Psychosomatic Wit: movies

Showing posts with label movies. Show all posts

The Hallmark Life

The last of the Hallmark Christmas Movies has just ended. For the sappy among us, they take us down a road of warm family and friends, a challenge, a Christmas miracle, a true love discovered, and a happy ending.

It can be quite the wonderful experience, watching these feel good movies. Do you ever have a Hallmark tale in your life? I don't. I am not sure other people do. Perhaps there are exceptions that prove the rule, but sometimes rainbows show up after rains. That doesn't mean we live on a planet of constant rainbows.

Perhaps why the dreamers among us are so attracted to these movies is because we don't have stories like those in our own lives. We live vicariously through the actors on the screen - not ever entertaining the thought that those actors leave the stage and return to their real lives absent of the magic they left on the sound stage. They are just like us, just more visible - I'm pretty sure.

Why do these stories exist? We don't live these stories. I think I just answered my own question.

People write these stories because they need them. Sitting at their laptops, they can control the narrative. They want that for their lives so they make them come to life on page and screen. We all go for the ride because we, too, need them.

It is 2018 today. Write your own Hallmark script this year and then LIVE IT!

Socialism, Different Strokes for Different Folks

News (or current events)
Entertainment (movies, TV, celebrity, etc.)
Writing (thoughts on the blog(s) or other writing projects)
Spirit (thoughts on God and/or the supernatural)
Family (or friends)
Love
Anxiety (a rant or a trouble)
Sports (also considered should be contests, reality TV, recreation, cards, games), and
Home (house, yard, or even another family type of thought.
__________________________________________

It has been a while since I had my old trusted NEWS FLASH. There is no way I am going to be able to catch up. That, I trust, will come about slowly over time. However, I will take more of a snapshot of what is going on right now.

NEWS - For those of you with a memory, it won't be surprising to know that healthcare reform is the topic I would choose to cover in this segment. President Obama, who promised reform, cannot emphasize enough that for those people satisfied with their insurance and healthcare, they don't have to change anything. However, the public is getting pelted with scare tactics about (shutter) SOCIALISM!! (pardon me while I go lock the doors!). Not only is he not talking about a single-payer system like the backward, third world countries like France and Great Britain have, he is just trying to get everyone covered with an affordable plan. However, since socialistic medicine is so bad, I think I am going to get my mother off Medicare since that is what IT is. Plus, maybe I should lead a crusade to get all of the socialistic things out of our society. Join with me while I opt out of police and fire protection in addition to shredding my library card. Sheesh! In insurance companies we trust!

ENTERTAINMENT - My latest guilty pleasure is Fear.net. It is on my cable system as a free on-demand option. These movies are great in some way. They don't seem to be low-budget, but some of the acting is a little bad. However, they are fun and entertaining. I suggest Dee Snyder's Strangeland. Snyder, best known as the front man from Quiet Riot, wrote, produced, directed, and starred in this thing. Quite entertaining despite it being kind of . . . bad.

WRITING - Obviously, the blog is back. I am still wrestling with opening it up to everyone. Previously, I had blog people, and real life people and never the two met. My fear is that the worlds will collide or worse, I sensor some subject matter to spare people's feelings or sensitivities. Just don't know . . .

SPIRIT - I am finding that I am a different person, spiritually, since my divorce. I wouldn't say that I am weaker in faith, I just have a shift in priorities. As a matter of fact, I think my faith is stronger. I never felt I was a legalist (a person who strictly follows the rules for rules sake). However, I am even less of one now. I believe too strict a lifestyle retards communion with God. In a since, following the rules becomes one's God. So, I follow my inner conviction more, and fundemental teaching, less. Of course, this may just be a phase I am going through as a part of healing. I am open.

