Axiom Lounge

Long Time

2010-09-11T16:22:00.001-05:00

It's been over a year since I posted anything on my blog since I discovered Facebook. Hope to get caught up.

The Enthusiast

2009-08-26T20:00:00.000-05:00

I finished reading "The Enthusiast" by Charlie Haas

ABOUT THE BOOK

Henry Bay has his own America going. If there's an offbeat interest or extreme sport that's poised to sweep the nation, chances are there's a magazine for its enthusiasts, and chances are also good that Henry has worked there. He's a modern nomad, associate-editing his way from state to state, exploring the small worlds that make up modern America from Spelunk to Ice Climbing, to Cozy, The Magazine of Tea. But those are other people's interests — Henry's still looking for his own enthusiasm. He ends up finding more than he ever imagined.

My Best Friend's Girl

2009-08-25T22:30:00.006-05:00

We watched the DVD "My Best Friend's Girl."

Synopsis

Dustin (Justin Biggs) an amiable guy, is in love with Alexis (Kate Hudson) a coworker. When she tells him she just wants to be friends, he hires his roommate Tank (Dane Cook) a fast-talking, amoral scoundrel who has a side business: men whose women have dumped them hire Tank to take their ex-girlfriends out on the date from Hell, to drive the women back into their old boyfriends' arms. He takes out Alexis who, against her better judgment, decides she needs some randy fun, so Tank is in a quandary: take Alexis up on her offer, or stay true to his friend. More complications ensue as the wedding of Alexis's sister approaches. Tank seeks advice from his father (Alec Baldwin) Dustin pursues Alexis, and questions of self-worth need answers.

Vicky Cristina Barcelona

2009-08-22T10:30:00.000-05:00

I watched the DVD "Vicky Cristina Barcelona."

Synopsis

Conventional Vicky (Rebecca Hall) who is engaged to Doug (Chris Messina) travels to Barcelona to spend her summer holidays at the home of their parent's friends Judy (Patricia Clarkson) and Mark Nash Kevin Dunn) She travels with her unconventional and open-minded friend, Cristina (Scarlett Johansson) While in a restaurant, the divorced painter Juan Antonio Gonzalo (Javier Bardem) flirts and invites them to travel to Oviedo with him and also to go to bed with him. The reluctant Vicky does not accept the invitation but Cristina agrees. Once in Oviedo, Cristina develops an ulcer so Vicky goes sightseeing alone with Juan Antonio. Vicky eventually falls in love with Juan Antonio and has sleeps with him. However, back in Barcelona, she does not say anything to her friend and Cristina moves into Juan Antonio's house, while Vicky marries Doug. When the unstable former wife of Juan Antonio, Maria Elena (Penelope Cruz) overdoses, the painter brings her to his house and their troubled relationship harmonizes with the presence of Cristina.

Killing Rain

2009-08-21T19:30:00.001-05:00

I finished reading "Killing Rain" by Barry Eisler.

ABOUT THE BOOK

John Rain has a new employer, the Mossad, which wants him to fix a "problem" in Manila. And a new partner, Dox, whose good-ol' boy persona masks a sniper as deadly as Rain himself. He also has a new hope: that by using his talents in the service of something good, he might atone for all the lives he has already taken. But when Rain's conscience causes him to botch an assignment, he finds himself as the Mossad's next target.

Then She Found Me

2009-08-14T22:30:00.002-05:00

We watched the DVD "The She Found Me."

Synopsis

A New York schoolteacher (Helen Hunt) hits a midlife crisis when, in quick succession, her husband (Matthew Broderick) leaves, her adoptive mother dies and her biological mother (Bette Midler), an eccentric talk show host, materializes and turns her life upside down as she begins a courtship with the father (Colin Firth) of one of her students.

The Scarecrow

2009-08-14T19:30:00.001-05:00

I finished reading "The Scarecrow" by Michael Connelly. "The best of the best."

