An all consuming time waster...

Wow, it has been a month since my last post. Oops. Sorry all. But, here is my excuse: Tribal Wars.

One of the most ridiculously simple games, but boy, for those of us with some compulsive behavior, not good. Just ask my wife! One of my villages below. I have eight.

So, realizing I am completely addicted to this browser-based game, I am going to slowly reintroduce some other things I enjoy.

Like blogging...

The name game...

Well, apparently the girls are playing some sort of lame game where they come up with things that go with the letters in their middle names.

So I'm gonna play...

J- Jovial: that's me in a nutshell. In a good mood at least 75% of the time and always looking to have a good time, whether I have to create it or just enhance it.

O- Oh-so-awe-inspiring: I think that says it all.

H- High-Maintenance: I know, I know. Strange for a man but not unheard of. That is why my wife is such a gift from God. To have the grace to deal with me on a day to day basis for the rest of her life...

N- Naughty: I can be ill-behaved at times. Muhahahahaha!

Tag, somebody else has to join the game now. So there.

Homemade Mac 'N' Cheese...

Jess and I just put the finishing touches on our very first, homemade Mac 'N' Cheese. We usually rely on Velveeta for the Mac stuff...

So after watching a special on The Phantom Gourmet about comfort foods, featuring Mac 'N' Cheese, I decided it was time for a shot at making the homemade stuff.

So, I turned to Alton Brown of "Good Eats" to get a good Baked Macaroni and Cheese recipe.

Prep was really easy and straight forward and it is in the oven as I type. And dang, it looks good...

Update: Alright, here are the awesome pics of our most excellent creation! Alton Brown, here's to you!!!

Look at this golden brown goodness...

2008 Lunar Eclipse

So, we went out last night to attempt to get a couple of pictures of the Lunar Eclipse with the new camera (Canon Rebel XTI). We didn't have a clue what we were doing, but I think the pics came out pretty good considering.

We went up to the golf course to limit the amount of light pollution (ack, living in the city...) that we had to fight with. And it was a wonderfully cool, clear night so the viewing was spectacular.

Of course, you would think after living in Maine all our lives we would be prepared for the temperatures and conditions of such. No, we weren't.

Jess wore her Crocs and a light fleece, so she was freezing. She got snow in here Crocs, which added to her freezing. At least she had a scarf in the car and I had a pair of uber-mittens in there.

I was a little more prepared, but dang, it was still really cold. But the cold makes viewing the celestial delights even better.

We'll be ready for the next eclipse in 2010...

Knight Rider

Knight Rider is back, but is it better? Getting an update with a new car and new actors, the cheese grating is still high with this one and the only thing that saved the 2 hour "movie" premiere was the brand-spankin'-new Ford Shelby GT500 KR Mustang. Highlight of the whole show.

Now, let us hearken back a couple of decades to the original show. Still, despite or in spite of the Hoff, the acting was nothing to write home about, but how cool was it that the car talked and did all those really cool things that K.I.T.T. did.

Well, nothing changes in 2008. The car was cooler than ever though, being able to camouflage itself as any Ford Mustang Product, heal itself with nan0-technology, and go insanely fast. Val Kilmer was also a highlight as K.I.T.T., giving the car a great personality touch.

As for the rest of it, I don't have any desire to IMDB all the names that are in this. Just know that some of the leads get an upgrade from soap stars to NBC stars.

Now, time for the real rant here, and that is about NBC. What is up with all the commercials? Are you guys so desperate to sell air time that you stretch a show that might be an hour and fifteen minutes at best into a two hour extravaganza by having 45 minutes of commercials? Five minutes of show, seven minutes of ads.

And NBC did this during American Gladiators as well. How irritating...

As for Knight Rider, I give it a three out of ten.

Hopefully it will get better. But the car is really cool...

Rock on Loser! I mean Rock of Love...

While I was working out this afternoon getting abused by the treadmill, I was watching this horrible show called "Rock of Love 2", starring Bret Michaels of the 80's hairband, Poison.

Remember them? "Every Rose Has Its Thorns". Yeah, that's what I thought. So anyway, this show is essentially about 20 girls trying to hook up a washed up rock star and win his love. And the girls sometimes have to do some demeaning things to do it.

