Pennie and I went to see NASCAR 3D at the IMAX - it was awesome! 3D has come a long way! I highly recommend checking out this film. I suppose it's safe to say that it lives up to everybody's expectations. If you're already a NASCAR fan, then "NASCAR 3D" is probably near the top on your must-see list. If you're not a NASCAR fan, then "NASCAR 3D" is still a worthy piece of entertainment. The subject matter is a perfect use of the IMAX 3D technology!



Okay, the picture was staged, but it was still a very cool film! Dig those stylin' shades!
- posted by Chris @ 11:00 PM

 
Today's focus will be on what's important in life.

Simply put - it's not what you have - it's what you do. Your experiences are everything. At the end of a long life, the thing you will remember will be your experiences. I won't remember the DVDs I bought or even the BMW convertible, but I will remember meeting a puppy named Grace in the park on a Saturday evening (see Apr. 24th entry.) I will remember watching the festivities at the San Jacinto monument with Pennie last weekend. I will remember that crazy dance at the Hardee's while at college. (Haven't heard that one? Ask me sometime.) haha

This weekend, Pennie and I have a lot of "to do's" scheduled. We are planning on taking a bike ride around downtown Houston Sunday. We will probably take in a ride on the new light rail system and then swing by the Toyota Center to attend the kickoff party for the Houston Comets season. None of these things will cost much money (I assume the rail is pretty cheap,) but each of them will create invaluable memories. I am also sure that some spur-of-the-moment tangent will enter into the picture at some point during the weekend as it did last weekend when we took in a softball game "because it was there."

Added blog dated 04-24-04 Trip to San Jacinto Monument
- posted by Chris @ 5:24 PM

 
Pennie and I went to the San Jacinto monument despite the rainy morning and reports of eminent thunderstorms all day. And you know what happened? For the several hours we were there, it sprinkled a bit in the morning and then cleared up into a beatiful day until we left in the evening when the rains returned. Yeah - it is nice to live a charmed life.



Built 100 years after the battle it honors, the 570-foot San Jacinto Monument stands in the Guinness Book of World Records as the tallest monument column in the world. It stands 15 feet taller than the Washington Monument. It towers over the prairie where, in 1836, General Sam Houston and his determined army battled furiously to "Remember the Alamo!," bringing an end to the revolution against Mexico's rule.

There was a great 40-projector slideshow presentation called "Texas Forever!" which is excellent. It tells the story of Texas from the early settlement by the "original 300" through to the Battle of San Jacinto and independence of Texas. If monuments don't impress you - go just to see the show.

The festival featured the typical fare - tons of vendors selling everything from sausage on a stick to your own bag of fresh fried pork rinds - yumm. haha There were a ton of informational booth set up showing everything from early blacksmithing and weaving to the archeological work being done on the battlefield itself. In addition, there were a host of bands and performers. The battle reenactment was cancelled early in the day when it appeared that it would rain all day. An ad-hoc battle reenactment was created by one of the directors while one of the bands was playing a song about the battle. They lined up all the "volunteers" on opposite ends of the ampitheater grounds and instructed them at a key point in the song to run at each other in a play battle. As you can see - some of the Texians really got into the roles.



When both sides reached the middle, several of the reenacters fired off their black powder rifles and all the kids fell down as if shot. I got lucky and got this shot right as the blast went off. Overall, it was a lot of fun for the kids and the spectators.



After we finished our day we found a very cool little state park just off to the side of the grounds and kicked back there a bit (and snapped this picture.) It was a lot of walking, a few dodging of raindrops, but chock full of good times and good company.



- posted by Chris @ 5:34 PM

 
Pennie and I had a great dinner at the Beck's Prime at Memorial Park yesterday. This was my first time at that location and I have to say it was very nice. After dinner, we decided to take in a softball game that we saw in progress. It was entertaining despite the fact that there was nobody there that we knew. In no time at all however, we met someone. This is Grace, the ump's puppy.



Pennie got this shot (the kid just sorta jumped in the picture) because Grace sleeps like her dog Abbie (sp?).





