Kids do the darnest things.

Well, it's been some time since my last posts. I can't say I've had much to say really but I thought it was time I write again.

I was driving to work the other day, and I remembered something I used to do when I was nine years old and in the fourth grade. Prior to this age it was my mother who combed my hair, and so when I began to comb my own hair I had the idea that it was horrible- not realizing my mother wouldn't let me go to school if it were that bad, she'd fix it!

Well, everyday I would arrive to school. My sister went with her fellow fifth grade friends and my twin brother would go with his class. So I was left alone, and the first thing I would do before I got to me friends: Pass my hands through my hair to mess it up. I preferred to have a messed up hair rather than be "badly" combed. I know it doesn't make sense, but I was only nine years old- a kid!

I was also not the best of students that year, I started wonderfully but when they changed my teacher I began to act up and my grades suffered for it. So several after warnings and such my mother was asked to come into school one day. She went in the morning, so that day I didn't dare mess up my hair, didn't want my mother to know I'd ever done that. She talked with the teacher while I went inside the class. There was this girl in the class, a friend of mine, I rather had a crush on her. When she saw me, "Jose! your hair!" She liked it, it was actually combed. I was happy she liked it. And of course, I never did mess up my hair before class again.

Thinking back on it I think it was rather dumb of me in the first place, but as I drove to work I couldn't help but laugh about it.

Movie: Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time.

On Friday, opening day at 5:10pm, I saw this movie. From the moment this movie was announced I grew interested, Disney/Bruckheimer was clearly trying for another Pirates-type success. Being a fan of Pirates of the Caribbean, I of course was all for it. Then the pictures started releasing, and then the trailer.

I started to grow uninterested in the movie, because it seemed like much of what made Pirates popular was missing from Prince. I let it settle down and realized, this was never gonna be as good. I gave it a chance and I am happy that I did. While the movie has its flaws, it is an enjoyable summer blockbuster, thought I must say I haven't played the game. I'll be buying it when it hits DVD.

Jake Gyllenhaal was great, funny when he had to be and action when required. I think he delivered well, considering I was skeptical of how he would do. Ben Kingsley without a doubt was terrific.

If I had to compare this to Pirates of the Caribbean, I would rank as follows:

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End

So this movie did proof to be better than two Pirates at least, I was wrong in this aspect. Hopefully it manages to get out of the hole it seems to be in an makes a profit. I want a sequel.

Daily: Lost.

I can't believe this Sunday will be the last of the "new" episodes. I can't believe it's over! Of one thing I am thankful, I didn't suffer six years through this show, losing sleep over what the answers might be. But unfortunately that also means I didn't get the proper time to digest it all.

Having just got interested in the show two or three months ago. I started, and like Pringles, once I started I couldn't stop. I saw five and a half seasons in a month's time. Exhausting is what it was, but it was worth it. That meant I could then watch as the new episodes aired. Furthermore it means I get to enjoy this Sunday's airing of the special and the finale, which is sure to be a grand time!

I must say that my favorite season was the first, it's up on a pedestal from the rest, but it's all been a wonderful ride. I've loved characters, I've hated others, but together they all made the trip worth it. Jack, Sawyer, Kate, Hugo, Locke, Charlie and Claire. I can't forget about Desmond, Ben, Boone, Libby, Ana-Lucia, Rose and Bernard either. Sayid was decent, I hated "WAAAAAAAALT!"

As I prepare for the finale I hope all are somehow involved, if only they could re-unite them all, but that's a longshot. A concert, but which? Jack's son we were told was having a recital. While that may be true, my instinct tells me we might get one last encore of "You All Everybody" as Drive Shaft performs. Will Aaron somehow get Charlie's DS ring? I hope so! Am I asking for too much? I don't think so...

Jack is set to replace Jacob, but will he die and just be replaced by someone else? It's too simple to have it just be him. Desmond is a peculiar guy, surely it could be that he's the true new protector...

Anyway,
I will just have to wait an see how it goes.


