Same old song, just a drop of water in an endless sea

Well today is an especially sad day, one of the true greats of modern cinema has passed from this world. Patrick Cranshaw of Fort Worth, Texas died yesterday, sending shockwaves through the Hollywood community. You might know Mr. Cranshaw by a different name: Blue. Thats right, Blue from Old School is no longer with us. I will be forever indebtted to his contributions to cinema. You're my boy, blue.
"I see Blue... he looks glorious!" - Frank the Tank

I promised New Years resolutions, but I think I'm going to put those off until next week.

• If you wonder why Mike Leach is fast becoming my favorite coach in college football, here's why.

While I was on the subject of media yesterday, I thought I'd list a few of my favorite announcers in sports:

• Marv Albert and Steve Kerr (TNT basketball)- both very knowledgeable, but they don't beat you over the head with theur "insider" knowledge. And nobody gets excited better than Marv. Yesssssss!
• Kevin Harlan (TNT basketball, CBS football)- while I feel his basketball partner Doug Collins really drags him down, nobody makes a bad game sound better than Harlan. I love listneing to him get worked up over everything.
• Keith Jackson and Dan Fouts (ABC college football)- Jackson sounds like your wise old grandfather, you can hear the experiences and great moments he's seen in his voice. He always sounds like he's on top of it, even when he messes up a name or two. Fouts is a professional too, never over-talking.
• Its tough to pick a favorite baseball announcer, only because the only national voices I get to hear are the awful Tim McCarver and Joe Buck. Guess I'd go with the local radio guys, Eric Nadel and Victor Rojas on the Rangers broadcast.
• Ralph Strangis and Razor Reaugh (Dallas Stars hockey)- Even if I'm not really into a Stars game, I'll listen just for the chemistry between these two. Razor is seriously one of the funniest men in sports, and if you dont believe me check this out.

Thats it, have a safe and happy New Year. Kiss someone at midnight.

I'm like a whilrling dervish...

Wow... I just realized that last post was really angry and bitter. I don't really know what got into me. I'll still watch ESPN, only because I don't have another option. Coming tomorrow: New Years Resolutions.

The Sports Satan

Wasn't sure what to write about today, until I was inspired by Mr. Scott.
So over the past few weeks I have undergone a revalation of sorts. The scales have fallen from my eyes.
I have found myself beginning to really detest the juggernaut that is the Entertainment and Sports Programming Network. Better known as ESPN. I hate the fact that ESPN has decided to make themselves the story, instead of being the medium. ESPN has decided that sports aren't entertainment enough for people, so they have to be force fed Sportsntainment. Its now all about ESPN, and what how it can promote itself further. So instead of a college basketball game, we get Dick Butkus coaching a high school football team reality show. Instead of insightful analysis, we get Tilt and Codebreakers. And we get mock press conferences, The Hot Seat, Dream Job, and freaking Chris Berman instead of great anlaysts such as Jaworksie, Gammons, Buster Olney, and Bob Ley. Stop making the story, just report it. (Terrel Owens, for example)
And I hate Stuart Scott.
And i hate how every team or player that comes along somehow HAS to be one of greatest/worst in history. Every thing has to be sensationalized into something way more meaningful than it should be.
I feel partly responsible for my next complaint. I love PTI, its one of my favorite shows. But because PTI was such a sucess, it opened the floodgates for all thew horrible copies. Becase Kornheiser and Wilbon are so good, we now get pompous windbags Woody Page and Jay Marriotti on TV. These guys are reporter, or they used to be. But now they think they are celebrities, and get to build up this fake image of a TV personality.
And by the way, ESPN, stop saying USC is on the verge of 3 straight. LSU won your precious BCS trophy 2 years ago. And please don't say anything about Auburn last year, these issues might tarnish your precious Rose Bowl on ABC (guess who owns ESPN!). Keep hyping up a game THAT WILL MAKE YOU MONEY IF IT DOES WELL, instead of giving us real analysis and news.
Screw ESPN, join the revolution with me. It starts with making Deadspin.com a raging sucess, because they print the stories ESPN won't touch.
Or I guess we can all go buy ESPN The Phone!...

