Goats in the Attic

2011 in Movies

2011-12-18T16:47:00.002-07:00

Here's a list of movies I saw in 2011...and movies I'll get around to seeing.

Crazy, Stupid, Love. - 4 stars (Great story, well acted, and both Dara and I laughed our heads off.)
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 - 4 stars (Best Harry Potter movie EVER!)
Fast Five - 4 stars (Best Fast and Furious movie EVER!)
Battle: Los Angeles - 3 stars (Cheesy and predictable, but well made and entertaining...for me.)
Limitless - 3 stars (Stylish and fun, but did he really have to drink the blood?)
The Adjustment Bureau - 3 stars (Really silly...but fun...and Matt Damon is hot!)
Transformers: Dark of the Moon - 3 (Better than Revenge of the Fallen in every way.)
Cars 2 - 2 1/2 stars (Liked the first one better, though I loved the ending.)
Thor 2 1/2 stars (There is 15 minutes of character development missing from the middle of the movie. Seriously, one minute you want to punch him in the face and the next minute he's sweet and loveable.)
Captain America: The First Avenger - 2 1/2 stars (Absolutely loved this movie...until the end which was rushed and predictable. It also needed more Hugo Weaving)
Source Code - 2 1/2 stars (Well done. Nothing bad to say.)
Kung Fu Panda 2 - 2 stars (Better than the first)
Rio - 2 stars - (Fun for a G rated kids movie)
Gnomeo and Juliet - 1 1/2 stars - (Starts off really funny but lost my attention somewhere in the middle)
I Am Number Four - 1 1/2 stars - (Good special effects and...the girl is hot)
Sucker Punch - 1 1/2 stars - (I really, really, REALLY wanted to like this movie. It was beautifully shot, acted, and written; the action scenes were awesome, but silly for such a serious topic. In it's defense, I don't think it was exploiting woman like everyone said it was.)
Rango - 1 1/2 stars - (Cool idea and story, but just wanted more silliness.)
Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides - 1 star (Better than the third Pirates movie...just didn't care for it...at all)
Unknown - 1 star (The ending was cool but I just kept waiting for Liam to start killing people like in Taken.)
Beastly - 1 star - (Cool concept and probably doesn't deserve just 1 star, but tattoos and staples don't make someone ugly and (surprisingly) I thought Mary-Kate Olsen was the best actor in the movie.)
Red Riding Hood - 0 stars (Someone needs to make sure this director stops making movies. Seriously, the acting was terrible, I hate Amanda Seyfried ever since I suffered through Mamma Mia, and I guessed who the wolf was in the first 30 minutes of the movie.)
The Green Hornet 0 stars - (Nothing funny or exciting about it. Kato and his inventions were cool, but I wanted to punch Seth Rogen in the face.)
Justin Bieber: Never Say Never (I'm just going to pretend this isn't on the list...though it was actually REALLY good.)

Movies I can't believe I haven't seen, yet:

Super 8

Green Lantern

Cowboys and Aliens

Rise of the Planet of the Apes

X-Men: First Class

Real Steel

Puss in Boots

Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1

The Muppets

Moneyball

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows

Movie's I'll probably end up seeing:

The Help

Zookeeper

Tower Heist

Contagion

Water for Elephants

Footloose (2011)

Hanna

Hugo

Arthur Christmas

In Time

Abduction

Season of the Witch

New Year's Eve

Warrior

Ben's Super Rockin' 2011 Playlist

2011-11-30T10:43:00.001-07:00

Ben's Super Rockin' 2011 Playlist - Just Keep Swimming

1. Not Alone - Linkin Park
2. After Midnight - Blink 182
3. Anthem for the Unwanted - New Found Glory
4. Swim - Jack's Mannequin
5. Airplanes - Hayley Willams of Paramore (featuring some rapper guy)
6. Skyscraper - Demi Loveato
7. Scary How Fast - Too Late the Hero
8. Scream - High School Musical 3
9. Blow - Ke$ha
10. Promises - Goats in the Attic
11. Love Like Crazy - Lee Brice
12. Re: Your Brains - Jonathan Coulton
13. Still Fighting It - Ben Folds
14. Every Breathe - Boyce Avenue
15. A Thousand Years - Christina Perry
16. Circus - Britney Spears
17. You are a Tourist - Death Cab for Cutie
18. To Be With You - David Archuleta
19. Somewhere Only We Know - The Warrblers
20. Friday - Glee Cast

I have been doing a yearly mix (playlist) every year since 2004. This mix includes both old and new songs from a wide range of artists and performers that provide a soundtrack to my year. Some songs are meaningful (Swim, Still Fighting It) and others are just for fun (Blow, Circus), and the songs in general are noticeably toned down a notch from previous years. The song "Promises" by Goats in the Attic is a song I wrote for my wife for Valentines Day and a demo version was recorded by my musically genius friend James Estrada. I hope to someday record and release an official version when I learn how to sing. We'll see what 2012 brings.

A Life Worth Living

2011-07-20T09:10:00.000-06:00

Much has changed in the last seven months. My Sociology class ended with an epic and stirring lecture that made the four months of torture worth it. And despite missing an essay or two and greatly disagreeing with the teacher on many points, I finished the class with an A-. I suppose that was the point after all. The purpose of the class was not to convince me of the correctness of his ways, but to get me to discover what I really believe. The class helped open my eyes to the world. I'm glad I don't need anymore classes like it, but I am proud to have survived it.