I know this is a random rant, but this show drives me nuts. I try to look away, but it is just like a train wreck. You keep looking back to see how bad the carnage is...

Cloverfield

I am a very fortunate man, with a wonderful wife. She got me onto a VIP list which got me into a free midnight showing of "Cloverfield" on Thursday. And for an old guy like me, that was really late. But, oh, it was worth it.

The J.J. Abrams produced film is probably one of the most unique films I have ever seen. Part "Blair Witch Project", part "Godzilla", part "Aliens", this is a short but sweet thrill ride.

I'm still trying to figure out what kind of movie this is. Is it a monster movie or a love story. I'm tending toward a love story that just happens to feature a large sea creature that finds itself in New York with time on its hands. And a need for destruction.

The film centers around our main character Rob, who has taken a VP job in Japan. What follows is his buddy Hud with a handy cam filming his going away party, getting all his well-wishing friends on tape. Then all of a sudden, all hell breaks loose, starting with head of Lady Liberty landing in the street outside Rob's apartment building.

Just like most of J.J. Abrams projects, you are left with more questions than answers. Why is the creature destroying mid-town Manhattan? We don't know. It just is. And that is okay. Rob finds his motivation and drive for the film as he and his friends try to survive the onslaught in Mid-Town, and reach his romantic interest Beth who is trapped in her apartment across town.

The monster is well, just amazing. Director Matt Reeves and the writing crew do an amazing job at teasing us with the creature, because you never really get a good glimpse of it, just quick shots as it takes out a building or it gets bombed. Adding to the mayhem are German Shepard sized parasites that live on the creature. As the beast exits the sea, these spider-like bugs take a bite out of Manhattan as well. Mix all these elements together and you get some very intense scenes. The subway scene was my fave.

A word of warning though, if you have any kind of motion sickness at all, you might want to take your Dramamine before you go. Rarely do you get a still shot with this movie. Sure this movie is professionally done, but the vantage point is a man carrying a video camera. I have no motion issues at all, and even my stomach dropped a couple of times. I also found sitting leaning to the left at about a 30 degree angle with my head resting on my hand helped...

This is a novel film that is worth watching more than once. I can't wait to go see it again.

A Weekend Away

I'm currently blogging from The Country Inn in beautiful Camden, Maine.

Located just over an hour from our beloved mini-metropolis of Bangor, Camden is a mix of working harbor and a ritzy retreat.

The Missus and I have traveled down here with some friends to attend out annual marriage retreat. This years theme: Joined at the Heart.

Updates will be coming throughout the weekend. Last night we had a first session, which was sort of an ice breaker to meet the new couples attending for the first time (most of us have been attending the weekend for anywhere from 3 years to 8) and for our inspirational leaders to lay out the schedule of the weekend for us.

Up today: Breakfast, a session, lunch, a completely free afternoon and then "date night". Oh yeah...

Tastes Like Chicken

Hillsong- Saviour King

It is rare when you find an album that not only inspires your own personal worship time, but can be easily translated into a congregational singing experience, but Hillsong has delivered another standout. This is one of the best Praise and Worship albums I have come across.

While the songs are strong scripturally, they are simple enough to learn and sing along with, whether by yourself or in a group. "You Are My Strength", "Lord of Lords" and "Saviour King" are three highlights that I have already pulled the music from CCLI to add to our song book at church.

Darlene Zschech and her group do an amazing job blending the Hillsong youth sound with the regular Hillsong sonics to produce an album that is going to have wide reaching appeal with youth as well as those of us who are a little, well, "seasoned".

I've ordered the DVD of the concert where this album is recorded. So I'll follow up with a review of that when I get it.

This is an amazing album that anyone will find accessible, whether you are communing with God during a quiet time or during congregational worship at church. A must for any worship leader.

Biggest Hockey Mass Fight Jan 08, 2008

Wow, apparently Russian skaters do know how to fight.

Now, let's have a little more of this in our American hockey arenas...

Let it Snow...

We have gotten WAY too much snow this year so far, roughly around 40 inches in December. Now, living in Maine most would say, "That doesn't seem to bad considering where you live."

Yeah right! We haven't had this much snow all winter let alone in one month like this for years.