Christmas recap

Christmas has passed once again, and now I'm back at work. Overall, I give Christmas this year a narrow thumbs-up. Before Chritsmas day, I was in an unexplainable holiday depression. For whatever reason, I had the holdiay blues, and nothing could get my Christmas spirit back. But I had such a good Christmas day with my family that I was back to my good old self in no time. I was like Scrooge on Christmas day. I really enjoyed having Chruch Christmas morning, that was cool.
It was a good haul this year, a quick rundown of the gift pack I recieved for playing in the Orr Family Christmas Bowl this year:

• 45$ worth of itunes cash, of which I have already spent like half
• clothing, always nice
• Bets Buy/Barnes and Noble Gift Cards
• How to Be Good, by Nick Hornby
• The Education of a Coach, by David Halberstam
• The ESPN College Football Encyclopedia
• A digital camera
• and my bed liner for my truck is also counting as a present

Anyways, I'm really excited about all the books I got, especially the one about Bellichick.

• I saw the Ringer last night, no classic by any means, but see it just for the retarded guys, they completely steal the show and definitely make the movie seem more classy.

Well I hope everyone had a great Christmas, and if you need to know where THE party will be for New Years, just ask me.

Christmas Eve fun

Well I plan on watching a bunch of Christmas movies today, thought maybe I'd post the list.

• The Ref- cult Christmas classic, about a guy who takes a bickering family hostage on Christmas Eve
• Christmas Vacation
• A Muppett Christmas Carrol
• It's A Wonderful Life
• A Charlie Brown Christmas
• A Christmas Story

And I'll levae you with a guess the quote game, what movie is this from? (Hint: not from any of the movies above.)

"It's Christmas Eve. It's-it's the one night of the year when we all act a little nicer, we-we-we smile a little easier, we-w-w-we-we-we cheer a little more. For a couple of hours out of the whole year we are the people that we always hoped we would be. "

Merry Christmas everyone, be safe and think of Jesus.

So all alone I keep the wolves at bay

Topic for today: Politics
Normally, I don't make my political views very well known. It's not something I like to proclaim from the rooftops. However, when asked I will reveal that I am a solid right winger on most all points. My views these days, are pretty different than in my younger years. I used to be a right wing attack dog, loudly procliaming my Republican views to anyone who would listen. But over the last couple of years I have grown increasingly disenchanted with the lack of thinking on both sides of the aisle. To me, politics these days consist of people basically joining a "team", like they would support a hometown sports team. And after you join your "team", you then defend every single policy of that party. Nobody looks at the individual issues anymore, its simply, "Well, what is my party's stance on it? Thats what I believe." And all we end up doing is trying to get our team to win. I don't pretend to know how to fix the issues I bring up, I just wanted to share my opinion on them. All I can say is keep your eyes and ears open to other ideas, always.

• It's been more than a year since I first got it, yet Green Day's American Idiot still probably gets more play than any other cd I own. Every time I listen I find a new song I enjoy. Its easier for me to separate art from politics than for alot of other people, I think.
• I've heard that once again Spielberg is taking the easy way out in his new movie, Munich by refusing to take sides. One of the most disappointing developments in film over the past decade has been Spielberg's increasing insistence on making movies that don't offend anyone and have everyone leaving the theater happy. His self from 20 years ago would be angry at his work these days.
• Stars are playing Canine tonight, I will be in the building.

"You are what you love, not what loves you."- Adaptation

• Link of the day: The Mighty MJD has a list up of all the free swag the players get at bowl games this year. Way to go, Alamo bowl
• Honestly, I think Johnny Damon's best years are behind him. Yankes will be looking for a new center fielder in the middle of the 2007 season or so.
• I'm filing a protest with the league, but for now I will do whatever it is you want, Heath, to get ahold of those tickets.
• So are people supposed to be serious with the new Facebook friend connection feature? I have the feeling it will end up being a big joke.
• Know that I'm getting paid to sit here and write in this blog.

So... I've been trying to think of some standard features that I can create that will become traditions of this blog. So far all I have is What I'm Watching, and the very occasional Overrated/Underrated. But today I bring you a brand new, semi-weekly feature. Mason's DVD Shelf. I wanted to have something kind of similar to Oprah's Book Club, you know, but I felt that no one would give a crap if i suggested a random movie every once in awhile that no one cared about. But by choosing movies from my own personal DVD collection, I hope that someone, someday will be inspired by one of these posts to borrow said movie from my room. Ask anyone who knows me, movies are my passion. Books and music and TV are oh so good, but my love will always be cinema. So I kick off the DVD Shelf with what I think is one of the most criminally underrated movies of all time. Probably in my all-time top 5 favorite movies.