More to come later.

You're not as helpless as you think.

2011-02-25T15:02:00.000-07:00

I've finally decided that I hate my Sociology class.

For an hour every Tuesday and Thursday morning I have the privilege of being indoctrinated on how all Americans are racist (and greedy and homophobic). I've never seen myself as a racist person, but as a white American I am indeed racist and a terrible person. Shame on me.* If we classify someone by the color of their skin, are we being racist?

So, I'm telling someone about the dog on the corner that attacked my wife and the person asks which house the dog belongs to. I say, "The one on the corner." They say, "Which one," and I reply, "The Mexicans' house." My friend knows which one I'm talking about. But it this racist? No, because it's not derogatory. I would have used their name but I don't know what it is. They speak English, but they don't talk to me. Probably because I'm white.

There are 7 houses in my cul-de-sac, including mine, and 5 different races are represented; Native American, South American, Phillipino, European American, and Mexican. Two of the houses don't socialize with the rest. They're both Hispanic, probably from Mexico. I have a lot of Hispanic friends here and I work with a lot of awesome Hispanic people. I am simply talking about my neighbors, and not their race. I hold nothing against them because of the origin or their skin color.

I actually know what it feels like to be a minority and a foreigner. I lived in Australia for a couple of years doing missionary work for the LDS (Mormon) church from 2002-2004 at the time America "invaded" the Middle East. I was a skinny, little 19 year old white American boy dressed in a shirt and tie and stuck out like a Goth at a Justin Bieber concert. I had people yell and threaten me because I was an evil American who was trying to take over the world. These threats usually came from European Australians; people with white skin. I had one guy tell me that he hoped Osama Bin Laden won. There were times when I actually feared for my life. Luckily, Australians don't have guns to kill me with. (One-up for America!) I met people from all over the world and people usually referred to me as "An American" if they didn't know my name. It never bothered me. It made me proud.

I am proud to be an American. We're not perfect in A LOT of ways, but we're not all racist. Racism will always exist between different cultures and even cultures with the same skin color. Ignorance creates prejudice. I don't hate my neighbors, especially because of where they're from. I hate my Sociology class because it tells me I do.

*Sarcasm.

Ben's Super Rockin' Playlist 2010

2011-01-31T14:23:00.002-07:00

If anyone has paid attention to me at all in the last 6 years they may have come by my yearly "Super Rockin'" mixes (now playlists). I got the idea from Jared Wilbur who had made a couple of summer mixes in the early 2000's. But since I listen to the same amount of music in a year that Jared does in a summer, I began making yearly mixes. Last year I changed the term "mix" to "playlist" to try to keep up with the times. Also, in past years I have dedicated the songs to certain people, places, events, etc. I have completely abandoned that practice, though, I may bring it back when I am out of school and have a life again. And last, many bands on this list have been featured in past lists, meaning that I still listen to the same crap I did 6 years ago. It's like those guys who only listen to Nirvana and other grunge bands that haven't made a record in 15 years, except...my bands are still making music. Here's to 2011! Word up.

Ben's Super Rockin' Playlist 2010

1. Get Me Right - Dashboard Confessional
2. The Flight of Apollo - Angels and Airwaves
3. Tennessee (cover) - New Found Glory
4. Wasting Time (Eternal Summer) - Four Year Strong
5. Here We Are Juggernaut - Coheed and Cambria
6. We Love Like Vampires - Sparks the Rescue
7. Brick by Boring Brick - Paramore
8. Damn Regret - The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus
9. Motivation - Quietdrive
10. (If You're Wondering if I Want You To) I Want Your To - Weezer
11. Poker Face - Glee Cast
12. Teenage Dream - Katy Perry
13. Marry Me - Train
14. Faithfully - Journey
15. If It Means A Lot To You - A Day to Remember
16. Dark Days - The Sleeping
17. Still Alive - G.L.A.D.Y.S (from Portal, the video game)
18. The Light - EFY 2004
19. Hold Your Applause - Too Late the Hero
20. Get Me Right (acoustic) - Dashboard Confessional

Ben's Super Rockin' Soundtrack to 2009

2009-12-10T12:05:00.000-07:00

Ben's Super Rockin' Soundtrack to 2009

1. Four Year Strong - Heroes get Remembered, Legends Never Die
2. Sherwood - Song in my Head
3. Pink - Please Don't Leave Me
4. Escape the Fate - The Flood
5. 3 Doors Down - Let Me Be Myself
6. Bayside - No One Understands
7. The All-American Rejects - Mona Lisa (When the world comes down)
8. Rise Against - Hero of War
9. Taylor Swift - Love Story
10. New Found Glory - Listen to your Friends
11. Regina Spektor - Laughing With
12. Bowling for Soup - I'm Gay
13. Thrice - Come all you Weary
14. Death Cab for Cutie - The Sound of Settling
15. Too Late the Hero - Dead and Loving it
16. Attack! Attack! - I Kissed a Girl (cover)
17. Daphne Loves Derby - Sun
18. Owl City - Fireflies
19. A Day to Remember - Monument

My dog.

2009-07-05T21:35:00.003-06:00

Being a dog is awesome.

I'm so awesome

2009-06-15T22:44:00.001-06:00

I'm so awesome.

