Riding with the window down…

There are two seasons where you can usually count on seeing a good movie or two - the Summer blockbusters and the Christmas blockbusters. This Christmas season has provided me with two good movie outings. Both of them made me skeptical at first, but in the end, both delivered solid entertainment.

First up was Avatar - the nearly HALF A BILLION DOLLAR blockbuster by James Cameron. Visually, this film was amazing. This is another notch in Cameron’s bankability belt - when his name is on it - you’re looking at a hit. Even lame films like the last Terminator do well - because Cameron is associated with it. (Interestingly, Sam Worthington - who played the lead, Jake Sully was also in the last Terminator and will be in the remake of Clash of the Titans, he has action hero star written all over him.)

This film really had little to do with Cameron or Worthington… it was all about the CGI and in that respect, it ROCKED! Sure, the storyline was weak and a very transparent political/social commentary. Sure, the characters were as stereotypical as anything to come out of Hollywood. But visually, Avatar made you overlook all the flaws.

It was slow in the opening third of the film and predictable throughout, but you just couldn’t take your eyes off the screen. I would watch it again just for the visuals.

RATING 7 out of 10

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Next was Guy Ritchie’s interpretation of Sherlock Holmes as portrayed by Robert Downey Jr. Now you have to understand that there is likely no more important fictional character in my life than Sherlock Holmes. I have always loved Holmes, and I have seen every single incarnation available. For that reason, I was extremely nervous seeing the previews for this film as it looked to be nothing like the legend created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Downey was nothing like the Basil Rathbone or Jeremy Brett Holmes (my favorite) but not nearly as quirky as the trailers made it appear.

Yeah, he did a serviceable interpretation, but in the end, there was too much Robert Downey Jr. in the character. He was no different than he was in Iron Man - no different than he was in The Pickup Artist - no different than he has been in ALL of his roles. Face it - Downey has no range. Don’t get me wrong, I am a big fan of RDJ and I think he may have a role that he could continue for years in Holmes. This is a great character for him to play because Holmes is so cocksure, smart, and witty. The fact that so many older people have played the character successfully leads me to think that he could be doing remakes for a couple more decades without missing a beat. This is one instance when typecasting is a good fit.

Because Holmes has been such an important literary figure in my life, I am sure that I will see each and every incarnation of the famed sleuth of 221B Baker Street, and although I will be skeptical, I will give them a fair shake. Robert Downey Jr. I can get used to - Jude Law as Watson I can get used to - Rachel McAdams as his tough-as-nails female foil, uh, I guess - Guy Ritchie, MTV-generation fight sequences in a period piece like this…. that may be a little tougher.

RATING 8 out of 10

It is Saturday night and I have just returned from the final concert of the season for the Victoria Symphony Orchestra’s 35th season. I had heard several good things about the Symphony and Music Director/Conductor Darryl One - it is all true.

This was one of their Master Series featuring guest artists. Yuqing Meng, the 2007 Davidson Fellow, was born in Shanghai China and begun his musical studies at age 4. By the age of 12, Meng made his orchestral debut with the New York Philharmonic. He was the featured performer for Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto #1 in B-flat minor op.23 and his skill was amazing.

There was also a organ symphony that really just dragged on and wasn’t all that interesting. Overall though, the night was a lot of fun and even included reconnecting with an old professor of mine from the Victoria College days. Professor Michael Hummel taught History and Western Civilization, and was one of the most entertaining lecturers I remember from that period.

Prior to the symphony, I went to “The World Goes ‘Round” presented by Texas State University with my mother and Hap. The show featured classics from the famous musicals “Chicago,” “Cabaret,” “New York, New York” and many more. This was the highlight of the weekend as the talent of all the student performers was brilliant. The music was great, the story was great, the voices were great - the evening was superb.

I swing by one of my favorite out of the way spots in Houston, this time with Lou.

I just heard some horrible news from my good friend, Tony. His dog, Ginger, has some sort of advanced sinus cancer that has already spread extensively. From what I understand, the prognosis is not good at all.