Mason's DVD Shelf #1:
Adaptation (2002) Starring: Nicholas Cage, Chris Cooper, Meryl Streep
Never before has a movie better tried to capture the creative process of writing better than Adaptation. But there's more to it than that. Quite simply, this may be the most creative movie of all time. I don't want to give too much away, but in order to fully appreciate this movie you need backstory.
After writing the amazing Being John Malkovich, Charlie Kaufman was hired to adapt the book The Orchid Thief to the big screen. Written by a journalist for the New Yorker, Susan Orlean, the Orchid Thief was about her following a man in the Florida Everglades who would go to any length to get precious orchids out of the protected wildlife preserves.
The only problem was, this book was impossible to adapt. Charlie simply couldn't do it. He panicked, thinking he would never work in Hollywood again after they found out he couldn't adapt it. But the script that he eventually turned in would be a work of pure genius. The script he gave the executive was about a man named Charlie Kaufman, who was hired to adapt The Orchid Thief. Only problem is, he doesn't know how. In the script Charlie has a twin brother named Donald, also a screenwriter.
So Charlie wrote a story about Charlie trying to write a story. To give any more away would be criminal. Its a comedy, but also pretty moving. So if anyone feels the desire to watch Adaptation, just ask me. You will not be disappointed. Trust me.

"Charlie Kaufman writes the way he lives... With Great Difficulty. His Twin Brother Donald Lives the way he writes... with foolish abandon. Susan writes about life... But can't live it. John's life is a book... Waiting to be adapted. One story... Four Lives... A million ways it can end."

Hump Day

Quick hits on a Wednesday:

• Kobe is freaking uneblieveable... he could have put up 90 last night if he really wanted to.
• Had a good time at Clark's party last night, particularly enjoyed our little game of Do, Date, or Dump.
• This year kind of feels like one of those years where I don't quite all the way get into the Christmas spirit. Its cliche, but the commercialism kinda gets to me. Maybe after I watch Charlie Brown Christmas I will be all fixed.
• I'm going to start reading some Nick Hornby novels, I've heard they are funny and insightful, so I'm gonna give some fiction a shot.

And finally, the main point of my post today:

I've noticed a startling trend happening in my life the past few months. Its a recurring situation that usually happens like this: I see someone at church or from my high school days that I haven't seen in many months or maybe years, and we begin talking and catching up. But the thing is, as he/she is telling me about where theyve been for the past year or who they've been with, or what they've done, I already know these details because of the socially acceptable stalking methods of our time, Facebook, Xanga and Webshots. And so in our conversation I have to pretend that I don't know anything about their life in the last year, but I really do, but I don't want them to know that I know. Really just an awkward situation all the way around. I hate Facebook. But its too late to turn back. The Evil Empire has ensnared us all.

"We're sending you back...to the future!"

So, I'm working over the break. It's really boring. Right now I am looking over huge reports looking for specific dates and highlighting them. I want to take my eyes out with a staple remover.
But while I sit here and do nothing, it gives me time to simply think. Just think. I really like doing that, and I know it sounds weird, but just reflecting on life and stuff can be strangely satisfying.
Well what I have been thinking about lately, quite simply, is the future. I have almost gotten hooked ont he new CBS show How I Met Your Mother, which I talked about below. That, and I sent an email to myself that I will recieve in two years, just kind of talking about everything going on right now.
And so in thinking about the future, I asked myself these questions. Do I really want to know what my life will be like in 10 years? If I did, wouldn't I just be bound for disappointment? Do the little things we do now really add up to something in the future?
I think the future intrigues people so much because everyone wants to be able to justify the things they are having to go through right now. We want to know that the struggles we deal with in life will eventually lead us to a better place.
On HIMYM last night, (and yes, I know it is a cheesy sitcom, deal with it) the main character, the dad in the future who is telling his kids the story, has a rough New Years Eve. Tnings didn't go his way with the girl he was after. But he says "Don't feel sorry for me, it was all important, all of it was leading somewhere. And all of a suddden it was 2006, and 2006 was a really big one."
Thats the attitude I want to have when things don't go my way. Its all leading somewhere, its all shaping things for later. None of the things we do are meaningless, they are all little pieces of this giant puzzle that can't be seen. Even lazy, pointless afternoons in college are building towards something big. Through all kinds of expereices we learn what kind of people we are, and what people we will want to be with later on. And I'm kind of gald I can't see it yet. I want to be suprised, awed, and overjoyed when I see where I am in 20 years.
So never think that it doesn't matter, because it will, even if you never know it.

Hope that was deep and reflective enough for you. Soon you will be returned to your collection of useless pop culture, and semi-funny personal anecdotes.