This old house

2009-06-09T19:16:00.005-06:00

So, buying a house sucks when you don't have a lot of money. There are plenty of houses for $150,000 and above, but anything less is a dump. So, if you're going to buy a house make sure you have money.

And when you buy a house, remember that taking out a loan against the house is a very bad idea. For example, man buys house back in 2001 for $89,000. Four years later he updates the kitchen and bathroom and tries to sell said house for $115,000. The house doesn't sell, even though the market is booming. He then rents the house to a bunch of slobs who trash the place. Then, in 2009, the man leaves the house a mess and tries to sell it for $132, 900. A couple of days after the house goes on sale a sexy young couple go and look at it. They decide that they can look past the disaster and see the beauty amidst the chaos. They put an offer on the house for $115,000.

The man replies saying that he will not accept anything less than the asking price of $132,900 because that's how much he owes on the house. Appearantly he tooks some loans against the house when his company started to go under.

Wait a minute, he bought the house for $89,000 and now owes $132,900? That's a difference of $43,900! And now he expects someone to pay his loans for him. Sorry, dude, can't help you.

Months and months go by...

2009-06-05T22:03:00.005-06:00

Months and months go by and a bunch of stuff happens. People go on vacations, they see go to the theater and see good/bad movies, they almost get fired...much can happen in a short period of time.

What are you to do if a person hates you because they lack a sense of humor, or because they hate you just for the sake of hating you? Should you let it bother you, or try to win their approval? What if it isn't worth it?

If you didn't know before, I work with shoes. In fact, I run the entire department almost single-handedly. I'm not amazing or anything, but it is a very difficult job and I don't particularly like it. And it's not exactly what I thought I'd be doing with my time at the age of 26.

Anyway, there is someone that pops in from time to time to check up on the store and tell us how much we all suck, and I normally try to avoid them...because they scare the crap out of me. Well, eventually the day came that I was forced to talk with them. The person came over to congratulate me for a job well done, and to break the ice I made a joke. Everyone but them thought it was funny. I later learned that a sense of humor isn't something their parents invested in when they were a child or something. Needless to say, with one sentence I managed to make an enemy, something I don't have experience with.

If you know anything about me, you know that I'm completely harmless. I really don't have enemies. So how was I suppose to handle this? For a while I just ignored it and kept what I said to them minimal and humorless. But then yesterday they visited again, and completely mistook what I was doing as something against the rules. Like that commercial where the women walks in on her boyfriend and finds him holding a big knife in one hand and her cat covered in what appears to be blood in the other. If you've seen the commercial you'd know that the boyfriend was actually cooking her dinner and was cutting up vegetables when the cat jumped on the stove and knocked over the spaghetti sauce. Yeah, it was kind of like that.

I tried to explain myself, but it was useless. They have no reason to care, and apparently lack any kind of mercy. So now I'm skating on thin ice and it's not fare. But I am 26, and I should know better than to think that life is fair. This is just the first time I've crossed someone who has no problem ruining other peoples' lives as long as they're good to go.

But in other news, I know someone who loves me a bunch.

I have no hard feelings towards anyone who don't like me, in fact, I feel bad for them. A month can seem like a long time when it lies in front of you, but when you look at it from the other side you wonder if it ever really happened. Life's too short to hold grudges. Remember that.

Apologies

2009-03-11T22:38:00.004-06:00

My apologies to everyone for that last blog. To make up for it I will post a picture of a cute chipmunk I saw at the Hoover Dam.

There. Now let's just forget the whole thing and move on with life.

So my wife and I went to Vegas last month and it turned out to be a completely different experience than my visit back in 2005. First of all, I was really turned off 4 years ago because of all the "people" shoving porn in your face everywhere you went. Seriously, dude, if I badly needed a girl like that I'm sure it's not hard to find one at any of the hundreds of clubs in Vegas. Anyway, I knew to expect it this time so it didn't faze me. Also, money wasn't exactly an issue this time around. That also makes a difference.

But I really liked Vegas. The only major problem is that you need A LOT of money to spend more than just a day there. But, heck, you seen a lot in just a day and the rest is worth saving till the next time you visit. Like the Donny and Marie show (next time Donny...next time).

As the picture above proves we also went to the Hoover Dam and it was pretty incredible. The most exciting part was the chipmunks that were swarming around my feet because Dara was feeding them goldfish. No, not REAL goldfish, I can't believe you even thought that. I'm talking about the crackers. Anyway, check out this video.

We did a bunch of other stuff but you can probably read that in Dara's blog sometime soon.

Peace out.

Sorry...

2009-02-16T22:46:00.003-07:00

Because no one commented on my crappy story or participated in the survey I will not be posting the ending to the story. You all suck.

High Hopes

2009-01-10T22:52:00.002-07:00

Last year started off great, turned a little sour towards the end, but eventually finished on a positive note. If you've read my blogs throughout the months you may be thinking, "Boy, this guy is so emo." In reality I am. No, I don't wear tight pants and finger nail polish and I've never posted a video of myself crying on Youtube. Actually, I think I have. Anyway, life is difficult for me. Not because life sucks, because it doesn't. I just have a hard time dealing with life when it doesn't go as planned. Which is always. But this year is going to be the best year ever! Here's why.

Las Vegas in Febuary
Ireland for our 3 year anniversary
Boston (the dog, not the city)
Dara, the amazing wife
Anything but Silence (my new acoustic rock metal band)
No possible cancerous moles

And that's it so far. I've also set a couple of goals for myself this year. Like giving up caffine. So far I've been 10 days without caffine, in fact, I haven't had soda at all. Why did I give it up? I'll admit it, I'm an addict. Could you do it? I don't think so!

