Getting old

I know I'm getting older when before purchasing cold medicine & cough drops I read the back the box to see the active ingredients.

I further realized I was getting old when I saw there was only one check out stand open and six patrons with full carts. I decided to go some where else for my purchase just before a couple more clerks came to the front.

It became painfully obvious I am getting older when the clerk ringing up my items hands me change and I say "Thank you, young lady".

Entertainment in 2008

So after spending much time with the family I wanted to spend some time alone to have some me time. I also managed to spend plenty of time with friends and over the last month, playing poker, having dinner, watching movies, having drinks at a local pub/restaurant, & watching football. I keep telling myself I was going to get a part time job or take a class and so far I have done neither but I have managed to spend much time entertaining myself with movies & book.

I recommendation the following:

Juno – Fabulous drama that has a bit of everything, humor, suspense, romance, tragedy (drawing on a bit of every genre seems to be the common theme in films these days). The story is original and has a great message. I went expecting more comedy but wasn’t disappointed with the all the drama, the plot, or how the film ends. I recommend seeing Juno.

Atonement – An amazing romance story set in pre World War II England. It is told from the perspective of the youngest daughter in a noble or well to do family & their friends. Most of the movie focuses on how one mistake separates a couple in love and what happens when their paths cross years later. The director’s use of color to symbolize innocence, desolation, chaos, desperation, and other themes are utterly amazing! This movie is worth seeing just for the visual effects alone let alone the story line.

No Country for Old Men – Actually I saw this movie in December 2007 but I haven’t mentioned any action or manly movies in this list so that is why I mention this movie. I loved everything about this movie, plot, acting, writing, directing, cinematography, the pace of the movie. This movie is AWESOME go see it repeatedly at the dollar theaters…I will be!

Entertainment that has occupied my time but don’t necessarily recommend:

Star Wars, Bloodlines – My Secret Santa gave me a science fiction book and I have finally gotten around to reading it. I didn’t think I would like the Star Wars series but this book is written so well I may read a few more. It isn’t action packed nor is there much progress made in the story line per book as it is part of larger series but it is written well.

Phil Gordan’s Little Green book of Poker – Call me a geek but I read books on poker. It helps me change up my game to study what other people are doing or get ideas from players who are better like Phil Gordan. While many people reading this blog are not poker players and don't know who Phil Gordan is so I can not recommend the book (although I like it!).

Cloverfield – This movie used much of the same gimmicks as the Blair Witch Project – internet hype, limited trailers, filmed from the first person perspective of an individual in the story as it enfolds. The characters lacked depth and with a few subtle references to Godzilla I was expecting a lizard like monster instead of the one the directors created. It is original and has an ending most people don’t like but it is doing well at the theaters. While I won’t see it again I can’t say it was great enough to recommend it.

Great in 2008

Not everyone knows but I have to confess I am big on News Years resolutions. I love to make a committment to do something and to try something new. I get excited thinking about what I want to change in my life and how to do something NEW, maybe DIFFERENT, or be BETTER!

My resolutions are written down so they can be tracked from month to month or every few months. Time is set aside time every week or sometimes a few times a month to reflect about how I am doing and what I can do different. Last year I did something that shows I have taken my resolutions to a new low (at the time I thought it was clever). My resolutions were designed with measureable performance levels so my progress could be rated in the same fashion in which employers give performance reviews to their employees. I thought it was creative but in retrospect I see where I took the New Years Resolution concept too far (measuring my resolutions like performance goals...am I a geek or what)!

So this year I have been working on my resolutions and am behind on creating them & finalizing on what I want to achieve and instead of looking at how I can improve myself I'm going to focus on my failures.

Winners...They are perfect and they won! Good for them.

Losers...everyone can relate too. Everyone knows what's like to fail, to come up short, to miss perfection in one area of their lives.