What I'm Watching

Time to debut a new feature on this blog. Its going to be called What I'm Watching, and its a just gonna be a non regular look at the things I'm really enjoying on TV right now. I love TV, so its close to the heart.
What I'm Watching:

Lost

Had to get it out of the way, its everybody's favorite show right now. I'm having fun with it, it definitely is the X-Files for a new age group. I can only hope they don't string the show out over too many years, if it only takes 3 seasons to solve everyting, then so be it. The X-Files was ruined because they tried to stretch it out too long.

Arrested Development

Theres not a funnier show on Tv, plain and simple. Genius writing and a great cast make AD one of the sadder TV deaths I've had to deal with. Soon it probably will be gone, and I will cry inside for it.

How I Met Your Mother
Not many people know about this show, but I really think if any show has the potential to be the next friends, this one's it. The story is that kids in 2030 find a video from their dad, telling them about how he met their mother. The show is all flashbacks, telling about a love lorn guy who decideds its time he found true love. Neil Patrick Harris is the best part about it, completely throwing away his Doogie Howser persona in favor of a wild party animal. Lots of laughs, along with a heart? Yes please.

My Name is Earl
Definitely the guilitest pleasure of the season, MNIE is the most white trash show I have every seen on TV. But o how it is glorious white trash. Jason Lee has never been better, and its hard to fault a show where there are laughs and a message.

I know that was all kind of brief, but I really want to go play Madden right now.

Slow day at work

Well, Im actually getting paid to sit here and write in this blog, I'm at work. Bet theyd love to know thats what I'm doing right now. Oh well. Coolest new website I've found, that everyone should participate in:
www.futureme.org

Its a website where you can send an email to yourself in the fututre, kind of like a time capsule. Its awesome. I wrote about my plans and my life, and I really hope to just be completely suprised when I get it in 2 years. I want to know then what I was feeling now. Should be cool.
Anyways, back to work. I will write more i promise.

Sorry

Well... i feel bad, I haven't updated this thing in awhile. I'm gonna try, really. Ive had a busy last couple of weeks. Anyways, in lieu of any meaningful post, I'm going to reprint my favoirte Christmas sotry of all time, besides the Jesus one.

Twas the Fight Before Christmas, by Rick Reilly:

You can take all your Tiny Tims and your Grinches and your Miracles on Whatever Street and stuff them in your stocking. The best Christmas story is about a boxer.
It starts the day in 1918 when a doctor tells a slender heavyweight named Billy Miske that his bum kidneys give him five years to live, if he's lucky. Turns out he's dying of Bright's disease. This comes as rotten news to Billy, who's only 24 years old and not half bad in the ring. He's good enough to fight guys like future light heavyweight champ Harry Greb twice to 10-round draws, which is sort of like tying with a twister. Still, the doc says if Billy's smart, he'll find a comfortable couch and retire right now.
Problem is, almost nobody but Billy knows he's up to his ears in debt, being $100,000 in the hole because the car distributorship he operates in St. Paul doesn't distribute near enough cars. Billy's weakness as a salesman is that he's too trusting. He keeps counting on his friends to pay up, and mostly they don't. So Billy keeps the kidney news to himself and decides to continue fighting and paying what he owes. In fact, Billy fights 30 more times after the doc's death sentence, including bust-ups with guys like Tommy Gibbons, who was knocked out only one time in his career, and three dances with Jack Dempsey, once for the title in 1920.
Dempsey hits people only slightly harder than a bus, and in that title bout he belts Billy once so flush in the heart that Billy goes down for a nine count. In those nine seconds a purple welt the size of a baseball pops up on Billy's chest, scaring Dempsey half to death. But then Billy himself pops up, wanting more. Dempsey knocks him clean out less than a minute later, this time with an anvil to the jaw, as Dempsey is trying to get the fight over before one of them faints, maybe Dempsey. "I was afraid I'd killed him," Dempsey says afterward, but Billy's kidneys are doing a good job of that all by themselves.
By the fall of 1923, Billy is dying fast. He looks like a broomstick on a diet. He's too weak to work out, much less prizefight. The only thing thinner than Billy's arms is his wallet. He hasn't had a bout since January, which is trouble, because Christmas is coming up hard.
Well, Billy isn't about to face his wife, Marie, and their three young kids, Billy Jr., Douglas and Donna, tapped out for his last Christmas, so he goes to his longtime manager, Jack Reddy, and asks him for one last fight. Reddy says no chance. "I don't like to say this," Reddy tells him, "but if you went in the ring now, in your condition, you might get killed."
"What's the difference?" Billy answers. "It's better than waiting for it in a rocking chair."
Reddy chews on that for a while and comes up with a proposition: "Do one thing for me. Go to the gym, start working out, and let's see if you can get into some kind of condition. Then we'll talk."
Billy says no can do. He says there's no way he can work out. He says he's got one last fight in him, and maybe not even that. A softie, Reddy arranges a Nov. 7 bout in Omaha against a brawler named Bill Brennan, who went 12 rounds with Dempsey and is still meaner than 10 miles in brand-new shoes.
True to his word, Billy doesn't get any nearer the gym than his aspirin bottle. He stays in hiding, slurping bowls of chicken soup and boiled fish, and rarely making it out of bed. But he turns up in Omaha on the appointed night, survives four rounds with Brennan and cashes a check for $2,400.
That check buys the best Christmas the Miskes ever have. The kids come flying downstairs in the morning to a Christmas tree, a toy train, a baby-grand piano and presents stacked higher than they can reach. They eat like Rockefellers and sing like angels and laugh all day. Do you know, the only smile bigger in Minneapolis that day than the ones on the faces of those three Miske kids is on Billy's mug.
The next morning Billy calls Reddy and whispers, "Come and get me, Jack. I'm dying." Reddy rushes Billy to St. Mary's Hospital, but the doctors can't do a thing. On New Year's Day 1924, Billy, 29, dies of kidney failure.
That's it, really. Except that if you ever pass through Omaha and run into an old-timer, ask him about the prizefight that day, the one that gave Billy Miske the finish he wanted, the one he won in four rounds, over Bill Brennan, by a knockout.