So let's raise our glasses...of...water?...to 2009 being the best year ever! Hooray!

The rest of the list

2009-01-01T20:23:00.000-07:00

So, things got a little tough and I forgot about updating the track list so here's the rest. Well, let's start from the beginning.

1. How Far We've Come - Matchbox 20
2. The Fight - The Classic Crime
3. Don't Hold Back - The Sleeping
4. The River - Good Charlotte
5. Little Wonders - Rob Thomas
6. Apologize - One Republic featuring Timberland
7. Secret Crowds - Angles and Airwaves
8. Handlebars - Flobots
9. Business Time - Flight of the Conchords
10. Umbrella - Rihanna
11. Nurse! Nurse! - Sparks the Rescue
12. I Can Still Save You If You Give Me Another Chance - James Estrada
13. The Promise - New Found Glory
14. Wake Me Up When September Ends - Green Day
15. The Antidote - Story of the Year
16. Stolen - Dashboard Confessional
17. Forget December - Something Corporate
18. Life of a Salesman - Yellowcard
19. Love You 'till the End - The Progues
20. The Walking Wounded - Bayside

Look them up. They're good.

Track 4 - The River

2008-12-13T23:28:00.000-07:00

4. The River - Good Charlotte - Dedicated to cheap public transportation.

I'm not a huge GD fan...never have been and hopefully never will be. But they always come out with a hit or two that makes you dance and wish you were 16 again so you can pretend to like them because the girl you dream about thinks they're hot. I liked this song because it held a spiritual meaning that I did not expect from them. I wouldn't call it a "Christian" song, necessarily, but the meaning is quite obvious when you listen to the lyrics. For anyone who's ever felt like a "prodigal son" the song goes straight to the heart. I listened to it multiple times earlier this year while riding the bus to school and work in the snow. It helped me ignore all the crazy people who sat/stood next to me.

"As I walk through the valley of the shadow of LA
The footsteps that were next to me have gone their separate ways
I've seen enough now to know that beautiful things don't always stay that way
I've done enough now to know this beautiful place isn't everything they say
I heard that evil comes disguised
Like the city of angels
I'm walking towards the light

Baptized in the river
I've seen a vision of my life And I wanna be delivered
In the city was a sinner
I've done a lot of things wrong But I swear I'm a believer
Like the prodigal son I was out on my own
Now I'm trying to find my way back home
Baptized in the river
I'm delivered
I'm delivered

[M.Shadows:]
You're from a small town You're gonna grow up fast underneath these lights
Down in Hollywood on the boulevard the dead come back to life
To the praying Mother And the worried Father Let your children go
If they come back They'll come home stronger And if they don't you'll know
They say evil comes disguised Like the city of angels
I'm walking towards the light

Baptized in the river
I've seen a vision of my life
And I wanna be delivered
In the city was a sinner
I've done a lot of things wrong
But I swear I'm a believer
Like the prodigal son I was out on my own
Now I'm trying to find my way back home
Baptized in the river
I'm delivered
I'm delivered"

Track 3 - Don't Hold Back

2008-12-12T23:22:00.000-07:00

3. Don't Hold Back - The Sleeping - Dedicated to awesome video games (i.e. Halo 3, Guitar Hero 3)

It wouldn't be a Super Rockin' Mix without a song dedicated to a video game(s). I was introduced to The Sleeping because of Guitar Hero 3. "Don't Hold Back" was one of the first bonus songs I purchased after thinking the band sounded familiar. It turns out that The Sleeping was the long lost band I had been searching for after seeing a brief advertisement on TV a couple of summers before. The song was and is awesome and even better being played on on Guitar Hero. This is another song I rock out to in my car with the radio blaring. I've spent too many hours playing video games this year. I wonder if Guitar Hero World Tour is any good?

"Yeah, open, now let me see the way you work it.
Let me see you work it.
Just lay down.
You've got me right here where I need it.
I'll hold out just as long as you don't worry.
Don't worry, we are, we're weak in the knees and I can't take this.
Heat stroke, our burning bodies melt away.
Just work it, just work it,
I've been I've been waiting, I've been waiting, I've been craving away.
I need this.
I will hold out just as long as you.
(Tonight is the night we sink wishes deep into our skin.)

Don't hold back, hold nothing back tonight.
Oh, we'll let it take control using you tonight.
Don't hold back, hold nothing back tonight.
Oh, we'll let it take control using you tonight.

Oh yeah!
Are you nervous?
Spending your days away in space, thicker than air, than air.
We've been waiting, we've been waiting, we've been craving away. We need this.
I'll hold out just as long as you.
(Tonight is the night we examine ourselves. This is sick.)

Don't hold back, hold nothing back tonight.
Oh, we'll let it take control using you tonight.
Don't hold back, hold nothing back tonight.
Oh, we'll let it take control using you tonight.

Stop. Work. Work. Just let this work.
Just let it take control, using you tonight.
Oh, just let it take control, using you tonight.
Just let it take control, using you tonight.
Just let it take control, using you tonight.
Don't hold back, hold nothing back tonight.
Oh, we'll let it take control using you to me.
Don't hold back, hold nothing back tonight, tonight
We'll let it take control using you tonight.
Yeah, open, now let me see the way you work it.
Come on and take control right now, now, now, now."

