TheWally42's Xanga

To New Beginnings...

Thu, 29 Jan 2009 04:23:23 GMT

When I awoke this morning, I was in a terrible mood. My mind raced with sad thoughts, and I felt miserable. When I got to work, I was definitely not looking forward to the day.

However, I began a conversation with a good friend of mine (Yoshi FTW!). After working through some issues, my friend challenged me to make changes in my life. She wanted me to start following my dreams more and doing things for me. Shortly, my mood improved as I thought about what she told me and charged me with.

Where to begin? Well thanks to some help from Wendy and some reflection, I quickly decided upon two things that I really miss: blogging and reading. Back at New Year's, I made the resolution to read more, but now I am going to make more effort into reading at times than other than my morning commute on the bus. Secondly, I am going to start blogging again. Thus, a new blog at http://wallystories.blogspot.com/!

In an effort to increase my chances at blogging regularly, I am creating this new blog. It will ultimately replace my xanga. Of course, it will follow the same format as the old. I will mostly discuss my daily routines. The purpose is to help me process through the events of my life and create a record for me to look back upon.

Wish me luck in this new endeavor.

Books for 2008

Mon, 26 Jan 2009 06:11:29 GMT

Another Roadside Attraction by Tom Robbins
The Lowbrow Guide to World History by Michael Powell

Movies for 2008

Mon, 26 Jan 2009 06:09:58 GMT

Star Trek: First Contact
September
Anything Else
Another Woman
Jason Goes to Hell
The Muppet Movie
Crimes and Misdemeanors
Arthur

Books for 2009

Sun, 11 Jan 2009 20:27:53 GMT

Another Roadside Attraction by Tom Robbins

Movies for 2009

Sat, 03 Jan 2009 23:42:47 GMT

Star Trek: First Contact
September
Anything Else

Worst New Years Eve Ever...

Thu, 01 Jan 2009 22:14:37 GMT

In the wake of my Worst Christmas Ever comes my Worst New Years Ever, or at least, the worst one I can remember. Originally, I had some great plans, but those fell through. We tried to salvage the day, but it was unsuccessful.

About two months ago, my friend Chris and I decided that we were going to have a classy cocktail party to bring in the New Year. As we all know, I like to do things Rat Pack style, so we were going to suit up and drink it up. It was going to be martinis, manhattans, and other classics. Unfortunately, as the big day drew closer, Chris dropped off the radar, and we never got anything in concrete.

To salvage some plans, Alex #3 and I decided to do something. The hard part was finding a place. I would have offered mine, but it is kind of small. Plus, Scraps is in heat and pooping in the floor a lot. I hate that cat. Luckily, his parents were out of town. Although it seems odd to throw a party while the parents away considering we are adults, we went with it.

Since we had a place, we started buying booze. At first, we just got some gin and vermouth for martinis, and I bought myself some scotch. The next day we decided to buy some vodka and whiskey for making some more drinks too. We were prepared damn it.

Next came inviting people. Out of the multiple people that Alex invited, only one person told us yes, and I was really excited about her wanting to celebrate with us. Well considering I have horrible luck and 2008 was determined to have final victories over me, she bailed on us as I was leaving my apartment to pick her and Alex #3 up. She wasn't feeling so well, so I guess I understand.

So it was going to just be Alex #3 and me. We got to his parents' house and fixed ourselves some drinks. I had a fairly nice martini considering I had no idea on how to make one, and he made some random drink for himself. We even had cocktail glasses! With nothing really to do, we tried to watch something on TV, and it was the 90s Spiderman cartoon at first followed by New Years Eve Celebration with Carson Daly.

Around 10, I heard from family back in Tennessee. It was already the New Year there, and they seemed to be having pretty quiet nights too. Of course my night went further downhill. By 11, Alex was falling asleep, so I decided to head home. I rung in the New Year alone with a glass of Scotch.

Now I thought 2008's final victory was going to be forcing me to have the Worst Christmas Ever, but the year managed to score two final victories on the last day. I managed to not get paid that day and have a horrible New Years Eve celebration. Fuck you 2008. Hopefully, 2009 will be better.

