So...

I have been up to a lot recently.

First, Drake did only have one testicle removed and is going under the knife again. Thanks Alliance for Animals...or should I say TORTURE for Animals? How hard is it to count to 2? On top of that, he also has some skin issue right now, that we have to go back to the vet for...there's another $100 most likely.

Second, I had fun in Indy while there last weekend. Got to meet Lee and Laura's baby Layla. She's a cutie and has some really beautiful eyes. We had lunch with Shane and McNear before heading up to Anderson/Pendleton area. We did the rehearsal thing and then watched Michael Phelps win his 7th gold medal (thanks to DVR). Then Saturday came and I was the photographer at my sister-in-law's wedding. I had a lot of fun, and would think it would be a great job...lining people up, telling them how to stand and when to get the hell out of the way.

Third, the fantasy football draft is this weekend...looking forward to picking a good team, hopefully.

Last, Justin and Fallon (with Giles) are coming to visit at the end of this month. We hope to have a lot of fun while they are in town.

Poor Drake...

So Drake has had some complications from his surgery. It is possible that they only removed 1 testicle from him. We have to go back to the Vet next week to find out for sure. Right now, we are only hoping that he gets better and that the Doc is wrong. I don't want to take him back to the shady place (Alliance for Animals, a clinic) to finish a job they should have done right in the first place. What's worst (for them) is that now Letha's pissed. One person you don't want on your bad side is a smart woman who (along with me) treats her dogs like her kids. She was a premed major and for fun pokes around at legal stuff.

Still hoping for the best...not just for us, but mainly for the little guy.

Wonder Woman...

lives with me...her name is Letha Maier. My wife is an amazing woman, this is just fact. I just wanted to let everyone know! :-D

The Dark Knight...

If you like these kinds of movie...believe the hype. If you don't and you are only slightly interested, do yourself a favor...go see it. Heath is not noticable as the Joker and he is exactly how I wanted the character to be...just insane from the beginning to the end.

I hope you enjoy.

Hey Mike...

I found your hat!!!

Funny political stuff...

Check out my brother's blog:

Mike's Blog

Watch the video under the title Yo Joe!

It was published on Tuesday, July 15, 2008.

If you like that you might read his other blog entry:

Perfectly Brillant!

It was published on Saturday, June 28, 2008.

He's a funny guy...

Joss Whedon is my master now...

So if you like Joss Whedon, musicals, Neil Patrick Harris, or Nathan Fillion then make sure to catch:

DR. HORRIBLE'S SING-A-LONG BLOG

Neil plays an evil genius (Dr. Horrible) trying to become a part of the Super Villian Super Team. He must prove himself, but Captain Hammer (Fillion) steps in and makes a mess of things. Also there is a love triangle over course...funny stuff.

It's only free on the website for a limited time, but then you can download it on I-Tunes. Act I is available now, Act II tomorrow, and Act III on Saturday.

Enjoy!

Top 5 Marvel Films...

So it is no secret that I really enjoy the book HIGH FIDELITY, that's why I use the top 5 format for some stuff...like this.

This is a count down and will start at #5 and you will have to scroll don to #1 (I hate list that show you #1 first...there is no build up or suspense). There were 19 movies considered for this list (not including the straight to video version of THE PUNISHER).

The list is taken from the following:

SPIDER-MAN 1, 2 & 3

X-MEN 1, 2 & 3

FANTASTIC FOUR 1 & 2

Both versions of THE HULK

GHOST RIDER

DAREDEVIL and the follow up ELEKTRA

THE PUNISHER

BLADE 1, 2 & 3

HOWARD THE DUCK

IRON MAN

#5 - SPIDER-MAN

The first story of Peter Parker to hit the screen was a lot of fun. Relied to heavily on CGI at some points, but it was so much fun swinging around NYC with the webhead.

#4 - X-MEN

A movie I had waited to see since for almost 10 years (when James Cameron was rumored to be the director) was everything I was hoping it would be. Bryan Singer was the perfect choice for this movie and treated with respect while bringing the first REAL comic book movie (for Marvel)to the screen. I remember watching it with Mark Buckwalter (another huge X fan) and just looking at each other and being amazed at what we were watching.

#3 - SPIDER-MAN 2

The first movie for Spidey was a lot of fun, but this movie brought in the drama too. It was a lot of fun to watch the great exposition. Doc Ock was a lot of fun to follow as well. It felt like the first movie but was just flat out better.

#2 - IRON MAN

From beginning to end it wasn't boring. There are so many little things in the movie for the fans (still haven't seen Captain America's shield yet) that are done with grace as to not pull non-fanboys out of the movie. Great casting, great acting and great directing made this one of the best comic book movies of all time.

#1 - X2: X-Men United

This is the BEST movie that Marvel has put out to date. The opening scene with Nightcrawler is amazing! It does drag on at some points but has lots of storytelling and is just a lot of fun. My favorite comic book franchise didn't dissapoint until the crap third installment.

The honorable mentions:

THE INCREDIBLE HULK
BLADE
FANTASTIC FOUR

James Bond or not to James Bond...

