Things I learned from the Movie "The Hurt Locker"

The movie "The Hurt Locker" was one that I was geeked to see as I had heard good things about it from the interwebs and the newspaper and the trailer I saw for it on HDnet. Some of the first words up on the screen are "War is a drug." And after seeing what war does to the star of the movie you get a sense of what that means. To get his "fix" he does what ever he can and the more normal he tries to be, the more he wants to be back disarming munitions. The movie had many suspenseful moments and with few explosion. If I remember the count right a movie about disarming bombs had four explosions. Hear that Micheal Bay, you hack of a movie man, you don't need to blow shit up a thousand times to make it exciting, loser.

That said here are a few things I learned from the movie "The Hurt Locker"

I learned that if you have a bomb with a big enough bang to blow up Jesus, you might as well take off you bomb suit so you can die comfortably.

I learned that babies love everything. The mobile, the jack in the, box the stuffed animals.

I also learned that when they get older they will discover the jack in the box is just a box with a stuffed animal.

Additionally they will only come to love two things, but our star of the movie only loved one thing.

I learned that Bravo company only had 38 days left.

I learned that Delta company has 365 days left.

I learned that war is a drug.

I learned that our star is a "wild man".

I learned that he has disarmed 873 bombs.

I learned that the best way to disarm a bomb is in "the way that doesn't get you killed"

I learned that responding to the Question "what is the best way to disarm a bomb?" with the answer "the way that doesn't get you killed" is something a wild man would say.

I learned that "*trigger click* Thompson is still Alive *trigger click* Thompson is still Alive*trigger click* Thompson is still Alive*trigger click* Thompson is still Alive"

I learned that choosing cereal and all groceries can be too daunting a task for someone that wants to be back doing the on thing that they love.

I learned that street vendors speak like they learned English from a NWA rap album in Iraq.

I learned that if Beckham sells him one more DVD that is of shaky unfocused quality, he is going to cut his head off.

I learned he is kidding.

I also learned that when the movie is good and tells an interesting story it is hard for me to come up with 100 things funny with it.

New Ink!

Went to see Jack Lowe at the Skin Kitchen.... Set up the appointment so long ago that when my Palm Pre reminded me Monday morning it was like Christmas....

It is the 10th anniversary for Me and Jamie Lou, so I went for a Jamie Lou Tattoo! At one point a few years back on New Years Eve, I got Jamie Lou to hold a machine gun in one hand and a pistol in the other our friends Kari and Eric's place(a little side note if it is 2AM and you call some people up in Norwalk and they are still going strong on New Years and tell you to 'come on down' buckle up because it will be a GREAT time). While I have the photo from that night of that pose it is just truely a horrible photo. Maybe too much holiday cheer, maybe her being terrified of holding Eric's rifle... either way, what I had hoped was going to be a nice idea for a tattoo ended up a no go. I ended up deciding traditional is the way to go for me this time, getting away from the celtic knots.

10th anniversary, Diamonds are the gifts. Yes, there are diamonds.

She loves roses, yep there are those.. one open in bloom and more still to come with the rose bud....

Her name is for sure there, and if I hear one more time "Here name? what if you get divorced?" I might punch that person in the arm or throat. Not sure what shitty relashonships you are in, but ours is strong. So leave your baggage far from me, sorry your folks didn't love you enough or you hate your husband or what ever your mind is messed up on I could give a rip what your issues are. Plus she knows what will happen if she tries to leave, don't you baby?!? (j/k)

and then it looked like it needed somethign else, so why not a swollow for a traditional tattoo finisher.

This photo was from my Palm Pre taken at work shot with my left hand so forgive me if it goes astray, it really doesn't do the colors justice. This is on the inside of my upper right sleave. In the Style of Sailor Jerry here you go. Let me know what you think:

I-State's Meet the Coaches Night 2009

First let me apologize, I forgot my good camera at home so the point and shoot with 3x zoom will leave a lot to be desired on the photos. Secondly, there were a lot of people there tonight, I forgot to look at the total number of tables but I would guess at least 80- with 8 people at them so a nice strong turnout over 650 cyclone boosters (probably quite a bit more).

Social hour was around 40 minutes we got to have some over priced beers, but at least they were cold. Then we all sat to have Christiani's Catering. As far as buffet group dinners go this one was a-ok, pasta with Sausage, thin sliced beef, nice salads. Enough to get full on :)


There was a raffle drawing. 31 prizes given out, 2 amazing enough to our one table (nothing for me though). These two prizes included a 100th cyclone basket ball DVD and a sack of cyclone golf paraphernalia (putter cover, 3 -wood cover, balls). not sure what the other 29 prizes entailed.