FAMILY - My sister had a major stroke last week. It was quite a miracle, according to her physician (if you can believe that). The doctor came in after reading her MRI and other test results and claimed to be dreading talking to the family because she expected my sister to be quite severely affected (perhaps even comatose or vegetative). However instead, she was alert and conversing with us. She is confused and has forgotten a lot of things, but she is far ahead of what the doctor expected. He said, "People throw this word around too much, but this, indeed, is a miracle!"

LOVE - Love is never the same after a divorce. There is fear and ego damage and an ever-guarded attitude. I have seen a few people, but it is too soon to tell what is going to happen with the latest one. I am really not completely sure about what I even want.

ANGUISH - I have been trying to buy the house I lived in with my wife. She owned it before we married; it is in her name. The bank (who presently shall remain nameless) had a good deal going for me. Then, nothing! I was supposed to close on May 15, but I haven't heard anything. All my phone calls since then have been unanswered. I stand to lose a great interest rate and a $200 application fee if this falls through. I understand there is a deadline for the rate lock, but I am not sure what it is. I am sure that if it expires, it isn't my fault. There will be hell to pay.

SPORTS - Sadly, I was on hiatus during some of the best sports times. We missed the Superbowl, and the Kentucky Derby and the fact that I was even present at the NASCAR Bristol Food City 500 and the Indianapolis 500 Time trials. Well, I guess I covered it after all - sort of.

HOME - I finally have someone in that cursed house I need to get rid of. He has the same deal the last guy had except a better one for him. What it is, is that he lives there at a VERY discounted rate in exchange for helping me improve the property for future sale. The difference is that this guy comes recommended by someone that knows him well. He works in construction and apparently can do about anything. I am optimistic. At some time in the future, I will address what happened to the last guy. It is quite a story.

Hillary, Smart People, a Mansion, and the Prodigal Wife

THIS IS CONTINUED FROM THE PREVIOUS POST!

NEWS - For the reasons outlined in the previous post, Psychosomatic Wit endorses Hillary Clinton. I still believe Barack Obama will win the nomination, however. Hillary hasn't thanked me yet. You think you know a person . . .

ENTERTAINMENT - Movie Review "Smart People" - This movie is about a dysfunctional family in an academic setting. It stars Dennis Quaid as Lawrence Weatherholt, a college professor and widower. His daughter, Vanessa Wetherhold, is played by Juno's Ellen Page, and his son, James Wetherhold is portrayed sparingly by Ashton Holmes. Sarah Jessica Parker plays Quaid's new love interest, Janet Hartigan . Lawrence's adopted brother, Chuck Wetherhold, played by Thomas Haden Church adds a comedic contrast from the overly intellectual family of dysfunction.

This motion picture is entertaining enough, but it had some distractors. Ellen Page's character is very similar to the character she played in Juno. She is more conservative in this film, but her personality is very similar. There were some contradictions in the character that distracted me, but overall, it was a good performance. Sarah Jessica Parker's portrayal of Janet, former student of Quaid's and present doctor threw me off balance as the movie progressed towards a conclusion. She appeared to be the one character in the film that had it all together. However, a couple of scenes put that into question which makes the viewer wonder where one can find a sane perch to the view this spectacle. As for the other acting performances, Dennis Quaid was good enough in playing a role that isn't typical for him and Haden's portrayal of Chuck added the much needed humorous element.

Smart People is a formula movie, so it is somewhat predictable. I am one of the few people who does not mind "predictable" as long as it is done correctly. Unpredictable movies often leave a bad taste because one's mind wants an orderly resolution. This movie is good enough. If you are a movie buff and see a ton of movies, I would recommend to you to go see it. However, if you go to the theater in a more sparingly fashion, there are probably other options that would be more satisfying. It is a good rental movie. My grade - B.

WORK - I am entering into a partnership with a guy I have known all my life. We buy old vehicles, repair them, and sell them at a decent profit. He has done this sort of thing before, and has found it very profitable. Since it is going to be his main source of income, he is dedicated to the proposition. This could help us both quite a bit. Keep your fingers crossed.