Track 2. The Fight

2008-12-11T22:12:00.001-07:00

2. The Fight - The Classic Crime - Dedicated to Ripley and Kang

Ripley, the Ford Probe, only had two speakers, both of which were in the front. This song was still intense blasting from those poor speakers. They're even better in the Accents'...because it has 4 speakers! The Classic Crime is one of many bands that Dana introduced me to back in September. They're definitely not the greatest band in the world, but anytime I feel like rocking out in my car (when I don't feel like TLTH that is) I rock out to this. It helps me let out some steam after a long hard day of work and school when I start screaming it at the top of my lungs.

"Would you go to war for me, baby?

Would you cry for the weak

And die for the peace of men?

Oh how can we know?

You and I both don't

So lets make this boatload of excuses burn and sink

One day it all comes down to this

You can sink or swim

You can hit or miss

One day it all comes down

One day we all come down

I'll take my heart back and set the people free

I'll leave the dead to die and take who's coming with me

Step back for all the world to see

Your life means all the world to me

I'll take all pain and suffering

But I'm such a sucker sometimes

Sometimes we don't know

So plug up those bullet holes

Oh you feel so close don't let go until I say,

'One day we'll drink to this and say,

'Remember when we died... We went out in flames!'

'One day we'll drink to this and say,

'Remember when we died, we went out....'"

I'll take my heart back and set the people free

I'll leave the dead to die and take who's coming with me

I'll take my heart back and set the people free

I'll leave the dead to die... there will be blood in the streets.."

RIP - "Ripley", '91 Ford Probe LX 9/6/08 - 10/23/08

We will miss you and your 3.0 L V6.

Ben's Super Rockin' 2008 Mix

2008-12-09T22:18:00.000-07:00

Every year since 2004 I have created a mix (now more commonly known as a "playlist") of music that tells the story of that year. It's sort of a diary in musical form. Every song reminds me of a person, place, thing, or an event that happened that year and, therefore, every song is dedicated to something. I copied the idea from Jared, who (back 4 years ago) was making summer mixes with the same thing in mind. But I listen to as much music in a year as Jared does in a summer, so the whole year thing is a little more appropriate for me.

This year's mix (playlist) is probably the most thought out and meaningful since the original mix. A lot has happened this year, both good and bad and each song carries with them a lot of emotion. I've listened to many of the songs 20+ times throughout the year (according to I-tunes), one as high as 38. And that's not including the times I listened to it on my I-pod.

For the next 20 days I'm going to reveal each song, dedicate it to something, and reveal why I chose it. So, without any further interruptions, and starting with the first track, I give you:

Ben's Super Rockin' 2008 Mix

1. How Far We've Come - Matchbox 20 - Dedicated to my boss, and friend, Kevin.

I've never been a fan of Matchbox 20...and I'm still not. But in 2008 I've started maturing a little in that I actually care about the state of the world, and what it's going to be like for my future children. Back in April my boss Kevin and I had a very long discussion one day about all sorts of stuff while working with plants. The very long conversation ended with a prophesy about my death this summer (a prophecy that was obviously not fulfilled). But since then Kevin and I have become very close and I've taken both life and death much more seriously. I still work with him (though at a different place that does not involve plants) and we still have serious discussions about life and and stuff. At one point he got me thinking about a political career, a decision I have since put on hold until I can figure out how to run my shoe department.

Every time I listen to this song I always stop and wonder what I can do to change the world. For one thing, I am definetly not a politician. I am neither intelligent enough, nor am I a sleaze bag. The only thing I've got going for me is a little bit of carisma. But, really, isn't that all you need to be a politician? Anyway, 2008 is the year that I decided that I'm going to change the world for the better. Maybe I won't ever be president, but maybe I don't have to. Just look at Stephanie Myers??? This theme of changing the world is something you will see again in a few other songs on the list. It's been a big part of my 2008. I must also note that I hate election years...but more about that on track 8.

"I think it's turning to a crock but I don't really know
I can't remember caring for an hour or so
started crying and I couldn't stop myself
I started running but there was no where to run to
I sat down on the street and took a look at myself
said where you going you know the world is heading for hell
say your goodbyes if you've got someone you can say goodbye to"

Top 10 things that sucked in 2008

2008-11-29T22:25:00.000-07:00

10. Getting Sick

Getting sick is never fun. Getting sick during important times just sucks. Like...during Thanksgiving weekend, or starting a new job. I hate getting sick.

9. New Jobs

Starting a new job sucks because you don't know what you're doing and your employer thinks you do. And when the success of your job relies so much on so many other people, well, it's not easy. I started two new jobs this year...it sucked.

8. Cancer

OK, so the mole on my nose didn't turn out to be cancerous...but thinking that you might be dying sucks.

7. 60 Hour Work Weeks

You ever tried to work 60 hours a week, go to school full time, and manage to accomplish absolutely nothing for two weeks straight? I have. It sucks.

6. School

I can't tell you how much still being in school sucks. Well, maybe you know what I mean. I just want it over with so I can have a normal life.

5. Drop in pay

Making a ton of money...and then not making a ton of money sucks. It sucks even more when the job that is paying you less cuts your hours. Lame.