Well, my satellite is out and I saw the first season of "The West Wing" available on DVD from the library and thought I would give it a spin. At least it would be noise in the background while I work. The ads never appealed to me, but I figured I would give it a go. It is just more of the same tired television drama - more pablum for the masses. The show really failed to live up to its potential and tries to be way too funny. The drama is very predictable, the characters are very stiff stereotypes and the slant is more liberal than most left-wing Hollywood political pieces. In fact, they should rename the show the "left wing." It is a preachy and long winded hour of propaganda.

Oh and I am writing this halfway through the first show... and I have to admit - the same tired TV dramas work. Despite the carboard characters and over-the-top attempt to make politicians seem human through common humor, it is a bit entertaining.

AARRGGGHHH! I hate this show, but I find it strangely compelling. It is like watching a car wreck - no, I take that back. A car wreck is easier to watch. It is more like when someone hands you a milk carton and says "Does this smell bad to you?" It is exactly the same as that compulsion to take a sniff of something you know is going to smell bad, but you just have to make sure.

Naw, that analogy doesn't fit either, because I sit here knowing it stinks, but can't stop smelling of it. Maybe rank-smelling crack would be more appropriate. It appeals to all that is base and simple in us... just as the rest of network television does. I feel dirty watching it - but it hasn't been shut off yet.

PS Rob Lowe does an excellent job. Martin Sheen as President is made out to be a philosopher-genius with a heart of gold... it is way overboard on the "we should revere our great leader" scale.
- posted by Chris @ 9:55 AM

 


I just completed the 12 lecture course, "The Life and Works of Mark Twain" taught by Dr. Stephen Railton of the University of Virginia. Mark Twain aka Samuel Clemens, is a beloved American author and humorist whose stories of young boys finding adventure on the Mississippi shaped many a daydream.

I was surprised to find out that Mark Twain was one of the pioneers of network marketing. Mark Twain's "Huckleberry Finn " made its author a fortune being sold by what Twain called "subscription agents." He offered commissions to agents who sold the book to their acquantances. Not only did Twain make a great deal of money, his agents made vast sums as it was one of the bestselling books to that date. Twain was also revolutionary in who he recruited to be agents. His focus - those who needed the opportunity. That's right, just like the USANA business, anyone could do it! He offered his opportunity to Civil War veterans out of work and yes, even women! Women working in the 1800's were virtually unheard of, but Mark Twain knew that network marketing was a perfect fit for women. Because of this extraordinary method of distribution his books reached the broadest market of any book prior. He clearly knew his product and its broad appeal:

"My books are water; those of the great geniuses are wine -- everybody drinks water." - Mark Twain

Fast forward to the present and what has changed? Well, in those days, the path to the consumer through this method of distribution required the agents to take orders, receive money, and deliver product. Because of innovations such as the Internet and direct-distribution warehousing, we in USANA can deliver high quality products to the consumer base without all those hassles. And like Twain, we are delivering a product with broad appeal.

Mark Twain and Dr. Myron Wentz share one important vision - to deliver their products to the broadest market, using the best method of marketing available. Not a bad couple of fellows to be associated with!

World News - NFL Player Dies in Afghanistan

I think the news that Pat Tillman, formerly of the Cardinals in the NFL dying in Afghanistan is sad. I am however somewhat appalled at all the press it is getting. I am sure that Tillman would agree that the other 700+ soldiers who have died in this conflict are just as worthy of the praise that is being heaped upon him. Yes, it took a lot to walk away from the millions of dollars to follow what he felt was a more important duty and he should be commended for that - doing the duty - not for walking away from the money. Those others that have given the same level of sacrifice should not be viewed any less or receive any less press just because they were not in a position to walk away from large sums of money. I don't think it can be argued that they gave up any less than Tillman.

Here is to ALL those soldiers who gave their lives and ALL those soldiers currently fighting for our country. They have all made the SAME committment.

