Hillsong: I Heart Film

758!

At the beginning of the season I was hoping to get a chance to see a record-breaking homerun this season. It turns out I did, only not the one I originally thought of. Every HR Barry hits from here on out is a record breaking one, so last night’s trip to AT&T afforded me the opportunity to witness history in the making. I know everyone has their opinions on Barry and “the record” but you can’t deny that the man knows how to hit a baseball.

You can feel it when he’s at the plate and see it in the pitcher’s eyes. No matter what the count is, the mound is never ahead when Barry’s at the plate. It seems like he takes pitchers to a full count just for fun. He learns from a pitcher the more times he’s up to bat. There was no doubt about HR 758…We were in a suite right above & behind home plate so we weren’t close enough to see everything, but the TVs all around the place give you a good idea. Looking down at the diamond I could just tell that he was about to hit another and it happened. The place went nuts. The frenzy for the ball was manic again. Barry trotted around the bases and tipped his cap to the crowd as usual. Another great hit.

But the Giants as a team are another story. Going down the tubes like a kid on the Coke slide…. They had a 4-run lead at the top of the 8th and managed to give up 6 runs that inning while turnstyling through 5 pitchers. There were chances in the bottom of the 8th and 9th but managed to turn a 6-2 into an 8-7 lost to the Pirates. Two teams battling for last place. What a joke.

The park is still a nice place to go, though. My camera batteries were dead and the charger nowhere to be found, so I didn’t get any photos/footage of the evening. Instead here is my trip from June…

Year 7: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Finished last night…Finally! (I won’t be discussing much of the plot for fear of spoilers)

I’ve had the book for two weeks but have been unable to get to it until this past weekend because I wanted to re-read all of the books in anticipation of the final one. My plan was to read each book then see each movie respectively (read1, watch1, read2, watch2, etc…). I thought if I started at the beginning of July I would be able to hit The Order of the Phoenix in stride, then read the Half Blood Prince immediately after that in preparation for the July 21 release of book7. I thought the plan was sound, but it didn’t quite work out that way.

Plans were set to watch OOTP on a Monday and by the Sunday before I still hadn’t finished reading Goblet of Fire, so I watched the movie instead and then watched Order the next night. Then the wheels came off…it took another 10 days to finish book5 and by then book7 was already collecting dust! I made up for it in the last week, though. It was really exhilirating reading and watching the 10-year plot (17, really)unfold over the past month. I’d recommend my plan to Potter fans and I plan to write some spoilers in the future dealing with essential items (imho) left out of the movies so that someone unfamiliar with the books will be able to understand some of the inner workings behind the scenes.

But enough about me, let’s talk about Harry some more.

Book6 was a mild departure from the standard HP story structure, even moreso than book5. Without spoiling anything (I hope), I’ll say you get to spend a lot of time with Harry & Dumbledore exclusively and learn a great deal about Tom Riddle. The setup at the end leaves you almost depressed (if you care about these fictional characters) because you realize it will really never be the same again. Dumbeldore tasks Harry with finding a way to kill Voldemort. You knew this was coming from book1, so it’s nothing new, but it brings a finality to the story you expect but never expected. It’s been an annual experience since 1998 - either a new HP book or movie -and now it’s finally over. Bittersweet.

Book7 finds Rowling both at the top of her game and succumbing to repetition to drive the point home. I’m certainly not one to criticize writing skills (English was my worst subject) but I’m sure 25 pages could have been saved by cutting out half of the references to either Harry’s scar hurting or Hermione repeating her “I told you so / Dumbledore told you so” schtick. We get it! Really we do! I know it makes them seem more real but it can bog down the story at times. This has happened more and more over the last 3 books as we learn of the mind meld between Harry & Voldemort. The scar hurts…he can see V’s mind…everyone tells him not to (Occlumency). But it keeps coming up over and over.

That’s a small gripe to have, though, in the grand scheme of things because when the story flies, it soars. The action is so fast-paced and fierce in this one you probably need the slowdowns to catch your breath. Major and minor deaths come aplenty and the final Battle For Hogwarts is a breathtaking sight to behold (in my mind’s eye anyway). The answers also come fast & furious but also subtely. I’ll probably need to read it again to grab everything, but it must now be clear that J.K. Rowling knew the entire story from the beginning.

This is no small feat which was begun in 1990 by happenstance. By the time the first book was finished it seems all 7 could have been finished. I’ve heard that the backstory notes she keeps have grown to quite a large size and that helps me realize again that this is possibly a once-in-a-lifetime (at least a generation) phenomenon. Many small details littered throughout the first six books yield a bounty of information at the end. Harry’s progression as a wizard and a person come to fruition as he finally becomes the hero we’d always hoped he’d be.

