made a minor edit to the last post, since the dates i wrote were a bit off. always more editing to do. and that's what i get for putting in a bunch of links instead of just writing.
just finished watching The Gift. yes, i know it's an old movie, but it's new to me. really liked it. Cate Blanchet (sp?) was fantastic. it might be the best thing i've ever seen her in, and that's saying something since she was Galadriel in Peter Jackson's LOTR films. she's really pretty damned talented. but Giovanni Rabisi (sp?) gave her a run for her money in every scene he shared with her- that guy's amazing. if you don't know who he is, i bet you do: he played the doctor who got shot in the stomach in Saving Private Ryan...i'll always think of the guy that way, since that's the first thing i ever saw him in.
ok enough with the errata notice and miscellaneous film comments. it's late.
2006-07-20
2006-07-19
wow- 6 weeks with no posts. thanks to Melissa for reminding me ;)
crazy. what's been happening? wish i could say more than, "not much," but i can't, so here's all the 'not much'.
last post was June 6, and i believe i watched Elektra. haven't done much since then except watch movies and work. do chores.
Loren's summer started June 21st. this is the part of the year when it's supposed to be 'a week here', 'a week there', etc. so far this summer Loren's spent an entire week here, and the rest with his mom. right now he's in Ketchikan, AK with his mom, visiting relatives. they're staying with Loren's aunt, and he's hangin' out with some friends he's known for a long time and a bunch of cousins and, of course, his bro.
i've been just workin' my butt off trying to build up some hours to use toward a week off after Loren returns. i've planned a little trip for us, nothing extravagant. Aug 5-9, pretty much, but after the 7th or 8th we're going to be playing it by ear. would be nice to just have a paid vacation so i didn't jump in all exhaustified, but i think i'm ahead of the 8 ball enough to manage to have a decent time while we're out and about. the itinerary so far:
Aug 5: get an early start driving to Maupin, Oregon. get set up in our room at the All Star Lodge (my 2nd choice...took me a little too long to make the plans i wanted and missed out on a nicer place). then i'm thinking we'll take the (very) short drive over to White River Falls State Park and do the short hike down to the old power plant, check out the falls, etc. fart around, kill time. have some dinner someplace in town, settle in to our room for some rest before rafting the next day.
Aug 6-7: so 9:45am we hook up with River Drifters, for a trip down the Deschutes River. opted for the all-day deal, and the generous gift cert that Loren's aunts and uncles got him (and me!) for Loren's birthday left only a balance of $35- totally reasonable, considering the trip's about 3 hours longer, and they stop along the way for swimming and a barbecue. they also take pictures (they have cameras set up along the banks, i gather) and sell them (for a not inconsiderable fee, i might add....pretty steep. prob'ly have to pick the best one and stick with one shot.) that whole thing should wrap up about 4:30pm or so, and then a short drive back to where we started from, and Loren and i will hit the road. i contemplated staying another night in the lodge, but i think we'll manage a 2.5 hr drive to Battle Ground State Park alright. i was thinking i'd really like to stop somewhere along the Columbia River for a day, but you almost have to spend two nights anywhere to get a whole day in, and packing up and moving every day is a little much, so i opted for the easier thing. we'll get in to the park around 6 or 7pm, if we don't stop along the way for anything else. still thinking we might get some swimming in on the Columbia River at Columbia Hills State Park, or maybe on the Oregon side of the river at the Deschutes River State Recreation Area, but that's an on-the-road decision i guess. we actually have until 1:30pm Aug 7 to keep our spot on Battle Ground Lake, so we might be able to squeeze it in. here's a good map of Battle Ground State Park; i chose it because it had some hiking and swimming, and it was on the way to Mt. St. Helens, which i've never seen. if you're REALLY interested, here's a good closeup of the spot where we'll be camping, site #37, right by the swimming beach. and here's an actual photo of very near the exact spot. so we'll stay overnight here, and the whole next day, do some barbecuing, swimming, hiking, etc. pack up in the morning and head to Mt. St. Helens.
