Today I start what I hope is a 2 month long journey, that leads to a longer Journey with an ultimate goal.
On Sept 6, there is a mud run challenge I want to participate in. 4 miles with about 20 obstacles. I think that if I tried right now I might make it a mile, depending on which obstacles where first.
So today I began a routine to start to get in shape, so I can at least finish the course. Even if I am dead last. I say start to get in shape, cause no way will I be 'In Shape" in 2 months. But at least I will have started. I main challenges will be getting up early every morning, not eating so much after dinner, and my knee holding up.
As I sit and think about this 2 month challenge and my end goal, it gets me thinking about other challenges to the goals we have set for ourselves in life. Right off the top of my head my I can think about many times I have failed at meeting a goal I set for myself, and also right now there are many people in my life, openly expressing frustration about some major aspect about their life not meeting the goals they have in mind. And so often there is one common theme in the expression of failure. That theme is, "The goal is not reached quick enough" so we get frustrated and quit.
This mud run I am going to try, is not my end goal. My end goal is to get in shape!! That is a great goal right, yea everyone wants to be in shape. But look at my goal, it is so non specific. What is in shape, when will I know I am "in shape" This is an example of why so many people fail at reaching goals they have set, cause the goal itself is so undefined. And if its not truly defined, we really do not know what we are striving for, thus we have no clue as to our progress or what to do to reach it. Also how long will it take me? Could be 6 months, could be 4 years, depending on my action plan, and efforts.
So how do we fix these challenges, to meeting the goals we set? Many ways, but here are a few I have implemented.
1. Define your goals. For me getting in shape means getting under 210 lbs, being able to run, not jog, but run 2 miles without stopping, Playing an hour long basketball session, and knowing I could play another hour without problem, having the stamina I had in my 20's, men you know what I am meaning. Getting in shape can have so many different levels, it is defining them, that will help me achieve them better, and keep me focused.
2. Set mini goals as steps to reaching ultimate goal. This mud run is just a first step, it's a mini goal, that also meets #3
3. Set time lines. The mud run is 2 months out, and I know I could not complete it now, so getting "in shape" enough to complete one is a step towards ultimate goal. I currently do not have a timeline for my ultimate goal, but I have the mud run. The after my mud run I will set another mini goal with a set time line, and so one. For setting a timeline for the ultimate goal is not as useful then setting them for the mini goals. Why? cause the ultimate goal is really so far away, and I like most of society can get frustrated with not getting results quick enough. So this way i create opportunities for many small attainable results, that can happen in shorter periods of time, that after reaching multiple of them, will lead to the ultimate goal.
4. Develop a plan of action. For each step, for each goal. And make sure its realistic, not only the goals, but the plan of action as well. If its a brand new endeavor, and you are not knowledgeable of the said goals then take time to research them, find out what is realistic for a person in your situation. To many people fail cause they do not plan out a strategy, or the plan is actually not achievable.
5. This is the most important one. Is this in line with God's plan for you??? Well I can say this is a yes to my current example. My Body is a temple, God gave it to me, it is not mine. 1 Corinthians 6:19. As such I should treat it with respect, and take care of it. Plus my health is so important to meeting other things God has planned for me. Being a husband and Father, Grandfather at some point.
I have also spent some time in prayer, asking God, how do I get my physical body to a point I know it should be at. I have been struggling with it for many years now. And a few answers came recently in the form of other peoples suggestions, personal convictions, and feelings of a new drive that has been instilled in my heart. No doubt by God. For in the end if our goal is not aligned with God;s will, it will never lead to real satisfaction.
Good luck on your own goals, and let me know what I can do to help.
Sunday, June 29, 2014
Sunday, June 22, 2014
Having faith in God's will.
I read an analogy today.
Our life is like an arrow, that God puts in a bow and shoots it. No real in depth explanation of the analogy.That's all it said but wow did it hit me with the following things, some I have talked about before, some I have not.
1st, We are not in control of our life, period. But then who is in control. Well the hope would be God, cause the alternative is not good. But for God to be in control we have to let go, and put complete and reckless confidence in him. If not, well we allow something else to take control.
2nd, Our life starts out perfect. We are made in God's image without sin. So like an perfect arrow, will fly straight. But as life(time) progresses it gets warped(sin), and unless we take that sin to God, to cleanse(fix) it then we will not fly straight to the intended target.
3rd, Once our sins are cleansed(accepted Christ as our savior) we must then allow God to take full control and live in total faith(The Bow). If our faith is weak we will not fly far, but if its strong we will. If we keep the faith we stay straight, and when God shoots us we will hit the target. If we do not, well a warped arrow will not reach the target.