Consider Leroy Jenkins. Leroy Jenkins is an online character in a popular internet game (I think it is World of Warcraft but I'm not 100% certain). Leroy gained his fame & notority for a 4 minute clip that can still be found at break.com, utube.com, as well as few others (google Leroy Jenkins and you should be able to find a 3 to 4 minute clip that is hilarious). Leroy was a member of a group of warriors going in to defeat a number of extremely difficult monsters in a lair. This group is huddled outside the lair drawing up their battle plans. These guys are determined to win because they are drawing up elaborate battle plans. (Most of the 4 minute clip is the group planning their attack) Out of now where Leroy screams his name and runs into the lair by himself thus breaking away from his group. All the group members can't believe it and don't want Leroy to die so they run in after Leroy. In their attempt to run in and save Leroy all the party members end up getting slaughtered and curse Leroy for spoiling their plan of attack and their deaths.

When I saw the clip on break.com it was just a funny clip and fun to scream LEROY JENKINS. I had no clue how big it would become. Leroy Jenkins like antics are recreated & filmed to be posted on the internet, Leroy Jenkins T-shirts can be found in a few stores, in Japan their are groups of teens who react the battle scence for comedy, Leroy was even referenced on Jeporady. In an article about the episode in question the only conclusion the reported could come to was everyone can relate to a loser. Everyone has lost something, someone, or just blown it at some point in their lives.

I think to a certain point everyone who loses ends up at a point to gain more and grow more then those who consistently win. Failure allows us only one precious activity: reflection on what we did wrong and how to improve or how not to repeat the same mistake again. Failure can be conduit for learning and growth. Winners rarely reflect on how to do something better...after all they have to soak up the lime light, let everyone pat them on the back, drink their champagne, and look good.

As I contemplate what I want to pursue in 2008 I am thinking back to 2007, 2006, and even 2005. Where have I failed? Where have I not given 100% when I wanted too or needed to? Where have I not done enough or not done what I promised? Are their patterns? Are there things I could do differently? Were most of the failures determined by things out of my control or could I have influenced some areas to have better outcomes? Can I live with my failures again, again, and again? Will I make the same mistakes this year or will I act differently?

Only 2008 will tell.

If anyone ever notices I seem lost in thought or in my own little world there is the chance I am just day dreaming. There is also the chance I am considering what I learned from a failure and am figuring out how to apply that lesson to current problem.

In reality I'm probably just day dreaming so don't interrupt the day dream!

Denise and I on New Years

Since I don't have any good pics of me and my sister...here you go!

Friends & people who are mad at me for not keeping in contact

I am sorry! I have been working alot and when I get off I sleep and don't do anything. I mean to keep in contact with everyone who writes.

If it makes any of you feel any better I only talk to my mom once every two to three weeks. I only talk to my dad for about 3 minutes at a time (and I live with him!).

Shawn's wedding

I missed a friend of mine's wedding (Shawn). It was at 5 pm in the foothills and I was driving from down town Denver in a snow storm. I was one exit away at 5:30 and decided to stop in at the place were the reception would be held. I dropped off a card & gift and signed the guest book. The reception staff were talking about getting snowed in and I was exhausted after a long day at work and it was all I could do to stay awake. Family from out of town came in to visit and we were making plans for the next day so I didn't want to put my self in a position to be trapped in the mountains. I should have napped in my car until the party arrived and gone in to visit for a few but instead I drove to an exit where I could order food & napped.

Shawn is a long time friend of mine and we talked about it. He was thankful for the gift and appreciated the effort I made just to be there. He sent out an text message to a bunch of people a week later requesting help moving. Turns out I was the only one who showed up so he and I moved all the heavy furniture.

It is funny to me that I showed up to help move furniture because Shawn is no small guy. He is at least 6 feet tall, has about 100 pounds on me, and plays rugby. Even though I missed the wedding I helped Shawn move and was able to have lunch with with he & his wife, Carrie. (What a cool couple!!)