersey City, NJ---and took the Jersey entrance to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Lady Liberty was fairly disappointing...long lines and 9/11 have made it much ado aboutnot much....but, Ellis Island was incredibly interesting....and a place that everyone in this country should make a point of visiting at least once in there life--if for no other reason than to understand and appreciate the sacrifices that the immigrants into this country at the turn of last century made to get to this country. Very powerful stuff.
We returned last night...in time to watch the late game on NBC. Which is like the best of both worlds. Ya know?
Later,
Jeff
We flew out Friday afternoon--HA!---make that...we were SUPPOSED to fly out on Friday afternoon. Delays in our flight made it turn out to be Friday EVENING.
JetBLue, you understand. Our flight was scheduled to leave at 5:15pm. So we get to the airport and the wife informs me that our flight has been delayed by "about 30 minutes". So I'm walking around, make a phone call here and there, and then she comes up to me and informs me that "its been delayed another hour". Apparently something to do with the weather conditions in the New York area.
Except...we're checking the big board and can't help but notice that the only flights that are NOT leaving are...you guessed it, the JetBlue flights. Yep, your Continental and Delta flights to NYC appear to be leaving right on schedule. Funny how that works, huh? Well, at long last the plane arrives, the crew arrives...we get on the plane and are ready to go.
NOT!
We're on the plane, getting situated and the captain comes on the p.a. system and announces....I shit you not...that during the process of pushing the plane away from the gate, the front wheel had been broken---and we have to switch planes. Unbelieveable.
So we go back into the terminal and we're trying to get some answers about whether or not we're going to be eligible for our (get a load of this)...$25 coupon towards our next flight on JetBlue...and this guy pipes up that the first delay wasn't "the airlines fault".
He tells us that it was do to "weather problems". I quickly pointed out that it seemed as though the other airlines weren't having any difficulties getting away. He told me that obviously what had happened was that the planes had left the gate and then returned.
Seriously--that's what he said. So we finally are getting onto our flight...and I ask the gate attendant who the guy that had said that was---ya know, was he a "representative of the airlines"? And he says....no lie....
"Nope...he just flies with us a couple of times a week and knows everybody."
I was actually waiting for him to say that he had spent the night before at a Holiday Inn Express.
Our 5:15pm flight left promptly....at 8:05pm....right on time (for JetBlue).
We got into chilly, dark and forboding Newark, NJ....at a crisp 33 degrees and colder than a witches heart....and got to our hotel around midnight. I love to travel...really.
The next morning we got up for Andy's big interview with the good folks at Stevens Institute of Technology (Stevens Institute of Technology: Hoboken, New Jersey, USA)
Andy had prepped for the interview for the better part of 3 months, with everyone offering all sorts of tips and advice on how to conduct himself. So we get there, and there's another kid waiting to be interviewed. And his name was Andy. And his last name? Boden. I'm talking one stinking constant away from being the same person.
So Andy finally gets in for the interview....and it lasts maybe 20 minutes. And then we're invited in....for about 5 minutes. Mostly happy talk. All that work...all that prep....and its pretty much a "hey, what's happening?" kind of interview. After the interview we made our way via train into Manhattan and headed towards the Union Square GreenMarket that they have every day.....just awesome....all the farmers from upstate NY come and sell their veggies, fruits, nuts, honey, pies, cookies (oh yeah---they have cookies!) Its really fantastic. We then decided to head up to Times Square and then over to Rockfeller Center to check out the Christmas tree in front of NBC. It was the holiday season....a Saturday afternoon....and it was complete insanity. Right around 1 million people in a 6 block radius. I felt like a sardine. What a disappointment.
We headed back over to the Jersey side for dinner in downtown Hoboken...which will hopefully be home to Andy in about a year...and found a very nice restaurant with good food and complete idiots at the next table. Nothing like having your wife and kids with you and hearing lots of talk about "f'n this...and f'n that". Mind you....Lord knows I should watch my mouth in that regards....but it ruined a perfectly good evening.
The next morning we got up and ventured out to lovely Jersey City, NJ---and took the Jersey entrance to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Lady Liberty was fairly disappointing...long lines and 9/11 have made it much ado aboutnot much....but, Ellis Island was incredibly interesting....and a place that everyone in this country should make a point of visiting at least once in there life--if for no other reason than to understand and appreciate the sacrifices that the immigrants into this country at the turn of last century made to get to this country. Very powerful stuff.
We returned last night...in time to watch the late game on NBC. Which is like the best of both worlds. Ya know?
Later,
Jeff
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