THANKS TO ALL OF YOU!
- posted by Chris @ 4:38 PM

 


I finished the 12 lecture series, "A History of Hitler's Empire." It was a great survey course on the rise and fall of the Nazi party. It is a subject we have all heard a lot about and thus there wasn't a whole lot of new stuff in it for me, but it was a very interesting refresher.



Dave, Manny and I went to see Kill Bill: Vol. 2. I was really looking forward to the film as I really enjoyed the first one. This one wasn't as high on the gore and fighting factor, but more than made up for it with the continued references to earlier film styles and an interesting storyline. You really can't get much cooler than a samarai sword fight in a trailer house. This movie rocks. I am going to avoid going into detail because I know that if I start, it will go on and on and I don't really have the time.

RATING 9 out of 10

- posted by Chris @ 11:47 PM

 


The shoot is over. My back is killing me, (Steve has the heaviest ancient equipment ever made) my head is pounding, my feet ache and generally I feel like dookie. But IT'S OVER!!! The one bright spot in the day was a small break in the middle of the sessions happen to coincide with the Hot Dog Championship being held in the courtyard which the hotel overlooks. It was supposed to be a weiner dog race, but they let all small breeds in as they only about six entrants. I met the owners of a really good looking beagle and told them I was rooting for Chula (his name.) As luck would have it, Chula took it easily as most of the rest of the dogs either never left the start gate or just looked confused by all the cheering fans and wandered.



We are going to grab something to eat and then relax a bit. I will be heading back into Houston in the morning. Right now I am trying to schedule a couple gas station mystery shops on the way home so that I can get free gas. :)
- posted by Chris @ 8:30 PM

 
I guess we don't have to head down just yet. I have been online applying for mystery shopping locations in Laredo and on the trip home (mostly gas stations.) I hope to land a couple while I am here. I could do a gas station in Laredo tomorrow when I head out and then hit a couple out of the way ones on the way back. One of the companies I do work for has locations in Freer and George West both of which are on the way and they are paying a premium to get them completed as they are so far away from any big cities. We are talking an extra $30 for each five minute stop along the way. This could become a very profitable trip - well, more so than it already is even.
- posted by Chris @ 6:08 AM

 


I just woke up... well, I take that back - I have been up for a while, but I finally decided it was late enough (5:30am) for me to start moving around and showering so as to not disturb my roommate too much. I am sharing a room with a guy named Andy that I have worked with on a couple of these gigs. He is pretty cool, but when he decided to go to bed at 10 - it kinda caught be off guard. I am used to staying up until 1am or so - apparently, he needs more sleep.

We are about to head down to the hotel where we are filming for breakfast and to start a run-through before the jurors and lawyers show up around 8am. I won't be able to blog anymore until after the shoot as I am leaving the laptop at this hotel.

- posted by Chris @ 5:43 AM

 


Well here I am in Laredo. I just returned from a meal at Coyote Creek. It was a nice restaurant and the meal was provided by the law firm that is paying us to shoot a mock trial. We are all setup for the shoot tomorrow and I figured I would put up a quick blog before I hit the hay.

The drive was very long... not as long as I had anticipated, but still very long. The last several hours are the worst because once you get way out west here, you sorta run out of cities. It is miles and miles of cactus. I stopped to take some pictures on the way as the prickly pear are blooming. They should turn out real nice.



I wrote a little timeline of the trip but left it in the truck. If I get the chance, I will post it - but in retrospect, it is pretty boring so I might not.

Tomorrow will be another very long day as the revised schedule was discussed over dinner. Instead of an 8-hour day of shooting, it looks to be around 12 hours. Ugghh. Oh well, it is time and a half after 8 hours - so at least the money will be good.


- posted by Chris @ 10:09 PM

 


I did it. I finally finished the 50 lecture course, "Great Ideas in Philosophy." It is one of the longer courses as it covers just about every great philosopher throughout time. So what does one learn from all this? Simply that philosophy is nothing more than the love of learning and the introspection into the hows and whys of humanity. So what is learned from a survey course of all the so-called great minds? Well, the bottom line is that nobody really agrees on much of anything. There is the Socratic view of life which says that the only life worth living is the examined life - a case for self-worth by means of self-examination. There is also the view held by many that the only life worth living is the active life - success in life is in the "doing" of things rather than the talking about things. The ideologies differ wildly, but at the core of everyone from Socrates to Bacon and through to modern philosophers is the idea that it is worthy of investigation.