4. Not having friends

No, I'm not a complete loser, it's just that all my favorite friends don't live anywhere near me. Most of them live on the east coast, Dan moved to Idaho, and Dana lives an hour away. I've got many acquaintances...but no best friends...except my wife of course. Being friendless sucks. Good thing I have Master Chief, but there's only so many times you can save the universe from dangerous aliens.

3. Losing your cat in Ohio

So, not only are you leaving your friends, family, and a good paying job, but your frigging cat runs away in Ohio while you're crossing the country. Already losing him for five days during the summer sucked, but this sucked even more. But, thankfully, he's back.

2. Ticks/Lyme disease

Someone very close too me was bit by a stupid tick, contracted lyme disease, and lost almost everything including his life. It wasn't me or my wife, but thinking that someone you love is about to die sucks. Ticks are stupid and suck.

1. Car Accidents

Getting into ONE car accident sucks, but getting into TWO accidents in the same day sucks even more. Top it off with a totaled car and you might as well throw yourself off a bridge because life is out to get you. For days afterwords I couldn't sleep and now I'm paranoid about driving anywhere. AHHHHHH. But I'm over it (almost) and my new(er) car gets great gas mileage. But I could have died...and dying sucks.

Runners up: tornadoes, voting for president, Jiffy Lube, Transporter 3, Shopping for cars

Top 10 things that rocked in 2008

2008-11-15T08:49:00.000-07:00

Here is my list of the top 10 things that rocked in my life in 2008.

#10 - Too Late the Hero

This needs no explanation really. The DVD shoot in August was intense and tons of fun. I'm looking forword to the DVD being released later this year and to whatever music they're recording right now.

#9 - Accidently meeting Panic! at the Disco

Back in October Dara and I accidentaly got to meet Panic! at the Disco. While I'm not a HUGH fan, they were some really great guys. I hope to meet more famous people in the future.

#8 - House Boats

One of the greatest moments this year was relaxing on a house boat on the Swannee River back in July. Sure, the other parts of the trip to Florida were cool, but this was by far my favorite. It was only for a couple of days (which was enough for me, I get anxious to move on to something new when I'm away from home) but the last night on the boat was awesome. I was sitting out on the deck reading New Moon while the sun was going down, giant fish were jumping out of the water, an aligator was circling us, and there was no one else (but my in-laws and wife) for miles. It was great!

#7 - Awesome Phones

Technology has come a long way in the past couple of years. In October, Dara and I were finally able to upgrade our phones to something way cooler. She got the Samsung Glyde, and I got an LG Voyager. The phones are awesome and they both take great pictures.

#6 - Ripley - 1991 Ford Probe

While the car didn't look like much, under the hood was a 3.0L V6 and it only cost $1,000. Before it was totalled in October, I was never technically able to race the GTI (which Dara had recently named Alice) but I think I would have given her a run for her money. I only had her for about a month and a half but we become very close. And while the Hyundai Accent that replaced her gets 11 miles more to the gallon, I miss the Probe. Rest in peace Ripley.

#5 - Batman - the cat and the movie

I never give enough credit to my cat Batman. Yes, he's a pain in the neck, but he's never gone missing and he spends most nights curled up beside Dara and I in bed (without licking us and waking us up).

While not as cute and cuddley, the new Batman movie, The Dark Knight, was absolutly amazing. Though it took me awhile to form an opinion on the movie, I finanlly understand it for its brilliance. But even though it was an amazing movie that I think everyone should watch and study, I will not recommend it to anyone not old enough to understand it's messages. It's quite frightening.

#4 - New Hampshire (ie. family, friends, and trees)

Yeah, Utah is a nice place, but summer in NH is where it's at. Honestly, I've lived away for enough time that NH has become a foreign place to me, but that's where the people I love are. It was good to see my family every weekend instead of once a month. Someday I'll return...or at least live close by.

#3 - Not dying

Before I left for NH for the summer, my boss professied that I would die if I went. And even though I have been almost struck by lighting, surrounded by alligators, in 2 accidents, and might have cancer on my nose, I survived not only the summer but all of 2008. Pray for me in the last month.

#2 - Dara

I can be a terrible husband sometimes and Dara sticks by me. She's smart, beautifull, "exciting", she incureges me in persuing my writing career though I never write, she goes to see the James Bond movie with me because I don't have any friends, and she lets me play X-box when I'm stressed out. Now I just have to convince her to let me get a new laptop. I couldn't have fooled a better women into marrying me. She's awesome.

#1 - Beatty Cat

This year, Beatty cat proved himself as a fighter and came back from the dead twice. When we went to Florida in July he went missing for 5 days. I never gave up on him, though the odds weren't good because Dara's cat, Pandora, went missing in the same woods a year before and never came back. But for some reason I never last faith. We found him meowing in the garage, thinner, but alive.

In August, while staying in Ohio, Beatty cat got scared (by me chasing him when he jumped out of the car) and went running into the woods. He was missing for about a month until someone found him and captured him. I must admit that I lost faith this time and the whole experience was very bad. But we got him back and my family is whole again. I love my Beatty cat, even though he wakes me up by licking me in the middle of the night.

Runners up - Gas prices (going from $4 a gallon down to $2), Iron Man (the movie), Barak Obama (for not being Bush), the trip to Florida (in general), Kang, the 1997 Hyundai Accent, Novemeber movies (007, Twilight, Tansporter 3), the Twilight series, Wally Dingo.

(During the making of this blog, #2 was accidentally switched with #1.)