Thursday, January 01, 2009

Thu, 01 Jan 2009 20:06:58 GMT

Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby
For Your Consideration
Charlie Wilson's War
Shoot 'em Up
The Simpsons Movie
Forrest Gump
Terminator
Alien
Aliens
Alien 3
Alien: Resurrection
Annie Hall
Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
Serenity
Terminator 2: Judgement Day
The Princess Bride
Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
Yojimbo
The Game Plan
Bee Movie
Airplane!
The Muppet Movie
Fargo
Arthur
The Godfather
The Godfather: Part II
The Godfather: Part III
Gigantic: A Tale of Two Johns
Justice League: The New Frontier
The Great Muppet Caper
The Muppets Take Manhattan
Bananas
Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex* (*But Were Afraid to Ask)
Forgetting Sarah Marshall
Sleeper
Smokin' Aces
Love and Death
Iron Man
Knocked Up
Porky's
Raiders of the Lost Ark
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian
Porky's II: The Next Day
Little Shop of Horrors
Porky's Revenge
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Back to the Future
Halloween (2007 version)
Interiors
Dirty Harry
Magnum Force
The Incredible Hulk
The Enforcer
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Sudden Impact
The Dead Pool
Manhattan
Small Time Crooks
WALL-E
Stardust Memories
The Curse of the Jade Scorpion
Hollywood Ending
Manhattan Murder Mystery
Scoop
Tommy Boy
Every Which Way But Loose
The Big Lebowski
Murder by Death
Any Which Way You Can
Strange Brew
The Dark Knight
This Is Spinal Tap
The Birdcage
Harold & Kumar Escape from Guatanamo Bay
Ghostbusters
Be Kind Rewind
Eurotrip
Superbad
Idiocracy
Man of the Year
The Amityville Horror (original)
The Amityville Horror (remake)
Lethal Weapon
Lethal Weapon 2
Lethal Weapon 3
Lethal Weapon 4
Hot Fuzz
Shaun of the Dead
Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory
Accepted
Broadway Danny Rose
A Midsummer Night's Sex Comedy
Zelig
Stand by Me
Purple Rose of Cairo
Honky Tonk Man
Hannah and her Sisters
Friday the 13th
Friday the 13th Part 2
Friday the 13th Part 3
Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter
Radio Days
Casablanca
O Brother Where Are Thou?
Friday the 13th A New Beginning
Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives
Robin Hood: Men in Tights
Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood
Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan
Animal House
A Nightmare on Elm Street
A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge
Rain Man
Platoon
A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: The Dream Warriors
A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master
A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child
Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare

On the Friday the 13th Series

Thu, 01 Jan 2009 07:14:45 GMT

Around Thanksgiving, I ordered the Friday the 13th box set From Crystal Lake to Manhattan. It contains the Friday the 13th movies from 1 through 8. It is only missing Jason Goes to Hell, Jason X, and Freddy Vs. Jason. (I got that one when I ordered the Nightmare on Elm Street series. More on that later.) Due to finals and the end of the term, I was unable to watch them when they arrived. However, it gave me something to do during my first few snow days.

After watching all eight movies, I have to say the movies are pretty bad. On the other hand, they can be a lot of fun. I find it a hoot to watch some of the repetition in the movies. Jason is not always the most innovative killer, and when he finds a move he likes, he tends to repeat it. My favorite is the Throw-A-Dead-Body-Through-a-Window-to-Distract-the-Person-Inside Move. He learned that one from his mother, and it cracks me up every time I see it. I also love how decoratively Jason likes to leave corpses in the movies. Why does he always place the dead body in a tree, I'll never know, but it produces a good second scare... well sometimes. And how can you love the multiple, Jason isn't dead yet moments at the end of each movie. I love that it took a little kid in Part IV to realize that you need to bludgeon Jason repeatedly when he is down.