Aug 8: i'm thinking we'll get up and check out something called Ape Cave, which is the longest continuous lava tube in the contiguous U.S., at about 1.5 miles long. basically, you go in one end and come out the other. there are two routes (from the same entrance), a short one that's a dead end, running the opposite direction of the main climb, and another that rises about 600' and requires climbing over a lot of boulders, etc. i'm going to take Loren through the whole thing. should be a blast (no pun intended!). here's a better overview of the place, with diagrams of the cave, etc. it's about a 2.5 - 3 hr hike underground, on the 'challenging' upper hike. you can get lanterns there, but they recommend bringing three light sources- that's a long time. i may spring for a lantern and a bring a few flashlights anyway. hope there's not an earthquake or eruption while we're down there, but it's actually a fair distance from the mountain, and they actually opened the mountain up for hiking to the rim of the crater at the top last week, so those in the know seem to think it's safe for the moment. Loren took a school field trip to the Johnston Observatory once (NW side of the mountain), so i'm thinking when we go check out the mountain we'll do it from the east side, the opposite side of the mountain, somewhere in the neighborhood of the Windy Ridge Viewpoint. should be plenty of hiking in the area to last us through a day. after that, it's either back home, or possibly a stop over by Mt. Rainier, or maybe even by Lake Kachess (off I-90), the only spot Loren and i've camped before. would be interesting to see if we could nab the same spot on Box Canyon Creek we did before- Loren's always good for a little nostalgia.
so that's what i've been doing in my off time, watching movies (OMG i have a lot to fill in in my watchlist...last entry was June 5th i think) and planning a little road trip.
hmmm.....what else. Chowder's been actin' funny lately, not wanting to go outside in the morning when i go to work. i think it's because the back yard's fenced off at the deck line (gotta get both the motivation and time to finish diggin' my trench!) and he's not having fun. not touching his food (or water!) until i get home. i think he's depressed. it's a dog's life. i'll make it up to him.
ok that's enough for one post. got a bunch of stuff to do this evening and i haven't even taken a shower after work yet. and i'm especially grubby today, having spent all the free time in between swapping out parts (i'm actually running something fairly complex for a change!) on my knees scraping the 1/8" - 1/4" thick grunge off the shop floor on my hands and knees with a 1" wide putty knife (best tool available). the floor is actually flat again, though, in the places i've finished. sound like i deserve a raise? i think so. call up my boss and put a good word in for me! but i'm outta here.
last post was June 6, and i believe i watched Elektra. haven't done much since then except watch movies and work. do chores.
Loren's summer started June 21st. this is the part of the year when it's supposed to be 'a week here', 'a week there', etc. so far this summer Loren's spent an entire week here, and the rest with his mom. right now he's in Ketchikan, AK with his mom, visiting relatives. they're staying with Loren's aunt, and he's hangin' out with some friends he's known for a long time and a bunch of cousins and, of course, his bro.
i've been just workin' my butt off trying to build up some hours to use toward a week off after Loren returns. i've planned a little trip for us, nothing extravagant. Aug 5-9, pretty much, but after the 7th or 8th we're going to be playing it by ear. would be nice to just have a paid vacation so i didn't jump in all exhaustified, but i think i'm ahead of the 8 ball enough to manage to have a decent time while we're out and about. the itinerary so far:
Aug 5: get an early start driving to Maupin, Oregon. get set up in our room at the All Star Lodge (my 2nd choice...took me a little too long to make the plans i wanted and missed out on a nicer place). then i'm thinking we'll take the (very) short drive over to White River Falls State Park and do the short hike down to the old power plant, check out the falls, etc. fart around, kill time. have some dinner someplace in town, settle in to our room for some rest before rafting the next day.