Everybody's Working for the Weekend

Quick hits on a slow Thursday:

• Siggie waterball game tonight at 6... I can't wait to see Jenny Hutcheson, Lauryn Lewis and Erin Grey waging war with no regard for human life. I feel bad for those at colleges other than ACU, for they do not get to experience the glory of waterball. If I decide to donate a large sum of money to ACU after I graduate, I want to make sure it goes towards the construction of a waterball stadium.

• I am getting a bed liner in my truck today, which is pretty much exciting for no one but me.
• My new favorite book: The Areas of My Expertise, by John Hodgman. It is basically the most made up, hilarious parody of an almanac that I have ever seen. Read it for beauties like : the 7oo best Hobo names, 9 Presidents That Actually Had Hooks for Hands, and Tips for Winning a Fight
• Sydney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins looks like the real deal.

• Lost was a throwaway episode for me last night, up until the final 10 minutes. I hate the idea of watching a new group basically start over. Lets get back to Jack, Sawyer, and the hatch next week boys.

So right now I'm reading The Question of God, by Armand M. Nicholi, Jr. Basically it is an analysis of the opposing views of Sigmund Freud and C.S. Lewis. I know Justin already wrote about it in his blog, but I thought I'd share my thoughts on a particular chapter right quick. Right now I'm on the chapter concerning whether there is a moral compass inside every man, and that it is proof of God's existence. What really spoke to me this chapter was what C.S. Lewis said about our culture. "So we tend to accept uncivil behavior 'cowardice, lying, envy, unchastity' - more readily than many earlier cultures. We are told to 'get things out in the open' ...on the ground that these 'things' are very natural and we need not be ashamed."

I thought about this for awhile, and I think it's very true today. The world is constantly telling us to embrace our feelings, and to be honest with ourselves. We are told that we should just accept who we are. I think that while it's true we should not pretend to be something we are not, when we accept that what we are is sufficient is when we get into trouble. Anyways, that just some thoughts that crossed my mind today. Have a blessed day.

Wow!

Are you kidding me?

How the heck did they Cowboys win that one?
All they did was get dominated the entire game, and then in the last 4 minutes of the game decided to snatch victory formt he jaws of defeat. I ahve to hand it to the overrated Roy Williams, that was a great play. Way to come up big when it counts. Thats the kind of win that can hopefully propell a team to bigger and better things. Tied for first in the NFC East? Thank you, New York Giants. Decemeber 5th will be the biggest game fo the year for Cowboys fans. Get ready.
Notes:

• Parcells is the wierdest looking human I think I've ever seen
• Every time we ran the ball on first down for no gain a little part of my soul died
• We really missed Anthony Henry
• I detroyed my marketing test this morning
• I have to take my truck to Baird today, the stupid check engine light came on last week
• First Campus Life Board Meeting today, we'll see how that goes

Have a blessed day, I might post later if you're lucky.

The week begins...

Another monday...

I have a huge test in marketing tomorrow, and studying all day today is just going to put me in a wonderful mood. I did get a book in the mail today though, (Thank you, Justin Scott) The Question of God: CS Lewis and Sigmund Freud Debate God, Love, Sex, and the Meaning of Life.
Tonight is the first meeting for Sophmore Sing Song, whcih should be amazing. Get out those dance moves and pretty singing voices boys.

