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Archive for the ‘Family’ Category

My Name’s Mario and I am a Movie Snob

15 Aug

Let me explain.

Over the past eight years, I have begun to dislike movies. I am not drawn to big box office flicks and special effects. In fact, I would rather just wait for NetFlix before watching most movies. I only get interested when some type of human quality is the focus. Movies that stand-out to me are Sling Blade and The Shawshank Redemption. Don’t get me wrong; I love Star Wars and Star Trek too. But, more for a different reason.

When George Lucas created Star Wars, the times had never seen anything like it. Star Wars and Star Trek literally started a genre of movies. But, as time has gone by, I don’t like that genre anymore. Movie makers go out of their way to show a special effects or eye candy whether the story needs it or not. For instance, in the newest rendition of War of the Worlds, Tom Cruise is driving away in a mini-van. In the background, we see a needless shot of a bridge being blown up. In Iron Man, we see countless scenes of watch Tony Stark fly through the skies. Now, why does this bother me?

Well, it bothers me because I know movie makers can do any special effect they need. So, special effects are now common place and “easy.” There’s no new genre of movies being created here. Don’t try to wow me with special effects. I don’t have to have a needless explosion or body being blown apart just so movie makers can say: “I made that!”

This forces me to look for story: human sacrifice, great adversity. Now, when you pull special effects out of the equation, do the big blockbusters still hold water? I’d sadly answer “no.” Movies like Avatar have a nice story, but the story is nothing new. Sure Avatar looks beautiful and there are special effects, but seriously what is new about this movie? What did James Cameron show us about character and suffering we haven’t seen before? Did he even tell the story in a different way? The same themes have been told is countless movies.

But, there is another aspect of this we need to address. Earlier I mentioned Star Wars and Star Trek really started a new genre. I still believe that to be true. But, lets dig deeper. If Avatar had been created in the late seventies, I believe it may be THE movie others are measured by. I don’t mean the special effects would have been just like they are today, but that they would be breakthrough technology. The story would be amazing. The times would have been so different and this story would have an amazing impact.

Let’s look at this another way. If Star Wars was created now, would I like it? Probably not. Blasphemy, you say? Imagine my disgust at the beginning of the movie as the star destroyer goes on forever. Yes, it would have been more beautiful, but come on!! Special effects just to show special effects?! Terrible movie if it had been done today. The story is really nothing new either, but back in the late 70s. This story adding the special effects made it amazing. But, these days I don’t believe special effects can turn a normal story about a boy who eventually saves the world amazing. It’s just same old same old.

So, what makes a good movie then, snob?

Well, this is a hard question to answer. But, I am entertained by movies and stories which emphasize the characters and their social dilemmas. I am interested in acting and I often compare what my reaction would have been to the actor’s.

Special effects have no bearing to whether a movie is great or normal. But, special effects can make a movie bad. Over the top special effects just for the sake of doing it makes a movie terrible to me.

Lastly, the story. I don’t enjoy watching the same story over and over again. In Avatar’s case, you can watch Disney renditions of this theme or even try FernGully: The Last Rainforest. If you’re not fond of cartoons, 1990’s Dances with Wolves will sufficiently tell you the same story. That’s why I don’t like Avatar as a product of today’s movies (Or Iron Man, War of the Worlds, the X-Men Trilogy).

Am I being picky?  Yes, I am a movie snob.

 
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5 Important Life Lessons

12 Nov

I found this somewhere on the net and just fell in love with the story.  I know you will too.

Five Lessons About How To Treat People
— Author Unknown
1. First Important Lesson – “Know The Cleaning Lady”
During my second month of college, our professor gave us a pop quiz. I was a conscientious student and had breezed through the questions, until I read the last one: “What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?”

Surely this was some kind of joke. I had seen the cleaning woman several times. She was tall, dark-haired and in her 50s, but how would I know her name? I handed in my paper, leaving the last question blank. Just before class ended, one student asked if the last question would count toward our quiz grade.