This is the newest trailer for the latest James Bond film: QUANTUM OF SOLACE.



For a funny laugh...watch this...

More pics...

I love you guys...
Mommy's girl...
I CAN fly, I can FLYYYYY...
I like to contemplate my existence...
When do I get my food...

Pics for Mikey...

You scream, I scream...we all scream for ice cream...

I was being a good boy Dad...

It was her fault, she started it...

So...can I tell you MY version...

Well then you came home...

#17...

Many of my friends are quite surprised that I hadn't written a blog about the Celtics win yet.

I didn't know how to go about it...

Letha and I went to the last regular season game against the Nets and I turned to her and said, "I've got a good feeling about this team. I think we're going to win it all." It had been a long time since anyone saw the kind of team. They didn't just win, they crushed teams (much like the Patriots did last year). It is suppose to be bad form when a team doesn't let off the gas...why? Why should Doc put in his reserves and LET a team come back within striking distance? You don't let up...you never know what could happen.

That's what's wrong with society now. "Hey, sorry you didn't win a single game all season in your little league...here's a trophy, because you tried so hard." Bull crap!!!

You don't win, you don't reap the benefits. Winning makes people happy, but losing builds character. It's only when you lose things, that you really find out who you are. Look at Reggie Miller, sure he wanted to win while playing...he even had a chance to come and play for the Celtics and get a ring, but he didn't (even though I wish he had, because I liked Reggie a lot an thought it was not his fault he didn't have one). But his character was built around the fact that he was an INDIANA PACER. That mattered more to him than winning a championship...and I respect him for that.

I respect what P.J. Brown did for our team (even if he signed at the last possible second), but Sam Cassell hardly played and got a ring for it.

So here The Celtics are winning #17...the most of any NBA franchise. I also want to pat myself on the back as I also won the brackets that my friends and I filled out on NBA.com...Celtics over Lakers in 6 games. The Celtics looked completely different this year than last...and even though our starting 5 won't change next year, I know our bench will. I am very interested to see what happens.

WARNING: Too cute...

I wish I would have met Drake when he was this small. I picked Letha up from the airport (she flew home with Kaylee) last September and even when I saw Kaylee from a far distance I was so excited to have a puppy of our own. She was so much fun and we were so happy to have her.

These two are adorable and I can't imagine life without the other. They turned 1 year old on June 23rd. We celebrated by taking them to a specialty store for dogs called the Polka Dog Bakery. Here you can buy everything you need for a dog (toys, beds, food, treats). They even have birthday cakes for them. We decided to buy them each a special cookie (King/Queen for a day) and a bag of treats. It's a nice place, and realize the neighborhood it's in is a nice place for it. It's a little pricey...

So...happy birthday to my dogs...I hope to celebrate many more with them.

Take my love, take my land...

Take me where I cannot stand.

I don't care I'm still free.

You can't take the sky from me.

Take me out to the black,

Tell them I ain't comin' back.

Burn the land and boil the sea,

You can't take the sky from me.

There's no place I can be since I found Serenity,

But you can't take the sky from me...

Now I have tried to tell as many people as I know about a little show called FIREFLY. I stand by the fact, that if this would have gone on for 7 seasons (like BUFFY) or even 5 (like ANGEL) it would be my favorite show of all time.

I didn't jump on this TV show until waaaaayyyy after it had been cancelled and about a year before the movie SERENITY came out.

This is one of my all time favorite movies...it's a good movie if you don't know the back story, but it's an amazing movie if you watched the TV show.

It is no secret that I love Joss Whedon's writing. I wish he would do stuff a little more often (DOLLHOUSE, which starts this upcoming January), but this movie did in two hours what I think he would have done over 7 or so seasons on TV.

So the reason for this post is to talk about the showing of SERENITY that I went to this past Saturday night at the Coolidge Corner. I paid to see it on the big screen again (I think this is the 4th times seeing it in the theatre and the 2nd time I paid for it) on Joss' birthday to help out a charity called Equality Now.

Letha and I got there early, and saw lots of people dressed up in costumes for the occasion. There was a guitar and violin player playing music from the 'verse, giveaways and trivia. Once inside there was a raffle for a bunch of Joss and SERENITY stuff (BUFFY comics signed by Joss, Alliance money props from the movie and a costume used during filming), then it was time to watch the movie.

After being released almost three years ago and countless viewings of the film, I found myself getting excited, scared and emotional, it was almost as if I was seeing it again for the first time. The print was in really good condition.

I had a really good time watching it on the big screen...and I am going to try to go every year it happens, not just for a good cause, but also the way the movie speaks to me. My hope is that maybe other fans will join me next year as I sit and enjoy one of my favorite movies. I hope if you read this and haven't seen it, that you make it a point to watch FIREFLY and then enjoy SERENITY.

"From here to the eyes and the ears of the 'Verse, that's my motto, or it might be if I start having a motto."

One away from...

#17!!!