ABOUT THE BOOK

Jack McEvoy is at the end of the line as a crime reporter. Forced to take a buy-out from the Los Angeles Times as the newspaper grapples with dwindling revenues, he's got only a few days left on the job. His last assignment? Training his replacement, a low-cost reporter just out of journalism school. But Jack has other plans for his exit. He is going to go out with a bang — a final story that will win the newspaper journalism's highest honor — a Pulitzer prize. Jack focuses on Alonzo Winslow, a 16-year-old drug dealer from the projects who has confessed to police that he brutally raped and strangled one of his crack clients. Jack convinces Alonzo's mother to cooperate with his investigation into the possibility of her son's innocence. But she has fallen for the oldest reporter's trick in the book. Jack's real intention is to use his access to report and write a story that explains how societal dysfunction and neglect created a 16-year-old killer. But as Jack delves into the story he soon realizes that Alonzo's so-called confession is bogus, and Jack is soon off and running on the biggest story he's had since The Poet crossed his path years before. He reunites with FBI Agent Rachel Walling to go after a killer who has worked completely below police and FBI radar—and with perfect knowledge of any move against him. What Jack doesn't know is that his investigation has inadvertently set off a digital tripwire. The killer knows Jack is coming—and he's ready.

Shall We Dance

2009-07-17T22:30:00.001-05:00

We watched "Shall We Dance."

Synopsis

John Clark (Richard Clark) is a man with a wonderful job, a charming wife and a loving family, who nevertheless feels that something is missing as he makes his way every day through the city. Each evening on his commute home, John sees a beautiful woman, staring with a lost expression through the window of a dance studio. Haunted by her gaze, John impulsively jumps off the train one night, and signs up for dance lessons, hoping to meet her. At first, it seems like a mistake. His teacher turns out to be not Paulina (Jennifer Lopez) but the older Miss Mitzi (Anita Gillette) and John proves just as clumsy as his equally clueless classmates on the dance-floor. Even worse, when he does meet Paulina, she icily tells John she hopes he has come to the studio to seriously study dance and not to look for a date. But, as his lessons continue, John falls in love with dancing. Keeping his new obsession from his family and co-workers, John feverishly trains for Chicago's biggest dance competition. His friendship with Paulina blossoms, as his enthusiasm rekindles her own lost passion for dance. But the more time John spends away from home, the more his wife becomes suspicious. With his secret about to be revealed, John will have to do some fancy footwork to keep his dream going and realize what it is he really yearns for.

Henry Poole Is Here

2009-07-16T22:30:00.002-05:00

We watched the DVD "Henry Poole Is Here."

Synopsis

In a working class neighborhood in Los Angeles, a world weary Henry Poole (Luke Wilson) buys a house caring little about its lack of amenities. He drinks and eats pizza. Recent stucco work has left a brown stain on a patio wall and to Henry's irritation Esperanza (Adriana Barraza) a neighbor, is certain she can see the face of Jesus in the stain. She brings her priest (George Lopez) then others. Meanwhile, Henry hears his conversations replayed over the fence in another neighbor's yard. It's Millie (Morgan Lilly) who is about 7 and mute, clutching a tape recorder. Over time he tells Millie's mom why he's sad and angry and the face on the wall seems to shed a tear of blood. Real life, however, refuses to cooperate with Henry's plans. Nosy neighbors interrupt him with curious visits and prying questions. Then the situation escalates as a stain on Henry's stucco wall is seen to have miraculous powers. His last-ditch hideout becomes a shrine; his backyard turns into an arena for passionate debate about faith and destiny. Seeking anonymous oblivion, cynical Henry Poole instead finds himself right at the center of the human comedy. Whether backyard miracles are real or triggered by hope and belief, their personal effects are permanent.

Noodles & Company

2009-07-16T13:30:00.002-05:00

I won a free tasting at Noodles & Company for 5 of my work associates an me. We had a wonderful lunch and got to try a loy of different dishes we probably never would have tasted if they weren't free. It was from a business card drawing.

First Family

2009-07-15T21:00:00.001-05:00

I finished reading "First Family" by David Baldacci.

ABOUT THE BOOK

It began with what seemed like an ordinary children’s birthday party. Friends and family gathered to celebrate. There were balloons and cake, games and gifts. This party, however, was far from ordinary. It was held at Camp David, the presidential retreat. And it ended with a daring kidnapping... which immediately turned into a national security nightmare.Sean King and Michelle Maxwell were not looking to become involved. As former Secret Service agents turned private investigators, they had no reason to be. The FBI doesn’t want them interfering. But years ago, Sean King saved the First Lady’s husband, then a senator, from political disaster. Now, Sean is the one person the First Lady trusts, and she presses Sean and Michelle into the desperate search to rescue the kidnapped child. With Michelle still battling her own demons, and forces aligned on all sides against them, the two are pushed to the absolute limit. In the race to save an innocent victim, the line between friend and foe will become impossible to define... or defend.