SPIRIT - I have taken great comfort lately in knowing the reality of my soul and spirit. Living in this fallen world where there is lying, cheating, stealing, greed, and murder, I take great solace that I have hitched my wagon to a God that transcends all that. Knowing that no matter how hard this life is, that my permanent home is not here and that something greater is always waiting just beyond the horizon. This is not a hope, but a know. The path to this knowledge is trying to understand these things that go beyond our own scope. However, this pales in comparison to the point when we can know without understanding.

FAMILY - I recently got my sister's car repaired so she could help me with my mother more. It has been a week, and haven't seen her since. My other sister is transferring back from a nursing home into the hospital proper. Who knows how this is going to work itself out. My mother has been throwing up a lot lately. I changed around the way I dispense her medicine to her and she has been vomit-free the past four days. Praise God!

LOVE (or lunacy) - My marriage was all but ended last I NEWS FLASHED. Without getting into too much detail, she decided to stay literally in the last hour. Lest you believe that this was posturing, I know that she had to cancel plans - including stopping a realtor from putting the house on the block. I really don't know what happened. I am not prepared to write about it anyway. I do know it has something to do with me being there for her despite this adversity, and a conversation she had with her father. It has been two weeks and things have been much better for us. Perhaps she learned something that stuck. Perhaps not. At this point, I cannot let my guard down. However, the faithful romantic and cock-eyed optimist that I am is looking forward to the day that I can.

ANXIETY - For some reason, they have removed all the mailboxes (drop boxes) in the town I work. If you want to mail a letter, you must either have it ready at your own mailbox before the postman gets there, or you have to take it to the post office yourself. I don't really get this. They keep raising the price for postage, yet we are getting less service for the price. How difficult is it to empty one of these boxes while the postman is delivering at the address where the box is?

SPORTS - I entered three NCAA basketball tournament bracket contests. I won one, came in second in another and didn't place in the third. Altogether, I won $90. The irritating thing is that the one I came in second on, I actually picked the winner (Kansas) where the first place guy picked Memphis, PLUS I picked more games right than the winner of the pool. The scoring is skewed, wouldn't you say? Had I won, it would have been $350.

HOME - There is a chance that I am going to buy another house. As stupid as it sounds, one of my dream homes has come on the market. It is in the downtown historic district by the river and it was built in 1899. It was a mansion in its day. If I was only more sure about my future . . .

NEWS FLASH #23

NEWS FLASH is basically news or thoughts that may be changing over time - an update or an evolution of thought that covers a multiple of topics. It is what makes a blogger tick and it is the reason why we read. So, with that in mind, I came up with NEWS FLASH as an acronym that stands for what is going on in life:

News (or current events)
Entertainment (movies, TV, celebrity, etc.)
Work (thoughts on the job or employer)
Spirit (thoughts on God and/or the supernatural)
Family (or friends)
Love
Anxiety (a rant or a trouble)
Sports (also considered should be contests, reality tv, recreation, cards, games), and
Home (house, yard, or even another family type of thought.
___________________________________________________________________

NEWS - Well, as someone brought up regarding my predictions, another one (about copycat killing) may have come about when more shootings erupted after the Omaha mall shooting. There have been two since, one was a church killing spree. An armed guard killed the gunman after he killed a number of people in two locations. On the surface, it looks like the guard saved some lives. I can't argue with that. Still, I just don't see a gun-wielding security guard in a church. It just seems so unchristian.

"What would Jesus do?"
"He'd pack heat and blow that mother away, man!"

I just don't see it. Still, I am thankful that the gunman didn't have the opportunity to hurt and kill more people.

ENTERTAINMENT - Has anyone seen "Shrek the Halls"? I missed it the first time and if I hadn't done a little detective work, I would have missed recording it last night. It was listed in the paper and the guide as "To Be Announced". My wife and I like to see Christmas specials. Rudolph, Grinch, Charley Brown, Scrooge (the Alistair Sims one) and George Bailey ("It's a Wonderful Life") are holiday musts for us. I am just wondering if the Shrek special will be that, too. Anyone?