I am now in lecture 7 of 12 in "A History of Hitler's Empire." Although this one is on DVD, I still find that I am listening rather than watching .

Tomorrow, I will take off for Laredo (about an 8 hour drive each way,) so I expect that I will have completed a couple more course by the time I return as I have packed a few for the ride.



I checked out the DVD, 13 Conversations About One Thing because I had noticed it on IMDB the other day when looking up John Turturro. It was really a good movie. The one thing that the conversations is about is "happiness." It is a subject dear to my heart, as I believe that you are happy if you decide you are happy. The movie to my way of thinking shows that same points - but perhaps someone with a different point of view about life would take the exact opposite meaning from the film - who knows? Perhaps I have been studying philosophy too long - haha.

John Stuart Mill stated, "Ask yourself if you are happy and you cease to be so."

In "Paradise Lost", Milton put it this way - "The mind is its own place and in itself, can make a Heaven of Hell, a Hell of Heaven."

These are both quoted in the film and are a cerebral way of saying what Bobby McFerrin made a mint telling us.. "Don't Worry - Be Happy!"

RATING 8 out of 10

- posted by Chris @ 12:05 AM

 


TAXES ARE DONE!!!!

I sent Dave off to file the Hunter Gehrig, LLC. taxes and his and Laura's personal returns and I have just finished my personal return. That is it!!! I am going to grab some lunch, mail off the return, stop by the library to get some audio stuff for the trip tomorrow and the DO NOTHING!!!

That's right, I am going to put my feet up and relax the rest of the day!!
- posted by Chris @ 1:25 PM

 


Almost done! It is just after 5:00am and it looks like I might be getting finished within about ten minutes. I am waiting for a VHS copy of the completed DVD to finish and then I will put it in the mailbox for David and hit the hay.


5:17am AAAARRRRRGGHHH! I am sick! With just a couple minutes to go the DVD quit playing. There is something wrong with it. I am going to have to give him the rough cut one instead - since he is at the deadline and he cannot wait for a new one to be made. It has all the content, but some of the synching on the audio tracks is a bit off.

5:26am Whew - it was the VCR that I was running through - it just went into sleep mode and so I couldn't see anything on the screen. It is all good! YES! Luckily, I resisted the urge to stop everything and let the source play the last few minutes out before I investigated. Unbeknownst to me, it was still recording perfectly - I was just unable to view it on my screen.
- posted by Chris @ 5:15 AM

 


Well it is almost 1:00am and I am taking a break from video editing to blog. I thought it was worth spelling out how the past couple days have transpired. Here is the timeline...

Friday - A friend, David Postma, called me with a small video project. He said we need to take a couple hours of video and intercut them to cover up some filming errors. I told him, "No problem. I can have it for you midweek if you get me the files right away." He says he will be getting the files over the weekend.

Saturday - I spent most of the day doing taxes. I agreed this year to do taxes for Scott Mareks, Mike Wright, Elias Green, Davad & Laura Sneed, Hunter Gehrig, LLC., Technical Services Consulting, Goldson Consulting, LLC., Storm Claims Roofing, Tatiana & Carlos Escamilla, Anthony Vasquez, Brian Doelle and oh yea - myself. I finished up most of the bulk of each of the returns but needed some numbers to complete them. Oh yeah - Scott Mareks and Tony Vasquez's returns are completed.

Sunday - Went to Victoria amid a monsoon (see earlier post) for Easter. I got a call from David Postma as I made it back into town and he told me that the video project needed to be finished Monday. I thought it was pretty crazy but took his word for it as I hadn't seen the tapes yet.