Aug 6-7: so 9:45am we hook up with River Drifters, for a trip down the Deschutes River. opted for the all-day deal, and the generous gift cert that Loren's aunts and uncles got him (and me!) for Loren's birthday left only a balance of $35- totally reasonable, considering the trip's about 3 hours longer, and they stop along the way for swimming and a barbecue. they also take pictures (they have cameras set up along the banks, i gather) and sell them (for a not inconsiderable fee, i might add....pretty steep. prob'ly have to pick the best one and stick with one shot.) that whole thing should wrap up about 4:30pm or so, and then a short drive back to where we started from, and Loren and i will hit the road. i contemplated staying another night in the lodge, but i think we'll manage a 2.5 hr drive to Battle Ground State Park alright. i was thinking i'd really like to stop somewhere along the Columbia River for a day, but you almost have to spend two nights anywhere to get a whole day in, and packing up and moving every day is a little much, so i opted for the easier thing. we'll get in to the park around 6 or 7pm, if we don't stop along the way for anything else. still thinking we might get some swimming in on the Columbia River at Columbia Hills State Park, or maybe on the Oregon side of the river at the Deschutes River State Recreation Area, but that's an on-the-road decision i guess. we actually have until 1:30pm Aug 7 to keep our spot on Battle Ground Lake, so we might be able to squeeze it in. here's a good map of Battle Ground State Park; i chose it because it had some hiking and swimming, and it was on the way to Mt. St. Helens, which i've never seen. if you're REALLY interested, here's a good closeup of the spot where we'll be camping, site #37, right by the swimming beach. and here's an actual photo of very near the exact spot. so we'll stay overnight here, and the whole next day, do some barbecuing, swimming, hiking, etc. pack up in the morning and head to Mt. St. Helens.
Aug 8: i'm thinking we'll get up and check out something called Ape Cave, which is the longest continuous lava tube in the contiguous U.S., at about 1.5 miles long. basically, you go in one end and come out the other. there are two routes (from the same entrance), a short one that's a dead end, running the opposite direction of the main climb, and another that rises about 600' and requires climbing over a lot of boulders, etc. i'm going to take Loren through the whole thing. should be a blast (no pun intended!). here's a better overview of the place, with diagrams of the cave, etc. it's about a 2.5 - 3 hr hike underground, on the 'challenging' upper hike. you can get lanterns there, but they recommend bringing three light sources- that's a long time. i may spring for a lantern and a bring a few flashlights anyway. hope there's not an earthquake or eruption while we're down there, but it's actually a fair distance from the mountain, and they actually opened the mountain up for hiking to the rim of the crater at the top last week, so those in the know seem to think it's safe for the moment. Loren took a school field trip to the Johnston Observatory once (NW side of the mountain), so i'm thinking when we go check out the mountain we'll do it from the east side, the opposite side of the mountain, somewhere in the neighborhood of the Windy Ridge Viewpoint. should be plenty of hiking in the area to last us through a day. after that, it's either back home, or possibly a stop over by Mt. Rainier, or maybe even by Lake Kachess (off I-90), the only spot Loren and i've camped before. would be interesting to see if we could nab the same spot on Box Canyon Creek we did before- Loren's always good for a little nostalgia.
so that's what i've been doing in my off time, watching movies (OMG i have a lot to fill in in my watchlist...last entry was June 5th i think) and planning a little road trip.
hmmm.....what else. Chowder's been actin' funny lately, not wanting to go outside in the morning when i go to work. i think it's because the back yard's fenced off at the deck line (gotta get both the motivation and time to finish diggin' my trench!) and he's not having fun. not touching his food (or water!) until i get home. i think he's depressed. it's a dog's life. i'll make it up to him.
ok that's enough for one post. got a bunch of stuff to do this evening and i haven't even taken a shower after work yet. and i'm especially grubby today, having spent all the free time in between swapping out parts (i'm actually running something fairly complex for a change!) on my knees scraping the 1/8" - 1/4" thick grunge off the shop floor on my hands and knees with a 1" wide putty knife (best tool available). the floor is actually flat again, though, in the places i've finished. sound like i deserve a raise? i think so. call up my boss and put a good word in for me! but i'm outta here.