Prediction for tonight's game: Everyone and their dog is predicting an Eagles win tonight, based on them bieng at home and the fact that they are an absolutely desperate team right now. Well a good betting strategy sometimes is to seek out the popular opinion and go the opposite way... so lets go with the 'boys. (Did you really expect anything else?)

UPDATE: Just learned that Bill Parcells' brother Don is being buried this morning in New Jersey, and if the team can't rally aorund him and win, they've got nothing.

Cowboys 27, Eagles 20

Guide us, Drew...

Old Blue Tights

A random note about a movie nobody cares about yet:

Well I was bored, and I am just in a posting mood. So I figured I’d take the chance to show off some of the pictures from the new website for Superman Returns.


I get the feeling that not many people know this movie is even on the radar screen. But before anyone knows it, (June 30th, 2006 to be exact) the Man of Steel will once again return to the big screen.

People may be doubtful as to whether a new generation can pull off this new movie, but let me assure you that the project will be in the right hands. Bryan Singer, the director of The Usual Suspects and the X-Men films, is in charge. I’ve been watching his video blogs over on bluetights.net, and it is clear the man has an amazing vision for this new film. I truly believe it will be the superhero film on which all others are judged. So… what does everyone think about the relative newcomer, Brandon Routh? I’m willing to give him a chance. He doesn’t quite look big enough, but maybe I just need to see him actually moving before I say that. Anyways, here are some pictures to enjoy.

On July 30th, you will once again believe a man can fly.

Lazy SundaY

So...
Pretty good weekend, thought I'd give a quick recap as I'm sitting here pretedning to study for a Marketing Test on Tuesday. Friday night we had the 2nd Annual Mabee 1st North Invitational Golf Tournament, although ths year the format was changed. This year, the girls were playing and the guys caddied for them. The girls golfing was interesting to say the least. My golfer finished out fo the running, but you know, it was a good time nonethless. The winner, Jenny Hutcheson, git to pick where we ate dinner and had her's paid for. And then after that we went to Cold Stone and the girls used free coupons to get us ice cream, it being Sadie Hawkins week and all.

The Caddies after a tough day on the links:



Saturday morning I got to be this man:

We worked on the Habitat for Humanity House from 830-12, and it was pretty much the Siege Class and Justin Scott and Ryan Hise. Great times. I didn't get a meagphone though.

Also:

• Saw 2: skip it, unless you like rooting for the killer to kill everyone in the movie because you hate them so much.
• I think I found an underground softball league...pretty cool I must say. Still felt seedy for some reason though.
• A Sunday with no Cowboys is no Sunday at all
• Am I kind of gay if I think Pride and Prejudice looks really good?
• Walk the Line can't get here fast enough
• Can't recomment Brad Paisley's Time Well Wasted enough. Best country cd I've heard in years. No joke. Thank you myTunes...
  

Dang it Facebook

Thank you, facebook, for completely wrecking my life yet again. I had just about gotten over my addiction to the evil website known as the facebook, when it deciedes to go ahead and add picture galleries, and they are all connected! Kill me now. I will now go back to checking people's photo galleries like a voyeur, while my life wastes away.

A quick story

This is one of my favorite stories, and I think it relates directly to the Terrel Owens situation. Its also a story that I think about sometimes in life.

Once there was a man, wandering alone in the desert. One day he came upon a wounded snake that was near death. He took the snake, cared for it, and nursed it back to health. Soon the two were inseperable, friends crossing what seemed like an eternity together. Then one day, the snake suddenly bit the man, ulneashing his deadly venom. As the man lay dying he asked the snake "Why would you do that, after all the things I did for you?!"
The snake looked at him and replied, "You knew I was a snake when you found me."

A New Day Has Come

So... the blog is back yet again. But this time, I really hope i can keep it going. I should be studying for a test right now but I'm not. I really just wanted to get on here and get some things written down on paper, so to speak. This way I feel like I am being held more accountable. I;ve decided I'm tired of being skinny. And after watching GSP lose to Galaxy in the championship football game tonight, I decided that I am somewhat wasting my God given height, by now at least trying to put some mass on. So here goes nothing, time to get dedicated. My theme will be this Vince Lombardi quote:

"Mental toughness is many things. It is humility because it behooves all of us to remember that simplicity is the sign of greatness and meekness is the sign of true strength. Mental toughness is spartanism with qualities of sacrifice, self-denial, dedication. It is fearlessness, and it is love. "

Overrated / Underrrated

So today I came up with the idea of posting about once a week a couple of things in the same category that I find to be overrated/ underrated. It can be movies, books, cars, anything pretty much. Because the public needs to know when it comes to what the best of the best.
Today's topic is:
Birds


Overrated:

Flamingos
I find the flamingo to be a particularly overrated creature, if God didnt decided to make the flamingo pink we would be cursing them just like we curse the seagulls. I mean all they do is stand around, practically a sitting duck for predators, in their pinkness. And I dont think they can even fly great distances, just kinda flop along in the air for a few feet. What a waste.


