Birthday

You know the old joke... as you get older what have you learned...not much. Well, the one thing I have learned is that you can't go back. And that's good. I was discussing movies and all those remakes with a professor here at the college and told him that the remake wasn't as good as the original. So anytime that I try and do what was done then...isn't like it was. The ole' trying to capture lightning in a bottle. So I'm not gonna try. But what I am going to do is write down those memories...NOT so they can be replicated, just so I can remember-in the awful case my memory starts to go... lol

I know I had birthday parties when I was little. I even remembering seeing a birthday train cake my mother had made me. I know that all my 'little friends' kids that I grew up with in Glasgow were there. This was truly one of those where you knew everyone. And I remember sleep overs for my birthdays, and other assorted simple and nice treasures of those ages.

But what I remember and the jewel in my birthday memory is going to Diamond Jim's in Glasgow and eating steak. My family would do this besides birthdays, but I remember when I was going to Kemper and eating there with some friends. My parents drove us, so it was pre-driver's license. And I remember it was 1978 or 1979 as I remember the song "Piana Colada (Escape)" was on the juke box. And my mother ordering one of those as she had never had one. I think I even had a sip, even though it was alcoholic. That was a drink she liked and actually drank on occasion throughout the rest of her life. And eating steak on my birthday became a tradition of sorts. Now that's not a bad one to do year after year, and that can be captured.

I do remember one special one though: I was seeing this woman who lived in DC and she took me to a nice steak restaurant. Her and a couple of her friends and I all had a great time. Anymore I want less and less of things and more of memories. As I have learned in the last 13 years that those are the things that can never be taken from you. I mean, I knew that even as far back as Kemper, but it has become so apparent in these last years. And any gift that any friend or lover has ever given me has always retained a special place as that person thought enough of me to give me something. Especially some of my 'sisters.' The one in Minnesota sends me CARE packages on occasions of usually gingerbread cookies and some other assorted neat stuff. That always makes my day and I try and let her know how much that means to me. And my Chief of Staff/Legion Surgeon General has fixed up goodies bags for different things. I think that's so neat of her to do. These are just two of my great friends.

So yeah, on my birthday I remember hearing the Piana Colada song, eating steak around a large table and having a nice time. That is something that I hopes to continue. It doesn't happen every time, but enough that make those memories special.

So happy birthday to me today.

Why?

I guess the only time I write on here is for rants. I am still writing Trek stuff, and that helps any writers block. But in any case...

Started watching the show "Mercy." Typical soap-opera at night show, but the pilot episode was good.

Anyway, as the shows go along I find that the main character is, as James Vander Beek guest stars observes, 'a bitter nurse.' And as Buffy's little sis, and the 'innocent' one also observes, 'if it's not about you.' Shes Hawk Eye as a woman I am realizing. And I started not liking him after he started getting too political.

Then you have this doctor who moved to Jersey to be with her, even though he knew she was married. He backs off when she tells him too and then finds a nice doctor girlfriend. Her marriages fails and she throws herself back at him. He initially resists, but of course gives in (well he's kissing her in the last episode, so maybe its just a kiss or...) I was having more respect when he turned her down. Doesn't any one believe in keeping their word? I know...but 'they were in love.' No, they were in a war. Anywhere else they probably wouldn't have even looked twice at each other. But when its life or death and you want to feel something, then you take those moments where you can find them.

Her ex-husband who may have had an affair, but didn't fall in love, is the one who I am really really liking. He declines the doc's baby sis's advances, when it would have been great payback. Heck, I even now like the first doctor who was such an *beep* but who really loved his Russian wife, and then she was killed. At least he was consistent.

So the main nurse has PTS and is an alcoholic. Shes still an ass.

This show is like so many others. I am now watching it NOT for the main character which I am beginning to really NOT like, and watch it for the other characters. Thank goodness for fast forward.

I wish they would show new episodes of "Trauma." Similar situation but more action.

Conan/Caprica

Ok, Conan is gone. And through this, both Jay and Conan behaved well, even if their fans and other late night TV talk show hosts didn't.

On Conan's final show, I learned two things. One: Conan is a good guy. He got choked up talking about what NBC did for him. he didn't really talk about what NBC did TO him. So kudos for that.

And two: I realize that I like Wil Ferrel in movies, and NOT on ANY talk show. OMG... I wonder if Wil can do something that isn't some character. Its like always being "on." He's being somebody he isn't when no one is asking him to do it! And those characters I don't particualrly care for. Take Rich Little. You could ask him to do an impression and then another and another. But I liked Rich when he was joking around as himself, before he would drop into an act. Ferrel, I wonder about. And then he tried to remake "Land of the Lost," one of my personal child hood favorites. Bomb.

Sigh.

Now Caprica. I have a friend that's a Battlestar Galactica hard corps fan. And there is nothing wrong with that. He explained to me the mini-series and then gave me the series on dvd. and yes, I enjoyed them, even though I still love the original. This was different enough from the original that there really is no comparison. Now, about Caprica. Its like watching Titanic. You know whats going to happen... I guess its just the how are they going to get there is the rub. BUT, I had a problem with the terrorist group. You know, the one who is preaching that there is only 1 God. Instead of all the others. Some might say that's it just a show, some may say that they are taking liberties and look at all the dead in the name of Christianity. I don't know... I just found that unsettling. But then I have only been a Christian all my life, a Mason, signed an honor code that had God first and try to be a good person. I don't put others down for what they believe in, and actually like the American Indian Shamanism, and also believe in Karma. I have friends that are wiccan and many others. I don't want to strap explosives on myself and blow them or anyone up for religion. I will fight and die for what I believe in, but not that way.