WORK - Work? What work? I have some projects I am working on for February, but things are pretty smooth.

SPIRIT - This could double as the NEWS portion like last time, but I am just not getting Mitt Romney. He states he is proud of his LDS faith. Fine. However, when asked about certain things about it, he dodges like someone NOT proud of it. I don't get it. Ask me anything you want about my beliefs and I will tell you. Some of it, I don't think you would understand or accept on the surface, but so be it. Truth is truth. I would think that Romney would welcome the opportunity to set the record straight instead of having people believe the worst of it, but no. He says it isn't an issue. BUT IT IS! He even made a speech about it because he KNOWS it is an issue - whether it should be or not. If I were him, I would announce that I was going to hold ONE press conference for anyone to ask me about my LDS beliefs and will only address the presidential issues after that day. I would have some clergy member up there with me since I wouldn't be expected to have all the answers. I would give these questions two hours and then be done with it.

FAMILY - I don't think I am ever going to have kids. I am too much of an expert in how to raise other people's kids to have that kind of responsibility that will only serve to hurt my credibility as a child rearing expert.

My friend has a kid that he brings to ballgames with me. However, she hates me because I am seen as competition for her dad's attention. I try to include her into the conversations, I bribed her with a stuffed bulldog (the team mascot), and other treats. No good. She still wants her daddy all to herself and says hateful things to me. I could deal with it a couple of years ago when she was eight-years-old. Now she is ten and there is NO DIFFERENCE.

My friend doesn't like it, either, but told me that he doesn't know what to do about it. I told him that he needs to tell her if she wants to continue to come to the games that she needs to be polite (and she is the rudest child I have ever seen). If she can't be nice, she won't come to the next game. He told me that he does tell her that. Then I responded, BUT YOU STILL TAKE HER THE NEXT TIME!! She doesn't believe a word you are saying so she has no incentive to modify her behavior.

He just changed the subject.

LOVE - The last few days have been marvelous. Of course, my wife has been out of town since Saturday. Anyone want to come and hang out with me in Evansville for a few days? I have the house to myself for another week - when she gets back from seeing her brother graduate from basic training.

ANGUISH - It's Christmas season and the seasonal stuff is all over the radio. However, there are a few tunes that I must turn off when I hear them. One is "Feliz Navidad". UGH, the repetitiveness and harshness of voice burn into my brain. Another one is the "Twelve Days of Christmas". I hate repetiveness; do you see a pattern here? Finally, I can't stand "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer". It is so white trashy that it makes my skin crawl. There! I got that off my chest.

SPORTS - There is a big rivalry here between Indiana and Kentucky college basketball. I love it when IU beats UK like they did Saturday. They beat them like a drum. I didn't get the same kind of enjoyment out of it this year, though. Despite my intern having to wear an IU shirt all day in the heart of UK territory (she lost the bet), I can't enjoy my team beating a team so bad as UK was. It was like the varsity over the masters in rugby from "Monty Python's Meaning of Life". Ahh, just go rent it!

HOME - I am growing a dislike for property. Too much money, too much responsibility. If my marriage fails (and I am hoping it does NOT), I am going to move into an apartment and stay there the rest of my life. No maintenance, no taxes, no trap. I will move if I want without obligation. Apartments are the way to go. I have been so foolish!

<

NEWS FLASH #20

I have mixed emotions about Robertson's endorsement. On one hand, if he is representing evangelical Christians as he has tried to do throughout his ministry, this is a slap in the face to those who gave him credibility. Abortion IS the only issue that these folks have expressed that matters to them. Everything else (with the exceptions of the gay rights and prayer in school) are not relevant in this arena.

On the other hand, I have ALWAYS argued with my one-issue (abortion) Christian friends that to vote for president with that one issue as the only one that matters is foolish. The US had a Republican president for 20 of the last 28 years and 12 straight with Reagen and Bush Sr. Despite this flood of conservatism, Roe v. Wade is still the law of the land.