This is a highly emotional story with friendships and familial ties tested to their very core. I smiled & teared up many times and found myself inwardly cheering (with an outward “YES!” here and there) as Harry continually stepped up to the plate. I was on edge from reading the jacket cover & dedication which clearly state this is the end of Harry’s story and therefore our time with Harry as readers. Like I said, bittersweet.

It’s impossible to isolate book7 from the rest of the books (especially book6). I doubt someone could pick it up (even with just the movie knowledge) and feel moved by the details of the story. Maybe that’s a problem for people or publishers who think a book is supposed to stand on its own (I’m sure Scholastic and Bloomsbury are crying all the way to the bank) but it has never been presented as anything more or less than a 7-part story and that sense, as well as one of completion, comes by the time you finish the last page.

How G.I. Joe (actually COBRA Night Raven) Killed Santa Claus

As everyone knows the new Transformers movie is coming out soon. I took this opportunity to dust off my old TF comic books from the garage and bring them inside. Since the commercials are on TV more often now my kids have caught on to the fact that this is something marketed to them. Only one problem: they are girls.

How sexist of me, I know.

But when I was growing up and amassing my Transformers toys and comic books I don't remember girls coming over to play or meeting up with them at the comic shops. Still, somehow, my girls are interested because they know that toys are associated with the movie (Darn you Madison Avenue!!!!) and I casually mentioned to them that I still have some TF toys in boxes out in the garage.

Big mistake!

Now it's an everyday inquisition: "Have you gone to the garage yet Dad?" "Did you get your Transformers yet Dad?" "Can we see them now Dad????" So on Tuesday I decided to wade through that jungle that is a West Coast garage (cars not allowed!) and look for old toys that have somehow moved with me 6 times since I left home.

I found my old Sega Genesis and some old Zoobooks the kids might like. I also stumbled across my original Millenium Falcon looking a little worse for wear. Underneath the Falcon was a black garbage bag. When I opened it up the memories, which make up the crux of this story, came flooding back.

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When I was 9 or 10 and in Cub Scouts or Webelos or something my Mom was a "Den Mother" and we were having a meeting at my house. Somehow the subject of Santa Claus came up and I stated that I still believed in Santa. Instantly it was like I was on the outside of some inside knowledge that everyone knew but me. I had never heard of any other kids not believing up to this point, but they all knew something I didn't. The adults handled it well, but there was some level of mutual shock felt between me and the boys. Even my best friend Mike didn't believe!

So it got me to thinking.... What it if wasn't true? Santa not real? Who's leaving presents?!?!!

Christmas season came and the big ticket item on my list was the Raven: a sleek looking plane that reminded me of the stealth bombers I had just heard about the military having. It was expensive and I knew that the most expensive gifts were always given by Santa.

One day I was at my dad's office and he stepped out to go talk to someone. I played around on his desk and dropped something behind the desk. I crawled on top of it, looked behind the desk, and there in a shopping bag was the Raven box! Homina homina homina...I was getting it for Christmas! w00t! I casually picked up whatever it was and went back to playing.

My dad came in the door a few moments later and we went home. On the way home he said, "Now son I completely forgot but I had a Christmas present for you in my office. If you've seen it I want you to tell me and we'll just give it to you now. Did you see anything?"

My heard was racing! What could I say? I'd hate to spoil the surprise. And there's something anticlimactic about getting gifts early...especially one of this magnitude!

"No," I lied. And that was that. My dad didn't say anything else. Remembering back now I know my dad had a huge window in his office on the wall that the desk was up against. And I think he was talking out in that hallway that the window opened up to, so it's not unthinkable that he could have seen my entire escapade. But he never let on that he knew. It's one of those things I wish I could have asked him...

Anyway, cut to Christmas Eve (we used to open our gifts on Christmas Eve then wake up to Santa gifts in the morning) and I opened all of my gifts. Surprisingly none of them were in huge boxes and the Raven was nowhere to be found! I had a sinking pit in my stomach but I had to put on the happy face because I couldn't show that I knew there was another gift coming.

Santa used to always leave notes on Christmas morning after eating the cookies and drinking the milk. That year I had studied my dad's handwriting so I would know for sure if he left the note. We went through the milk and cookies routine and I went to bed. My heart was pounding in my chest. I was about to uncover the greatest mystery of my short life!

In front of the fireplace the next morning, as you can guess, was the COBRA Night Raven in all its glory. I was elated and devastated all at the same time. I checked the note on our fireplace mantle and it was written in cursive. My dad always wrote in BLOCK letters....I was foiled! But the jig was up at that point. I knew the real deal and that was the last year "Santa" visited me.

