The Hungry Hungry Writer

The Illusionist (2006)
My Rating: 9/10

Netflix summary: Set in early 1900s Vienna, Neil Burger’s romantic thriller centers on illusionist extraordinaire Eisenheim (Edward Norton), who falls for an aristocrat (Jessica Biel) well above his social standing. When she becomes engaged to Crown Prince Leopold (Rufus Sewell), the master magician employs his powers to win her love. His daring scheme creates tumult within the monarchy and ignites the suspicion of Chief Inspector Uhl (Paul Giamatti).

Edward Norton was awesome. Again, he goes back on my favorite actor list. Jessica Biel, who I absolutely hate, I absolutely loved in this movie. She is now one of my favorites! Paul Giamatti… can he do no wrong? He was also brilliant. And who’s Rufus Sewell? Whoever he is, he’s awesome. So we have four brilliant performances in a simple story that seems more complicated that it really is. It’s a smart film, with excellent performers, with a solid ending – told from the POV of Inspector Uhl – which gives you the suspension of disbelief you need in order to believe in magic!

I loved this movie. From a magician point of view (and that’s me), you can say, come on, give me something real… but it’s as ‘real’ as you can get really – especially when told from a ‘spectators’ point of view.

There have been many times I did a trick (or illusion as I like to say) when the spectator relates the trick back to me, or someone else, and only 10% of what he says is what I actually did. From a simple card trick to something a little more, well, gadgetry.

I recommend The Illusionist for the romance, for the drama, for the magic and most of all, the performances!

The other night we decided to walk Ally around the area where she was found. It was literally a block away from the house across a very busy street. I had hoped we would run into the person that found Ally during her six hour romp around Glendale.

As we were coming home we stopped at the stoplight and a lady ran up to us. Her mother had found Ally and brought her home. Her mom then came out to greet us - an older woman. It was really nice meeting them. They were so kind in speaking to us and we were very thankful. They said that if nobody claimed Ally that they would have adopted her from the Humane Society. When they checked the website they were very happy that Ally was picked up.

One thing the Humane Society asked from us was a picture of Ally. I realized that we didn’t have any. We took a few about eight years ago, but I have no idea where those are now.

So after our morning walk on Saturday, Donna took some pictures of Ally with the kids.

Walking down our street.

Ally Bear

Bella and Ally

Family portrait. LOL

Click on a picture to see the Kids and Ally Gallery.

Yeah, people notice as I walk down the street. It’s embarrrrrrasing.

My sister gave me an iTunes gift card and it’s burning in my pocket. I’ve been on iTunes several times trying to figure out what to buy. I was considering purchasing the season pass for “The Office” but after much debate, decided on music.

It was a tough decision. I never know what to buy. I had several albums I took on and off my list like, The Cars and Talking Heads. I finally came a cross a good deal and decided…

TEARS FOR FEARS!!!

I bought three albums.

Click for iTunes playlist

Click for iTunes playlist

Click for iTunes playlist

I’m looking forward to a LONG RUN tomorrow! A very Long one.

Someone found her a block from my house on Tuesday Night at 11:30. They brought her to the Pasadena Humane Society in the morning.

We didn’t tell the kids that she was found. What if it wasn’t her?

Well, first let me say the Pasadena Humane Society is a great place. They have a very high rate of placement. Unbelievably high that people from all over try to bring strays to their location because of the work they do to get them to a pet owner. It’s awesome.

Their kennels are all heated from under ground so the pets don’t get cold at night. They are all fed twice a day and the place is extremely well kept. The handlers are friendly and knowledgeable and really care about what they are doing.

So we get there, give them the ID number we found on the website, and they sent us to Ally’s kennel for positive identification. The moment I saw her it was sad. She was in the back of the kennel and slowly got up. She was mad. She usually runs to me. But she kinda trotted over as if to say, what took you so fricken long. I called her name and she barely reacted. But then, she got all ‘Ally’ on me and hyper and jumping and I’ve never heard her bark that much in my life. The handler radioed to the front, ‘we have a positive ID.’ She couldn’t wait to get out of there. She was the only one barking in the whole place and it was loud. The handler was like, wow, she’s been so quiet all day.

