Silly Saturday: 6/30/12

I know what it LOOKS like it will be but trust me.....

Film Festival Friday: 6/29/12

Another week, another batch of movies!

Currently #74 on my flickchart list.

The week started very rainy here in Vermont. I took advantage of that and spent some time Monday on the computer working on my comic book database and put "Serenity" on in the background.

I am a late-to-the-party Whedon fan.  I had read his comic book runs on "Astonishing X-Men" (enjoyed it) and "Runaways" (caused me to drop the book) but hadn't seen any of his TV work.  We were fans of Nathan Fillion from "Castle" and once The Armchair Squid shared he had enjoyed "Firefly", we hunted down the series and become instant converts.

I'm not sure how the movie works as a stand alone film as I've not spoken to anyone who has seen it but NOT seen the show.  The phenomenal opening tracking shot (actually TWO shots nicely cut together) does a great job of introducing you to the main characters and setting up the story.  It is action packed, funny, grim and exciting!

Currently #124 on my flickchart list

Tuesday's comic session had "Live Free or Die Hard" with Bruce Willis playing in the background.  I went with the unrated version.  I remember seeing this in the theater when it was PG-13 and realizing how badly they had erred by going with a lower rating.  Die Hard NEEDS to be an R rated adventure. 

Currently #37 on my flickchart list

Each summer, I try to send my new class of students a postcard every couple of weeks.  On Wednesday, it was time to send out the first batch.  "Predator" with Arnold Schwarzenegger seemed to be a good choice to have on in the background.

Currently #41 on my flickchart list

Last night Nan and I watched "North By Northwest" with Cary Grant.  What a great movie, from start to finish.  I think a Hitchcock week is in order.  The Armchair Squid recently talked about starting his daughter on some Hitchcock movies....I think that is a GREAT idea!

This Day In History Thursday: 6/28/12

Today is a big day in history....however, continuing last week's "unexpected history lesson" (said with tongue firmly in cheek, I'm guessing, by Tony Laplume, Sith Architect), more presidential marriage information!

On this day in 1919, future president Harry S Truman married Bess Wallace.  Longtime sweethearts, the two met in fifth grade but did not marry until they were in their thirties! And like our 33rd president, I lack a full middle name, instead using just a letter with NO punctuation!

Wild Card Wednesday: Voltron: The End

I was never a big Voltron fan, but I am a big fan of Timothy Omundson (Carlton Lassiter from Psych) and I love well put together "fan" films.

"When a man regains consciousness in a Voltron battle lion after an "accident" he has to decide does he live a few more minutes or try to tell the world what happened... the end is only the beginning."

via Eyz

T-Shirt Tuesday: 6/26/12

Not much to do on a cold, rainy Tuesday except lie on the couch and read comics....though truth be told if it was nice out, I might still be doing the same thing!

Today's t-shirt was given to me by the high school students who oversaw this year's 5th and 6th grade play at my school.  I was one of the faculty "advisers".  It was a lot of fun.  I've been wanting to do a play myself for quite some time now and this really piqued my interest.  However, time is a luxury I don't seem to have AND every day I teach it feels like a mini-performance with a captive audience, so I've got that going for me.

Music Monday: 6/25/12

I almost posted this one last week.  It is a mash up of the ubiquitous "Call Me Maybe" with the once ubiquitous "Semi-Charmed Life".  Please to enjoy!

Silly Saturday: 6/23/12

Saturdays will be reserved for something that made me laugh during the week.  

I am NOT belittling those with any illnesses.  I know the above is a misconception.  

But at its core, it just made me laugh.

Film Festival Friday: 6/22/12

Depending on the week, I will either post about the movies we watch during the week OR write about a favorite movie from the past.

I have stated before "my" movies tend to be action or sci-fi and usually get rated around a 6 or 7 on a 10 point scale.  My flickchart list can be found HERE....come be my friend there!

Here is a run down of the movies we watched this past week...hover over each poster for more info!

Currently #90 on my flickchart list

We started with "I Am Legend" with Will Smith.  I had read the book before seeing this in the theaters and remembering liking the movie.  I bought it on Fathers Day for $2.00 and Haley was intrigued.  She asked me on Monday morning if we could watch it.  This movie contains one of the most unsettling images from any movie I have ever seen...

Currently #243 on my flickchart list

Later that day, Logan and I watched "Meet Dave" with Eddie Murphy.  Written by MST3K's Bill Corbett, this movie is actually fun and a family favorite.  

Currently #98 on my flickchart list

  

On Tuesday, Haley and I continued our post-apocalyptic theme with "Reign of Fire" with Christian Bale.  I picked this up at Blockbuster a few years back without ever having seen it.  It just seemed like it would be for me.  