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First up was John Walters thanking the sponsors and Frank Santana for the use of the Seven Flags event center.

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Then Jon Schaben had a live auction. First up was Big 12 Tournament Fantasy Week experience. It included Men's and Women's Basketball tickets for the lower bowl seating, lodging at the team hotel, and I believe transportation to and from the tourney. My max amount was quickly passed up and it ended up going for $2,5000.00. Not a bad haul for 5 minutes of work.

Next up for auction was 2 sideline passes for all six home games at Jack Trice this season. It too brought in nice money as it quickly went for $2,000.00.

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A nice little picture slide show went by with highlights from the last year in sports.

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Then Emcee Walters (or Oprah as he wanted to be called) took back over. This year instead of a "mild" coaches roast with some serious points thrown in it was a round table complete with couch and and a table (see photos below). With Walte... Oprah asking the questions, First up was Athletics Director Jamie Pollard (JP).

JP was quick to point out that it is the first time in I-State history that 5 teams finished in the top 25 season ending polls. Those teams included Wrestling, Volleyball, Women's Basketball (forgive me I went to get 2 more expensive cold beers at this point)

JP pointed out that I-state's 450 athletes as a whole 9 of the last 11 semesters have had a higher GPA and a graduation rate at 10% higher than general student population.

Said he saw Lenard Johnson (LJ) playing ping pong with Coach Paul Rhoads (CPR). JP asked LJ to swing by his office so he could get a feel for what the players think of CPR. LJ said never in his life did he think a coach with play ping pong with him and just hang. The point being there is a different vibe and feel with this staff and the players.
JP's backyard over looks CPR's house. so when the moving company showed up and pulled off 2 Harleys JP's wife called JP just to let him know. JP asked CPR are you a rider, and he was like "oh absolutely." JP thought, maybe I should have added some protection in the contract.... Then he finds out CPR is going to learn about flying airplanes. JP is realizing CPR is a risk taker, writes CPR's agent that they need to rework his contract (laughs). But is sure of one thing. Punting on 4th and inches isn't going to happen.

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Next up on Oprah's couch was Kevin Jackson (KJ) and Chris Bono (CB). KJ is here for National titles, developing great men, and beating Iowa. CB actually called KJ and said he wanted on the staff before he even had the job. Neither thought that KJ not having been a college head coach will make a bit of difference in the end. KJ informed all in attendance to be at the December 6th Iowa match and if we get snowed in Ames we can all stay at his place that night. Because he is the decider, KJ then asked his wife if that is OK.
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Jon Schaben then finished up the Auctioning. Womens trip for two @Texas on Jan 23rd with trip and stay and Men's trip at Kansas both went for $2,000.00 a peice.

Lastly a Luxury suite with 24 tickets, 6 parking passes and 6 guest passes went right past our bid hope of 2,500 to $6,500.00. In 15 total minutes of work $15,000.00 had been raised.
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Then was the elite 8 round table with Christy Johnson (CJ) and Bill Fennelly (BF). CJ noted that it has been a steady climb from winning, to qualifier, to sweet 16 to elite 8. BF pointed out that was 15 years for him for the elite 8. Volleyball was #13 in attendance, women's basketball was #3 in the nation. Both were thankful for the support from the fans. CJ is excited that at the end of the year they had 4 freshman on the floor and what that means for the future. BF then said she would be final four this year. BF wanted everyone to know that there is no finer representative of I-state than Greg McDermott(GM) and his wife Theressa.

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Next up was GM. September 7t Lucca Staiger is playing with the German National team, had hopped to play with Dirk Nowitsky, but it didn't happen. Jamie VanderBeeken has broken his foot and it out at least a month(not sure if that was just 1 month or a month of the season). They took these harder games (duke, ND) because he wants to challenge his kids and that this team has a great story to tell and any chance he can get it on to television and around the country he will take it.

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Then there was an inspirational Cyclone feature about Men's golfer Tyler Swanson who almost died in a car crash. Who went from almost dead, to being given a 50% chance to lead an unassisted life to being the first person one specialist had ever seen with head injuries that bad go back to school. Quite a story.

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Lastly was CPR. Like KJ he makes the major decisions in his house. It is just amazing to him that in 18 years there hasn't had to be one major decision he had to make. He went through the day in the life of a cyclone football player. Let me just say it start at wake up at 6AM and ends at lights out at 10:30 PM and is regimented in between like you wouldn't believe.