We took her to Petco to get her groomed and by 6:00 she was ready to be picked up. We brought the kids, who thought we were getting a new dog, but when they saw Ally they were very happy.

Everyone, from the Humane Society to Petco, loved her. They thought she was a great dog.

So in two week’s time we’ve gone from a dying gold fish to a lost dog. That’s a lot to handle don’t you think?

Oh, and is this a great song or what?

“Logical” by Supertramp.

When I was young, it seemed that life was so wonderful,
a miracle, oh it was beautiful, magical.
And all the birds in the trees, well they’d be singing so happily,
joyfully, playfully watching me.
But then they send me away to teach me how to be sensible,
logical, responsible, practical.
And they showed me a world where I could be so dependable,
clinical, intellectual, cynical.

There are times when all the world’s asleep,
the questions run too deep
for such a simple man.
Won’t you please, please tell me what we’ve learned
I know it sounds absurd
but please tell me who I am.

Now watch what you say or they’ll be calling you a radical,
liberal, fanatical, criminal.
Won’t you sign up your name, we’d like to feel you’re
acceptable, respecable, presentable, a vegtable!

At night, when all the world’s asleep,
the questions run so deep
for such a simple man.
Won’t you please, please tell me what we’ve learned
I know it sounds absurd
but please tell me who I am.

When I was a kid my little dog named “Shorty” ran away. I was really young. I think it was a German Shepherd puppy. He was cute but he used to bite my sister’s socks while she walked. She didn’t like that.

Then, my dog “Champ” ran away and became a big movie star which I wrote about a while back. He was a Fox Terrier. He usually came back and would sit on my lawn waiting for me to come home from school. I woke up one morning and my mom said he took off up the street and never came back. I was in fifth grade I think.

Then, my German Shepherd/Collie mix, “ZoE”, ran away from my sister’s house about two years ago. She usually comes back. And just recently, my sister and her husband’s German Shepherd died from old age. He may have missed ZoE. They used to escape together, exploring the neighborhood. Then, he was alone as ZoE never came back. I’m sure he was lonely.

Two days ago, “Ally”, my Irish Wolfhound mix, ran away.

We had electricians in our house and they left the back door open and the front door open. I was getting changed in my room when I saw Ally take off through the hallway. So I chased her till she got outside.

I didn’t worry as usually she heels and I grab her collar and take her back home. But this time I followed her up the street and she took off. I wasn’t worried, I just went in the house and got her leash and when I came out of the house she was nowhere in sight. I walked around the neighborhood several times, calling her, but she never showed up. I checked back alleyways, I went through backyards, I asked people with dogs if they saw my dog. She basically just disappeared.

What made me mad were the electricians. The contractor, who is remodeling our house, said he called the electrician and the secretary said, ‘the owner opened the gate and let her out then chased her.’ I was like, does that sound logical at all? Uh, no… I don’t open the gate so that she can run out into the street just so I can chase her. Stupid mutha fuckin’ electricians. First, I didn’t open any gate. Second, they were the ones walking in and out of the front and back door. I hate those idiots.

I left the back gate open in hopes she’d come to the back door and bark like she does when its dinner time. She never barked. She never came.

The kids cried, and are sad, and always look outside waiting for her to come back. It’s hard to see them like that.

Last night I checked the local Humane Society’s website pictures. They update daily.

And there she is. At least I think that’s her. She looks all scruffy – a total mess. But she’s so unique that even her description makes me believe it is her. How the heck did she get there and what did she do till she got there?

Her description at the Humane Society is: Spayed female, black and gray Terrier and Greyhound,
about 6 years old. She has the legs of a Greyhound, when I got her from the pound they thought she was a sheep dog and Shepherd mix… Later I found out she was, and had all the features of a Irish Wolfshound.

Donna thinks it’s her. My sister thinks it’s her. Lana thinks it’s her. I think it’s her!

I’m going to go today and claim her and take her home and give her a bath and a new leash and collar and some treats.