So, in light of all the white stuff and all the crappy winter related stuff that has happened so far (I got the Uncle Kurt's plow truck stuck in a ditch...), here are some pictures that I took during our weekend out on the hill.

Straight No Chaser - 12 Days

I know, the holidays are just about over, but the time is always right for some great sounding a Capella, even if it is the "12 Days of Christmas".

Thanks to Cindy Campbell of Q106.5 FM for the link.

Tastes Like Chicken

3:16

Upon leaving work today, by buddy Dave comes up to me and says, "Merry Christmas" and hands me the new book by Max Lucado called 3:16: The Numbers of Hope.

The title and book are on the following scripture, John 3:16:

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."

I almost hate to admit this but, I have never read a Max Lucado book. However, I am excited to delve into this one. This scripture alone is enough to fill anyone with hope. Even though too many have had it crammed down their throats but crazy evangelists, fanatics and those people that go to sporting events with the homemade sign that says "John 3:16". There are so many out there that give Christ a bad representation. But that is for another post.

Personally, this is one of my favorite scriptures that I find truly remarkable. But speaking contextually, I really think any "3:16" reference should be followed up by John 3:17:

"For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved."

God sent Jesus into the world to save us, not condemn us. Unfortunately, too many non-Christians see and here the condemnation aspect from other Christians rather than the love. It is truly awe inspiring that God loves us so much and yearns for a relationship with us so much that he would send his only son to be the sacrifice for us so that we can reconnect with our creator. Wow.

I'm eager to see what Max Lucado has to say on this topic.

14 Years...

Today, Jess and I celebrate 14 years of dating/marriage. We just passed the 7 1/2 marriage mark, leaving you to do the math for the rest of our relationship.

On December 21, we started going out. Of course, this was after being turned down for a first date (Can you believe it?). I asked her to go to a hockey game. The second date was obviously more successful...

So to celebrate this week, we went to a hockey game on Tuesday night. The Portland Pirates played a game at Alfond Arena. Great time but wow, the Pirates were awful. Good thing I had great company.

Tonight, we went to Starbuck's on a "Hot Chocolate Date".

Now, when we were first going out we were in college and didn't have a lot of money (wait, we still don't have a lot of money), so we went on Hot Chocolate dates to McDonald's. We decided after 14 years we could upgrade a little.

However, it is roughly 7:00 P.M. and Jess is about to doze off. And I don't think I am too far behind her.

We're getting old(er)...

Tastes Like Chicken

I'm guessing Peter's tree is looking a bit like this with his small child's decorating sense.

I, Robot

Much to Esther's chagrin, the Sci-Fi theme continues, at least for a little while.

I just finished reading I, Robot by Isaac Asimov. We have been doing a Sci-Fi unit for English class, so I figured the way to end the unit was to watch a Sci-Fi movie, and because we had read an Asimov short story, I decided to watch the movie of the same name.

If you look at Amazon or your local book store, you'll find the I, Robot cover with the ever-hunky, Big Willie style all up in it, Will Smith cover. But do not be fooled gentle reader, the book has little to do with the movie. Some of the themes and characters are the same, but that is where the similarities end. Detective Dale Spooner, the main character, isn't even in the book.

With that said, the Asimov book is pretty good. It is a collection of short stories all revolving around robots and the Three Laws of robotics. It is dated, but still a good read. A couple of the stories had more appeal for me than the others.

I would only recommend this book for the hardcore Sci-Fi fan.

I am Iron Man!!!

Okay, the comic book theme continues with this new pic of Iron Man! Can't wait for this one! It is gonna be amazing. I hope...

Wanted Trailer

Comic book fans rejoice for another graphic novel comes to the big screen. I don't know anything about the book upon which this is based, but the trailer looks awesome.

Plus, how can you go wrong with a movie featuring Morgan Freeman and Angelina Jolie...

This is gonna be good...

Empire magazine's January 2008 cover features Heath Ledger as The Joker.

And Ledger's Joker looks like a really bad man!!! If DC and Warner Brothers were going for a darker, grittier Batman (as evidenced by "Batman Begins"), this is gonna cinch the deal.

And I love it!!! Of all the comic book characters that should be embracing the seedy underworld, it should be the Dark Knight.