Yes, I am still writing...

Its just been Star Trek. But lately I have been running out of steam, and, like any story or game, I have to wait on others. So...

Lets see, we could talk about Jay and Conan. I feel bad for Jay as hes coming out people's kicking dog. People love to mis-quote especially when it feeds other peoples opinions. In any case, I do believe that Jay was the right person to helm The Tonight Show vs Dave. Dave is good and has his own comedy and fans as does Conan. But each is different and not quite was the Tonight Show was with Johnny Carson. Notice that when Carson did his show, it was 90 minutes. They cut Jay to 60. And then with his prime time.... sigh. I just think Johnny should come down and kick NBC execs in the ass.

And Jimmy Fallon, who I like; I think he starts every night with an Obama update. I love The Roots. Any band with a tuba player is OK by me. As for Jimmy Kimmel, he should just go back to the Man's Show.

Looks Can Be Deceiving & Avatar

It may look like that I haven't been writing... wrong. I have been, just on my Star Trek PBeM. One of the Achievement Awards you can get is for posting daily. And so far I have not missed a day in over 2 weeks. So, there.

The next thing is Avatar. Palmer drug me out to have lunch with him and then see Avatar. He has seen it six times now. I was less than thrilled, but as Palmer had seen it and been on discussion boards about it, I did go in with an open mind. OMG. As I left the theater, he had said they were already in the works for two more sequels. I told him that it was ok NOT to call me when he goes to see them. This has got to be one of the worst movies of all times, IN MY OPINION not in all the other movie goers, but mine.

But to be fair, it looks GREAT. Beautiful. Its should win awards for that, and technically accurate, etc. But for story.... please.

I am so tired of humans getting beat up by the natives. Yeah. It was Pocahontas, Dances With Wolves, American Samurai, Ferngulley, Dune, Star Wars and World War II all wrapped up into one. Add a book that Palmer was telling me about that had eerie similarities and that was the movie.

If I could give a negative rating to a movie I would. I will pass on this movie.

Alabama

I had forgotten how good Alabama's music was. They did it right, they went out on top. I was sorry to see them go, but so glad they gave us so much good music, and for me the memories I have associated with their songs.

I heard one that I don't think I had heard in years and a verse stuck out and I thought: that's me right now!

Here it is:

Well I'm too young to live like I'm over the hill
And too old to be wild and free


That's the way I feel... so I need to do something about that.

Dollhouse

Ok Whedon, what, are you going the Abrams school of 'How To Screw Up A Franchise?' If I was any of your "regulars" I'd be pissed. Ok, killing Saunders was an interesting twist, as is the whole Boyd is Rossum. But, unless this was what you had on from the beginning...I seriously doubt it.

I don't know a lot, but the one thing I do know, is how to tell a story. All those years playing role play games... and this one feels like you threw the last season together as you forgot about your gaming sessions and the characters started doing things you weren't prepared for,

And now we know the world is going to end in 10 years. Yaaaah.

Maybe DH is cancelled so you didn't really care. I mean with Firefly, you didn't get the chance to screw with that, and it ended on a good note. Granted the note at the time was unknown that it was going to be the last note.

And Buffy, Angel, etc. After you started getting too wacky you lost me. I don't know if I grew up, but I think it is the Executioner syndrome. Whats that you say. Well let me explain.

For those who don't know, there is a series called The Executioner. Back in the 70s it was a series of books about a Viet Nam war vet who comes home to bury his family after his family is killed by the father and then the father kills himself. Because of the Mafia. Don Pendelton wrote 38 books (39 if you include the War Book which most people forgot about and its hard to find) and then he stopped. He knew that you can only go after the bad guys so long, loose friends, lovers, etc. Well people clam mered for more. So Mack Bolan was brought back, as were some of the special teams that he had developed; Phoenix Force and Able Team. Those series had a shorter run. About 50-75 each. But Bolan, then Col Phoenix, then Bolan... it was Communism, and every other bad guys out there. Then terrorists. But its the same thing. Good guy vs Bad guys. And trust me, I am a Bolan fanatic. But after money got tight I had to refrain from buying them. I stopped when they hit 300. Yeah there are over 300+ series in Bolan, and that doesn't include Super Bolans and then those other 2 off shoots. Sometimes its good to end on a high note instead of churning out a crap product. And Whedon, while you had some interesting things, and I liked how you explained why Echo as so important, the serum. Again, you had something great and you didn't know what to do with it. I think all series writers and creators should learn how to role play and get feed back from their players. Then they might understand what a good story line is. And how to end it. So far I have found dam few. As, I am sure, you start have to please the "Masters." Meaning, make more money. Not necessary a good story line, just whatever sells. Even in my better days I didn't believe that and still don't. You have a good product, people will buy. You have a crap product, people won't. Simple. Whedon, you had a good product with the Dollhouse. And then you didn't. Too bad. It would have been a heck of a role play game. But then, there are plenty out there now that I am sure GMs are already modifying to do that. You had no new spaceships like Firefly, no undead stuff like Buffy/Angel. And look at Twilight. Its sappier than either one of yours and look how they are clamoring. Bet you wish you could have a piece of THAT pie.
Good luck Josh. lets see what your next product will be.