Currently #194 on my flickchart list.

Wednesday night, Logan and I watched "Real Steel" with Hugh Jackman.  (Haley claims she was watching too but was REALLY deep into her iPod and couldn't recall anything about the movie.)  Like "I Am Legend", this movie is based on the writings of Richard Matheson.  This was surprisingly good.  Logan ate it up!  It also gave us a chance to talk about "arcs" in movies and the "three-act structure" of films.  He picked up on the use of the structure in the original "Star Wars" films and to Anakin Skywalker's "journey" through all 6 movies.

Currently #186 on my flickchart list.

Haley and I watched "The Sum of All Fears" with Ben Affleck on Thursday.  This was the first movie we watched this week with a real "plot" that she needed to follow.  I remember watching this in the theaters the summer after the September 11th attacks.  It was a bit intense at the time.  I like the Jack Ryan movies.  I would have been okay with Affleck taking another shot at the role.

Currently #197 on my flickchart list

The last movie of the week, for Logan and I, was "John Carter" with Taylor Kitsch.  This, too, was more fun than I had expected.  The story was strong and the visuals impressive.  I liked some of the "true facts" that were weaved into the narrative.  I think we will be buying this one at some point.

I found all the connections between the movies on my own except for ONE where I had to consult "The Oracle of Bacon."  I have seen all the connecting movies at some point, too!  And there were many more connections....so much so I debated making a chart to show them, but....

Have a great weekend!

This Day In History Thursday: 6/21/12

< Napoleon Dynamite voice> "Daily blogging is hard....gah!" </Napoleon Dynamite voice>


I guess I landed on this theme for Thursdays....and since my son and I are WAY into Presidential Trivia this week, I will let you know that....

On this day, two future Presidents married their future First Ladies!

In 1810, Zachary Taylor married Margaret Smith.  They had six children, including a daughter who married future Confederate President Jefferson Davis (though she died three months after their marriage, nearly 30 years before the Civil War)!

In 1940, Richard Nixon married Patricia Ryan.  Nixon is one of only two men to appear on a major party's presidential ticket five times....though not consecutively.

Both marriages, by most accounts, were strong and happy.  In each marriage, the spouses died within two years of each other.  

So, there you go.  I am actually looking forward to tomorrow's post.  And Saturday's theme.  I will be taking Sunday off!

Wild Card Wednesday: 6/20/12

DC Minimalist Posters by Dustin Koetsch

 his website, Tumblr, and Twitter

Trying to continue with themed days, I really don't have any idea what Wednesdays will be....Thursdays either, for that matter.  I saw the above image at Firestorm Fan after I finished writing a letter of recommendation for a colleague and decided it would fit for today.

Another batch of folks who do themed days or are fun reads:

Analog Breakfast

T-Shirt Tuesday: 6/19/12

This is my newest t-shirt!  I received it on Fathers Day, though my loving family nicely bought me a "large" that we had to exchange for an XL.  I also got a matching bumper sticker that is on the hatch of the Jeep.

This photo is part of Nan's upcoming blog post about the major landscaping she is undertaking this summer.  The device is a manual sod cutter she rented!

And a few more blogs that have theme days and are fun reads:










Rip Jagger's Dojo

Music Monday: 6/18/12

Yesterday, my daughter and I were talking about blogs and wondering if either of us could blog with any regularity over the summer.  The added wrinkle would be to have "theme" days.

Today will be the first Music Monday.  Nothing major, just happy birthday to Paul McCartney!  Without a doubt, McCartney has produced more music that has brought me more pleasure than anyone else.  While I sort of miss the days where I had to hunt down bootlegs to find "new" nuggets, I really enjoy having all of his stuff at my fingertips!

Since quite a few blogs I follow either have theme days, theme posts or are just neat glimpses into their lives...I thought I would spotlight them here as my inspiration! Click their banners to visit!

Kate's Ink: Dust and Probability

The Armchair Squid

Bob Mitchell in the 21st Century

smacky and bucky

Just a Funny...

My "go to" joke in college was "If that's not the name of a band, it should be."

"It's Time I Had Some Time Alone..."

Last week I was bemoaning my lot in life....not really.  I was just trying to figure out how to "fix" the funk I was in.  

Some of the plans I initially considered got thrown by the wayside rather quickly.  My brother was unavailable to golf.  Logan's friend (and several students from my school) was doing the 5 K run to wrap up Girls on The Run and we decided to go and cheer them on!

After the run, I headed out to Bear Brook State Park in New Hampshire.  I decided to camp by myself and head to the Granite State Comicon on Sunday.  In between, I would hit some Targets and try to find some items on Nan's list.

