Monday, April 30, 2007

Books, Golf, Movie,

Ok, in an effort to post something ever Monday with a summary of my exciting weekends, here is the first one, from the past weekend.

4/27 - 4/29
This weekend I spent Saturday down at the Plaza to look for some books. It is a decent drive from my place, and there are plenty of other choices between my place and the Plaza to purchase books, but I was looking for something specific, and had a gift card. We only have two Barnes & Nobles in the relatively close area, and the closest one did not have one of the books in stock. I called the store here, by work, to see if it could be sent over, and was told sure, but it would take at least a week, maybe two for it to arrive! So off to the Plaza I went.

The original plan was to hit the driving range (I recently took up Golf) with my brother-in-law, and my good buddy Jando, then hit the bookstore, and make it home in time to go out drinking to celebrate another buddy's b-day. Of course, this well laid plan all fell apart. First my sister calls to tell me Victor (aforementioned bro-in-law) is running late at work. You see he works nights for the Railroad, so normally gets finished and home by noon. It isn't the typical work X amount of hours then go home deal. He has to a certain job, and once that's done, he is for the day. If it takes 4 hours, congrats, if it takes 12, that sucks. Since he works nights, he is in bed around 2pm so his free time is limited. My sister relays his message that it is looking like 1'oclock before he is done, so he has to pass on the range. So I call Jando (Alejandro) and he still wants to hit a bucket. As usual, it's a curse, I get there early, to find out the range we had picked is closed for good. A quick call back to Jando, and we decide to skip it completely.

So I point the car in the direction of the Plaza, and call my buddy Frank (he lives close to the Plaza) to see what he is up to. We decide I would grab him on the way, since he had a few places to go also.
A few minutes late I walk out with the following;


  • Fables Vol 1: Legends in Exile (see review blog)
  • The Watchmen (another graphic novel)
  • 1,000 Places to See Before You Die
  • Dollar Bill Origami

Let me explain....

The two graphic novels were bought because of reviews I had just read. I started watching The Discovery Channel's verison of the popular travel book.And yes, point a finger and laugh I enjoy Origami. I'm no expert, but the book was filled with instructions on how to create with dollar bills, so I figured why not?

We hit a few more shops, then back to Frank's. We caught up on what we have both been doing, while I terrorized his Italian Greyhound Riley and his on a diet cat Morris. It was geeting late, so I left for the 40 min drive home.

Once there, I decided I couldn't put off mowing the yard another day, and with kansas weather it could be snowing tomorrow for all we know, so I waited for the thermometer to dip a little, and went out. After chatting with my neighbor, his wife, and his kids for 15 minutes it was time to do some work. Once done, I took a quick shower, and that was it, I fell asleep on and off on the couch til I went to bed around 2am. Unfortunately I didn't make it out for the b-day drinking festivities.

Sunday, Jando and I hit an early showing of "Kickin' It Old School" which I also reviewed here in the blog, so go read that. We then grabbed a quick bite, saw the local hawtie of the week (hands down winner) at a Wendy's and finally got to the Driving Range for a bucket.

Afterwards, nothing really exciting, grocery store, laundry, and watched Sopranos, before heading to bed.

This week will hopefully go by quick, I am looking to get back into a gym routine, and possibly decide on taking a trip down to Ft Lauderdale, partly for work, partly to get away. I'm not embarrased to admit I am looking forward to Spider-Man 3 opening this coming weekend.

Fables Vol 1: Legends in Exile

Ok, I admit it, I was a comic book collecter as a kid. I still have a couple boxes full in the garage at home. The oldest book I have is a copy of Mad Magazine issue number three if I recall. The collector books show it worth some $$, but good luck finding a buyer. So when I was reading Adam Duritz new newsletter (he is the frontman for Counting Crows) and he highly recommends a series of graphic novels I made a note of them. This weekend I ran down to a local bookstore to pick up the first volume.

What the novels consist of are a collection of the comic book series into a single book format. For example Volume 1 is filled with comic book issues 1- xx (I don't have that detail handy, does it matter?). Volume 2 would be issue xx--xx. Ok, now that I have explained that.

This series is about the characters from fables we grew up with. Red Riding Hood, Snow White, Little Boy Blue, Jack and the Beanstalk, etc. etc. In the book, these characters are referred to as Fables. The Fables all existed, and are very real, they were spread out amongst different worlds (not Earth) and have been forced to flee their homelands to Earth by the Adversary, and live amongst us Mundys (humans). They have taken human form, through magic spells, and for those who cannot, they live at The Farm. Their community is called Fabletown in which the Big Bad Wolf (Bigby) is the sheriff in human guise.

Have I lost you yet? Stick with it, a little bit longer. I haven't read too much yet, so I can't provide too many details on the Adversary, but if you didn't figure it out, he is the bad guy.

Snow White, now divorved from Prince Charming, is unofficially in charge of Fabletown. Just to emphasize this is not for the kiddies, They were divorced when she caught the prince sleeping with her sister Rose Red.

Ok, so I really haven't done much besides explain the backstory, let me real quick give you what the current story is....

The series opens with a uncomfirmed murder in Fabletown. Rose Red's apartment is covered in blood, and she is missing. Bigby is called in and begins the investigation, where we get most of what I typed above in the backstory. As he travels around interviewing the suspects (Bluebeard, Jack (from the beanstalk) Prince Charming) we learn the background of the series to come.

So far, it is a great read, if this continues, I will be looking to purchase the following volumes. Like I mentioned above, this is not for the kids, language, violence, sex, it is definitely aimed at an older audience. I am actually surprised they are getting away with depiciting the Fables, in this way. I can't imagine Disney appreciates Prince Charming as a playboy, who uses women for their money, and for sex, bouncing around between them. He is actually trying to sell his title off, to afford his lifestyle right now where I stopped reading last night.


So far;

Rating: 4 out of 5
Might go up, might go down, I'm about 3/4 way through this, with plans to finish it tonight.
Most likely, I'll be ordering the rest at the same time.



Fables Vol 1: Legends in Exile
Author: Bill Willingham
Amazon Price: $9.99
Paperback: 128 pages
Publisher: Vertigo (December 1, 2002)

Kickin' It Old School

I went and saw Jamie Kennedy's new movie "Kickin' It Old School" yesterday.

The movie centers around Jamie's character who falls into a coma in 1986. He is a breakdancing kid and while performing in a talent show flips off the stage to cause the accident. He wakes up 20 years later, to find his sweetheart is engaged, his parents are in financial trouble, and he is still stuck in an 80's mindset.

What to do now, what to do. Well of course, get the old breakdancing crew back together to win back his girl, win some money, and relive what he did best as a kid.


Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
Wait for the rental if you like Jamie Kennedy.

I have never been that big of a Jamie Kennedy fan, his comedy is more on the stupid side, even his TV show was mildly funny.(The Jamie Kennedy Experiment)

It has it's funny moments, (especially Cameron from Ferris Bueller's Day Off) but it just didn't carry the whole movie.

First entry


Testing, 1, 2, 3

On my search for a blog I can post to from work (d@mn firewalls), is free, easy to use, and with the options I want, it is now Blogger's turn.