“Absolutely,” said the professor. “In your careers, you will meet many people. All are significant. They deserve your attention and care, even if all you do is smile and say “hello.”

I’ve never forgotten that lesson. I also learned her name was Dorothy.

2. Second Important Lesson – “Pickup In The Rain”

One night, at 11:30 p.m., an older African American woman was standing on the side of an Alabama highway trying to endure a lashing rainstorm. Her car had broken down and she desperately needed a ride. Soaking wet, she decided to flag down the next car.

A young white man stopped to help her, generally unheard of in those conflict-filled 1960s. The man took her to safety, helped her get assistance and put her into a taxicab.

She seemed to be in a big hurry, but wrote down his address and thanked him. Seven days went by and a knock came on the man’s door. To his surprise, a giant console color TV was delivered to his home.

A special note was attached. It read: “Thank you so much for assisting me on the highway the other night. The rain drenched not only my clothes, but also my spirits. Then you came along. Because of you, I was able to make it to my dying husband’s bedside just before he passed away. God bless you for helping me and unselfishly serving others.”

Sincerely, Mrs. Nat King Cole.

3. Third Important Lesson – “Remember Those Who Serve”

In the days when an ice cream sundae cost much less, a 10 year-old boy entered a hotel coffee shop and sat at a table. A waitress put a glass of water in front of him. “How much is an ice cream sundae?” he asked. “50¢,” replied the waitress.

The little boy pulled his hand out of his pocket and studied the coins in it.

“Well, how much is a plain dish of ice cream?” he inquired. By now more people were waiting for a table and the waitress was growing impatient. “35¢!” she brusquely replied.

The little boy again counted his coins. “I’ll have the plain ice cream,” he said. The waitress brought the ice cream, put the bill on the table and walked away. The boy finished the ice cream, paid the cashier and left.

When the waitress came back, she began to cry as she wiped down the table. There, placed neatly beside the empty dish, were two nickels and five pennies. You see, he couldn’t have the sundae, because he had to have enough left to leave her a tip.

4. Fourth Important Lesson – “The Obstacles In Our Path”

In ancient times, a King had a boulder placed on a roadway. Then he hid himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock. Some of the king’s wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked around it. Many loudly blamed the King for not keeping the roads clear, but none did anything about getting the stone out of the way.

Then a peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables. Upon approaching the boulder, the peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the stone to the side of the road. After much pushing and straining, he finally succeeded. After the peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed a purse lying in the road where the boulder had been. The purse contained many gold coins and a note from the King indicating that the gold was for the person who removed the boulder from the roadway. The peasant learned what many of us never understand – “Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve our condition.”

5. Fifth Important Lesson – “Giving When It Counts”

Many years ago, when I worked as a volunteer at a hospital, I got to know a little girl named Liz who was suffering from a rare and serious disease. Her only chance of recovery appeared to be a blood transfusion from her 5-year-old brother, who had miraculously survived the same disease and had developed the antibodies needed to combat the illness. The doctor explained the situation to her little brother, and asked the little boy if he would be willing to give his blood to his sister. I saw him hesitate for only a moment before taking a deep breath and saying, “Yes, I’ll do it if it will save her.”

As the transfusion progressed, he lay in bed next to his sister and smiled, as we all did, seeing the color returning to her cheeks. Then his face grew pale and his smile faded. He looked up at the doctor and asked with a trembling voice, “Will I start to die right away?”.

Being young, the little boy had misunderstood the doctor; he thought he was going to have to give his sister all of his blood in order to save her.

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How It Went Down: Dad’s Perspective

20 Jul

[NOTE: Originally written March 7th, 2004 just after Miles was born.]

Have you ever been scared?  No, really scared?  Ok, scared more than you ever have been before.  Let me put it in perspective.  You are young and had tons of things happen to you, but never has your wife gone under the knife for any reason much less a C section to get your first son.  And, never were you waiting to take care of a new life.  Can you even do it?  Some of you know what I am talking about.