All in all, it was a great trip.  I feel recharged for the up coming week. I'm ready to pack the classroom up for my move, organize report cards and student work, and to say goodbye to the class by which I will judge all other classes.

Here are the babble-y  highlights from my trip!

A very isolated camping site!  As I unloaded the Jeep, I suddenly remembered that I forgot to grab the current insurance card!  I also noticed the tags had expired!  Luckily, Nan was able to renew online.  I also try to obey the speed limit, so I wasn't really worried.

The Con was a blast.  So many people dressed up.  There were established groups of Pirates (The New England Brethren of Pirates), Ghostbusters (ghostbustersnh.com) and Stormtroopers (501st New England Garrison ) present.

He was walking the line as I entered.  He was complaining to the guy in front of me about teenagers who were are a recent event with him.  "So many store bought costumes" was his biggest complaint.

This young lady was in line in front of me.  I asked her to pose with the plants in the lobby.  She had her eyelashes done, too!

My last pic.  Morpheus was reluctant to join.  With the number of men who backed out when I asked for pictures, I am betting that mostly the females get photographed.

The Iron Man had glowing parts to his armor.  The Scarlet Witch was EASILY 6' 6"....if not taller!

I thought the Flash was being interviewed, as there was a lot of press at the show, but when I walked away, I noticed her name badge indicated that she was the character's wife!  Very clever!

She was rather intimidating in person!

A second Poison Ivy.  It was kind of neat how some people took a moment to pose in character when you asked for a picture.

Blurry Doom is blurry!

I was wary of taking photos with other people's kids in the shot, so I hurried this one up.  The Red Hood and Cobra Commander were very cool.

R2-D2 was being discreetly remote controlled by someone standing nearby.  All the kids were impressed.

There were many Harley Quinns.  I was getting ready to ask the Comedian and Silk Spectre for a picture when Harley started talking to me.  I felt obligated to snap a photo.

 I went to the show with $50 in my pocket.  I left with 25 comics for Logan and I (only one was actually on my list!), 4 Heroclix for Logan, and I left with $35 remaining.  Not bad considering I had to pay to get in!

Before the show I went to Target.  There were four things on my list (pool timer, new right hand golf glove, solar lanterns, and a part for my electric razor) and these were the only item I found.  Not the exact ones Nan wanted, but they are summer-y and should work just fine.

Lastly, I tried to eat all my meals local.  I had a delicious sub for dinner in Concord at a place called "Yellow Submarine" and lunch on Sunday before leaving town at "Brookside Pizza".  

Just an interesting note, both places cut their bread as shown above,  as opposed to the sideways cut of Subway and local shops here at home, and all the veggies (except the tomatoes and banana peppers) were diced!

George Takei Dances For You...

George Takei always makes me laugh.

What To Do Next Weekend....

The school year is rapidly approaching its (welcome) end.  More so than any other year I have taught, I am absolutely ready for summer to begin.

In an effort to kick-start things, I was mulling over trying to figure out something to do next Saturday and/or Sunday.  Friday night is already claimed for Underclassmen Award Night at my daughter's high school....where she is up for an award or two.

My son received his placement for next year and is not in the same class as his best friend.  Her mother is worried about the kids drifting apart, so I proposed to Nan we do a day trip across the lake to Target on Saturday...ride the ferry, get lunch and so on, and invite the girl.

However.....I start to feel selfish.  I was thinking of calling my brother and asking him to meet me somewhere in New Hampshire to play golf on Saturday.  His birthday is fast approaching and I thought it would be a nice birthday gift.

Things get a little crazy from there....I find out that this Sunday is the Granite State Comicon.  I start planning things out.  Maybe meet my brother and then I could go camping and go to the con on Sunday.  While I am not really looking for anything, it has been SO long since I attended a show.  I could do a day trip on Sunday? Maybe Logan and I could go....I start working out all the permutations.

When I think I have FINALLY landed on what I want to do, I get an e-mail announcing that this Sunday is also the Montreal ToyCon.  I decide to click the link and check it out....and I see this banner...

I'm not terribly tempted but....wait a second....what's that!?!?  

What's the big deal, you may ask...(especially if we have never met in person nor are friends on Facebook)...

Well, the three people at the head of the line....it is me, my wife and my son!!!  We attended one of the first Montreal ToyCons 5 or 6 years ago!!!!   We rented a hotel near by with an indoor pool....had our first trip to La Cage Aux Sports.  It was such fun but I never checked back in, as subsequent events were held on weekends we could not attend.  I wonder if we have been the banner for all these years?!?!

So, to make a long story short ("Too late!"), I have NO idea what I am doing next weekend.....