2006-06-06
scene 5 from the movie Elektra
is one of the best pieces of filmmaking i can remember seeing. the shot selection, post-production, lighting, photography, editing, music, dialogue, acting...two minutes of absolutely perfect filmmaking, and very moving. this is why we watch films: to be inspired by both the story and its expression through the work of the artists. to discover or be reminded of some aspect of the truth, of what it means- or can mean- to be human.
i, like most people, experience very little personally that is truly inspiring, and like many i'm more inspired by fictional characters and events (in films, or books) than by real ones. i enjoy movies (and books) precisely for the rare moments the art is executed so deftly that it becomes invisible, and i empathise so completely with the characters i disassociate from my self, and live in their moment. the best movies (books....stories) aren't just a trip to another world, they're a series of opportunities to experience the distillation of someone else's more inspiring existence, and even when the moment's passed, that experience becomes part of you, enriches you, expands your perspective. you carry it with you; it changes you a little. those less-than-common moments become real for me in much the same way events experienced in dreams do; they're as valuable in their way as any real life experience, because they gain you insight into who you are, what you value- and that's powerful stuff!
as i said, i don't get those moments from a film often; only through a compelling story, its elements revealed in precisely measured sequence; through great dialogue, delivered sincerely, often subtly, through a graceful performance, captured in beautiful cinematography, deftly edited; all supported, driven, and accompanied by ever-present, thematically sympathetic music, masterfully composed, performed, recorded and mixed, reinforcing and adding emotional depth to all the other elements.
film is meant to be a marriage of all the art forms: story telling, graphic representation, music, acting- and there are certainly scenes in Elektra- like the one i mentioned above- that meet that goal.
Elektra flashing back, on the deck of a ferry. remembering dying in an ambulance, then being brought back to life by her mentor, the sensei Stick. training in Stick's compound, devastating her sparring opponents...
Stick [instructively]: "Do you know the way, Elektra? Kimagure, the ability to control time....the future...even life and death?"
Elektra [strongly]: "I know I'm the best student here."
Stick [patiently]: "Not the best....the most powerful. You understand violence, pain....but you do not know The Way."
Elektra [respectfully, determinedly]: "Teach me, then."
Stick [regretfully, firmly]: "That's my point. I can't teach you. I want you to go."
Elektra [hesitantly]: "Is this a test, sensei?"
Stick [sadly, resignedly]: "No. Not a test. Just go."
Elektra [meekly]: "...I don't have anywhere to go."
[no response....brilliant end to the dialogue allows the actors to play out the scene through facial expressions and body language, while the music speaks volumes]
it doesn't get much better than that.
but evidently, i'm the only person who appreciated this movie? well, i'm no critic, just someone who loves movies and music and books, and that's just my two cents. one man's truth is evidently another man's drek. to each their own, and may we all find inspiration where we can.
i, like most people, experience very little personally that is truly inspiring, and like many i'm more inspired by fictional characters and events (in films, or books) than by real ones. i enjoy movies (and books) precisely for the rare moments the art is executed so deftly that it becomes invisible, and i empathise so completely with the characters i disassociate from my self, and live in their moment. the best movies (books....stories) aren't just a trip to another world, they're a series of opportunities to experience the distillation of someone else's more inspiring existence, and even when the moment's passed, that experience becomes part of you, enriches you, expands your perspective. you carry it with you; it changes you a little. those less-than-common moments become real for me in much the same way events experienced in dreams do; they're as valuable in their way as any real life experience, because they gain you insight into who you are, what you value- and that's powerful stuff!
as i said, i don't get those moments from a film often; only through a compelling story, its elements revealed in precisely measured sequence; through great dialogue, delivered sincerely, often subtly, through a graceful performance, captured in beautiful cinematography, deftly edited; all supported, driven, and accompanied by ever-present, thematically sympathetic music, masterfully composed, performed, recorded and mixed, reinforcing and adding emotional depth to all the other elements.
film is meant to be a marriage of all the art forms: story telling, graphic representation, music, acting- and there are certainly scenes in Elektra- like the one i mentioned above- that meet that goal.