I guess, though, if abortion has been your chief concern, despite the lack of logic (as Robertson claimed lo these many years), I have to throw the flag of hypocracy on the reverend. My suspicion is that he is so scared of Hilary, that he is willing to sacrifice his own convictions to keep her out of office (polls show Giuliani has the best chance of beating her in the general election).

ENTERTAINMENT - I recently viewed the DVD, "The Good German". It could have been a very good movie, but for me, something wasn't quite right. George Clooney did a fine job as the lead in this WWII era film; all the acting was fine.. One thing that I thought was a nice touch was that the movie was made in black and white and guised itself as a classic Hollywood film from the era right down to the graphics in the credits and musical score. It looked like a classic . . . except for one thing. The dialogue was R-rated. It was so out of place with the rest of the film's aura that it distracted from the art of the film. It was akin to getting dressed up for prom with the tux's, gowns, and limo's, just to go to McDonalds for dinner.

WORK - Work is okay and calm the way I like it. The intern seems to be working out well. That's a switch!

SPIRIT - Recently, a blog friend did my star chart. It was very interesting how things seemed to apply to me. It was quite educational, actually. I know that many Christians will be eager to condemn me for "delving into the mystical", but I don't see it that way. There was nothing bewitching about it. It is presented as a science and I have not placed my faith in it. I like to observe something before I condemn it (see: Moore, Michael). ;)

FAMILY - Not much change. My sister is sick and that puts extra responsibility on me concerning her and my mother (since my sister can't help out as much). That's okay, though.

LOVE - At the risk of sounding callous, my wife just finds new ways to exercise her disfunction onto our relationship. Without getting into detail, she did a 180 degree turn on a particular issue without warning. This, again, hurt my feelings. I know, I am such a baby! This time, however, I was ready to express my feelings and let it go. She, in her "there is no way I am going to apologize" way, apologized. If you didn't know how to decipher her code, you wouldn't have known it was an apology - or maybe it was just wishful thinking on my part.

ANGUISH - The two halfway working cars are looking like they are heading in the wrong direction when it comes to operation. I simply have no money for repairs so I am praying they will hold out until I do.

SPORTS - Indiana University (my alma mater) started their season. Their new freshman guard, Eric Gordon, is a star. It is a good thing we stole him from the University of Illinois or I might lose the bet I am working on with Brian from the Office Blog (a.k.a. Sitcom Roots, Real Life Drama).

HOME - Well, my renter isn't in yet, but he has the key and has been working like a maniac on my house to suit his liking. That is cool, except he is ruining some of my stuff before I can get it moved from one of my storage sheds (throwing it out in the rain in junk piles to be hauled away, etc.). I must exercise restraint, though, because it is a small price to pay for all the improvements and the small return of my monthly investment. But, Dang! Down boy!

Coming Soon: The Great Healthcare Debate

NEWS FLASH #19

NEWS FLASH is basically news or thoughts that may be changing over time - an update or an evolution of thought that covers a multiple of topics. It is what makes a blogger tick and it is the reason why we read. So, with that in mind, I came up with NEWS FLASH as an acronym that stands for what is going on in life:

News (or current events)
Entertainment (movies, TV, celebrity, etc.)
Work (thoughts on the job or employer)
Spirit (thoughts on God and/or the supernatural)
Family (or friends)
Love
Anxiety (a rant or a trouble)
Sports (also considered should be contests, reality tv, recreation, cards, games), and
Home (house, yard, or even another family type of thought.
___________________________________________________________________

NEWS - There is a Christian ministry founder that is serving 10 years in prison for tax and employment problems in Florida. It seems that his sentence has been excessive beyond legal guidelines. The judge claims that she is "making an example" of him. This minister is kind of excentric and has some strong and unorthodox views of taxes and the power of the government. I don't think greed or anything like that ever entered into his thinking when found to be in violation of these laws. As a matter of fact, he never charges for his appearances and does a lot of debates and seminars for free. It has really been uplifting, though, to read some of his blog entries from federal prison.