4th, We as flesh only see what is directly in front of us or what was directly behind us, we cannot see the multiple possible outcomes of different actions. At times we will see the target, when it is directly in front of us and God shoots us straight. But many times the target is far away, and we have to be shot up for distance, and we only see up at first, its not until we start our decent to the target will we see it. At times that target is so far away, time passes before our decent, and if we do not stay living in faith then we warp, and start to go off intended path. But if we stay in faith we stay on path. Not seeing the target has to be the hardest part, we as flesh want to know, want to be in control, and when God's will is not yet revealed, we to often struggle to keep our faith. We want to take control, we want to choose a target we can see, and then we get warped.
5th, The first target will be just one of many, we need to hit one to be able to be shot towards the next one, and next one and so on, until you hit the ultimate goal.
6th. In the end so often we do not know what God intended until we actually hit the target, and looking back we realize, wow it all made sense. And in our fleshly life it will be like that over and over. I tell you the one thing you can know though. if you keep the faith, the ultimate goal of eternal life with God will happen. And just like a target that's out of site, we have no idea how awesome it will be.
Looking back on my life I can say I have a few really good examples. I can tell you that many times God would shoot me towards a target, and since my faith in him was non existent, I did not fly straight, but God went picked me up, and shot me again. And each time I missed the target. That is until recently. I feel I have hit an early target, one that God intended. And it happened only after I put my faith in God completely. How do I know this? Well I know that if my faith was not put in him when it was, my life would be so warped, I would have no idea where to go. I know my marriage would be dead, I know the anger I had would still consume my everyday life, which it no longer does, and I know that the life of love I currently am striving for would be no where in site.
Our life is like an arrow, that God puts in a bow and shoots it. No real in depth explanation of the analogy.That's all it said but wow did it hit me with the following things, some I have talked about before, some I have not.
1st, We are not in control of our life, period. But then who is in control. Well the hope would be God, cause the alternative is not good. But for God to be in control we have to let go, and put complete and reckless confidence in him. If not, well we allow something else to take control.
2nd, Our life starts out perfect. We are made in God's image without sin. So like an perfect arrow, will fly straight. But as life(time) progresses it gets warped(sin), and unless we take that sin to God, to cleanse(fix) it then we will not fly straight to the intended target.
3rd, Once our sins are cleansed(accepted Christ as our savior) we must then allow God to take full control and live in total faith(The Bow). If our faith is weak we will not fly far, but if its strong we will. If we keep the faith we stay straight, and when God shoots us we will hit the target. If we do not, well a warped arrow will not reach the target.
4th, We as flesh only see what is directly in front of us or what was directly behind us, we cannot see the multiple possible outcomes of different actions. At times we will see the target, when it is directly in front of us and God shoots us straight. But many times the target is far away, and we have to be shot up for distance, and we only see up at first, its not until we start our decent to the target will we see it. At times that target is so far away, time passes before our decent, and if we do not stay living in faith then we warp, and start to go off intended path. But if we stay in faith we stay on path. Not seeing the target has to be the hardest part, we as flesh want to know, want to be in control, and when God's will is not yet revealed, we to often struggle to keep our faith. We want to take control, we want to choose a target we can see, and then we get warped.
5th, The first target will be just one of many, we need to hit one to be able to be shot towards the next one, and next one and so on, until you hit the ultimate goal.
6th. In the end so often we do not know what God intended until we actually hit the target, and looking back we realize, wow it all made sense. And in our fleshly life it will be like that over and over. I tell you the one thing you can know though. if you keep the faith, the ultimate goal of eternal life with God will happen. And just like a target that's out of site, we have no idea how awesome it will be.
Looking back on my life I can say I have a few really good examples. I can tell you that many times God would shoot me towards a target, and since my faith in him was non existent, I did not fly straight, but God went picked me up, and shot me again. And each time I missed the target. That is until recently. I feel I have hit an early target, one that God intended. And it happened only after I put my faith in God completely. How do I know this? Well I know that if my faith was not put in him when it was, my life would be so warped, I would have no idea where to go. I know my marriage would be dead, I know the anger I had would still consume my everyday life, which it no longer does, and I know that the life of love I currently am striving for would be no where in site.
Tuesday, June 17, 2014
My favorite movies and why
OK lets keep this post on the lighter side. I decided I want to share my favorite movies with you all and why, if you have not seen them, I would love to watch with you, that way I can interrupt with why I love it so much while we are watching.
Before I start the list I also want to share a few of the things that I look for in a movie.