Elektra flashing back, on the deck of a ferry. remembering dying in an ambulance, then being brought back to life by her mentor, the sensei Stick. training in Stick's compound, devastating her sparring opponents...
Stick [instructively]: "Do you know the way, Elektra? Kimagure, the ability to control time....the future...even life and death?"
Elektra [strongly]: "I know I'm the best student here."
Stick [patiently]: "Not the best....the most powerful. You understand violence, pain....but you do not know The Way."
Elektra [respectfully, determinedly]: "Teach me, then."
Stick [regretfully, firmly]: "That's my point. I can't teach you. I want you to go."
Elektra [hesitantly]: "Is this a test, sensei?"
Stick [sadly, resignedly]: "No. Not a test. Just go."
Elektra [meekly]: "...I don't have anywhere to go."
[no response....brilliant end to the dialogue allows the actors to play out the scene through facial expressions and body language, while the music speaks volumes]
it doesn't get much better than that.
but evidently, i'm the only person who appreciated this movie? well, i'm no critic, just someone who loves movies and music and books, and that's just my two cents. one man's truth is evidently another man's drek. to each their own, and may we all find inspiration where we can.
2006-05-31
still Tuesday to me...not much to report, really
went to work. on a break i saw the same golden eagle (at least i'm pretty sure it was the same one) i saw during a break the other day at work. didn't get a shot of it this time, but here's the one from last time:
2006.05.15.14.10.35
but back to today. i got paid last weeks' check. i'm about a week behind now, and won't get paid tomorrow (regular payday). need to be all current by payday next week; crossing my fingers that it happens. without 2 checks next week the mortgage payment won't happen. not my favorite scenario to contemplate, so i'll move on:
talked to Loren on the way to the bank after work. cell phones are addictive on commutes. nice to have something to do to pass the time though. at least when i stay as late as i did today the traffic's not too bad on the way home.
watched the Suns beat down the Mavericks to tie the Western Finals series at 2-2. incidentally, i think the refs took Nowitski out of that game. just my opinion. maybe the league really wants these series to go the full 7 games as much as possible. certainly can't hurt the revenue stream. but what do i know, i just watch a lot of basketball- never had to officiate a game. after basketball i watched a movie (Daredevil, a lot better than the criticism it received but not on par with say Spider Man 2 or Batman Begins). waiting for Superman Returns to come out....saw one shot from the film during a preview in the theater before X-Men: The Last Stand the other day, an extreme closeup in slow motion of a bullet crushed under its own force against Superman's open eyeball- pretty cool. but back to today: did laundry. updated the site and posted this and i'm OUT.
2006.05.15.14.10.35
but back to today. i got paid last weeks' check. i'm about a week behind now, and won't get paid tomorrow (regular payday). need to be all current by payday next week; crossing my fingers that it happens. without 2 checks next week the mortgage payment won't happen. not my favorite scenario to contemplate, so i'll move on:
talked to Loren on the way to the bank after work. cell phones are addictive on commutes. nice to have something to do to pass the time though. at least when i stay as late as i did today the traffic's not too bad on the way home.
watched the Suns beat down the Mavericks to tie the Western Finals series at 2-2. incidentally, i think the refs took Nowitski out of that game. just my opinion. maybe the league really wants these series to go the full 7 games as much as possible. certainly can't hurt the revenue stream. but what do i know, i just watch a lot of basketball- never had to officiate a game. after basketball i watched a movie (Daredevil, a lot better than the criticism it received but not on par with say Spider Man 2 or Batman Begins). waiting for Superman Returns to come out....saw one shot from the film during a preview in the theater before X-Men: The Last Stand the other day, an extreme closeup in slow motion of a bullet crushed under its own force against Superman's open eyeball- pretty cool. but back to today: did laundry. updated the site and posted this and i'm OUT.
2006-05-30
OK, so technically it's the 30th now
but as far as i'm concerned, it's still Loren's birthday....i'm still up.