Next post - Top 10 things that sucked in 2008

New car and Halloween pics

2008-11-03T21:19:00.000-07:00

Dara and I were politicians for Halloween.

And this is my new car, Kang. It's a 1997 Hyundai Accent. Her name is Kang because someone etched the work KANG onto the trunk. I don't know why...it's just there.

I was going to try to rip a guy off and offer him far less than he asked for his 92 Lexus ES 300, but I decided to go econo-box instead. I plan on putting a For Sale sign in the car window to see what I can get for it and save up for a better car in the future. But who knows, maybe I'll end up liking her. If only I could get my radio in.

Panic! at the Disco

2008-10-17T22:54:00.000-06:00

Every year around this time (minus last year) my AWESOME! wife gets me concert tickets for my birthday. The first year was Jimmy Eat World and Green Day, the year after was New Found Glory (which was probably my most favoritest show ever) and this year was the Rock Band Live tour featuring The Cab, Plain White T's, Dashboard Confessional, and Panic! at the Disco. It was at the E Center in West Valley, Utah. It's a small arena and not nearly as big as the Energy Solutions Arena (AKA The Delta Center), but not as cramped as In the Venue. Overall I really liked the place...even though West Valley scares the crap out of me.

Anyway, Dara and I accidentaly got to meet the boys from Panic! at the Disco. When we were walking up to the doors at the E Center, Dara saw somebody she knew (which is normal, trust me). We started talking to her and found out that she works for radio stations in the area. She's in charge of guiding winners of radio contests who won the chance to meet bands. In this case it was Panic. Well, a couple of people didn't show up (or were late) so her friend let us in.

The boys from Panic! were really nice, and very young. They remind me of the boys from Too Late the Hero (well, maybe TLTH four years ago). But here's the picture that was taken with my awesome new cell phone.

I threatened to punch them in the face if they touched my wife. I made them laugh! I made famous people laugh! And Brendon (to my left) touched me! AHHHHH! They're so dreamy.

So, there's more to it but you can check out on my wife's blog because she's writing it in more detail right now.

Miracles

2008-09-28T20:00:00.000-06:00

Holy crap! Beatty cat has been found! He's a bit skinny and had fleas but he's ok!

Here's the story. When we left Ohio after Beatty cat's disappearance, our friend Chris and her family put up fliers around her neighborhood. Apparently, one of her neighbors who had received a flyer spotted Beatty in the woods outside her home and spent tried to catch him. She found him sleeping on her lawn one day and recognized him, so she put out food and tried to get him to come to her but he wouldn't. She got a little sneaky and left her car door open (and kept an eye on it of course) and when he went in she trapped him their. Then she drove the car into the garage and closed the door. I don't know who she is but she's AWESOME!

This Thursday Beatty cat will be on a flight home to Utah where he will be reunited with his family; Ben, Dara, and Batman. Unfortunately he his unaware that the family has grown a bit as well. Living with us is our 2 friends, Jackie and Eric, their 3 cats, Oliver, Chantel, and Chet, and their 2 dogs, Tucker and Roxie. We expect that Beatty cat will hide under our bed for a few days (just like Batman did) but I'm sure he'll adjust. We are all very excited to see him and I am not ashamed to admit that I MAY cry at the airport. I missed my kitty. Thanks for your prayers.

Believe it or not

2008-09-06T22:45:00.000-06:00

Say hello to my new car, Ripley.

Ripley is a 1991 Ford Probe with the 3.0 L V6 engine, 4-wheel drive, and a manual transmision. As you can tell from the picture the exterier isn't much to look at (i.e. driver side head light) but the interior is in great condition. All it's lacking inside is a killer sound system. Also, the engine is in pretty good shape and everything seems to work fine. Not bad for $1000. If we still lived in Orem we wouldn't have needed a second car but there's no bus that goes by our new place in Lehi so I found Ripley and nabbed her.

If your wondering about the name I'll have to take you through my thought process. It goes as follow: The car, of course, is a Ford Probe, and when I think of "probe" I think of aliens probing innocent humans, and when I think of aliens I think of the movie Aliens staring Sigourney Weaver as...Ellen Ripley. And just like Ripley it doesn't look like much, but it's strong.

I know I won't be running laps around the GTI (Dara's car, which she has refused to let me name) but it'll definetly keep up. Kind of.

Until it sleeps.

2008-08-31T20:22:00.000-06:00

On August 20, 2008, my cat Beatty jumped out of the car and took off into the woods. He has not been seen since. My wife and I had stopped in Cincinnatti and stayed with a family friend. We were getting ready to leave the next morning and that's when he ran away. We stayed an extra day but we never saw him. Up until now I have been relunctant to show any emotion toward the situation and I've tried to ignore that it even happened. But I can't any longer. Beatty cat, as he was often called, was my best friend as Warren was before him. I don't know how but someday I hope I see him again. So in honor of Beatty cat I tell you his story.

Back in October 2007 I had to make a terrible decision to but my cat Warren to sleep. I still regret it today, and I pray that I'll never have to do it again. I took it very hard and even said that I'd never replace him. But following Warren's death we noticed that our cat, Batman, was very lonely and I knew that he needed a friend. My wife and I checked Craigslist around our area and even looked at some other cats. But they were all stupid and ugly. I felt that none could live up to the awesome cat that Warren was.