First off with a few exceptions, I do not like predictable endings. Meaning if I can tell you the basic ending 30 minutes into the movie, then I am done watching. One major exception is the sports movie, cause we all know that 90% of the time, the main team will win in the end.
Second the story must flow and make sense, I cannot stand so many action/special effect movies due to the lack of this. Do not get me started on how much I hate the Transformer movies, didn't even watch the 3rd.
Third, I tend to favor certain actors, directors and writers. I think most people do as well, but many do not pay attention to who writes or directs closely, thus do not realize it.
I also love stories where the lead actor or story has a greater motive. IE killing the one who killed the love of your life is not enough, leading a county's army for freedom cause the love of your life was killed, well that's for real.
Here we go in no particular order.
The Untouchables. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094226/?ref_=nv_sr_1
Talk about a cast, Kevin Costner, Sean Connery, Robert De Niro, Andy Garcia, & Charles Martin Smith(if you do not know the name, check out his bio, he's been great in a lot of stuff,
Why is this awesome, I mentioned the actors, and the acting was superb, but the direction was even better. Just look at what Brian De Palma has done for Hollywood, and you would swear he was an actual mafia boss in a former life. The writing was excellent, with some great one liners. Eliot Ness throwing Frank Nitti off the roof was classic. And in the end it was the fact of it being based off a real person, one who did what no other person wanted to do at the time. Actually stand up to an evil person, and win.
True Romance http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0108399/?ref_=nv_sr_5
Talk about a cast. To many great names to list, just look it up.
One of Quentin Tarantino's early writing works. And directed by the late great Tony Scott. Look at that bio and a great director is an understatement.
The writing in this is second to none, with the banter between Christopher Walken and Dennis Hopper one of the best conversations ever put onto film, given the whole situation. It is a bit violent, but I think the story calls for it, unlike a lot of the excess violence of Tarantino's movies. Brad Pitt's 3 minutes in the movie is classic, and yes he has about 3 minutes of screen time. With the actors I just named they are not even any of the main characters.
American History X http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120586/?ref_=nv_sr_1
Edward Norton is one of the best actors of our Generation PERIOD. His first major role was in a low budget thriller along side Richard Gere called Primal Fear, and was ROBBED for best supporting actor Oscar by Cuba Gudding Jr. Yes Cuba was good in the high profile Jerry Mcguire, but anyone who saw Primal Fear knows Norton was robbed. There where even Academy voters who acknowledged after the awards where announced that they had not watched Primal Fear thus did not see Norton's performance.
This has not one, but two OMG scenes that even to this day still makes me cringe, but is so necessary for the story no one can argue they should have not put it in. It story is written perfectly, same writer who did the screenplay for "Blow". and acting is great. The ending to this day still makes me cry.p
Man on Fire and Training Day.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0328107/?ref_=nv_sr_1
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0139654/?ref_=nv_sr_1
Putting these two together, cause of the great Denzel. I also put him way up there in the list greatest actors of our generation, and do not think Ill get much argument.
Both these put his acting ability front and center, and highlights his ability to play either a good or bad guy, but more importantly, both at the same time. Denzel also chooses to work along side other great actors and with top notch directors, which has helped him get to where he is. And these two movies highlight those choices.
Braveheart http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112573/?ref_=nv_sr_1
Had to have at least one Mel Gibson movie on the list. I think it is so sad he has been blacklisted in Hollywood, for a couple mistakes he made while succumbing to his alcoholism. If Robert Downy Jr gets another chance, Mel should. But I digress.
Mel has been a part of many favorites, The Patriot and Ransom to name a couple. But Braveheart is his greatest achievement in Hollywood.
Saving Private Ryan http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120815/?ref_=nv_sr_2
Another great cast lead by Tom Hanks, and directed by Spielberg.
Still to this day, at the end when Hank's character tells Damon's to "earn this", and then Damon's character asks his wife if he lived a good life. I tear up. Every time it gets me. Makes me think about the life we have been given, and if we have truly earned it. But also the struggle through out the story. Is the life of one man worth mutiple other??? If so why, and when???
A Few Good Men. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0104257/?ref_=nv_sr_1
Rob Reiner directing yet another great cast of actors. I say great not even including Tom Cruise, cause though I loved him early in his career, with a couple exceptions I pretty much cannot stand him after this movie. This movie lost out the "The Unforgiven" for best picture, and it could be forever debated which was better. Both where great, had great casts, great storyline with impact. But here is why I list Few Good Men above the other. Jennifer and I watched it on our first date. Well Jennifer kinda watched it. She fell asleep. It was very late/early in morning. The one scene that really gets me here is not the ending one between Cruise and Nicholson, but earlier ones between Cruise and Moore. The one when Cruise is playing softball, and of course the one when he is drunk, which he REALLY was when they filmed it.
