"Gentlemen, to evil!"

Clarke had a quick trip into town last night, so I skipped out an All Saint's volunteer banquet and had dinner with him and Chris and Gary. Chris and Clarke are friends from high school and Gary from the early Seattle days. I don't think the 4 of us have hung just on our own since the night before my wedding, 3 1/2 years ago.

There was a stretch back in the early 90's when we were hanging out almost every night. Gary and I were having career issues, Clarke had just failed the bar exam by a handful of points and Chris was back from grad school, a couple of papers shy of his Master's Degree and rejected from the Ph D program. So we had many a long night playing Risk and Illuminati and Caveman Games while Chris was reassuring us, "Yes, we're failing, but we're failing at a high level."

Since then, Clarke has been running his own law firm in Wenatchee, Chris is managing the technical writers at Adobe, and Gary recently left a long stint at Real to finish his undergrad degree and head to law school. All three have great children. Long way removed from our high level failings. (Then again we found out that some points are not far removed at all, as Chris is still pissed that he was the only one who did not get bumped to first class on the flight home from Hawaii ten years ago.)

It was one of those nights you sometimes have with old friends where the years apart fall away and you feel like you were here last only a few days ago. The conversation immediately slips into its old rhythms, but is not relegated to simple reminiscence, or even catch up on events, but the mixture of celebration and support that come from your best friends. They are good men and I am lucky to be their friend.

And the best news was that Chris' son Keaton had a clean MRI on Thursday. He is showing no signs of recurrence of the brain tumor, two years port diagnosis. Apparently the odds of recurrence drop dramatically at this point. He will still receive regular MRI checks and his physical and speech therapy continue, but he is now considered a long term survivor. Nothing much that can be said about that except a deeply heartfelt "Woo-Hoo!"

Documenting a Life

Wow. A man takes a Polaroid picture every day for 18 years until the day he dies. (h/t dakwallah)

Looking through these and seeing his days of humor, of joy, of grief and of humdrum.... It seems like whenever I get too focused on the negatives in my life, something always turns up to help refocus me.

We all have our griefs, greater and lesser. The trick it seems is to keep living your life and finding - or making - the days of joy anyway. That I think is the ultimate goal behind the No Complaints attempt. Not that we should never ever complain, but that we - I - can let the complaints overwhelm everything else and then lose sight of all the reasons to celebrate.

Complaining

I would be well past 21 days since the last wrist switch if I had not taken off the bracelet a couple of weeks ago. I have not written, or talked, about this much at all because this one is pretty personal. The short version is I took it off the day Trish and I found out yet again that she was not pregnant.

There might be a longer post about this in a few days. Basically Trish and I have been trying for 2 years and the continual cycle of caution, optimism, excitement and disappointment is really starting to wear me down. Wear both of us down, obviously, but then Trish has expressed her feelings better than I ever could.

For me, the disappointment is starting to seep into every aspect of my life and I am finding little enthusiasm for my job, the projects I am producing or any creative activity (one reason blogging has been so sparse recently). I find myself holding back from friends and family because I do not want to talk about it with them (for any number of reasons).

The good news is that Trish and I are staying connected and keeping our relationship strong. We are taking steps to help us through the emotional stuff as well as the physical. (Of course that has been a source of frustration too, as one ten week group counseling program only allowed husbands in four of the sessions... cause ya know husbands are only 40% invested in the process.)

So anyway, I am complaining again. Not going to pick up the bracelet again for a while. But I would recommend it to anyone interested. At the very least it helped become very aware of the multitude of times I complain and avoid taking any action. That alone was worth it.

Torture in America

More and more of the focus is bearing down on Obama and McCain, which is natural, I suppose. My worry, though, is that we will get so focused on replacing Bush we lose sight of what his administration has done. Which is tough I think because there have been so many problems and the administration refuses to cede an inch on any of them. But it is important to examine what has been done, so that we can begin to work our way out of it and - hopefully - prevent it from happening again.

Case in point. FBI agents tracked the torture they saw at Guantanamo and other detention centers and the higher ups did nothing about it. They committed torture in our name.

Diasgreement

Having a little online argument with Todd over on his blog. Thought I would import it over here and solicit some support because he is just so totally wrong. He said...
"I think a screening of Tombstone is in order. Only one of the best American films ever made. But then I really don't have an opinion or anything."

To which I tactfully replied...
"What the #$@*% are you talking about? Tombstone is a fun little movie but one of the best American movies ever made? How high are you? I think we need to see your list of best American movies to determine if committal is necessary."

He then goes on to list a variety of reasons why it is such a great movie. But my point is...
"The movie is good. But there is no way you can call it one of the best American movies EVER. Better than which classic? Kane, Casablanca, Waterfront, His Girl Friday, The Apartment, Godfather, Apocalypse, Star Wars, Badlands, MASH, Graduate, Midnight Cowboy, Raiders... how many is that? 13? Off the top of my head! It is not even Kurt Russell's best - he is better in both Big Trouble in Little China and The Thing."

And that is why I am so very right and he is so very wrong. I say Tombstone is an under appreciated film. A good solid movie. No way, no how can you call it one of the best American films ever made. So please feel free to chime in here. Other American movies better than Tombstone.... go.

