Roads Go Ever On And On
And whither then? I cannot say.
[Insert Title Here]
Posted By Porthos on August 11, 2010
The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, but wiser people so full of doubts. – Bertrand Russell
Songday Monday!
Posted By Porthos on August 9, 2010
Missed Songday, again….I suck at regularity. Do they make BlogMetamucil?
Here’s Nick Drake with Pink Moon, which was recommended for your listening pleasure by my good buddy Ian. I haven’t listened to a lot of Nick Drake’s stuff yet, but I have loved it every time I have, and he is the man behind one of my favorite songs of all time.
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So let’s see…what else is going on in the land of Porthos…….
Someone I love dearly is going through a pretty tough time lately. That’s always hard to see, especially knowing there’s not much I can do to help. It’s kind of a helpless, depressing feeling. Here’s hoping things turn around for them soon.
I had a pretty boring weekend. Since I currently can’t drive, and the girlfriend wasn’t feeling up to coming over, I couldn’t do too much. This ended up being a great boon for my World of Warcraft character, who is now better geared after a few days of post-level-80 play than my last character a year ago was geared after raiding for months. Go figure. MMO-Gear-Inflation for the win.
Not too terribly much going on at the moment……but here’s a poster for the upcoming Yogi Bear movie that contains one of the worst taglines in cinema history. The worst thing about this, is it had to have been approved by multiple people who didn’t see anything wrong with it.
Nope, no double entendre there.......
Let’s get political.
Posted By Porthos on August 5, 2010
I don’t normally delve into politics here, as when it comes to the tangled web of idiocracy that is the American Political landscape I am at two distinct disadvantages; I don’t know, and I don’t care.
Which is to say, for the most part, I am completely uneducated as to what goes in the minotaur-filled labyrinths that make up Legal and Government systems, and for the most part, I couldn’t care much less.
However, the current hubaballoo over the constitutionality of Prop 8 is something that I do care about.
I could go into all sorts of reasons for this, but really, just read this:
http://www.newsweek.com/2010/01/08/the-conservative-case-for-gay-marriage.html
This article sums up the issue pretty well, I think, and much more clearly and concisely than I would be able.
Randonymity…
Posted By Porthos on August 3, 2010
I have been a lazy, lazy man and haven’t updated here for a while.
For once, there’s actually been things I could talk about, but they’ve all been somewhat negative things and I haven’t felt like whining. I guess today I do.
Some highlights:
- While driving at 2a.m. to help out a drunk friend with a sick friend of his own, I was pulled over for speeding (35 in a 25) and discovered my license is suspended. Wee!
- My health has been pretty much in the crapper for a few weeks now. I don’t remember the last time I felt *good*.
- My mental health is sitting in roughly the same spot as my physical health. The two are probably related.
- Money is tighter than ever (although that’s after paying rent and buying food, as opposed to how it was before, where I would pay what I could and still be behind, so progress is made I suppose.)
There hasn’t been too much positive to offset the negatives lately.
On the plus side, however, I still two wonderful kids, a kick-ass girlfriend, a roof over my head, food in my belly, and a paycheck. So I suppose I can’t complain too much.
Sometimes it’s hard to see the good when the bad is attached to you like an alien Face-Hugger.
I made the potential mistake of starting to play World of Warcraft again. That’s been a nice diversion from everything though. I’ve also been watching a ton of stand-up comedy, which is always a nice pick-me-up.
It’s been while since I’ve done Songday Sunday (and even longer since I’ve done it on time) so I’ll pick something here. I’m rather limited by what I have on hand at the work computer to upload…..*browses files*…….ah, here we go……
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Patton Oswalt: Awesome
Posted By Porthos on July 30, 2010
If you want to be both entertained and read some good advice, read this!
The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo
Posted By Porthos on July 15, 2010
A year or maybe 18 months ago, I read a fantastic book by the late Swedish author Stieg Larsson, titled “The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo.”
I don’t generally review books or movies here, because I don’t consider myself articulate enough or expert enough in the subject matter to offer a universally valid opinion on the topics. (Which is a weird way to feel, I suppose, since hey, opinions are opinions and they aren’t universally valid anyway.)
However, in this case, I feel compelled to offer my views, mostly because I just watched a wonderful film adaptation of the book.
The main characters in the story, journalist Mikael Blomkvist and expert computer hacker Lisbeth Salander, are some of the most strongly written characters I’ve ever encountered in the realms of fiction. Blomkvist, convicted of Libel against a billionaire Swedish industrialist, takes a lucrative freelance offer from a wealthy former CEO of a family run (now decaying) financial empire: to uncover the truth behind the 40 year old mystery surrounding the disappearance of the CEO’s beloved niece.
