Breaking the Cycle, One Pedal at a Time

The other day I was out on a trail riding my mountain bike. While out there amongst the varied degrees of terrain I had a moment that reversed my thinking, and not just pertaining to that day’s ride. Down hills aren’t meant for coasting, they are for gaining momentum for the upcoming hill. In life, there is always another hill around the corner. How will you approach it? Will it beat you at the bottom or will you climb it until your legs begin to burn, then push more?

Normally when I ride I use those moments to catch my breath and rest my legs. But I am not out there to rest. I am out there to work. I was resting a minute ago when I was on the couch flipping channels and I will rest when I get back. Now is the time for motion, sweat, loss of breath, maybe a few tears and some much needed pain. This kind of pain is addicting and makes my energy level rise and my whole entire being a well place to be.

What must take place is change. A change in my mind will produce a change in my attitude which will completely change the results that I am used to producing. They say a form of insanity is doing the same thing over and over while expecting different results. The only way to affect your result is you must change either an ingredient or a process within your formula, even if only that change is slight or minute.

If you alter the coordinates of a ship, eventually it will land miles away from its original destination. At first the difference will be unnoticeable to the human eye. In life, if you make a change even if it is small, that little one will turn into larger ones. Eventually each of those changes will create a positive domino effect and before you know it your life has changed for the better. You feel better about yourself, you might have lost weight, maybe an old disgusting habit has been long forgotten or you might even encounter this elusive creature we all call ‘Happiness’.

I encourage you to apply this to any area of your life and I promise you will see results, or your money back. Now, when I ride my bike, every pedal stroke reminds me of how much closer I am to my goal. I don’t stop for rest as often as I used to. The down hills are much faster and more fun. As for the next hill that I will meet in a second, around the corner, tomorrow or down the road some time, well I feel sorry for you.

Fear Has a Face

I just finished watching a few minutes of the ongoing, continuous pounding in your face media coverage of the idiot shooter at the Batman movie. I could only watch five minutes of it because that’s about the amount of what they all know. He went to court wearing a bullet proof vest underneath his jumpsuit; he colored his hair bright red and looks like he is medicated. That’s all they regurgitated over and over within those five minutes. I wish I had only watched one minute and had the other four back.

At first I wasn’t going to jump on the band wagon of this new found disaster. But, we as a society and as humans really need to check what we are saying and doing. One of the things I’ve heard several people say is, ‘I’m not going to go see the new Batman movie because of the shooting in Colorado’. Really? Do you realize what you are doing? You are giving this idiot dirt bag more power by allowing what he did to evoke more fear into your life. The odds of someone else, just as crazy and stupid as he is, showing up at your local theater toting guns and tear gas are the same odds as lightning striking in the same location twice. It will never happen. We can’t allow terrorists and other idiots who are looking for their fifteen minutes of fame to rule our lives.

I truly feel sorry for the families of the victims and I actually feel sorry for the family of the accused. I wish there was a real solution to ridding the world of this behavior and the painful results it musters. But changing gun laws isn’t the answer. Because think about it. Criminal minded people will get guns or any other weapons no matter what. They aren’t going to start following rules just because you have changed them. That’s their lot in life, to not follow rules.

As far as figuring out a solution to the madness, I’m sorry but I don’t have one. I’m really not that smart. If I was I probably would be off curing cancer or something. But one thing I can do is to offer some words of hopeful comfort because we are all in this together. You can’t go it alone and neither can I. I need you and you need me. Honestly, I believe the more we can hold on to that mentality the less we will have those random, singled out loner types, who want to shoot up a movie theater.

Sometimes fear has a face. Sometimes we should face that fear head on. So, we should do the opposite of what our fear is keeping us from and go to the movies. In a way, when I do that I feel like I am not allowing that killer to win. In my mind, he has lost already. He is entering a world of pain. That ‘medicated’ look he had in the courtroom has nothing to do with drugs. It’s called, shock mixed with a little regret. Causing that amount of pain and suffering has its way of coming around and biting you in the ass.

CHEESE BALL ALERT!!!

Whilst laying back in the not so comfortable chair at my dentist's office today, the television show 'The View' was on the small flatscreen monitor which hung from the long extension arm mounted on the wall. I only gave that full description because I should in fact get what I pay for. Anyway, the gang was interviewing some of the cast of another show called 'Virgin Diaries'. I didn't know this show existed. At first they interviewed this really pretty red headed girl who apparently just recently ended her virginity. I had to laugh. I couldn't believe her because she was really hot and seemed a little slutty. But that's not what this blog entry is about.

The next girl they interviewed was still a virgin at the age of thirty three. She was there with her fiancee. I was annoying my dental assistant because in between each x-ray I couldn't help but to keep laughing at the whole subject. They were on a television show who's audience is mostly women, promoting virginity and a show about virginity. It just made me giggle.

Here is the cheese ball of a cherry on top. During the interview they were discussing the fact of why they were waiting until marriage to have sex. Then all of a sudden, the fiancee of the 33 year old virgin reaches into his pocket and slides out of his chair down to one knee. He proposes right in the middle of the TV show in which they were promoting the TV show his wife to be is on. My first thought was, 'He must be sick and tired of waiting.' I don't care if you think that is romantic. That is just plain CHEESY... 