Underrated:

Ducks
This is a creature we take for granted, I think. The duck is such a cool brid. A duck can swin quckly, fly great distances, and walk adequately on land. How cool is that? I don't know who came up with the term "sitting duck", but it seems to me they can escape from predators with ease. Ducks are awesome. There is nowhere the duck is out of place, adaptable to many environments. And theyre the best cause they gave us the movie The Mighty Ducks

Finally, an update

I really want to learn how to put pictures in here, i think that would be cool. Maybe sometime later, its hard enough keeping this updated.

So, lots of new and exciting stuff happening in my life these days. Today I went to Abilene and picked up my NEW TRUCK and did a few other things. Im so excited about my truck, its a brand new red silverado. It was fun to go back to Abilene for awhile, I havent been back since I came home for the summer. I saw the new dorm being built, and stopped by to see Jeffrey too. It looks like the new dorm still needs a whole lot of work, but we'll just see. They still have like 3 weeks to finish it. I snuck into Edwards, the dorm I'll be staying at this year. It is actually really big, witha study room, a walk in closet and our own bathroom.

Don't know if I've mentioned this, but right now I'm reading Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger, just kinda for fun. I never read it in high school, and from what I hear its just one of the books people need to read, to kinda be cultured in American literature. Its about a 17 year old kid, who just really doesnt seem to have any direction in his life, he gets kicked out of his fourth private school as the book opens. Holden Caulfeld doesnt want to adapt to what is considered acceptable in soceity, and for this he is punished. All it seems he wants to do often is to just talk to someone, show them who he is. Btu because hes not a responsible student or a popular kid he never finds acceptance. Its a really sad, depressing book, but I'm glad I'm reading it.


I guess all we are looking for in life is someone who will listen to us, someone who wants to hear what we have to say.

Only about a week till its time to return to Abilene...

My boy

One of my favoirte people in all of DFW Sports has finally decided to get with the program and create his own blog.

Razor Reaugh!!!!!!!!

http://blog.dallasstars.com/

If you like hockey you wont be disappointed. Ive got nothing else to add today, just packing up and getting ready t go to Tulsa. Have a good weekend.

So...
I'm sitting here listening to the soundtrack for Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Good stuff indeed. Danny Elfman is one of my favorite composers. Anyways, this week is pretty slow, just working some and getting ready for the family reunion this weekend. For some reason its in Tulsa, OK. What a hotbed. It will be fun though, it always is.
This website accuratley sums up the 2005 Rangers season for me:
http://texasrangers2005.ytmnd.com/

But thats not even the funiest link I've seen in the past few days. This takes the cake:
http://www.big-boys.com/articles/tomkills.html

Wow.

Good time

Man I found out its really fun to sit and mess with your blog, adding all different kinds of features and links. Waaaay too time consuming. Anyways, today all I did was go work at the water park, thank goodness there won't be too much of that in the future. Well I just figured out that there's only 20 more days until its time to go back to Abilene! Wow, that can;t come soo enough. Never thought I'd here myself say that though.

As for the project I spoke of starting...well here it is:
People always tell me that I know waaaay too much trivia, especially in the areas of movie and tv shows. I mean, thats pretty much all I'm good fro these days. I'm like a cheap party trick. Anyways, I decided that since I waste sp much of my life learning useless trivia that won't ever help me in life, I'm gonna spend a little time reading things that really matter. So the first book in Mason's Books That Matter Series is Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger. I want to read all of the classic literature that I didn't get to read in high school. Gettin cultured, one book at a time. So far so good, but we'll see how it goes in college when Option A is reading The Count of Monte Cristo and Option B is staying up all night playing NCAA 06.
Well, I have to go to early servide in the morning, so I'm going to sleep.

Sad Day

The Rangers are finished, just like last year.
And the year before that.
And the year before that.

Theres only one thing that can be used to describe the team this year:
http://texasrangers2005.ytmnd.com/

Anyways, tonight I went to a devo at church since I didnt get to go to college class because of work. It was really good, but it lasted a long time. A good 2 1/2 hours almost. Afterwards me and Jana and Randy went to Chase's to swim for awhile. But it really wasnt swimming, it was just sitting around talking in the pool. Pretty uneventful.