The Dark Knight and X2, Xmen United.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0468569/?ref_=nv_sr_1
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0290334/?ref_=nv_sr_1
If you know me you know my comic geekiness. These two movies along with Spiderman 2 are the reasons we have so many comic book movie franchises out there. All 3 of these are due to a well written origin movie, that was successful, and was successful due to the writing. They had a long term goal for a franchise with multiple movies, but did not allow that goal to rush the first one. They took time, and made the 1st one properly, to ensure the ones to follow where even greater.
Both DK and X2 have GREAT opening scenes, Nitecrawler popping in and out of the rooms in the white house, and Joker's crew robbing the mods bank. Got your attention from the get go, and played a HUGE part in the ultimate storyline. Both highlighted the saying made famous by the 3rd mentioned comic here. "With great power comes great responsibility".
And Heath Ledger's portrayal of the Joker, will forever go down one of the greatest performances out of Hollywood, easily of all Comic based stories.
Momento and Fight Club.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0209144/?ref_=nv_sr_1
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0137523/?ref_=nv_sr_1
Putting these two together. They both had directors that at the time where pretty unknown, Nolan, and Fincher but the main reason putting them together, is the way each story played out. Both had stories a bit hard to keep up with, but you stayed glued, and then the ending, OMG was all you could say at both. I will also include a 3rd in this "Se7en". http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000093/?ref_=tt_ov_st. Up until this movie Brad Pitt was just a hunk, doing all sort of TV, and randomly put into a movie for his sexiness. But here he came out as a great actor, well this one and 12 Monkeys, came out same year and Brad won Golden Globe for best supporting actor. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0114746/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_36. After this Pitt was a real leading man. Some could even say I developed a man crush on him.
The Matrix http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0133093/?ref_=nv_sr_1
Here is an example where I was truly blown away by special effects. But who could not be. Keanu is not a great actor, maybe not even a good one, but this role was a perfect fit. Fishburn was perfect as well. Storyline though was not one anyone would call great, but it was good, and made you think. Great soundtrack added to the movie perfectly. All in all it was great in enough aspects to elevate the other aspects that where average.
Liar Liar http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119528/?ref_=nv_sr_2
I had to include a comedy, even though I am very hard to please with comedies. When it comes to comedy I need it to be unexpected, but realistic in the storyline. Jim Carey can be very annoying, and stupid, but this movie had me rolling. It was Jim Carey crazy stupid, but if you think about it, if someone was forced to be honest like he was, in the situation he was in, then everything that happened was pretty realistic. I also have a special place for this movie cause it was the 1st movie Jenn and I saw as a married couple. We watched it on our honeymoon. Took a break from walking the river walk, and decided this was a good way to give our feet a rest.
The Princess Bride. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093779/?ref_=nv_sr_1
If you have not seen this, then you must watch it now. I mean it, Stop what you are doing, go to on demand or netflix or wherever to go to for movies, and watch it NOW. You cannot say no to this, actually your only response to this is "As you wish".
Oh and another Rob Reiner film.
Snatch http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0208092/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1
Back to my man crush. Writer/Director Guy Ritchie was supposed to be the next great one. This movie and Lock Stock and 2 Smoking Barrels is why. Jason Statham was in the middle of many very good movies. Brad Pitt again shows why he is way more than looks. And the story as a whole comes together with an ending that you just had to yell a resounding "YES" too.
The Crow http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0109506/?ref_=nv_sr_2
20 years ago, making movies from graphic novels was just starting to become a thing. Brandon Lee had just a few movies under his belt, but was showing some good skills.
This movie as a whole was not what I would normally consider great, but it was overall good in every aspects. What made it so great was the soundtrack. In the height of the alternative grunge movement, each song was almost perfectly paired with a specific scene making said scene twice as good than it would have been without the music. This also was Brandon's last film as he was "accidentally" shot filming one of the last scenes they had to shoot. A real bullet was lodged in the barrel from a previous scene and when used in the last scene the pressure of the blank firing actually shot the bullet out.
Overall after watching this at the theater with my older brother, I went immediately to the record store, (remember those) and bought the soundtrack.
Well there's more than I planned on writing about but as I wrote more came to mind I could not leave out. Please feel free to share with me your favorites, and why. I have always thought it would be fun to get a r group of movie lovers together and spend a day.night just watching each others favs and debate there greatness as well as act/sing/quote along with them all.