Modern Romance

2009-07-13T22:30:00.002-05:00

We watched the DVD "Modern Romance."

Synopsis

Robert Cole (Albert Brooks), a film editor, is constantly breaking up with and reconciling with long-suffering girl friend Mary Harvard (Kathryn Harrold), who works at a bank. He is irrationally jealous and self-centered, while Mary has been too willing to let him get away with his disruptive antics. Can they learn to live with each other? Can they learn to live without each other? The movie also provides insight into film editing as Robert and co-worker Jay work on their current project, a cheesy sci-fi movie

The Big Bad Swim

2009-06-18T22:30:00.001-05:00

We watched the DVD "The Big Bad Swim."

Synopsis

The film is an ensemble comedy-drama that focuses on a few people who are afraid of the water and join an adult swim class. Amy Pierson (Paget Brewster) is a calculus teacher going through a divorce with her husband, Paul (Grant Aleksander). Noah Owens (Jeff Branson) is the teacher of the swim class who is battling depression, until he meets Jordan (Jess Weixler), a beautiful casino dealer/exotic dancer who wants to learn how to swim. Other members in the class include a cop (Kevin Porter Young), a cocky woman who already knows how to swim (Liza Lapira), and a married couple (Todd Susman) and (Darla Hill). Also, at the same time, Jordan's brother, David (Avi Setton) and his obnoxious friend Hunter (Ricky Ullman) are trying to make a documentary about her.

Bait Shop

2009-06-17T22:30:00.003-05:00

We watched the DVD "Bait Shop."

Synopsis

Paradise Lake, near Kissimmee, Florida, is hosting a Professional Bass Association contest. Local bait-shop owner and former amateur champ, Bill Dugan (Bill Engvall), is in deep trouble: the bank wants $15,000 for the shop's mortgage, he doesn't tell his wife who's angry when she finds out, and his wealthy blow-hard father-in-law wants Bill to work for him. The tournament favorite is Hot Rod Johnson (Billy Ray Cyrus), a crowd-pleaser and ESPN darling who'll do anything to win. Bill's son Scott (Vincent Martella) thinks Hot Rod is cool, Hot Rod opens a huge store close to Bill's, his ne'er-do-well pals are ready to desert him, and Bill may lose it all. His one hope is to enter the contest and win the prize. Time to fish or cut bait.

Burn After Reading

2009-06-16T22:30:00.001-05:00

We watched the DVD "Burn After Reading."

Synopsis

Osbourne Cox (John Malkovich), a Balkan expert, is fired at the CIA, so he begins a memoir. His wife wants a divorce and expects her lover, Harry (George Clooney), a philandering State Department marshal, to leave his wife. A diskette falls out of a gym bag at a Georgetown fitness center. Two employees there try to turn it into cash: Linda (Frances McDormand), who wants money for elective surgery, and Chad (Brad Pitt), an amiable goof. Information on the disc leads them to Osbourne who rejects their sales pitch; then they visit the Russian embassy. To sweeten the pot, they decide they need more of Osbourne's secrets. Meanwhile, Linda's boss (Richard Jenkins) likes her, and Harry's wife (Tilda Swinton) leaves for a book tour. All roads lead to Osbourne's house.

My Sassy Girl

2009-06-15T22:30:00.003-05:00

We watched the DVD "My Sassy Girl."

Synopsis

My Sassy Girl is the tale of the first and last time Charlie Bello (Jesse Bradford) falls in love. From their initial meeting, trouble is the name of the game. Imagine an amorphous mass of dating disasters and you get an idea of the relationship between the young couple. Some mysterious force with the strength of gravity between two planets must be at play between Charlie and Jordan (Elisha Cuthbert) as the relationship truly makes no sense on the surface. Everything seems pitted against the two of them. Things suddenly come to a halt when the two write letters confessing their love for each other. Agreeing to meet a year later to read the love letters together, Charlie and Jordan go their separate ways.

Downers Grove Park District 5 & 10 Miler

2009-06-14T11:00:00.004-05:00

I worked as a volunteer for the Downers Grove Park District 5 & 10 miler. On the busride to my corner the bus got hit by a car and delayed the race a half hour. Wild. My son finished 9th overall in the 10 mile race and first in his age group so he got a medal. It was a beautiful morning for a race. Racetimes

Boogers Are My Beat

2009-06-13T19:30:00.001-05:00

I finished reading "Boogers Are My Beat" by Dave Barry.