Assisting him in the investigation is Salander, an emotionally disturbed, possibly sociopathic young woman with a troubled past, who also possesses an eidetic memory and is one of the best computer hackers in the country. I imagine it’s difficult to write such a character and yet still have the reader be able to relate and empathize with them, and Larsson did a fantastic job (as did the translator, I assume, since the novel was originally written in Swedish.)
The writing is fantastic, and the suspense is often very real. What Blomkvist and Salander discover during their investigations is a troubling and disturbing closet full of skeletons that someone in the family is willing the kill to keep hidden, and the mystery unravels in unexpected, intense, and sometimes disturbing ways. There are also some side-plots dealing with inter-personal relationships of the two main characters, one of the most satisfying is the horrifying but well deserved revenge that Salander (a ward of the state) visits upon the government-appointed guardian who abuses his authority over her.
Now, on to the movie. It’s been a while since I’ve read the book, but from what I can remember of it, the movie seems like one of the most faithful film adaptations of a novel that I’ve ever had the pleasure of seeing. The actors (especially for the two main characters) are incredibly well cast, and while I don’t understand Swedish, the acting seemed superb. I will not be able to read the other two books in the trilogy (which I’ve been meaning to do for ages and have yet to get around to) without picturing them in the parts.
I would recommend both the book and the movie to anyone, although with some caveats. First, it is a Swedish film. All but a couple of the spoken lines are Swedish, so if you are the type who can’t stand watching a movie and having to read the subtitles, it’s probably not for you. There are some brief moments of nudity and a couple fairly intense and potentially disturbing scenes as well, so as the saying goes: viewer discretion is advised. It’s much slower paced than typical American fare as well. However, if none of the above strike off warning bells in your cerebral cortex, then I must heartily endorse the reading and watching of these two gems.
Songday Lateday
Posted By Porthos on July 15, 2010
Totally missed Songday Sunday, again. I would blame the move or something, but really it’s just laziness and not having a lot to write about.
Here’s a version of the song “O Death” by Jen Titus, and it is fantastic.
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There hasn’t been too much going on. Things are working out well at the new place. It’s especially nice being only a few miles from my kids, I was able to have them over last night (Wednesday) for the first time in a while – I used to live far enough away that, especially during the school year, it just wasn’t really workable for them to come over during the week as they would have only been over for an hour or 90 minutes before having to go back home again.
I’ve been struck recently by the realization that my kids are getting old. They are more like miniature grown-ups than kids, anymore. It’s mildly depressing but also very neat in a way, to watch their transition from child to preteen and to teen. Won’t be long and they will officially be “young adults.”
Gods, I’m old. I’ve been growing my hair out again lately and the amount of grey showing in the sides is not insubstantial.
Now get off my lawn, damn kids. Hooligans, I tell ya. And pull up your pants.
To exterminate, or to lol?
Posted By Porthos on July 9, 2010
Georgia is not on my mind, but the song is.
Posted By Porthos on July 4, 2010
I’ve posted at least one other version of this song here before, I believe.
Georgia on my mind is an oft-covered standard jazz ballad, and for good reason. Here is a cover by the late, great baritone saxophone player Gerry Mulligan. I always love a good baritone sax. I’m sure this has nothing to do with the fact that I used to play it, and am therefore biased.
I’m slowly getting settled in at the new place. We had several challenges and a couple casualties during the move. Because of a low-ceilinged steep staircase, we were not able to get the headboard to my queen sized bed, nor the box spring, into my new place. Currently I’m sleeping on a queen sized mattress set atop two twin box springs, which fortunately my roommates had laying around. This is sitting right on the floor as well, since the box springs, side by side, are slightly too big for the frame. I’m sure eventually I can track down a queen box spring that is in two pieces, probably.
My behemoth of a TV suffered some cosmetic damage in the process (and was probably the biggest pain in the ass to move out of anything we did yesterday. I will be surprised if the friends that helped me move are still my friends after what they endured…) but still works perfectly, thank goodness.
I’ll probably post a couple pictures once I get everything settled.The living area is coming together quite nicely, I think.
TTFN
Promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep…..
Posted By Porthos on July 2, 2010
So here it is, creeping up to the hour of midnight, and I have so much left to do.
I realize this would not be the case if I had not succumbed to sleep at the unreasonably early hour of 5:30pm yesterday. That’s what I get for not sleeping enough this week, I suppose.
I actually have gotten quite a bit done – one of the computers is torn down, all the books and action figures and cd’s and dvd’s are boxed, the living room is pretty much ready to go.
However, there is a huge list of things still needing to be done.
- This computer (and the tons of peripherals that go with it) needs to be torn down.
- Dishes, silverware, and other assorted kitchen items need separated from the roommates stuff and packed.
- Computer desk needs disassembled.
- Closets need to be emptied and boxed/prepared.
- A few pictures must be taken down.