Monday - Dug into the video project and realized that the tapes were not tapes at all but DVDs. Well, the problem with DVDs is the format and the compression. Long story short - I spent half the day trying to get the data off the DVDs into a format that I could edit. I downloaded a dozen different programs that claimed they could convert all different file formats. None of them worked. I tried importing through a series of different devices all hooked together. Everything I did took a couple hours to test and then failed. I told David that he was not going to make his deadline, but that I felt I could work all night and get something done.

I worked on the video project from sunup and worked on taxes everytime the computer needed time to render, convert, input or output. (Usually, it was tied up for at least two hours each time I tried something.) I completed returns for Mike Wright, Elias Green, Storm Claims Roofing, Goldson Consulting, LLC., and Brian Doelle. I worked throughout the night stopping only to slap myself in the face and walk out into the cold air for a quick wakeup.

Tuesday - Morning arrived with David still wondering when the project would be done. I was giving him estimates in the 30-40 hour range from the start once I discovered we were working with DVD and he was telling the client, "just a little while longer." The net result was an angry client and him calling me every few hours to ask the same question, "what is the estimate now?"

I had finally figured out a way to make the DVDs useful and David had told the client that they would not work and arranged to swap them for low-quality VHS copies of the tapes. He gave me 1/2 hour notice that he needed the DVDs just as it was working and I had to cancel what I was doing to start over again with VHS.

I converted the VHS into miniDV so that I could import finally into a format that I could edit. I got to editing and realized that not only did I have to hide some poor filming skills, but because one of the subjects as talking via satellite, I had to cut the audio track all up and synch it to the speaker who was live in the room and the delayed satellite participant. It was a royal pain in the arse.

As I said earlier, it is 1:00am now and I have the thing finally edited together. I am doing a final render, an output to digital, an output to DVD and putting it my mailbox for David to pickup in the morning. He has missed a lot of self-imposed deadlines on the project, but oh well. I have been working on the project non-stop now since about noon on Monday. That makes 37 hours with the total likely to be about 44 when I am finished.

Wednesday - Oh yeah and tomorrow is my last day before the tax deadline so whatever I don't finish tonight during rendering, I will have to wake up and finish tomorrow. Tatiana called and said she is filing an extension (THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU) - that leaves only my personal return, Davad & Laura Sneed's personal return, Technical Services Consulting, Hunter Gehrig, LLC. Not bad at all...

Oh yeah, on top of all that - Friday, I head to Laredo (about an 8 hour drive), Saturday I will be filming a trial for about 10-12 hours and Sunday, driving back home (another 8 hour drive.) That is going to make this one VERY long week.
- posted by Chris @ 1:08 AM

 
The ban on Ephedra is supposed to be made law today and it raises some interesting questions. At first, I bought into the hype and held up my fingers in the shape of a cross in front of me whenever Ephedra was mentioned. But what is the real danger of Ephedra and what is the real motivation behind the ban? Ephedra kills right? Well sorta. Officially Ephedra has been named as having "something to do with" 135 deaths. That includes people who were doing cocaine while taking Ephedra as well as people who had auto accidents while taking Ephedra. Not a real direct causal relationship there. And look at the number of deaths - 135. Are we talking about an epidemic here? Not likely. Look at the number of deaths from other causes during that same time:

Common flu 65,313
Auto accidents 42,116
Adverse reaction to prescription drugs 30,622
Murders 15,517
Falls 13,332
Drownnig 3,382
Lightning strikes 120

The only one on that list that is currently banned is murder. We are talking 135 deaths from Ephedra IF you include related deaths. So why ban something that isn't really that dangerous? Who could benefit from getting Ephedra off the market? Well, probably the same people responsible for #3 on the list - pharmaceutical companies and physicians. The bulk of the income in the "health care" industry is from drugs. When the public finds something that works which doesn't require a trip to the doctor or expensive prescription, it is bad for business.

So what is my point? Nothing dramatic - I am not saying call your congressman etc. Just saying that when you hear something on CNN like "Ephedra kills," make sure you think for yourself a bit and question things. It is not called the "Boob Tube" because it shows Janet Jackson's breast... it is called that and "idot box" because that is the target audience and what you become if you watch too much of the programming for the masses - CNN, sitcoms, reality shows etc.
- posted by Chris @ 11:08 AM

 


Easter in Victoria - The Passion of the CHRIS. (hehe - very bad pun - but how often can you use one like that?)