Loren had a friend over at his mom's Sunday night, they stayed up practically all night (not surprisingly) and Loren kinda paid the price this afternoon when he pretty much ran out of gas. he dozed off a couple times at his mom's, and though i talked to him this morning and wished him a Happy one, i didn't get ahold of him again until late in the afternoon. he wanted to come and see me today, though his mom didn't want to drive him. i told him not to feel pressured to come, but i'd come get him if he wanted to, and in the end his mom met me halfway. i took him out to KFC and we got some chicken to go and came home. we ate and he opened his presents- all but one, which would have been difficult to open since i haven't yet gotten it. i was planning on saving one for his party next weekend so i haven't rushed out for it yet. we were a little rushed since he came so late, so we really only had time to eat and do that- but he had a good time and so did i.
2006.05.29.19.08
a happy newly-teen-ager opening a present:
and, like always, i always like to look at the other things that happen to show up in pictures. in this one, two things that caught my eye were:
the Pistons had just taken the lead with 3:22 left in the 3rd quarter and :14 on the shot clock, in game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Heat. for the truly curious, the Heat came back to win it and the series went to 3-1. do or die for the Pistons now.
and lastly- the poster that i made for Loren for his 9th birthday party (incidentally the only one he's ever had at my house) has now been on the wall for fully 4 years:
but back to the story. after dinner and presents i took him back to his mom's, and headed back home. i watched a movie (Tristan + Isolde....pretty good movie) and now you're right up to the second on what's happening with my life. and now you are again. and again. actually....you're not. for that to be true this site would have to update as i type. as far as i know that's not possible; it's certainly not possible with the facilities available to me. and even if it were, i'd have to assume that you were reading at the same speed i was typing, without so much as the tiniest waiver in your concentration. so let me rephrase that: you're now up to date with everything that might be considered vaguely important, irrespective of the unremarkable experiences i deem too mundane to warrant publishing an account of.
speaking of which (catch the segue?) back to work tomorrow. at least it's a short week.
Loren had a friend over at his mom's Sunday night, they stayed up practically all night (not surprisingly) and Loren kinda paid the price this afternoon when he pretty much ran out of gas. he dozed off a couple times at his mom's, and though i talked to him this morning and wished him a Happy one, i didn't get ahold of him again until late in the afternoon. he wanted to come and see me today, though his mom didn't want to drive him. i told him not to feel pressured to come, but i'd come get him if he wanted to, and in the end his mom met me halfway. i took him out to KFC and we got some chicken to go and came home. we ate and he opened his presents- all but one, which would have been difficult to open since i haven't yet gotten it. i was planning on saving one for his party next weekend so i haven't rushed out for it yet. we were a little rushed since he came so late, so we really only had time to eat and do that- but he had a good time and so did i.
2006.05.29.19.08
a happy newly-teen-ager opening a present:
and, like always, i always like to look at the other things that happen to show up in pictures. in this one, two things that caught my eye were:
the Pistons had just taken the lead with 3:22 left in the 3rd quarter and :14 on the shot clock, in game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Heat. for the truly curious, the Heat came back to win it and the series went to 3-1. do or die for the Pistons now.
and lastly- the poster that i made for Loren for his 9th birthday party (incidentally the only one he's ever had at my house) has now been on the wall for fully 4 years:
but back to the story. after dinner and presents i took him back to his mom's, and headed back home. i watched a movie (Tristan + Isolde....pretty good movie) and now you're right up to the second on what's happening with my life. and now you are again. and again. actually....you're not. for that to be true this site would have to update as i type. as far as i know that's not possible; it's certainly not possible with the facilities available to me. and even if it were, i'd have to assume that you were reading at the same speed i was typing, without so much as the tiniest waiver in your concentration. so let me rephrase that: you're now up to date with everything that might be considered vaguely important, irrespective of the unremarkable experiences i deem too mundane to warrant publishing an account of.
speaking of which (catch the segue?) back to work tomorrow. at least it's a short week.
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