EDIT:

Well it's done and over with. Together with the series finale for Friends, they stand as my favorite finales ever, comedy and drama. I went through many emotions last night I'm not even gonna list them. Not everything happened as I hoped, but much of it did. They couldn't have ended it any other way, it was set-up for this and for this alone. Brilliant ending.

Remembering: Bad Mothers? Just Panic?

So I was over at my grandmother's house today. My cousin is here on vacation with his wife, and so as we usually do- we began talking about things that happened in our past. One thing came up. It was back when I was 10, or 11, years old. Also there: My mother, sister (a year older than I am) and twin brother, my mother's sister and her oldest son (same age as my sister, and brother to the cousin that is here on vacation). So the oldest of the kids were still no older than 11 or 12.

Anyway, we were in Detroit. It was a nice time. One afternoon while walking down the street, we passed a junk yard. The gates were fully open, and as it turned out there was a large dog there. As we walked past the place, the dog saw us and began to bark- next thing we know he is running after us. So what do the parents do? They ran! My aunt dropped her purse on the floor, knocked her son on the floor, and ran to the other side of the street. Right behind her was my mother. This meant that they left the kids behind to be attacked by the dog.

It turned out the dog was chained up, so he didn't even reach the gates. We were fine. The four kids, we hadn't made it to the other side of the street. When we saw my cousin fall on the floor we went to him to help him. He was bleeding from the knee. We picked up my aunt's purse and met them on the other side.

Although my cousin was hurt, although they had left us kids unprotected on this side of the street where the dog was- we couldn't help but laugh about it later on.

Movie: Letters to Juliet.

Amanda Seyfried,
I love her. I first saw her in Veronica Mars, there I admit I didn't like her too much. I then saw her in Mamma Mia! A movie that I thought was simply decent, but Amanda stood out to me then. I followed it with Dear John, which I loved. (Chloe and Jennifer's Body are not the type of movie I like, so as much as I like her- I skipped those). Finally I got to see Letters to Juliet.

The scenery, Verona, amazing! What a beautiful city, perfect place for a romantic time with your significant other. While visiting the wall where women write letters, Sophie found a 50 year old letter. And the story begins...

The development of the story was well done. My sister and I were drawn into it. It has its funny moments too. Definitely worth taking a look at. To the end, you will be drawn by the scenery, the music, the characters. The ending was beautiful.

Daily: An obsession taken too far?

Today was a good day for Narnia fans. The new Voyage of the Dawn Treader poster was released, without a heads-up so it caught us by surprise. I was happy when I saw it online, and told myself that I'd keep an eye out when I went to see Robin Hood.

I kept an eye out and saw it, immediately I ran to the poster to get a clear look at it and all its detail. Afterward I wanted to take a picture sitting in front of it. My brother however was too embarrassed to take the picture and flat-out refused to take it.

For the next ten minutes I sat there trying to take the picture myself, which isn't easy to do. I had no luck getting the full poster, but I made sure I at least got "Narnia" along with Reepicheep. I only wish Aslan could have been in it. I'll try tomorrow again when I see Letters to Juliet with my sister. She shouldn't be embarrassed about taking the picture.

Movie: Robin Hood.

Robin Hood, a story that really didn't need another incarnation, according to many; I disagree. I heard about this movie, and since I eagerly waited for it. I love both, Russel Crowe and Cate Blanchett, so I was happy when they signed up for the movie.

So I saw this today,
Having to read a bit at the beginning was a nice touch- long since I've seen that in a movie. As the movie began however I was confused, wasn't sure about what was going on. Shortly after though it came together and I was following it perfectly.

Not having seen any of the other Robin Hood movies, aside of Disney's version, I didn't know what this would be like. Even if I had seen those, there is a difference-
Those movies were about the legend while this movie was about the man behind the legend. Well done, I loved the visuals, costumes, score. I can hardly say anything bad about it.

