Argument

My friend JR shared this video on Facebook. It's funny.

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No Time to Watch

Regarding Daniel Craig's final appearance in a James Bond movie - the upcoming "No Time to Die - I admit that I have been a casual fan of the James Bond franchise for decades, but it wasn't always like that. 

I grew up in the era of "Octupussy" and the other Roger Moore movies and attended the ones I can recall with my friend JR. Then, a funny thing happened. I got married and became a father. Actors Timothy Dalton and Pierce Bronson took their respective turns as 007. In fact, I'm not even sure if Dalton or Bronson came first, chronologically. It has literally been decades since I feel enticed to see a James Bond movie in the theater. I feel guilty that neither of my kids know who James Bond is.

I have watched at least 2 of Daniel Craig's other movies in this role, but they were on TV, not in the movie theater. Had I not read this article about his tenure as 007 - Goodbye, Mr. Bond: An Appreciation of Daniel Craig’s Franchise-Altering Reign - I might not have even thought about the end of his tenure.  That's why it seems fitting that I plan to return to a movie theater to view Daniel Craig's final movie as 007.

Want to Hear my ST Story?

I'll just say it: I wish that Riverside, IA, had the facility to host this event tonight since William Shatner's most noted character - Captain James T. Kirk - was born in Riverside, IA. Spoiler warning: I'm not attending this event tonight:

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I have a history with Star Trek & "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan" movie. It was the first Star Trek movie I ever saw. I saw it with John Rath at the Westdale Four Movie Theater. The movie was released on June 4, 1982, when I was (exactly) 12.5 years old. I know I saw it in the theater. Because I had never watched the TV series or seen "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" I don't have a positive connotation when I think about the movie. Perhaps I had a kind of subtle knowledge of Captain Kirk and the others due to pop culture but it wasn't enough. I had no idea what was happening. I remember the 'bug in the ear' scene - perhaps why I am sensitive to videos about bugs being pulled out of ears on youtube.com! - and Ricardo Montalbán played Khan - I knew that actor from his time on the TV series "Fantasy Island." As far as why Khan & Kirk were enemies? I had no clue. All of that text to say I have zero desire to pay $62 to see a movie that was released 13265 days (36 years, 3 months, 3 weeks, 3 days) earlier to the September 28, 2018, showing.

I Guess Death is a Part of Life

Ron Rath's wake is today from 4-7 so Karen and I are going up to Cedar Rapids later. His obituary is here. In that obituary, while it mentions his two sons Tom and John, it doesn't mention (nor should it) that John has been one of my closest and best friends since 4th grade. That was the year we were both assigned to Mrs. Bacon as part of a 3rd grade / 4th grade combination. We began that school year with 3 boys: John, myself, and Tom McElmeel but some time during that school year, Gary Hatfield moved back from Texas - his dad worked for Rockwell Collins and had been transferred to Texas - to give us 4 boys. The tomboy in our class, Lesile Maple, who everyone called "Fuzz", was also in that class.

I mention that because there was a tradition in 4th grade. I would call John's house in the morning to see if his mom was home. If John answered, it was safe to go to his house before school to play his Atari 2600. He wasn't allowed to have anyone in his house if his parents weren't home so I was supposed to call each morning. One time, his mom answered, I panicked and hung up. I can't count how many hours I spent in the basement of that house on Falbrook Drive that year. We played video games until it was time to go to school.

In addition to spending hours playing that Atari 2600 and spending time with my best friend, I also think those hours cemented in me one of my core principles that I've carried with me for pretty much all of my life. Ron Rath had a den. In that basement, next to the room with the Atari 2600, Ron's den was the coolest room I'd ever seen. My parents didn't have a den so having a room dedicated to being a den was something different. Ron had a desk and bookshelves and a leather couch. I loved to just look at it.

Even in high school, I think I would have described my bedroom as more of a den than a bedroom. I had all my books and music. I think now, as an adult, it is why having a den in both of the houses I have owned was a priority to me. Hell, even in the two bedroom apartment Karen & I lived in when we were first married, the second bedroom was more of a den than a spare bedroom.

All of this because of Ron Rath. He was a good guy. I am so sorry for my friend's loss.

Bone

I was at the SEIBA (South East Iowa Band Association) jazz band festival. Both Alex and Megan played in their respective jazz bands. Karen volunteered in the concession stand. I ended up being in the West High kitchen for their cafeteria, getting pizzas from Papa John's from a driver, putting them in a warmer and then, when the pizza was getting low, taking a pizza from the warmer, bringing it to the serving line, taking the empty box and either adding it to a pile of empty boxes or taking it out to the huge garbage bin in the back that is specifically for cardboard.There was a little drama regarding Papa John's. The pizza was late - promised to be at the school at 12:15 and not arriving until 12:45. It turned out okay because I talked to one of the other parents, Dwight, for a long time. We talked about great television shows. I talked about M*A*S*H* and "Cheers" and the lone episode of "Friends" I let Megan watch. We also talked about movies. I rattled off all the movies I have on DVD but "have" to watch when they are on network TV - I listed them previously on this blog. The simple part about me is that I have that list embedded in my brain and am able to extract it during a random conversation. It's who I am.I am also about my friends. I think about my friends a lot, even if I don't see them. I've written about my friends that I hold dear in my heart on this blog, specifically Serbi, Brian, James, and JR.

I thought about JR yesterday at SEIBA, which is why I'm writing this post. JR has been one of my trusted confidants since 4th grade. Perhaps it is documented elsewhere on this blog, but I think our true friendship began in 4th grade. We were in a 3rd/4th grade combination class with Mrs. Bacon at Pierce Elementary in Cedar Rapids. JR played trombone in band and at SEIBA yesterday, there were 3 kids that were wearing this shirt. I thought it was hilarious.

I Didn't Get to Sleep At All...

... because we were watching Mark's band play until 1 AM, then it was decided to go to Happy Chef for breakfast. I ate nothing - I think my 39 years of age were catching up to me. I got to bed @ 3 AM and by 8:30, we were up running around. I'm actually sitting in the data center of the hotel at which my kids are swimming. No, they are not unattended - Karen, Mark and his wife, and Karen's folks are all there. It is ungodly hot in the pool area and I don't want to get sick so I'm sitting in some nice air conditioning for a few moments.

In other news, DailyVault.com published my Queensryche review so that is cool.

Mark asked me how his band played. I like them. I think they sound good. I like that the drummer has electronic drums (Yamaha) that mix into the band's total sound. I also liked the bassist's dexterity. I noticed he doesn't play with a pick so his fingers move fast sometimes.

Among the other tidbits from last night, I played pool. There were two tables. I played next to a "Paul" and "Karen" that had been married 18 years. They have two daughters so we were able to exchange notes re: daughters.

Also, one of my best friends, JR came down to watch the band as well. I like talking to JR. We go back to 2nd grade and have shared many, many, experiences over the years. He is a trusted friend and confidant. We even have our taboo subjects and names we aren't allowed to even say to each other, though.

Tonight is Anthony's bachelor party. I am the designated driver. I did that with Travis' wedding a few years ago. I really don't mind that. I think tonight will be fun.

I'd better return to the ungodly hot pool area before I am missed.