I am going to admit I turned off the t.v. not once, but twice last night. I turned it off right after Doc's technical foul (which was deserved, but he had every reason to be heated after his team was molested then clearly tripped in 2 possessions) for about 5 minutes.

Once I turned it back on, I tried to watch as I felt we got hosed by the officials in the first 6 minutes of the first quarter. I thought it was too much for us to overcome and I was right, until mid way thru the third. At the beginning of the third quarter we just weren't playing defense...so I turned it off a second time and headed to bed with Letha. I was so heated I was restless...I had to turn the game back on and see how bad it was.

That's when The Celtics were only down by five near the end of the 3rd. Mind you they were down by 20, let me repeat that...20 points when I turned it off and went to bed. The officials somewhat redeemed themselves in the second half and seemed to call it pretty fairly. So I missed the bulk of one of the greatest comebacks in history because I was so emotionally invested...and it was 11 p.m. and I was tired. Letha and I watched the rest of the game and I fell asleep so easily after the game. Thanks Doc, Paul, Rayray and KG for giving me a good night's rest...and if it's not asking for too much, can you put me to bed in a happy mood on Father's Day?

It's Sweeney...it's Sweeney Todd...

the demon barber of Fleet Street. To read more go here.

So I tried to get into this musical a few years ago when the Revival Cast did it in 2005, but something wasn't working for me. The actual music is something that took me a while to warm up to, and I didn't...not until after I watched the movie with Johnny Depp.

The movie was entertaining...but I'm so use to the way that Tim Burton's STYLE is, that I didn't really care about it. Johnny Depp was great as the barber and the rest of the cast was good except Helena Bonham Carter. I understand that this is Burton's long time girlfriend but that doesn't excuse bad casting. You couldn't understand her singing...and imagine in a musical needing to understand the song to know what's going on (insert sarcasm here, oh wait...I already did).

So I found that after watching the movie, which helped clear up some stuff for me, that I really enjoy this musical. Patti LuPone is terrific as Mrs. Lovett, as I would imagine that Angela Lansbury did an amazing job when originally on Broadway as well. So I now find myself wanting to listen to it more and more often.

Until I find my next musical to obsess about...

You won't like this...

unless you play Halo. But it is funny for the people who do...

2 down...2 to go...

if the Boston Celtics are going to hang banner 17 up this year.

Last night's game made me happy (when we up by 22 points in the 4th quarter) and very sad (when up by only 2 with a minute and some change left).

Four of our starting 5 played with such intensity for 40 of the 48 minutes of that game. Perkins who can't be included (because of his foul troubles...which were inexcusable, the fact that he committed them not that he was called for them) in the horrible last half of the 4th.

I saw Pierce with a smile on his face a couple of times after The Lakers scored soaring on a 31-9 run. Smiling...really, did you wait 10 years to make it to The Finals and smile while Kobe and team dismantles your ridiculous defense. Oh wait, that would mean they were playing defense...which they weren't until the last 40 seconds. They were lucky they didn't get embarrassed on their home court like that. I would have said The Lakers would win the series in 6 or 7 IF that would have happened.

I just don't think that The Lakers can play with us under the basket at all...they can shoot jumpers, but The Celtics defense is just TOO GOOD.

My prediction for this series is Celtics in 6, if they can keep up the intensity until they can celebrate.

Let go Celts...BEAT L.A. BEAT L.A.

Everybody was KUNG FU FIGHTING...

okay not everybody...just a Panda, a Tiger, a Mantis, a Crane, a Leopard, a Turtle, a Red Panda, a Viper and a Monkey.

This is a movie that warrants a blog. I just thought that it was going to be one of the "WALK THE LINE" family films like SHREK, but it's not...and it's so much better for it.

I never thought of the SHREK movies (I've only seen the first 2) as being a big deal. Yet, the more I thought of the fact that it was a cartoon for adults, the more it bugged me. The cartoon aspect of the films appeals to a younger audience but the subject matter and the jokes were very much for the older audience. Now...there is much to be said for a movie that can entertain both children and adults, but if it's written well enough it should do that anyway.

THAT'S what KUNG FU PANDA is...well written and a whole lot of fun to watch. I don't care what age you are, I think everyone would enjoy this movie. It reminds me a lot of what Disney movies were like a long time ago. For instance, THE GREAT MOUSE DETECTIVE is one of my favorite Disney movies of all time (I still need to purchase a copy of it for myself) and it still holds up to this day. I remember liking it a lot when I first saw it in Germany...and now I enjoy the movie for it's fun writing and simplicity.

Jack Black as Po (the Panda) is a great casting job. I have enjoyed most of Black's work to date and PANDA is no different.

I heavily recommend this movie:

4 stars out of five

Perhaps it is because Letha and I are planning to start a family soon, but I keep thinking of how bad SEX, DRUGS, and ROCK N' ROLL (or HIP HOP) sell EVERYTHING in this country. I think of little girls watching skank material like Lindsay Lohan or Britney and getting ideas. Not that people should be sheltered from such things...but I am more concerned for the parents who WON'T take the time to see what their kids are doing. I am going to do my best to not become one of those parents.

More pics for Mikey...