Why Batman is Awesome, The Movie Biz Part 2

Shall we keep chatting about movies? Alright, I'm glad you agree. Considering film making has been a passion of mine for about fifteen years now, there always has been a part of it in which I am not really fond of, the money side. I understand money is what makes most things in this world go around, but if I could make a movie for free then I wouldn't charge people to see it. Just like a painting in an art gallery, I would simply invite my closest friends and perfect strangers to view my masterpiece and enjoy it for the wonderful creation it is.

The newest and final installment of Christopher Nolan's version of the Batman series opens tomorrow and I am so excited to see it I will be doing what I normally don't. When a new movie comes out I usually wait until the next week to see it. In my older age I have grown tired of crowds and being packed into a theater like a can of tuna is not my idea of enjoying a piece of art. Luckily my schedule allows for me to go during the day so not only can I pay less for my ticket, sometimes I am the only one in the theater. It's like my very own private screening room. I can sit in the middle seat in whichever aisle I want, usually right above the center for best audio clarity. For those of you who are single, this is one of the best things to do by yourself. I love it.

Back to why Batman is so awesome. I've looked around on Fandango to find show times for the various theaters I usually attend and couldn't find any 3D showings of Batman. I wonder why that is. All the other comic book movies and every other action or kid related movie comes out with a regular 2D and 3D version. Why? Well, it's to increase our theater experience and value. It also raises the bar on the entertainment level. At least that's what they want you to believe. Do you really want to know the answer most people aren't willing to write or say? Wait a second; let me check my window to see if there are any black helicopters flying about. 

The coast is clear. The real reason 3D movies exist isn't to enhance anything but the bank accounts in Hollywood. Think about it. When was the last time what I call a 'real' movie was in 3D? Probably never. This is because these movies are meant to be seen for the story it tells. The only reason certain movies need the component of allowing you to feel the effect of objects flying at you is because that's all the movie has. There is no real story, nothing for your heart to grab onto. It is just upgraded eye candy at an extra five dollars or more a ticket. I sometimes feel sorry for those of you who have three or more children who all have to see the newest re-vomited version of Spiderman in 3D. But then again, I really don't because that's part of the joy of being a parent, haha!!

It really is that simple. The reason 'Avatar' broke box office records and even beat the all-time leader 'Titanic' was because of the 3D ticket price. Without it there would be no record. On an interesting note, did you know both movies were directed by the same man? Right now the two movies are separated by 'The Avengers' sitting in second place, also due to the increased ticket price. Another fun fact, to add the Batman being awesome argument, 'The Dark Knight' is ranked fourth WITHOUT 3D. That's more tickets sold than either of the two 3D movies, so take that!


Feel free to let me know what you think...

 

The Movie Biz

What did you do this evening? Thanks for asking. I went to a pizza place near my house for dinner and a couple beers. The event of the evening was Trivia with the topic, 90's Movies. 'Sure, this sounds fun...I'll play,' I said. For those of you who know me, you understand that this is a topic I should do very well with. As I agreed to join the game I was thinking the same thing.

After the first question was read, I knew this was going to be something I would definitely not win, place or even get anywhere close to the podium. But, it was just for fun and I really wasn't doing anything else at the time. It wasn't like my dream girl sat next to me offering to buy me a drink or sweep me off my feet to some private villa in the Fiji Islands. Which I guess this time of year wouldn't be too fun with all the possible hurricanes, tropical depression and what not. 

So, when the trivia host read the third question regarding the movie 'Scream', which I had never seen nor would I watch it if you strapped me to a chair a forced me to. I would close my eyes and hum the entire time. Because I don't waste my time with watching movies of this genre. What, you don't like horror films? I saw all the horror films I needed to see when I was younger and too naive to realize that they are just movies. Once you see one horror film you have seen them all. As an adult, I understand that movies aren't real, let alone the fact that usually there isn't anyone trying to chase me in the dark with a knife or a chainsaw.

Not only did tonight strike a chord with the above subject but with the quality of movies in general and how our society watches what ever pile of celluloid (which is what film is made of, for those of you who don't know) Hollywood squeezes out of the end of the hose that is attached to the factory in Southern California. Most of the movies mentioned in tonight's trivia game were some I have never seen and will never see. But most of my society lives off this stuff. I guess most people need movies as entertainment or something to help get through two more hours of their lives rather than what movies used to be...ART.
 

The First Post...

Hey Kids,

Here it is, what a lot of you have been asking and some maybe even begging, alright probably not begging, for a long time. I have finally decided to create a real blog. Hopefully this will not go unnoticed and all who read along will enjoy to some extent. For those of you who know me, you may understand why I entitled my blog as I did. For those who do not know me, you will soon figure out the title is very fitting. 

My plan is to bring you my various thoughts, ideas and opinions about whichever topics will reveal their ugly heads to me. Eventually I want to have different categories in order to have something for everyone. Sometimes these words will be funny. Sometimes they will be very serious or life changing. But most of all I want them to stir your mind and give you something to chew on.

So, sit back, relax and enjoy what we are about to share.

Thanks for reading...