- Bathroom stuff needs to be packed (this will have to be done post-shower in the morning, of course).
- Bed needs to be un-made, then disassembled (another job for the morning).
- Need to hunt through the house to find any various and sundry small objects that may have been missed.
I’m worn out already (hence the computer break). I know this will be worth it but man, moving is a pain in the ass. I am incredibly grateful for the help I will be recieving tomorrow. It’s nice to have good friends.
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Aging….
Posted By Porthos on June 30, 2010
On Changes, and Sleepless Nights…..
Posted By Porthos on June 29, 2010
I’ve been trying off and on for the last 3 hours to get to sleep.
My brain is actively organizing a non-peaceful coup against the rest of my body to put a violent halt to this plan.
I think most of it is because of the major changes coming up.
I was recently offered a chance to move to a different place – specifically, to rent a large chunk of the basement from a coworker and friend. The rent will be $150 dollars less monthly than what I’m currently paying, and include utilities. All told, that’s a $300 monthly savings. I’m sure I don’t need to tell you that for anybody that’s a pretty hefty chunk of spare change, and anyone currently appraised of my financial situation knows that in my case, it’s practically a fortune.
At first I was a smidge hesitant, just because I do have a pretty decent setup where I’m at, and the rent is still decently low. Also, I’m a lazy bastard and simply didn’t want to move again.
Fortunately, fate stepped in and made the choice for me. Some things came to light that made my ex-wife uncomfortable having my kids over here (and understandably so) and I had to choose between the comfort of staying where I am, and seeing my kids. This was not a difficult choice in the slightest.
Short story made shorter, I’ll be moving this weekend. For some reason, even though it’s completely the right choice and will be so much better, it’s keeping me up tonight. I’ve never been great with change (Taurus, indeed) and this is no exception. Even when it’s a change that brings nothing but improvement, it’s still always made me nervous and agitated and anxious.
Of course, there’s also a chance that I don’t want to sleep because last time I did, I dreamed I was in Twilight….and I was Bella. Don’t ask. I have epically weird dreams when I’m sick.
On that note, since I missed Songday Sunday, I decided to put on the media player and skip forward 21 times, and put on whatever played. So, here’s some Johnny Cash for your aural enjoyment.
The Day of the Father
Posted By Porthos on June 20, 2010
I don’t know why Mother’s day came and went this year without me noticing too much, but Father’s Day has left me thinking about my dad quite a bit.
My dad and I had a pretty good relationship, especially in the later years. This sometimes surprised me, because he and I never really connected with one another but he was pretty understanding of me regardless of our differences.
He was a man who spent his whole life laboring with his hands. Farming, coal mines, road construction. Even his hobbies were pretty labor-intensive at times: He’d come home from a long week, working who knows how many hours while living in a trailer pulled behind his pickup from one road construction site to another, and as soon as he got home he’d pull the boat out of the barn and start tinkering with the motor, getting it ready to spend all weekend fishing with his family.
I, on the other hand, would rather spend my time reading science fiction and fantasy books (something he never understood, caused him vague annoyance, yet he never tried to stop me), reading role-playing manuals, playing video games, or practicing whatever musical instrument had stuck my fancy that week.
I don’t remember how far he progressed in high school, but I don’t think it was very far. He was a man of little book learning who nonetheless devoured technical manuals on heavy equipment mechanics and taught himself enough to make a comfortable living, spoil me rotten, and take fantastic care of my mom. To this day, I’d probably have to struggle to change my own oil. I was never interested in the things he could have taught me, but he loved me all the same, and was proud of every thing I accomplished.
When I was still very, very young, he had an accident at a road construction site that very nearly severed his entire leg. Doctors said he was going to lose it, and if he didn’t, he would never walk again. Within two years he was back at work. He had enormous willpower and drive and never gave up.
Dad may have had a temper, but he was also a kind, generous, and patient man. I know it seems odd to use “temper” and “patient” to describe the same person, but it fits. I would have friends over to spend the night, and sometimes we would stay up until the wee small hours of the morning playing video games and laughing and making popcorn. I’m sure we kept my parents up too but I don’t remember them ever complaining except for maybe the occasional “can you try to just keep it down a little bit, please?” And in the morning, Dad would wake up and make my friend or friends and I a huge breakfast, usually an omelet and hashbrowns and toast and bacon. To this day I still hear from some of those friends that those mornings were some of the happiest memories of their own childhoods. That’s a pretty big impression for my dad to make on someone else.
In the winters, he would always spend a lot of his own time pulling my friends and relatives behind the snowmobile on a homemade sled made from an old piece of conveyor belt. He was always spending his time making sure everyone else had a good time. Both of my parents were that way really – the best host and hostess I’ve ever met.
He was a great man, and I miss him.
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The Odyssey of Homer (Bantam Classics) by Homer
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