Before I start the list I also want to share a few of the things that I look for in a movie.
First off with a few exceptions, I do not like predictable endings. Meaning if I can tell you the basic ending 30 minutes into the movie, then I am done watching. One major exception is the sports movie, cause we all know that 90% of the time, the main team will win in the end.
Second the story must flow and make sense, I cannot stand so many action/special effect movies due to the lack of this. Do not get me started on how much I hate the Transformer movies, didn't even watch the 3rd.
Third, I tend to favor certain actors, directors and writers. I think most people do as well, but many do not pay attention to who writes or directs closely, thus do not realize it.
I also love stories where the lead actor or story has a greater motive. IE killing the one who killed the love of your life is not enough, leading a county's army for freedom cause the love of your life was killed, well that's for real.
Here we go in no particular order.
The Untouchables. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094226/?ref_=nv_sr_1
Talk about a cast, Kevin Costner, Sean Connery, Robert De Niro, Andy Garcia, & Charles Martin Smith(if you do not know the name, check out his bio, he's been great in a lot of stuff,
Why is this awesome, I mentioned the actors, and the acting was superb, but the direction was even better. Just look at what Brian De Palma has done for Hollywood, and you would swear he was an actual mafia boss in a former life. The writing was excellent, with some great one liners. Eliot Ness throwing Frank Nitti off the roof was classic. And in the end it was the fact of it being based off a real person, one who did what no other person wanted to do at the time. Actually stand up to an evil person, and win.
True Romance http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0108399/?ref_=nv_sr_5
Talk about a cast. To many great names to list, just look it up.
One of Quentin Tarantino's early writing works. And directed by the late great Tony Scott. Look at that bio and a great director is an understatement.
The writing in this is second to none, with the banter between Christopher Walken and Dennis Hopper one of the best conversations ever put onto film, given the whole situation. It is a bit violent, but I think the story calls for it, unlike a lot of the excess violence of Tarantino's movies. Brad Pitt's 3 minutes in the movie is classic, and yes he has about 3 minutes of screen time. With the actors I just named they are not even any of the main characters.
American History X http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120586/?ref_=nv_sr_1
Edward Norton is one of the best actors of our Generation PERIOD. His first major role was in a low budget thriller along side Richard Gere called Primal Fear, and was ROBBED for best supporting actor Oscar by Cuba Gudding Jr. Yes Cuba was good in the high profile Jerry Mcguire, but anyone who saw Primal Fear knows Norton was robbed. There where even Academy voters who acknowledged after the awards where announced that they had not watched Primal Fear thus did not see Norton's performance.
This has not one, but two OMG scenes that even to this day still makes me cringe, but is so necessary for the story no one can argue they should have not put it in. It story is written perfectly, same writer who did the screenplay for "Blow". and acting is great. The ending to this day still makes me cry.p
Man on Fire and Training Day.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0328107/?ref_=nv_sr_1
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0139654/?ref_=nv_sr_1
Putting these two together, cause of the great Denzel. I also put him way up there in the list greatest actors of our generation, and do not think Ill get much argument.
Both these put his acting ability front and center, and highlights his ability to play either a good or bad guy, but more importantly, both at the same time. Denzel also chooses to work along side other great actors and with top notch directors, which has helped him get to where he is. And these two movies highlight those choices.
Braveheart http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112573/?ref_=nv_sr_1
Had to have at least one Mel Gibson movie on the list. I think it is so sad he has been blacklisted in Hollywood, for a couple mistakes he made while succumbing to his alcoholism. If Robert Downy Jr gets another chance, Mel should. But I digress.
Mel has been a part of many favorites, The Patriot and Ransom to name a couple. But Braveheart is his greatest achievement in Hollywood.
Saving Private Ryan http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120815/?ref_=nv_sr_2
Another great cast lead by Tom Hanks, and directed by Spielberg.
Still to this day, at the end when Hank's character tells Damon's to "earn this", and then Damon's character asks his wife if he lived a good life. I tear up. Every time it gets me. Makes me think about the life we have been given, and if we have truly earned it. But also the struggle through out the story. Is the life of one man worth mutiple other??? If so why, and when???