Out of all the movies, my personal favorite is Part 6: Jason Lives. How can you not like it with a subtitle like that! It comes on the heels of Part Part 5 which is arguably the worst movie in the franchise. I mean the movie is barely connected to the Vorhees family, so it makes little sense if you ask me. Anyway, back to why Part 6 is the best. The movie succeeds primarily due to its use of humor. The filmmakers realized how bad the series really is and decided to have some fun with it. Good for them.

Now I know a lot of people think Kane Hodder is the best Jason, but I prefer the guy in Part 6. Hodder plays a menacing Jason, and he manages to give the character depth that most other actors. However, the guy in Part 6 does it better. There are scenes where you can almost see what is going on in that rotting brain of Jason's. For example, after being awoken by Tommy Jarvis and Horseschack from Welcome Back Kotter (Well it is the actor who played Horseshack.), Jason punches through Horseshack's chest. Jason then tilts his head quizzically because he's never done that before. He is just as shocked as his unfortunate victim. Cinematic genius! (Well maybe not, but it is fun nonetheless.)

By far the two worst entries in the series are Part 5: The New Beginning and Part 8: Jason Takes Manhattan. Now I have already mentioned part of the reason why I dislike Part 5, and as for Part 8, it is just really lacking. I mean the title is horribly misleading because only like a third of the movie takes place in Manhattan, and while he is there Jason does not cause a terrible amount of trouble. He spends most of the time just chasing the handful people who survived his attack on the boat. Lame and definitely not any sort of taking of Manhattan if you ask me.

I am quite glad that I bought this franchise. Mostly just so I can watch it anytime it is a Friday the 13th. I know I will be watching these this February instead of the re-make. I am not excited for that because I strongly dislike re-bootings of franchises. However that is a whole different rant.

Worst Christmas Ever...

Mon, 29 Dec 2008 16:50:08 GMT

I've been meaning to write this blog for a few days now, but let me go on record saying that Christmas 2008 was by far the worst Christmas of my life. Now all things considered, it was not by any means horrible, so I am being a bit melodramatic. However, it certainly sucked not getting to spend the holiday with family, and I've not gotten any presents yet! I mean come on now! Seriously. It is almost 2009, and I have not gotten anything for Christmas except for some cards and food from my grandparents.

What did I do with my day you ask?

Well, I slept in for probably the first Christmas since the infamous year where my mom told me I slept through Christmas. During the day, various family members called me, and it was certainly nice to hear from them since I could not be with them. The first was my stepfather and then my father later. My mom called too! (Unlike on my birthday...ahem.) At various points, people would call while in the presence of others. Thus, I got to talk to several of my grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. Unfortunately, I just missed some of them when I called Nanny and Pa. At least, I got to talk to a lot of them.

Other than talking to family members, I ate leftover spaghetti and oatmeal for lunch and dinner, respectively.. What fine Christmas meals those were. At least, I was not alone. My roommate had planned on staying for the holiday, so we spent the day watching Christmas episodes of TV shows that I own on DVD. We watched 3 episodes of The Simpsons, 4 episodes of King of the Hill, 1 episode of Batman: the Animated Series, 2 episodes of Scrubs, 1 episode of How I Met Your Mother, 2 episodes of My Name Is Earl, and 1 episode of M*A*S*H. It was a fine Christmas day marathon.

Additionally, we drank a special Christmas beer: Anchor's 2008 Christmas Ale. It is their 34th annual Christmas ale, and it came in a magnum sized bottle! It may have been the biggest bottle of beer I have ever seen, and since my roommate did not care for it all that much, I drank most of the bottle myself. I'm not going to lie; It resulted in a hangover.

Eventually, I wound up going to bed fairly early. I was tired of watch TV shows, and I was not in the mood for a movie. With the addition of the alcohol, I was tired and called it a day before 11 I believe. It may have been later, but I was definitely in bed by midnight. I am such an old man these days, but that night I did wake up around 2 in the morning. However, that is a story for a different day or a different blog.

Movies for 2008

Fri, 26 Dec 2008 19:22:50 GMT