Eventually we came across an animal shelter online which had a lot of postings for cats and was only a few miles away. On my day off I went there to see what they had. I pictured a big place that had lots of animals but it turned out to be a Vet clinic that held mostly dogs and used it's name as a reference for the animals we saw online. Outside I watched the dogs bark and act stupid as someone came out and fed them in the cold October air. I was about to leave but decided to ask the lady if they had any cats. She said they didn't normally have any but they happened to have one now. I didn't want to leave empty handed so I asked if I could see it.

At the time his name was Cosmo. I assume he was named after the BYU mascot, Cosmo the Cougar. He had been there three months when he was abandond on the vet's front door as a kitten. I fell in love with him instantly. I took a picture with my cell phone and sent it to my wife who agreed to come look at him the next day. So we came back and she loved him too. We would have taken him then but he had to finish being medicated for a parasite. We signed the papers then but he didn't actually come home for almost two weeks. But when they did let him go, he fit right in with the family.

Trying to decide a name for him was very difficult. Eventually we decided to name him Beatty in honor of Warren (FYI: Warren Beatty is a famous actor and director, I know him from the Dick Tracy movie...he played Dick Tracy). Though many people thought his name was actually Baby, it suited him well and I wouldn't have picked anything else.

At first he was a typical kitten: annoying and playfull. What I liked the most about him was that he didn't take crap from anyone. Not from me, and especially not from Batman. He also liked to wake us up at 2 AM by licking and biting every part of our body. He especially loved our feet. He also enjoyed sitting on our face and purring as loudly as he could. He never really got over that, no matter how many times I "accidentaly" knocked him off the bed.

As he grew older he changed from the scroney little shelter kitten to a well fed ball of fluff. But he was happy and healthy. The most memorable experience with him is the time he dragged his butt across the floor and left a long poop stain on the carpet. I regret screaming and thowing him into the litter-box because he always seemed to be afraid of me after that, no matter how much I tried to love him. That still didn't stop him from sitting on my face.

Eventually it came time to go to New Hampshire for the summer, so we packed up our car and took the cats with us. They did not like that one bit. Neither of them would eat while in the car and Beatty would sleep under the hotel beds at night. The last day of the trip he meowed for an hour or two and hid under our bed for a few days when we finally got home. Eventually he warmed up to his new home but was incrediablly skitish.

After a week or so we started to allow the cats to go outdoors. I thought it would be inevidable concidering there was a big pet door they would eventually find. Both Batman and Beatty loved their new found freedom but Beatty rearly went to far from the house. In May we went to New York for a weekend to see my brother get married. My wife's grandfather couldn't leave the house so my father-in-law left a care taker with him. This big butch women was also suppose to take care of the cats. But when we returned on Monday, Beatty had been missing since the night we left.

I admit that I cried more than once. Losing Warren was happening all over again, though this time it wasn't my choice. I didn't know what to do but pray, so I did. I prayed a lot. And I don't know why but I never really gave up hope that he was alive and would come back, though the chances were not high. My father-in-law had his cat go missing in the same house only a few months before. We assumed she had been eaten by a fisher cat. But I couldn't give up hope, not for Beatty.

Five days later, Dara and I were walking past the garage which happened to be open and heard meows coming from inside. I couldn't believe my ears. I found the source of the cries and there he was. He was much thinner, but alive. To this day we don't know if he had gotten trapped in the garage of if he was out in woods, but it doesn't matter. My friend came back. After that, Beatty had never been so effectionate and he wasn't afraid anymore. He was back to the way he was when he was a kitten: annoying and playfull. But I loved him. At work, I hadn't told many people what happened. I didn't want to look dumb crying over an animal. But one person I had told was my trainer Jennifer. When I told her that my cat had come back she smiled and admitted that she had actually prayed for Beatty and that he would come home. I've never been so touched in my life.

In July we went to Florida on a family vacation. We left the cats with my parents this time. When we came back Beatty was still alive, bit he was back to his skittish self. but I loved him anyway.

Of course you know what happens next. We head back to Utah in August and he jumps out of the car in Cincinnatti. I tried to catch him but I frightened him and he ran into the woods. I spent most of that day searching the woods for him but there was no sign. We stayed the night and continued searching the next day. Out friends even made signs and passed them out door to door. But eventually we had to leave without him.

I prayed a lot in those two days, but I haven't prayed much since. In fact, it's been almost 2 weeks and I cried for the first time today. Say what you want about something so stupid. Yeah, I pray and cry over a cat but he was family and I loved him. I want more than anything to be a father and he is the closest things I've got right now. And I miss him. I know it's a long shot but I think he'll come back. I don't know how, but he will. And when he does I'll tell him I'm sorry.

Did I mention he liked feet?

Bloggin' in the USA

2008-08-13T20:44:00.000-06:00

No offense, but I have probably been blogging longer than most of you have been driving. In fact, I've been blogging for many more years than I'VE been driving. Word up.

In the past, I have done the web-site thing, TheCentralNode thing, the Live Journal thing, and more recently the MySpace thing. I chose to blog here because my lovely wife blogs here, and I figured that if we're going to blog we might as well blog together. I'm going to insert a random picture now.

You can't do that on MySpace. Unless I missed it. So enjoy the blog - and the lovely picture of my cat Batman (who, for copywrite reasons, was not named after the Superhero) - and I will try my best to keep you entertained. Hey, I can post random video's too.

That's rad.