A Few Good Men. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0104257/?ref_=nv_sr_1
Rob Reiner directing yet another great cast of actors. I say great not even including Tom Cruise, cause though I loved him early in his career, with a couple exceptions I pretty much cannot stand him after this movie. This movie lost out the "The Unforgiven" for best picture, and it could be forever debated which was better. Both where great, had great casts, great storyline with impact. But here is why I list Few Good Men above the other. Jennifer and I watched it on our first date. Well Jennifer kinda watched it. She fell asleep. It was very late/early in morning. The one scene that really gets me here is not the ending one between Cruise and Nicholson, but earlier ones between Cruise and Moore. The one when Cruise is playing softball, and of course the one when he is drunk, which he REALLY was when they filmed it.
The Dark Knight and X2, Xmen United.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0468569/?ref_=nv_sr_1
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0290334/?ref_=nv_sr_1
If you know me you know my comic geekiness. These two movies along with Spiderman 2 are the reasons we have so many comic book movie franchises out there. All 3 of these are due to a well written origin movie, that was successful, and was successful due to the writing. They had a long term goal for a franchise with multiple movies, but did not allow that goal to rush the first one. They took time, and made the 1st one properly, to ensure the ones to follow where even greater.
Both DK and X2 have GREAT opening scenes, Nitecrawler popping in and out of the rooms in the white house, and Joker's crew robbing the mods bank. Got your attention from the get go, and played a HUGE part in the ultimate storyline. Both highlighted the saying made famous by the 3rd mentioned comic here. "With great power comes great responsibility".
And Heath Ledger's portrayal of the Joker, will forever go down one of the greatest performances out of Hollywood, easily of all Comic based stories.
Momento and Fight Club.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0209144/?ref_=nv_sr_1
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0137523/?ref_=nv_sr_1
Putting these two together. They both had directors that at the time where pretty unknown, Nolan, and Fincher but the main reason putting them together, is the way each story played out. Both had stories a bit hard to keep up with, but you stayed glued, and then the ending, OMG was all you could say at both. I will also include a 3rd in this "Se7en". http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000093/?ref_=tt_ov_st. Up until this movie Brad Pitt was just a hunk, doing all sort of TV, and randomly put into a movie for his sexiness. But here he came out as a great actor, well this one and 12 Monkeys, came out same year and Brad won Golden Globe for best supporting actor. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0114746/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_36. After this Pitt was a real leading man. Some could even say I developed a man crush on him.
The Matrix http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0133093/?ref_=nv_sr_1
Here is an example where I was truly blown away by special effects. But who could not be. Keanu is not a great actor, maybe not even a good one, but this role was a perfect fit. Fishburn was perfect as well. Storyline though was not one anyone would call great, but it was good, and made you think. Great soundtrack added to the movie perfectly. All in all it was great in enough aspects to elevate the other aspects that where average.
Liar Liar http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119528/?ref_=nv_sr_2
I had to include a comedy, even though I am very hard to please with comedies. When it comes to comedy I need it to be unexpected, but realistic in the storyline. Jim Carey can be very annoying, and stupid, but this movie had me rolling. It was Jim Carey crazy stupid, but if you think about it, if someone was forced to be honest like he was, in the situation he was in, then everything that happened was pretty realistic. I also have a special place for this movie cause it was the 1st movie Jenn and I saw as a married couple. We watched it on our honeymoon. Took a break from walking the river walk, and decided this was a good way to give our feet a rest.
The Princess Bride. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093779/?ref_=nv_sr_1
If you have not seen this, then you must watch it now. I mean it, Stop what you are doing, go to on demand or netflix or wherever to go to for movies, and watch it NOW. You cannot say no to this, actually your only response to this is "As you wish".
Oh and another Rob Reiner film.
Snatch http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0208092/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1
Back to my man crush. Writer/Director Guy Ritchie was supposed to be the next great one. This movie and Lock Stock and 2 Smoking Barrels is why. Jason Statham was in the middle of many very good movies. Brad Pitt again shows why he is way more than looks. And the story as a whole comes together with an ending that you just had to yell a resounding "YES" too.
The Crow http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0109506/?ref_=nv_sr_2
20 years ago, making movies from graphic novels was just starting to become a thing. Brandon Lee had just a few movies under his belt, but was showing some good skills.
This movie as a whole was not what I would normally consider great, but it was overall good in every aspects. What made it so great was the soundtrack. In the height of the alternative grunge movement, each song was almost perfectly paired with a specific scene making said scene twice as good than it would have been without the music. This also was Brandon's last film as he was "accidentally" shot filming one of the last scenes they had to shoot. A real bullet was lodged in the barrel from a previous scene and when used in the last scene the pressure of the blank firing actually shot the bullet out.
Overall after watching this at the theater with my older brother, I went immediately to the record store, (remember those) and bought the soundtrack.