Brian and I went to Victoria for Easter to see the family. The weather was terrible on the way down - it rained like mad and at times you could barely see the front of your own vehicle, much less the road. We saw eight different vehicles that ran off the road into the ditch and three more than had turned over. This is the last one - it was finally clearing up enough to take a picture as we passed this pickup truck and trailer turned over.



When we finally arrived, we were rewarded for our treacherous journey with a special treat. Sandra's horse, Cocoa had a colt the day before. Cisco is the newest addition to the family. He is still gangly but has some great markings.





It was very cool to watch him run on his giraffe-like legs and start to jump and kick like a rodeo bronc. He is still learning how to work everything as he is not yet two days old. I took about 150 or so pictures and will put together a picture gallery dedicated to Cisco after I catch up on some of my work.

I grabbed a couple quick pictures of Weezy (actually her name is Louise - as in Thelma & Louise - but it just sorta morphed into Weezy through time.) Thelma and Louise were added to the Doelle Ranch six or seven years ago. I was in town that weekend and we made a trip to a junk yard where these two baby raccoons had been discovered all tangled in wire and string and all sorts of junk. The stuff was all wrapped around them and had cut severely into their necks and bodies. It was so tight and had been in so long that the flesh around the open wounds was actually rotting right off them. It was the most horrible smell and they were both small enough to fit in a hand. Their chances to survive looked really slim, but after Tim and Sandra cleaned them up, treated their wounds and nursed them back to health - they made a full recovery. They have been pets ever since... well at least until Thelma was caught by an owl. Now it is just Weezy and she seems tame as ever.





Amid all this wildlife there was family time. We had a great Easter dinner and enjoyed hanging out. Of course, it wouldn't have been a complete holiday trip without Kaitlyn. We had a great time playing and despite a minor furniture problem, thoroughly enjoyed being silly.



Back Home in Houston



After having a great meal of Easter leftovers, I watched the late run of the Sopranos. I am still waiting for it to get a little more exciting. This soap-opera crap can't keep up much longer or the fans will be leaving in droves. The series went from a chronicle of a mob family to an Italian soap opera.
- posted by Chris @ 12:07 AM

 


Pennie and I took in the film Secret Window tonight starring Johnny Depp. I knew the title sounded familiar and after the opening credits, it came back to me. In his book, Four Past Midnight, Stephen King included the story "Secret Window, Secret Garden." I remember reading two of the four novellas in the book, "The Library Policeman" and "The Langoliers." TLP was one of my favorite King yarns and the Langoliers was also a decent story, if a somewhat bad film. It was during the reading of this book however that my uninterrupted string of reading everything by Stephen King ended. I just never could get into "The Sun Dog" and never even attempted SWSG.

The film was unfortunately very transparent. I won't include any spoilers because I am sure that it will be a great little mystery for some folks and I wouldn't want to ruin that. I saw through the storyline very early in the film but managed to stay interested throughout mainly because of Johnny Depp's skill as an actor. I would imagine that he could be reading the dictionary on film and through his mannerisms and quirkiness would still be utterly entertaining. John Turturro was wonderful as always as John Shooter.


RATING 7 out of 10

- posted by Chris @ 12:23 AM

 


I went to the eye doctor for a follow-up visit after getting my new contacts. The right eye looks great and tested out 20/20 with the contact in. The left one apparently is the wrong prescription and the wrong fit. It sits too flatly on my eye and is a little blurry when I look at small print. The doc ordered a new one that should be in by midweek. It will be cool to have both eyes fuzz-free again.