The coaches he brought along he brought for specific reasons 1) to recruit specific regions. 2) care for the kids. This year there has been parent separations, parents going to hospice, grand parents falling very ill, his staff handles all the kids in the right way. and 3) guys that are amazing Educators. He is proud of their progress. They are playing with Urgency. And they are playing smart. and they are playing with passion. They ran a 155 play scrimmage and they only had 8 loafs where maximum effort wasn't given. This team will play hard and to the whistle.

PHOTOS:

Emcee John "the Oprah" Walters

Cameron Ted, Cy and Jamie Lou

Sean and Jayna

Amy and Kevin - Neil

Before the show got started social hour

John Schaben doing his thing

JW with JP

JW with KJ and CB

a great under armour logo, with JW with CJ and BF in the background.

An Ear and head with JW and GM in the background.

your new head coach!


THE HOUNDS
Prissy
Moses

Mexico Trip

I didn't have the time or energy to put together another long anniversary post, but if you like like to see last year's you can find that by clicking here: CLICK HERE FOR LAST YEAR'S ANNIVERSARY POST.

This year was a big year Jamie Lou and myself. July 24, 2009 was out 10th anniversary. Still going strong so you naysayers (if there are any of you left) suck it.

This year we took a trip to Mexico, back to the Valentin Imperial Maya, Located just south of Cancun. If you are ever looking for a easy way to travel I can't recommend Apple Vacations enough. Since our first trip to Aruba 10 years ago when we have traveled to paradise we have, with the exception of one trip, used them exclusively. From airfare to transfers to and from the resort it truly is a one stop shop.

Now I say we went back and that is because Jamie Lou and I were there last November with our friends Rusty and Shonnon Doner who were celebrating their 10th then as well. Jamie Lou and I thought it was great, so great we wanted to try it again. Now if that makes us boring, then that is what we are. I could almost hang there for a week or two every six months and not want for more.


Now thanks to the beauty or the interwebs and facebookster we have met friends that I think we may actually stay in touch with :-) It isn't every day that you get to hang out with Texans, Australians and Canadians adn some other Iowans at one time. So Kenneth and Melissa, Kristina and Blair, Becky and Todd, Nate and Heidi thanks for making our 10th a great and memorable time, and we'd love to vacation will all of you again. So without anymore poorly written words here are some photos from Mexico 2009!

Kenneth and Melissa, Jamie Lou and Cameron Ted, Blair and Kristina. I still dig that shirt Kenneth, Blair, sorry for the burn man.

Cameron Ted and Jamie Lou on the last night in Mexico.

Cameron Ted, Gilberto, and Jamie Lou. Gilberto worked at the Mexican Resturant and was always willing to go above and beyond the call to be a gracious host. We liked him a lot.

Great Beaches, great ocean and great weather, Great friends, great service and great dos-bananas! Tres-Bananas was even better!

Kenneth and Melissa, Kristina and Blair at Midnight Buffet at the Indonesian restaurants; Very hit or miss as it was the food from the restaurants served on a buffet, but sometimes really good. I foudn that drinking for 12 hours a day makes most things taste pretty good.

Todd, Cameron Ted, and Rebecca

Todd getting a bit fresh and Becky doesn't seem to mind on little bit lol

Blair and Krisitina and Cameron Ted. Those could be some "Yara"-caladas on the bar. Yara was a bartender on the resort and was more than willing to just whip us somethign up to drink.

Cameron Ted, Melissa and Kenneth. I think Kenneth and I are quite a bit alike....

Mexican Buffet night, too bad it was hot and then buggy....

Jamie Lou and Cameron at the French resturant Man we had more than one good meal there.

I'm not dead yet...

No, I am not dead
No, this blog isn't defunct
No, Jamie Lou didn't stab me

What has happened is Jamie Lou and I took a great, long, 10 anniversary vacation to Mexico and between, getting ready, the trip, getting back to work *ugh*, and my lvl 80 frost mage there just hasn't been a ton of time. But I am back and here are the things you have to look forward to:

Mexico photos and stories
What I learned from Transformers 2
My I-state football preview complete with predictions
What I learned from GI Joe
New Friends we met in Mexico
and anything else you would like to hear from me on..... so leave a comment or drop me a text or an e-mail and I shal do my best


Here are a few of our new friends from mexico:

From Left to right: Kenneth & Melissa, Jamie Lou & Cameron Ted, Blair & Kristina