Well, I took the plunge and now I am a father–Easier said than done.  So, Neither one of use could sleep and Windy woke up earlier than me, but we both got up and started off with a good cry to relieve the stress.  Then, we were ready, but we were still 30 minutes early.  We agreed we needed to take a drive.  We drove through town and used up 20 minutes and got to the hospital–Being early means being on time.

We entered and right off the stress was so thick you could cut it with a knife.  Windy got her IV and I got a Sunkist.  Windy started getting meds and I started getting caffeine.  Our family stopped by and visited and even a friend, but to be honest I was in La La Land and almost didn’t notice them.  They took Windy away and I got into the scrubs.  I was shaking and almost couldn’t get those goofy things on.  I know I have a big waist, but come on guys…these things are baggy!

I waited patiently.  I had already decided I had the guts to look over the curtain.  For those who don’t know, during a C section, the wife can have a combination epideral and spinal block that allows them to stay awake.  The father or loved one can be in the room and talk to her.  There is a curtain that keeps the mother from seeing and makes the area sterile.  The curtain is low enough that the loved one can look over and watch the whole thing.  Move over TV.  This is the real thing!!

So, they called me in and I just didn’t know what I was going to see.  Would she been weird looking?  Would she be able to speak?  Well, she was weird looking, and she could speak.  I walked in and said “hi.”  I look back on it and thought I could have done better, but a simple “hi” was about all I could muster.  I was shaking at the knees and wondered if I’d even make it through it without passing out!

After a few seconds, I decided that the doctors were already in and decided to have a look.  I had thought it would freak me out to see them actually cut her.  So, I thought I’d wait and see after they started.  Oops!  I looked too early!  They cut her just as I went to look.  He hit a “squirter” and the whole ER thing where blood squirts out happened right in front of me.  I sat down and saw Windy looking like she had seen what I had seen.  She had!!

Well, sort of.  She saw a reflection in my glasses.  She had to close her eyes when I had a look.  Now let me tell you.  They jerked her around while they were working on her.  I sat and marveled at how they moved her around and all she can feel is pressure.  She started to have a weird look and I asked her if she was getting an upset stomach.  I was right and the anesthesiologist pumped up some phenergan.

I watched some more, but never really got a good view.  I really didn’t want a better view and I didn’t want to leave her.  I said down and tried some small talk and Windy gave me that “shut up” kind of look.  So, I stopped.  Just then, the anesthesiologist said “He’s coming!”

I stood up and watched and a head popped out!  I was in awe and before I knew it the doctor had the rest of his body out.  He looked like he was covered in Crisco and they got the umbilical cord and cut it.  Miles let out two small cries and Windy asked, “Do you see him?”  I responded and she continued, “Is he OK?”  I affirmed that and then she asked me how big he was.  He looked like he was eleven pounds easy.  I thought, “What are we feeding him?”

I got to go over where they were cleaning him up and he let out another small cry.  I watched him and marveled at what I was looking at.  Is he real?  Is this really happening?  It was.  The nurse handed him to me and I carefully walked over to Windy and she looked at him.  It was like a ray of love that looked like Superman’s heat vision.  She was in love, though she couldn’t touch the little guy.

I was then instructed to take the baby out and to the waiting room.  I didn’t even make it to the waiting room.  All my family was there and the pictures started.  We took Miles to the newborn room and weighed him and they gave him his shots.  He got his bath and never cried.  He was tough already.

I watched, but I was still uneasy.  Windy was not in recovery yet and it would be at least 45 minutes before I was able to see her.  I went to change clothes.  I walked in to see Windy.  They had brought Miles in to nurse.  I saw her and saw she was OK.  I wanted to cry, but was able to hold it in.  It was like a huge weight was taken off of my shoulders.  I looked down at Miles and just then, someone put a heavier weight on.  I was now Daddy.

Miles’s Stats:

  • Born: 7:51am, 3/5/04
  • 9lbs. 6oz.
  • 21 Inches Long
  • 15 Inch Cap size

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