ENTERTAINMENT - Sicko is out on DVD. Go right now and buy or rent it. Even if you don't like Michael Moore and he betrays your conservative Republican sensibilities, rise above the petty, political influences your mind has, and view this documentary with an open mind. It is not a pro Democrat piece. It is not an anti-Republican piece. It is an interesting, funny, and sad representation of the state of healthcare in the US compared to other countries. Even if you do not like documentaries, politics, current affairs, news or anything like that, I promise you that you won't be bored with this DVD. Don't bother to comment on this if you aren't open minded enough to check out what you are insulting. ;)

WORK - Work would be pretty slow and easy right now if I hadn't gotten behind missing time at work to go to my wife's dad's house. That is why I am having a tough time being timely with this blog. That and this new discussion site I am participating in. It doesn't help that I got addicted to Turbo Risk while at my F-I-L's. It is a miracle that I hadn't put it on my work computer - yet.

SPIRIT - Got it! Actually, I feel a little bogged down here, too. It is my own fault; I am putting the squeeze on my time I spend with God. It is going to help my life immensely to pick it up a bit. I do want to thank my friend, Anne for introducing me to that discussion site I am on. It has helped me think spiritually while debating such things with her. LOL

FAMILY - As mentioned before, I spent last weekend with my wife and father-in-law in Illinois. It was a nice time. Nothing real exciting, but I got along with my wife okay - till we got back, but that was in the last post. I ALWAYS get along with the F-I-L. The tiff wasn't that big a deal, really. I am going to respond to the feedback again, shortly.

LOVE - The wife and I are doing okay. She doesn't like it that I am picking up extra jobs. It makes her feel that I am telling her that her part-time job isn't enough. Well, it isn't, but I am not saying that. I can't help it if we need more income. I told her that I liked that she has the job that she has and I am not telling her to do anymore. It is her guilt that has a problem with me, I suspect. For the most part, however, we are doing fine.

Anguish - Nothing too bad, really. I wrote a comment on my local paper's web site ranting about the stupid bridge traffic again. All the lanes are open, but they still have a 35 mph speed limit on it and it doesn't look like it is warranted. I don't care, really, but they aren't visibly enforcing it so half the traffic is crawling and the other half is flying. It is kind of a dangerous situation. They either need to scrap it or enforce it. I also dislike people who do not bother to use their turn signal until after the light turns green (when it is too late for you to move to the other lane). If I forget to do that, I will go up a block and turn on a side street just so not to inconvenience the motorists behind me because of my carelessness. I think I am the only one on the planet who does this, though.

SPORTS - Everyone in football I like, sucks. Thank God basketball season is here. GO IU! The Hoosiers are looking good this year.

HOME - Well, I am renting the house I am trying to sell. It is both good and bad. First the bad, I want to SELL it - get it out of my responsibility list! Second, I am renting it so cheap that I am still paying a couple of hundred more on my mortagage payment than collecting in rent. But, a little is better than zero. Now the good, at least I am getting SOME return now. Plus, the tenant will pay the utilities and that will save me a little more. Two, I can use the back apartment on the lot as storage so that will offset any storage cost I would have to pay for elsewhere. Finally, the guy I am renting it to is making improvements to the property like crazy. He did all the outside work, mowing, weeding, landscaping even before he officially was renting it (he still isn't officially in as I am trying to move some stuff out still). This means that the property will probably be worth more later when the housing market improves. I am not thrilled with the arrangement, but it is a definite improvement.

That's it for this week. Why are you still here? I told you to go rent that DVD!

The Hallmark Life

Socialism, Different Strokes for Different Folks

Hillary, Smart People, a Mansion, and the Prodigal Wife

NEWS FLASH #23

NEWS FLASH #20

NEWS FLASH #19

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