Well there's more than I planned on writing about but as I wrote more came to mind I could not leave out. Please feel free to share with me your favorites, and why. I have always thought it would be fun to get a r group of movie lovers together and spend a day.night just watching each others favs and debate there greatness as well as act/sing/quote along with them all.
Wednesday, June 11, 2014
Assigning blame is overrated.
Today, I encountered and issue at work that I and my coworkers encounter often, and I have realized that it's one of those situations that is easily resolved if people just get over who's fault it is, an focus more on fixing whatever problem there is and moving on. But to often people in my position and the people opposite are so focused on who is to blame they make it so much worse and the problem lingers and at times the negative attitudes towards each other linger as well affecting later circumstances.
Shortest version allowed.
Got call today, had 2 reps working on a project that myself and store asst manager agreed upon just 6 days ago to be executed this morning. Unknowingly to all parties due to lack of company communication, this specific store cancelled the project. My reps completed project and was wrapping it up when @ 2 pm when the head store manager came over to inform my 2 reps what they had just done should not have been done, and it needed to be put back to how it was. My rep called me telling me this, and after listening to them vent about the waste of time, and who was blame for this waste, she then gave the store manager the phone who then griped at me for about 5 minutes. I tried to explain that it was an easy fix, and we could fix it today. I gave my reps directions to correct situation. 15 minutes later they called back saying they could not execute correction due to store management so unhappy they would not allow access to fixtures needed. Basically store personal where still griping about the problem that occurred.
Since I was not far from the store I went over there. I politely listened to the store manager again gripe about this issue, and even though no ONE person was really completely at fault, all parties in hindsight could have prevented the error if they took proper actions, but we all know what hindsight is.
So after listening to all this and accessing the situation in person, I responded with one thing. Give me 1 hour and it will be corrected. I then proceeded to direct and work with my 2 reps and undo what it took them 5 hours to do, and then communicated to management the fix was in place. Store manager then decided he needed to vent again. In all his venting I realized all he wanted was to make sure I knew it was all my/my companies fault. And though I never really accepted the blame, I accepted his criticism and moved on.
I have found this is the case in everyday life for many of us. So often so many people have disputes, and all they really want is to pass on the blame. And though accepting blame and responsibility for errors is needed in life, and crucial for growth, for it to be so important that we all will not rest until the other party takes the blame in every situation is really stupid, and a waste of energy.
I have found that about 5% of life situations really require one party to take the blame and responsibility, and the other party to be aware of that acceptance. The other 95% should really be a situation in which both parties should just accept an error occured and make a decision on how to correct that error, and usually that decision needs to be one of personal responsibility. Meaning what do I have to do to correct, not worrying about what the other party's responsibility is. If and when we do that I have found the situation gets resolved much quicker and the attitudes going forward are much more positive.
I have found this to be true in both personal and professional relationships.
So a challenge I have given to myself a while back is this, do not worry so much and who is at fault, instead worry about what I can do in fixing said problem, and assessing and responsibility I had in creating said problem. If I had responsibility in it, then react to that. Otherwise, move on to the next thing. DO NOT worry about the other parties responsibility, especially if I have no say in it. Cause really in most instances I do not have a say in another responsibility, even though I like most people tend to think we do, we do not.
Shortest version allowed.
Got call today, had 2 reps working on a project that myself and store asst manager agreed upon just 6 days ago to be executed this morning. Unknowingly to all parties due to lack of company communication, this specific store cancelled the project. My reps completed project and was wrapping it up when @ 2 pm when the head store manager came over to inform my 2 reps what they had just done should not have been done, and it needed to be put back to how it was. My rep called me telling me this, and after listening to them vent about the waste of time, and who was blame for this waste, she then gave the store manager the phone who then griped at me for about 5 minutes. I tried to explain that it was an easy fix, and we could fix it today. I gave my reps directions to correct situation. 15 minutes later they called back saying they could not execute correction due to store management so unhappy they would not allow access to fixtures needed. Basically store personal where still griping about the problem that occurred.
Since I was not far from the store I went over there. I politely listened to the store manager again gripe about this issue, and even though no ONE person was really completely at fault, all parties in hindsight could have prevented the error if they took proper actions, but we all know what hindsight is.
So after listening to all this and accessing the situation in person, I responded with one thing. Give me 1 hour and it will be corrected. I then proceeded to direct and work with my 2 reps and undo what it took them 5 hours to do, and then communicated to management the fix was in place. Store manager then decided he needed to vent again. In all his venting I realized all he wanted was to make sure I knew it was all my/my companies fault. And though I never really accepted the blame, I accepted his criticism and moved on.