July 18th doesn't seem all far off...

Photo courtesy of SuperHeroHype.com.

Tastes Like Chicken: When is early too early

A whirling vortex of time wasting destruction

Sorry loyal reader for the lack of posts lately. I have become engrossed in the phenomena known as Facebook.

So, any time that could be spent writing quality posts for this blog, are getting completely wasted on "Pirates", "Warbook", "Sending a friend a drink" and any other time-devouring goody I can find.

I...am...so...sorry...must...make...a...move...in...chess...

Tastes Like Chicken

The Unit: Play 16

This was the highly anticipated follow up to the now infamous "They Killed Hector" episode (actually "Five Brothers").

Jonas seeks revenge for the murder of his fallen colleague as the Unit has to keep moving forward on another mission. The team embarks on a new assignment when Bob Brown has to deal with a rescued journalist at the same time as keeping an eye on him to make sure he doesn't betray the Unit. Jonas plunges back into the underworld of Beirut, seeming hell-bent on finding the men responsible for Williams’ death.

Now unless there is more espionage to come, there was no hidden agendas by Ryan or anyone else, just a terrorist sniper that took down our beloved Hector. The ol' Snake Doctor took care of business though, first by welding the huge plow on the front of the deuce an a half, then hiding a gun to take out his so called friends when they turned. Even Crocodile Dundee would have said, "Now this is a knife". Don't cross Jonas...

Now when most people decide to leave a show there is news somewhere, like Jorja Fox leaving CSI or that guy who played Speedle on CSI: Miami (He left to pursue a lucrative movie career. So how is that working out for ya...). But, no news on Demore Barnes, so either he didn't want to leave and they killed him off anyway (writer's strike anyone) or he left under bad terms. But considering how "dead" he had to be in the last episode, he did an amazing job.

We'll see if any info surfaces after sweeps.

Veteran's Day

What a way to start the day- Golden Army images

Monday morning brings a day off, and I figured I would start the day with some Hellboy: The Golden Army concept art. I loved the first movie and can't wait to see the deuce. Images courtesy of Wizard's Universe.

That's a really big gun! And I thought "The Samaritan" was huge...

They killed Hector!?!?!?!?!

For those of you who are fans of "The Unit" on CBS, we got a complete shock last night when they killed off Hector Williams instead of Charles Grey.

We hardly knew you Hector... RIP Hammerhead.

No news on this one yet, but when I find something I'll post.

UPDATE: This is the most hush-hush TV story out there. I'm looking through my new issue of TV Guide and I reading spoilers on what gonna happen on Heroes in December, but I can't find one story on why the writers killed Hector. Unless next week's episode answers all those nagging questions and theories that we have...

The one theory I've seen mentioned is that maybe Ryan had Hector done in cause he saw the Colonel and Tiffy together, which you have to admit has merit, but after everything Ryan and the Unit has been through so far this season, and I can't buy into this. Ryan was ready to throw it all away to save his men. If Ryan wanted Hector to stay quiet, there are a lot of less life-ending ways he could have done it.

However this turns out, it has made for some awesome TV!

Tastes Like Chicken

A funny thing happened on the way to the civic center...

Well, I just got back from my very first Alternative Education Association (AEA) conference, and a good time was had by all.

My cohorts and myself traveled down to Distgusta (Oops, I mean Augusta) this morning for the all day event. Most of the sessions were well done and very informative. It is always great when you go to a conference and actually get some information that can actually be used in everyday life. We came away with a couple of jems that we are going to use on, I mean with, the students.

Now, this is the first time that all three of us were going to be gone at the same time, and after we told the kids we were giving them the day off, we found out we were going to have substitutes to fill our shoes. Now, this could have gone a whole lot of ways wrong. But, thank God, it didn't. Most of the kids showed up, which is amazing in itself, and the place was still standing when we got back, which is also amazing. One of the subs knows our kids very well and was way more positive about the kids behavior today than the new sub. When reported that the kids just sat around and did no work, the sub was very disappointed at this. Well, in a regular setting, probably so, but, seeing who are population is and what could have happened, this was a walk in the park.

Plus, my English class went great!!! They worked hard and did a good job. Oh, I've got them trained...

Now, we are off to some friends to play games, eat and party down!!!