I have been watching Homicide: Life on the Streets - Complete Seasons One and Two that I checked out from the library. I remember when it came out that I was blown away. It was one of those shows that was way ahead of its time. It was one of the first dramas to film completely hand-held which gave it an unusual frenzied feel. In addition, it broke all the filmmaking rules like using jump-cuts and changing perspectives in mid-sentence without adhering to the continuity rules of the 180 degree arc between scenes. What that means to the layperson is that it was jumpy. NYPD Blue followed later that year with a lot of the same shooting style. I also remember the ratings were bad. Much like another great show - The Marshall starring Jeff Fahey, good shows don't tend to do real well with the public on broadcast TV. NBC aired the first episode of Homicide right after the SuperBowl in 1993.

It is cool to go back and watch these early episodes and see the guest stars. The HBO drama OZ had a ton of its cast in the first season. Lee Torgeson (Tobias Beecher in Oz) played a beat cop for the first few episodees. Edie Falco (A guard in OZ and Carmela from The Sopranos) played his wife. Luis Guzman played a woodworker that was killed. Dean Winters(O'Reily in OZ) was a man that arranged murder for hire. And that is just in the first few episodes... littered throughout the run of the series is just about everyone who ever appeared in the OZ series.

At first I thought it was odd as hell that all these actors later showed up in OZ, but when you dig a little deeper, you see that the creator of OZ, Tom Fontana was the executive producer and one of the writer's on Homicide. Further proof that it is who you know... Those of you hanging out with losers - let that be a major lesson to you.

Pennie and I are going out to catch a movie tonight... most likely the new one with Johnny Depp - it should be decent. Saturday will be another work day as taxes are still not complete and Sunday will include a run to Victoria to see Mom. Oh yeah, and by the way, the hamstring has healed up nicely. It feels much, much better.
- posted by Chris @ 5:47 PM

 


I watched the movie Antwone Fisher today while working on some tax stuff and I have to say it was a damn good movie. I wouldn't have given it a second look had I not met Derek Luke on the set of Friday Night Lights. I assumed that this was typical black movie fare - ie thugs, gangsta, baby-daddies, po folk and/or slapstick comedy. Boy was I wrong. Denzel Washington's directorial debut was excellent. This was a great film about and starring primarily black people that did not for one second focus on the fact that they were black. There was only a great story with great acting and great direction.

RATING 9 out of 10

- posted by Chris @ 3:58 PM

 


Pennie and I are back together!
All of you who kept telling me to make sure I keep her can relax. We're good.
- posted by Chris @ 11:27 AM

 


Friday Night Injuries

I forgot to mention the rough business that is show business. While doing a shot of the Permian Panthers breaking through the big banner to take the field, a guy between Brian and I had a seizure. We were in a crowd scene where we were all cheering our Panthers taking the field by busting through the huge Panther banner. Everyone was jumping up and down wildly and screeming when this guy (20 yrs old) suddenly let out a loud "AAARRRRGGGHGHGH," doubled over as he spun to the left, and fell half onto Brian and half onto the stadium seat. Brian didn't have a clue what was going on as the guy started convulsing while leaning against him. As the calls for a medic went out, Brian helped push the guy onto the floor and got out of the way. I had been talking all day with a lady about her daughter's modelling career and had found out she was an EMT. She was several rows away and had heard our calls for a medic, but was blocked by tons of gawkers. I literally had to pull a lady out of her way that was blocking the row stunned. We got her over there as the first responder and she took charge. It was quite an exciting event as a cadre of paramedics arrived as he was coming to. The guy was dazed and confused, not knowing where he was for the first ten to fifteen minutes after the seizure. Eventually, he cleared up mentally and he said that he had his first seizure a couple weeks ago and chose to do nothing about it.

I had an injury of my own as I got a little too excited and ignored common sense by not stretching or warming up at all. I pulled a groin muscle from jumping wildly up in the seats and cheering on the Panthers. I have been icing it today on and off because it seems to be getting worse. I have diagnosed it as a strain or slight pull of the Adductor Magnus muscle.



The treatment for this type of injury is RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation.) Gee, that Exercise Physiology degree did come in handy! It has been kinda hard to take care of because I have a lot to do and you cannot get much done when your thigh is wrapped with an ice-bag, while the leg is propped up above chest level. Pretty much all you can do is lay on the couch and watch TV.

- posted by Chris @ 2:06 PM