Mmmm....Chocolate

Okay so I just went and saw Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. A most peculiar cinema experience. Similar to the original yet O so different. Truer to the book yet with occasional improvisation. I found the combination of Dahl's humor and Burton's antics to make for a rather off-the-wall encounter. Depp did a stupendous job but I feel that had Wilder been in his prime now to work with Burton the movie would have been even better. All together a well spent evening. I would say more concerning the movie but I wish not to ruin anyone's time if they have not yet had the pleasure. So if you were waiting before deciding your wait should now be over. The money and time will be well spent.


Thesauri are rather useful when wishing not to sound redundant.

The Heart of the Matter

Okay, so about five minutes ago my mom called and told me that my uncle had suffered a heart attack, full blow not some minor attack. He had some emergency stints put in and is now in stable condition at UCH. This isn't his first heart related problem though his most severe. I'm not sure if I should drive on out there to see him or just wait until later to go see him. In any case I guess I just had to write it out to really wrap my head around it. Why do hearts fail at times? He is a healthy guy, a bit over-weight perhaps but in fair condition, much better then most of America, and he's only a little over 60 I believe (not sure). Not things to ponder so early in the morning. The sun shines yet it will be a dark day in my thoughts I fear. All go back to your lives and just be healthier about them.

*Edit* @ 11:45PM

Just so you all know my uncle is doing very well and will be moved to a regular room at the hospital tomorrow so I'll get a chance to head out there and visit him. My mom saw him this evening and apparently he is doing very well. So no worries.

The Wonder of it All

Okay in an effort to make my blog a bit more universal in appel, though I'm sure you all want to hear exactly what I do on a Tuesday, I took a trip over to the Firefox extension website and picked up a few tools for my browser that'll make blogging (and even web surfing) a bit more interesting and entertaining.

First up, The Blogger Bar, this little beauty will add in the Blog This option to any website. So you're surfing along and find a site you'd like to dedicate an entire post to. Hit that button and all of a sudden you're blogging away directly into your blog because it's smart enough to know who you are (though I think that has something to do with my "Remember me" settings). Anyways, wins a big thumbs up from me.

Second up, Stumble Upon! this one right here has you register and pick some categories to choose from. Whenever you press the Stumble button you are jumped to a random site within those categories that have already been rated by other viewers. You can then say, "I Like It" and it gives you more in a similar vein, or, "Not-for-me", and similar sites are removed from the randomness. You can also see who originally recommended the site and view other sites they recommended. In all a great little tool to help me find sites I would never have found using just Google and my own search words. Now to show you what this tool did for me already.

www.chrisjordan.com This is the website of a prominent photographer whose works have appeared in such things as the New York Times and the Smithsonian Magazine. Here are two works that really struck me as powerful.


<-- Cell Phones (click large view) Cigarette Butts-->





Very interesting works that I never would have found if not for Stumble Upon! So thanks Stumble!!

Another seven hours older

Okay so I just spent the last 6 or so hours at Matt's (Stites) house playing a game that really isn't all that great. I did warn you folks however that I was fairly sure tonight wouldn't be much of an evening, I mean come on it is Monday after all. Anyways, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: Battle Nexus is an enthralling game that will suck away many hours of life just so that you can watch that next story sequence in cartoon format. I guess things really were better when we were kids because not only did the story make absolutely no sense but the voice acting for the characters wasn't really all that hot. I suppose it was more the reminiscing than the actual game play or story line (the fact that it even had a story makes it about twenty times better then about 75% of the games currently available). In any case I'm now seven hours older and have absolutely nothing to show for it; we haven't even beaten the game yet. Well it's a damn good thing I don't work tomorrow so I can just sleep sleep sleep. Hahaha to all you suckers that live in the real world.

Theft is a Way of Life

Just so you all know I stole this from Nathan's Blog because I'm fairly certain that today is going to be a fairly boring day. I'm to work in a little bit but other then that nothing. Anyways, theft is certainly a way of life because it allows those without to get so there and enjoy.

You Are an Irish Coffee

At your best, you are: wild, spontaneous, and outgoing At your worst, you are: too extreme and reckless You drink coffee when: you want to keep drinking booze Your caffeine addiction level: low

What Kind of Coffee Are You?

Now I have to say that I do drink coffee instead of booze fairly often (mainly doubles at work); however, I'm probably not the most wild, spontaneous, and outgoing person in the world. The worst I'll leave uncommented upon.

Chips and Change

Well tonight was poker night. I really need to find a new group of folks to play with. I got second in the first tourney (so I got my money back). However, I lost seriously in the next two so I just decided to call it quits and leave while I was only a little down; besides everyone else had left anyways. Maybe I'll head out to the floating casino and try my hand at Blackjack again. Seems the only game I play really well is one where I know all the odds and how to play them. Well, work isn't until late tomorrow so I'm off to get some reading done and maybe goof around with a background graphic for the header on this blog; we'll see. Night all.



Image courtesy of http://capmarine.com/cap/graphics/Ace-1.jpg

The Value of Family

Okay here is a picture of my nephew Evan Meyer Robinson and of course his Grandma (my mom). Sorry about the grainy quality but it's just a mobile phone image for now. Little ones teach us what it means to constantly be filled with wonder at the great world around us. Playing with him is probably one of the most enjoyable things I do in life and something that you can never really get enough of.







Here is another family picture, this one of my cousin Eric learning about physics using a Pilates ball and my Uncle Ben as the teacher. Today's lesson, for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. So if five year old Eric takes the Pilates ball and runs at Uncle Ben who is about four times his size, the reaction is that Eric goes flying backwards and ends up hitting his tailbone on the sofa, even though he thinks he's invincible Eric soon learns this is not the case.






Today was our Birthday celebration for the month. My dad's side of the family all gather at my grandfather's house and we BBQed some ribs and chicken, had some baked beans, and corn (not on the Cob because SOMEONE left that at home when they had been reminded to bring it over). In any case it's good to be around family and continually renew those bonds of love, cause if your family can't love you who can? I've got to say I'm really blessed in that because I have a huge family and there is plenty of love. Well enough sappy stuff for a month I think. I'm off to see what can be done with the rest of the evening. Later all.

The After Party

Matt Stites is a jerk. Last night he went to Chambers (a gay club) and was hit on by some guy after consuming serious quantities of alcohol - or so he says. In any case my phone number was given to the gay guy instead of Stite's number and 2 messages have already been left about the evening. Perhaps a new friend is in order but what's the point at this place in the game. In any case it was a good laugh. Now onto other things.

Okay, so this evening was so passe. I went to a bar for seriously cheap drinks (knew the bartender) and to play some pool and darts (specifically cricket). After getting there and playing a few games, Matt (Stites) got a call about a party in Fishhawk for work. This was of course welcome after 3 Vodka sprites. We didn't know who was throwing the party but we knew I was driving because Stites had at least 5 Long Islands. We venture to Drinking Matt's house (Matt P.) where more drinking takes place and then we drive the 15 (or so) minutes to Fishhawk where it turns out it is Rachael's birthday, a nice young lady who is only 20 and has a boyfriend. The one redeeming factor of this party was FREE beer (Guinness). Other then that it was a total sausage fest. In any case I'm now home, a little tipsy, and about ready to go to bed , maybe a bit of reading before hitting the hay but I'd probably forget anything I read so what's the point.