At least, for now, I know she’s safe. I hope it’s her. I didn’t tell the kids as I didn’t want to get their hopes up.

Hopefully all will be well.

Life would be so much better if everyone was just a little bit thoughtful and considerate to one another. Everyone. If you are one of those who don’t care about such things, you are probably one of those who has a miserable life. Justify your inconsideration all you want, but you’re probably so lost in yourself, i.e., selfishness, that you couldn’t even recognize what I’m talking about.

I was walking into my office building this morning when a woman opened the door in front of me, walked in and let the door swing closed that I had to catch it before it closed. I was so close to the door that it literally slammed in my face. This is a woman that was aware I was there and decided to be so selfish and inconsiderate as to squeeze through as fast as she could through the door so she didn’t have to hold it open for me.

If I had been a few steps faster, I would have opened the door for her. It would be the least I could do for someone. A stranger. A HUMAN BEING!!! Instead, she rushed to the door with her eyes down, and let it swing closed in my face.

You’re kidding, I said under my breath. An elevator opened up and we both stepped in. She kept her gaze away from mine. I stood in the elevator and believed she felt the pressure of not having held the door open. She was probably a very unhappy person.

We read and hear about horrible things everyday. Bad things are all around us. Can’t we, as a human beings living on the greatest country on earth, be at least considerate to one another on a daily basis? Make it a habit. Make a difference in yours and other people’s lives even if it’s just a hello, a hi, a smile or even a simple holding of a door for someone a few steps behind.

Side note: It’s National Wear Red Day on February 2, 2007. Join the American Heat Association by wearing RED on Feb 2, 2007 to raise awareness that the No. 1 killer of women (and men) is heart disease. For more info: www.goredforwomen.org

I found and scanned a couple of pictures from the past.

This is Chip, Me, Rich, Dale and Dean. I’m guessing it was 1992.

Man, we were skinny back then. Now, Dale would be holding a martini instead of a Dr. Pepper which is in the red cup.

This is Rich, Me, Dean, Dale and Chip. I have no idea what year. When did “Lasher” by Anne Rice come out? That’s what I’m holding. 1993 maybe?

Where did I put those Karate and Hockey trophies? Jake would get a kick out of them.

Invincible (2006)
My Rating: 7/10

A very good, against all odds type of movie. The movie brought me back to the past when I first got into football. It was around 1976, my favorite team was The Dallas Cowboys. I hated the Steelers and… the Philadelphia Eagles. My favorite player was Roger Staubach. I lived in Los Angeles – it was a sign to things to come. No team in LA and I’m band wagoning on whatever hot team there is. But that has nothing to do with the movie.

Mark Wahlberg plays an average Joe (Vince Papale) who tries out for the Eagles in an open camp. Through hardship and being the odd man out, he finally makes the cut and gives hope to Philly fans and his close friends who supported him through thick and thin. It’s a heartfelt, warm, feel good film. BUT… it only gets a 7/10 from because it was missing something. Something like a bigger climax. Something like a tearful moment of ‘YES!!! HE MADE IT’… As it is, we know he’ll make it, the obstacles were big in idea, but not so big on screen and for Vince to overcome it seemed easy. He never broke. There was no sense that all is lost. I’m sure you can make it feel that way even if you know the outcome of the true Vince Papale… But what it lacked in dramatic ups and downs, it dripped with a great, emotionally driven character and Mark Wahlberg did a great job.

If you don’t like football, I’m sure you’ll still like this story about an average Joe making it big!

Two red flags thrown, two time outs lost.

70 seconds to get down field with no time outs and not one play to the sideline.

He can’t win a playoff game because he tries to win it without playing the game.

What an idiot.

Go New Orleans…

Oh hey, wasn’t it Marty Schottenheimer who didn’t want Drew Brees?

Interesting.

Will San Diego ever get to the big game?

Not with Marty Schottenheimer.

Thanks to Edward for sharing the pics!

Mommy and Meilani Isabella

“I won’t even remember this”


“Good idea, now I’ll remember.”

Proud daddy.

“It’s better in here!”

Proud Uncle Edward

Thanks Edward!

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