I never said anything to my parents but there seemed to be some sort of understanding because I didn't do the milk & cookies thing after that. I hung the Raven from the ceiling in my bedroom and though it was fully assembled I never played with it. My sister came along a few years later and we got to start the tradition again but that darned COBRA commander and his unquenchable thirst for military aircraft killed my Santa Claus.

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Languishing in that black trash bag for umpteen years was the Night Raven. I pulled it out briefly and saw a layer or two of dust on top. It seemed to be intact with many accessories at the bottom of the bag. The moment I touched it all the memories I just shared with you came flooding back. The mind is a funny thing....

I put the Raven back in the bag, then back in the box underneath the Millenium Falcon. I grabbed the Zoobooks, turned out the light and locked the garage door.

Transformers treasure hunting would have to wait for another day.

What I'm Watching

This fall I've found myself watching more TV that I have in the last 6 or 7 years. Normally my TV watching increases in the fall because of football season, but I'm also watching more network shows that ever before.

Many moons ago I pared back my cable choices to the most basic (called Limited Basic in my Comcastic land) which seemed to be good enough. Sure, I'd miss Comedy Central & ESPN and the kids would miss Cartoon Network and Disney, but we got by just fine. Then a few years ago I decided to get an HDTV and subscribed to the HD (only $5 more!) stations that were offered. This added a few channels (namely INHD, DiscoveryHD and ESPNHD) that had some good programming I'd been missing, but I didn't increase very much...

At this time my main TV shows were 24 & American Idol (sue me...whatever) and that's about it. Then I started reading about The Office, Lost, & Arrested Development. Over the summer I rented the 1st season of LOST and got hooked, so I knew that was on my list for the fall season. Same thing with Arrested Development. I wasn't sold on the office quite yet. So I added 2 shows and tentatively a 3rd. Still no biggie because 24 & Idol didn't start until January anyway so the fall was open! Jason Lee is a favorite of mine and since his new show was on before the Office, it didn't hurt to add that too.

Somewhere in here I decided I needed a DVR so I went with Windows Media Center. Of course this (last fall) happened to be the demise of AD and the rise of the Office. I also sprinkled in some shows my wife likes more than me: House & Numb3rs. So the next summer was spent watching the British Office series and catching up with American Office episodes I missed.
At the beginning of the summer NBC started an intriguing (now genius, I say) campaign for Heroes that was enough to get me to watch. Friday Night Lights seemed too teenagey-O.C. for me and the while the movie was good it was not great. Really only one television show survived from silver to living room screens (M.A.S.H.). The last one that tried (if I remember correctly) was My Big Fat Greek whatever. BFG the movie was far more popular than FNL and that TV show tanked. Studio 60 & 30 rock had people I liked, but they seemed like the same show. I can't watch everything every night, so I limited myself to adding Heroes (M) only and sticking with House (T), Lost (W), Earl & Office (Th), Numbers (F).

So with this fall it was going to be 1 hour of programming every night (not counting sunday & monday football) which seemed like more than enough for me. What I didn't count on was catching the end of the pilot for Friday Night Lights. It floored me and I became an instant fan. What can I say? Then NBC moved Scrubs to Thursdays when I'm watching NBC anyway...this could turn out to be more hours than I bargained for. AND 24 & Idol start up in January competing with at least 2 shows I'm watching on NBC....egads.

How did I come to nurse at the boob tube?

(The rest of the article is at Gone-Elsewhere)

Fame!

No...not the musical. Just fame itself.

For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to be famous. Not that I'm doing anything to further that along. I guess I just want it to happen to me out of the blue. If that isn't the definition of wishful thinking, I don't know what is. But why do I want to be famous? Is it the fortune? Glamour? Recognition? Hey, as long as we're wishing here....

Though I read about famous people everyday, it's rare (maybe not ever) that I've read about someone being so happy that they're famous. Perhaps it's considered bad form, but no one says "Man, I'm just so glad that everyone knows me. I'm really happy with my high-level of fame right now." But would that necessarily be a bad thing? It may be hard to say without sounding pridefully pompous, but I honestly think it would be fun to be famous.

Sure, the paparazzi would get in the way if you were uber-famous. And there's always a wrong kind of fame (think infamous...but not in-famous). But I think I would love to do interviews, premieres, junkets, talk shows, tours, etc... Whatever it took!

I'm not much to look at though. Just a plain guy from California who works with computers (there's an original storyline). I see a gameshow contestant get famous and think, "I could do that." I see a reality show performer and think, "I could do that." See a blogger get famous because they reported the right thing at the right time in a humorous way..."I could do that." But is fame on the Internet real fame? Fame in name only? A flash in the pan?

Why am I worried? I'm not doing anything to further this. Just spinning my wheels while I study for the next Microsoft exam. One out of hundreds of thousands of certifications. Nothing too famous about that....

My fanatic article

A link to my elsewhere article about the Cup.