I have found this is the case in everyday life for many of us. So often so many people have disputes, and all they really want is to pass on the blame. And though accepting blame and responsibility for errors is needed in life, and crucial for growth, for it to be so important that we all will not rest until the other party takes the blame in every situation is really stupid, and a waste of energy.
I have found that about 5% of life situations really require one party to take the blame and responsibility, and the other party to be aware of that acceptance. The other 95% should really be a situation in which both parties should just accept an error occured and make a decision on how to correct that error, and usually that decision needs to be one of personal responsibility. Meaning what do I have to do to correct, not worrying about what the other party's responsibility is. If and when we do that I have found the situation gets resolved much quicker and the attitudes going forward are much more positive.
I have found this to be true in both personal and professional relationships.
So a challenge I have given to myself a while back is this, do not worry so much and who is at fault, instead worry about what I can do in fixing said problem, and assessing and responsibility I had in creating said problem. If I had responsibility in it, then react to that. Otherwise, move on to the next thing. DO NOT worry about the other parties responsibility, especially if I have no say in it. Cause really in most instances I do not have a say in another responsibility, even though I like most people tend to think we do, we do not.
Friday, June 6, 2014
Summer before High School
25 years ago, give or take a day, I was 14, and just starting what would be a very interesting summer vacation. One that included a lawn business that I had with a friend of mine, in which we would mow about 10 lawns a week. It was the second of 3 summers we had done this, but the 1st was really a learning process.
Why is this significant?? Well My daughter at that exact age in life. She just finished 8th grade, and on this very first day of summer vacation already has a babysitting gig. Though its not her first one, it does seem like a first, cause we are advertising her availability to our friends and because she wants this to be a common thing going forward. As I sit here today thinking about her summer before high school, one that will be filled with a Church camp, her helping out at VBS and one that hopefully is filled with more babysitter gigs, I cannot help but stress over the next couple years and what they will bring for her.
Though I know that her situation is nothing like mine was, I HATED the next couple years of my life at that age. Reasons I will not get into right now, but they where not fun. Basketball was the only thing I considered positive, and even that had a lot of turmoil. And she is coming off of not making 9th grade cheer, which was a huge deal to her, and she is stressing out about having friends now that shes not a cheerleader. Now I know she will make friends outside of cheer, and already has. But she worries so, it makes me worry about her.
So now that summer before HS is upon us, I start to think about these next 4 years. I at times feel I have very little to give her being my HS experience was SO different being home schooled. Luckily Jenn has that, but even she agrees due to personalities hers will be much different as well. I wonder about boys, those 15+ year old jerks, all of them. I know I am exaggerating, but its how I feel right now. I think about her getting her learning permit next year. I have already put her behind the wheel a couple times, but its scary. I think about pressures she will face, at school functions, party's, and just hanging out with friends. I pray I have given her the tools to handle them well, and the faith in God to ask for help as needed. Most of all I pray she has a good experience the next few years, I do not want her to have to go through anything like I had to. She deserves so much better.
Amen.
Why is this significant?? Well My daughter at that exact age in life. She just finished 8th grade, and on this very first day of summer vacation already has a babysitting gig. Though its not her first one, it does seem like a first, cause we are advertising her availability to our friends and because she wants this to be a common thing going forward. As I sit here today thinking about her summer before high school, one that will be filled with a Church camp, her helping out at VBS and one that hopefully is filled with more babysitter gigs, I cannot help but stress over the next couple years and what they will bring for her.
Though I know that her situation is nothing like mine was, I HATED the next couple years of my life at that age. Reasons I will not get into right now, but they where not fun. Basketball was the only thing I considered positive, and even that had a lot of turmoil. And she is coming off of not making 9th grade cheer, which was a huge deal to her, and she is stressing out about having friends now that shes not a cheerleader. Now I know she will make friends outside of cheer, and already has. But she worries so, it makes me worry about her.
So now that summer before HS is upon us, I start to think about these next 4 years. I at times feel I have very little to give her being my HS experience was SO different being home schooled. Luckily Jenn has that, but even she agrees due to personalities hers will be much different as well. I wonder about boys, those 15+ year old jerks, all of them. I know I am exaggerating, but its how I feel right now. I think about her getting her learning permit next year. I have already put her behind the wheel a couple times, but its scary. I think about pressures she will face, at school functions, party's, and just hanging out with friends. I pray I have given her the tools to handle them well, and the faith in God to ask for help as needed. Most of all I pray she has a good experience the next few years, I do not want her to have to go through anything like I had to. She deserves so much better.
Amen.
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