Its gonna be a pretty slow work week for me, and then its the infamous Annual Orr Family Reunion, to be held this year in Tulsa, Oklahoma. What a hotbed.

Word

Boy the title for my blog really sucks doesnt it? They dont come more generic than that.
So I went to the Rangers game tonight, and I'll let the great Bob Sturm from the Ticket tell you what I think about the Rangers:
"Lose 2 of 3 to the Yankees , lose 3 of 4 to Oakland, and drive home safely. Your season as a contender is OVER…"

Time to build for next year boys...

If I have time tomorrow I want to write about my new undertaking, hopefully this project will continue on through the next year of college. Sorry this is so short, but its late due to the fact that I was at Chase's watching him give a speech for his summer speech class and I also watched his starring role as Pharoh in the DVD of Summer Spectacular.
Later.

Blog is back, back again

Goodness its been a long time. Every time I try to start this up again, I get too bogged down or just bored by it. That, and nobody reads it anyway. Don't worry, in a few weeks I'll probably quit this one too. Anyways, I'm posting this one on facebook so maybe a lot more people will see it this time. So look for some posts when I'm not working, which is hardly ever. Well tonight I wentto the Rangers gaem and saw them win a beauty, 2-1. They don't make em like that anymore. Well its bedtime, I'm gonna post tomorrow (I hope).

Busy weekend

So another crazy acu weekend comes to an end. It was one where we actually decided to stay in Abilene, and boy I'm glad I did. Friday night we watched Shark Tale at Cullen Auditorium, which made that movie automatically a contender for worst movie of 2004 right alongside The Day After Tomorrow. Gonna give the edge to TDAT though. But after that, we went to the greatness that is Oplin, Texas. It's a tiny town about 25 minutes outside of ABilene, and about the only thing in the town is a community center that is basically a gym. And on Friday nights the gym turns into a country music dancehall, and it is the most fun I have had in an long time. There wasa live band cranking out the classics, and I had to learn the 2- step. Im no dancer, but it was such a great atmosphere and everyone got really into it.
On Saturday we went to Rosa's, and then eventually found ourselves at the House of Yaweh, one of the most watched cults in America. Its right outside of Clyde, and it always seems to really creep everyone out everytime we go. We drive by and look at the guards, its always a good time. Well thats about it, i want to write more but I am really tired so i'll try to write tomorrow. God bless.

Sing Song and other stuff

So today is Wednesday, and it feels like yet another week is flying by. Every noght for the past week and up until late February we will be having Sing Song preactice every night from 9-11. This is pretty draining, but I'm really glad to be a part of it. Its a honor really, when you look back and see all the tradition associated with it, going bakc way past even my parents when they were here.
Intramural basketball satrted Tuesday, and its off to a great start. Team Thundercats dismantled Frats 2 by the score of 62-5. It was a massacre, but we will definetely be playing beter teams that that in ther future. I feel good about our team, its just a matter of guys playing together and getting comfortable with each other's actions on the court. We look a little jumbled on offense, but I'm confident we can bring it together. Our inside is solid, with me, Chase and Garret holding down the middle.
Thats about all, i'll try to post again tomorrow. Have a great week.

Where it all begins...again

And so the rarely read, seldom published blog makes its triumphant return. Today I have just returned from Sing Song practice, and i am sitting in my room watching my favorite movie of 2004, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Its not for everyone, but if you have an open mind its the best love story of the year by far. Anyways, this weekend I went with about 30 people for a fun filled weekend to Borerne, Texas, right outside of San Antonio. It was a good time for all, filled with games, the Riverwalk, and a sweet Pat Green concert at Gruene Hall. That was by far the highlight of the trip, seeing him at such a legendary place. Its really interesting how the relationships within our little group constantly eveolve, you could write a book about all the stuff that goes on between couples and so forth.
Well it was a soild playoff football weekend, and once again the Pats showed that they are indeed what should be called a dynasty. There are 2 kinds of champions: those who are just happy to win one, and those who want to go down as one of the greatest teams ever. The Pats are squarely in the second group, and their leagcy will only continue to grow.

Because I want to, here's my top 10 movies if the year, cause it IS awards season.
1. The Aviator
2. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
3. Finding Neverland
4. The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou
5. The Passion
6. Collateral
7.Friday Night Lights
8. The Terminal
9. Kill Bill Volume 2
10. Saw

And my # 1 least favorite movie of the year?? Of course:
The Day After Tomorrow