I am just crushed by the news because Ginger is such a great dog and the absolutely sweetest girl.

Crap, I am without words. I wish Tony, Julie, and Ginger all the best and know that nothing I can say can help, but wanted them to know I am thinking of them.

Lou has this habit of getting greedy when it comes to chew toys, rawhides, you name it. Here is what he did today when Lola got a new rawhide.

So I went and bought a four-pack of rawhides and gave them two each at the same time. What did he do? He took his to “his spot” in the yard and came back one at a time and grabbed her two. He then sat there trying to decide how he could take one off and chew and still protect his stash. Its pretty funny to watch.

Just a quick video to wish everyone a happy holiday season.

Sure, we have a new leader - sure, America is filled with either fear or hope of the changes to come… but I want to talk about real changes.

That’s right - personal changes.

First off, the beard is gone. Funny thing about wearing a beard or goatee for the better part of a decade or more - when its gone, it throws people for a loop. I didn’t have anyone come right out and say, “Wow, you shaved off the beard.” I heard some, “Did you get a haircut?” an occasional, “Gee, you look younger” and even two people who said, “When did you grow the moustache?” haha Uh, when I was in high school. (That is the only thing that hasn’t gone away since I was first able to grow facial hair.)

Another big change is the new digs. Finally, after ten months of sleeping in a tiny one-bedroom apartment, I have moved into a three bedroom house. I still am not ready to purchase a home as I haven’t sold the one I own in Houston yet, but it sure is nice to have a little elbow room again.

I took some pics of the house the other day but was organizing all my shots so I didn’t lose them and I think they ended up on a storage drive at the office.  Oh well, take my word for it that I am digging the new crash pad.  I did manage to find some from the backyard.

I am sharing the new place with Blake and Eric, while Lou is sharing his backyard with Eric’s dog Lola.  Lou, for one, is definitely digging have a backyard again.

I know this time of year the lack of grass doesn’t look all that great, but it is a nice big yard and we are just a few blocks away from a wilderness area of a couple hundred acres.

Good times!

Oh yeah, and I guess something happened concerning an election or something… I should look into that. 

I spotted something this morning that I just had to stop and snap.  First, I apologize if the visual strikes you as distasteful.   Apparently, some inconsiderate dog owner walked their massive pooch by someone’s front door at the apartment complex - when the resident saw it, he/she took the time to post a little note covering what they thought about about the jerk.

Nice.

How do you do that?  How do you let your dog take a massive dump on someone else’s property and walk away feeling that its okay to leave it there?  These are the type of people that shouldn’t have dogs.  That’s part of the deal.  You take care of them - you feed them right - you exercise them - you provide a good environment for them - and yes, you pick up after them.

If you have a dog and do not pick up the poo created then you, like the target of the above sign are a jerk. If you do the right thing for your furry friend and neighbors - then kudos to you!

I can’t tell you how much I have been enjoying the cool mornings we have had the last two weeks. Sure, it still gets pretty hot by the middle of the day, but my morning walks with Lou have been close to perfect. This morning, the temperature was right at 65 with a nice breeze - walking around in sandals and shorts, it makes for a nice brisk feel.

I took this photo with my Blackberry and uploaded it to my Facebook page as well.  This was after watching a sports update and news brief during the walk.  Yeah. life it good.

I had a meeting in San Antonio this afternoon that has been moved just as I found out about another one I had been invited to.  The difference is that this one is San Marcos, so I found myself with some free time.  (not enough to do the thing I had originally planned for today - relaxing at a friend and coworker’s house)

The net result is that while I get some work out of the way during my unexpected freedom, I glanced over to see Lou sleeping in my chair.  What do I do when I see Lou sleeping?  I just always feel the need to snap a photo of him looking so content even though it is no different than the gazillion other ones I have taken of him sleeping.  He is a true sport about the whole thing though, as he has learned to just crack the eyelids open (I assume he hears the movement, checks to see if I am leaving and settles in for “yet another photo”)  Like I said, he is a very good sport.

And you know what?  You guys are very good sports for not saying things like “Enough with the Lou-sleeping pics already” haha