It is slower paced, with action towards the end, but this movie is character driven- and most often those are the best movies. Many will say this isn't the director's best work- I don't have enough to compare so I won't, but I did enjoy this immensely and hope it receives enough success to get a sequel.

Daily: The Twilight Saga: Eclipse on Oprah.

So the movie doesn't release until June 30, and as a guy I shouldn't be admitting this- but I just had a moment. Robert, Kristen, and Taylor were on Oprah today, and Dakota for part of it. I missed the show but was emailed the link to see it. I just saw it.

The interviews were fun. Twi-Moms are scary, some of them- especially the ones on this show. Two clips were shown, one with the Volturi, and it seemed excellent. The one that did me in was the second clip. This second was with Edward and Jacob, and it's beyond words the excitement I got over it. Worse than a girl probably, but I don't care- it's the truth.

I know Twilight is looked down upon by many, but it's one of my guilty pleasures and I enjoy the books as well as the movies. I now can't WAIT for this third installment. Did the first two opening midnight, and this one will follow as well.

Music: Audrey Assad.

I don't know how long Audrey Assad has been around, but the first I heard of her was last October. Chris Tomlin released his first and long awaited Christmas album- in it I would find Audrey Assad. That Cd was amazing, but there is no denying it was Assad's song which stood out from the rest: Winter Snow. Soft and peaceful, Audrey Assad describes how Jesus could have arrived on Earth, yet she goes on to sing how he chose to arrive. Not like a tidal wave, nor in a raging fire, but as a soft winter snow.

Since then I have been waiting to hear more from her. Today I realized she recorded a song with Robbie Seay Band whom I love as well. In their latest Cd she sings along in: Oh, Love That Will Not Let Me Go. Robbie Seay Band doesn't disappoint, and Audrey, though mostly in background vocals, when she sings- she sounds amazing.

On May 11 she released an EP with two songs: For Love Of You and The House You're Building, the former also in acoustics. It should go without saying that I love her voice in both of these songs. In the former she sings how God is imprinted in all of creation. In the latter she sings, like vagabonds and homeless people we often wander, yet all our lives he is calling us to the house he is building, home.

I highly recommend the above songs.


*Audrey Assad also appears in Rawsvrnt's Holiness and Here I Am To Worship. However I am not a fan, so I can't review those songs.

Remembering: Break In.

I was 8yrs old, and at the time we lived in an apartment in Chicago, IL. I will never forget that apartment, it was in a red building and in that building I had it all- my parents, sister and brother, both sets of granparents, aunts and uncles, and most of my cousins. Yes we all lived in that building, and with a lot of cousins- only chaos could come of it.

Some of the cousins were on the older side, but there were still many younger ones and anything we wanted to do, we would do. I still remember the time we broke into one of the apartments. now we weren't bad children, it was just that the people that lived there moved, or so we thought. It had been several weeks since they had been seen, or maybe it just felt like it to us. One day one of my cousins- she got curious; she asked a cousin to give her a boost to see through the window, and what she saw was a mostly empty apartment. The people were in fact moving, but they hadn't finished yet. We should've stopped there, but we didn't...

Given another boost, my cousin opened the window and climbed in and open the door for the rest of us. One after another we, the little cousins, went inside. Some took things, some didn't. Shortly after my mother and aunt found us and we thought we were in trouble except they, like us, also believed the people to have been fully moved. My aunt started taking things too. As luck would have it, while we were still inside, one of us heard keys on the door. The renters had come back at last. In a panic our group started exiting the apartment. It didn't end there...

Next day in school, just as I had gotten my lunch my teacher told me that I was needed at the office. I didn't know why, but I went and when I arrived at the office I saw my father, aunts and uncles, my sister and, the cousin that had opened the door for the rest of us. With them were policemen, yup! we were being taken to the police station. If most of the cousins were involved, why did only three of us get taken in? It seems that in the panic to get out of the apartment someone started shouting out names, and luck would have it that it was our names.