UPDATE: Poor, poor Todd. After taking up my challenge with smack talk that "It's on like Donkey Kong!" (yeah, he is a geek) he concedes the point in the same comment....
"Would you have been happier if I'd qualified it as "one of the best American WESTERNS"? 'Cause I'd still put it up alongside The Professionals, The Searchers, The Magnificent Seven and anything John Ford, Howard Hawks, Sergio Leone or Clint Eastwood have done."

Big difference between best American movie and best American western, so I will take the victory and move on completely satisfied. He is probably giving Tombstone too much credit, but my knowledge of westerns in general and that period on history is slim (part of his love for the film is its historical accuracy), so I will not argue it.

Muppet movies

Fark.com has a great contest going on - photoshopping muppets into movie posters. Go check it out because some of them defy description (beware of the Kermit/Ron Jeremy one because that will just mess up your childhood memories baaaadddd). A couple of my favorites below. (Larger and higher res versions on the Fark.com site.)

Best use of Statler and Waldorf (although the Trading Places poster comes close)...



The one that had to be done....



And my favorite....


Which was followed by the comment...
"It's 106 miles to Sesame Street, we've got a full tank of gas, half a box of Tollhouse, it's dark and we're wearing sunglasses... Hit It."

Equality

The California Supreme Court ruled that the state must allow same sex couples the same rights of marriage as opposite sex couples. Glenn Greenwald at Salon has some great commentary on the decision (short ad before you get to the article).

Thank God. I will never understand those who think allowing homosexuals to marry somehow weakens or cheapens their own marriage or somehow weakens their family. My own marriage is a constant source of strength and joy and frustration and passion and love. How gay marriage effects that is beyond me.

Besides that, this is America, damnit. Everyone is created equal, remember? Denying a basic right to one segment of the population is fundamentally un-American. Yes, yes, I know it has happened constantly throughout American history. Doesn't make it right. Thrilled to see this one injustice start to change.

Good luck to all the couples who are going to get hitched in 30 days.

New Project

I have been working with Todd Downing on a short film (him directing, me producing), written, starring and financed by an actress out of LA by way of Australia. She was wanting us to keep it under wraps until we had more details set. We met for the first time face to face on Saturday and started hammering details. I guess she felt comfortable with the details and with me producing (she had already met Todd and had an instant connection) as later that day at the Emerald City Comic Convention, she outed the project.

So, I can now officially say I am producing a short film written by and starring Gigi Edgley, from the late 90's t.v. show, Farscape (Sci-Fi Channel's first big hit). It is called Nobody Knows and it, as Gigi describes it, captures "a really odd moment in time." It ties in loosely with Blue Shift the comic she co-created with Brian Meredith, local artist and co-organizer of ECCC.

One more project does not help reduce the overall stress levels, but it is pretty tough tough to say no when a project like this falls in your lap.

Happy Birthday, Todd!

Yet another friend strides mightily into his 40's. Today is Todd Downing. Todd is a local writer/director/musician/designer/geek that we met after he cast Trish in his short film, Ordinary Angels. That was about a year and half ago. After filming was done, Trish introduced the two of us and something just clicked. Since then, we have become close friends... to the point where it is hard to remember just how short a time we have actually known each other. A similar taste in all things geek helps. A far too similar sense of humor helps, too (and drives Trish a little nuts, but that's ok). Mostly though I think it is how our artistic goals line up. And that has led to a very rewarding collaboration for several projects. (How good the end result is remains to be seen, but I would not bet against us.) He has a big talent and a big heart and while he protests a little too loudly about how lame Aquaman is (compensating, perhaps?) I am thrilled we became friends. Happy Birthday, Todd.

...and to think, I had to talk Trish into keeping that audition appointment.....

Law & Order STIFFY

We just got the schedule for the 2008 Seattle True Independent Film Festival. (The schedule is not online yet.) The Acting Syndicate's first short, Behind Closed Doors, is screening on Wednesday, June 11th at 6:15 at the Jewel Box Theater in the Belltown neighborhood of Seattle. (Along with the schedule comes the list of STIFFY awards - every film gets one - and BCD received the Law & Order Award.)

Other movies of note at the festival include Ordinary Angels (Jewel Box, 6/8 @ 1:30), The Addict and Rectify (Jewel Box, 6/7 @ 6:15) and one I have not seen yet but includes BCD Alum and top notch actor Sarah Mac Aaron, Miss Shellagh's Miniskirt (Central Cinema, 6/10 @ 7). Check 'em out.

Oh and if you need the reminder, The Acting Syndicate's second short, Serial Reconciler, is online for your viewing pleasure.

Yeah, it's that good

Just adding my voice to the increasingly loud chorus in praise of Iron Man. Director John Favreau really strikes the perfect pitch for a comic book movie - the playboy bit is played for the right amount of laughs; the switch to righteous indignation is smooth and not hammered home; the action sequences are exciting with great effects that do not take over the film; and the cast (for the most part) does not overplay their parts. Fun film. Worth the extra bucks to see it on the big screen. Just stay all the way through the closing credits.

That was Swell

Went out last night with Trish and Jessie and Jenni to see The Swell Season in concert. Good show all in all. He is a natural performer with wonderful, long, rambling, funny tales before many of the songs. She has a great voice but not yet the stage presence he has (I would guess the difference is the many years of busking under his belt). They could have tightened up the running time, especially since many of their songs are slow, thoughtful pieces. Would have loved to have seen them in a more intimate venue... with more comfortable seats... that weren't packed in cheek to jowl... and better ventilation.... But it really was a fun night and I would highly recommend catching them if you have the chance.