We arrived at the police station, shortly after- my mother and another uncle arrived from their respective jobs. After several hours we were let go because thankfully, this whole procedure was just to scare us...the kids. Let me say, I have never forgotten that experience, and I never did that again. In hindsight, it makes for great memories but at the time it was anything but.

Music: The Generous Mr. Lovewell.

MercyMe's new album.
"This Life", takes it away quite nicely. In my opinion it's important that the first track sets the mood properly for what will follow, and this song does the job and it does it well- after all this life isn't our home and we must not settle for anything less than heaven. Second is the title track, "The Generous Mr. Lovewell". As can be seen on MercyMe's in-the-studio video, this track follows the life of a fictional character who in turn *should* represent all christians. Mr. Lovewell wakes up everyday believing he will make a change in the world, only he probably never leaves his town, his city, or his neighborhood even. Because a change in the world can be made within are our own home. His life has been transformed, and how he could not testify about it to others around him?

"Move" and "Crazy Enough" follow as the third and fourth track, and both continue to build momentum. The first confirms to us that we shouldn't give up when life is hard because brighter days will always follow. The second is powerful in its lyrics, beginning with its opening line Call me crazy. But what if we learned to love our brother with nothing in return? That's just the start, the song touches deeper ground in our love for our brother- setting this song as one of the best in this album.

"All of Creation"- the first single to be released, and fifth track. The lyrics speak for themselves. Humankind was separated from God, until the veil was torn the day Jesus Christ was crucified- and now all of creation sings praise to the King. "Beautiful" is the sixth track and it takes us back to when life is difficult, this time it reminds us that we are beautiful simply because we are His. For God possesses everything yet He loved us so much that he died, and rose, for us.

"Back to You" comforts us by reminding us that as many times as we fall, he will always be there for when we run back to Him. "Only You Remain", the title speaking for itself testifies that only God remains throughout all history, with no beginning and with no end. "Free", the tenth track on the album goes full circle and begins much like the first track, testifying that this is not our home.

"Won't You be my Love" changes point of view, and it is Jesus who now talks to us, or rather asking us to be his voice calling and his hands healing. The saved must not hold among themselves, there is still a world that's lost and he needs us to do the job for which he first called us. The song finishes with the saved proclaiming that they will be his voice calling and his hands healing. "This So Called Love" is the final track. It would be more proper to call it a small sermon, it's the shortest track, just over a minute and a half long, but it is the most heart-calling. It takes the Cd and closes it nicely with the most important message of all, we as humans can do everything possible to help our fellow beings "but if all that we do is absent of Jesus. Then this so-called love is completely in vain".

Movie: Iron Man 2.

Two years ago Iron Man was released, and while I was hesitant about the movie I saw it and was pleasantly surprised by how good it was. Then I saw The Incredible Hulk, and I was also satisfied with how it turned out. This proved to me that the upcoming Avengers project was a good idea. It must be noted that Iron Man 2 takes place before, or during the first half of, The Incredible Hulk.

Iron Man 2 failed to be as good as the original but it was still an enjoyable sequel. It was nicely done even though the story lacked where the original was strong. I must say though that Whiplash was a great, though underused, villain.

Don Cheadle-
How does he compare with Terrence Howard's performance? I thought Howard was great in the original. I also am a believer of keeping the same actors for the sake of continuity. That said, I wasn't pleased with this cast change. But I am happy to say that I was wrong, Cheadle delivered a better performance.

Daily: Twin.

Let me get this going...
name's Jose. 25yrs old. I am one of three siblings, and am one of the twins. Yes, I'm a twin. "How does it feel to be a twin?" That's one of the most asked questions I've received, and quite frankly I have no answer for it. For me, there is nothing special about it, it's what I am and it feels normal- I might as well ask "what is it like to not have a twin?" You'll just answer with "it feels normal". How can two different things be normal? This must go down as one of those unanswered questions, since no one can ever know both feelings to know the difference-

Either you are a twin or you're not, and which ever you are, that's the what you feel as normal.