ABOUT THE BOOK

In Boogers Are My Beat, we get the real scoop on:

• The scientific search for the world’s funniest joke (you can bet it includes the word “weasel”)
• RV camping in the Wal-Mart parking lot
• Outwitting “smart” kitchen appliances and service contracts
• Elections in Florida (“You can’t spell Florida without ‘duh’”)
• The Olympics, where people from all over the world come together to accuse each other of cheating
• The truth about the Dakotas, the Lone Ranger, and feng shui
• The choice between death and taxes
And much, much more—including some truths about journalism and serious thoughts about 9/11.

Cabana Charleys

2009-06-10T21:00:00.006-05:00

We had dinner at "Cabana Charleys" at Seven Bridges in Woodridge. It was a don't cook night fundraiser for the parish. We saw Father Danaher there along with a bunch of parishioners.

Real Time

2009-06-09T22:30:00.000-05:00

We watched the DVD "Real Time."

Synopsis

A hit man (Randy Quaid) gives an old acquaintance, a compulsive gambler (Jay Baruchel), one hour to live.

The Guards

2009-06-09T20:00:00.001-05:00

I finished reading "The Guards" by Ken Bruen.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Still stinging from his unceremonious ouster from the Garda Siochana (The Guards, Ireland's police force), and staring at the world through the smoky bottom of his beer mug, Jack Taylor is stuck in Galway with nothing to look forward to. He is teetering on the brink of his life's sharpest edges, his memories of the past cutting deep into his soul and his prospects for the future nonexistent. Nonexistent, that is, until a dazzling woman walks into the bar with a strange request and a rumor about Jack's talent for finding things. Odds are he won't be able to climb off his barstool long enough to get involved with his radiant new client, but when he surprises himself by getting hired, Jack has little idea of what he's getting into. Stark, violent, sharp, and funny, The Guards is an exceptional novel, one that leaves you stunned and breathless, flipping back to the beginning in a mad dash to find Jack Taylor and enter his world all over again. It's an unforgettable story that's gritty, absorbing, and saturated with the rough-edged rhythms of the Galway streets.

Katie Larson's Graduation Party

2009-06-06T22:00:00.003-05:00

We went to Katie Larson's high school graduation party at Buffalo Wild Wings by Seven Bridges in Woodridge. She is going to work in Door County for the summer before she starts school.

No Reservations

2009-06-05T22:30:00.000-05:00

We watched the DVD "No Reservations."

Synopsis

Kate (Catherine Zeta-Jones) is a terrific chef at a Manhattan restaurant, sent to therapy by the restaurant owner because she is cold, unyielding, rule-bound, and a pain in the neck. Kate's world is flipped over when her only sister dies and her ten-year-old niece, Zoe, (Abigail Breslin) comes to live with her. As Kate struggles to be a parent to a grief-stricken child, the one world she used to control - the restaurant kitchen - is changed utterly by the restaurant's hiring a second chef, the loose, operatic, Italian-trained Nick, (Aaron Eckhart) who claims it's an honor to work in Kate's kitchen but who she suspects wants to replace her. Can the music of Puccini and the taste of good pasta soften Kate's heart?

Ghost Town

2009-06-04T22:30:00.001-05:00

We watched the DVD "Ghost Town." I thought parts of it were very funny.

Synopsis

Bertram Pincus (Ricky Gervais) is a man whose people skills leave much to be desired. When Pincus dies unexpectedly, but is miraculously revived after seven minutes, he wakes up to discover that he now has the annoying ability to see ghosts. Even worse, they all want something from him, particularly Frank Herlihy (Greg Kinnear) who pesters him into breaking up the impending marriage of his widow Gwen (Tea Leoni). That puts Pincus squarely in the middle of a triangle with spirited result.

Nashville

2009-06-01T22:30:00.001-05:00

We watched the DVD "Nashville." We're planning a trip down there.

Synopsis

In the wake of JFK's assassination, under the shadow of the Vietnam war, an independent presidential candidate is running, bold and cheap, under the banner of the Replacement Party: their unbelievable platform includes banning lawyers from Congress and re-writing the national anthem. This uncanny Perot-like figure is never seen, but his campaign wagon blares out rambling, pre-recorded speeches as it lumbers through the film unnoticed. The backdrop is Music City, the characters a myriad and hero-less cross-section of America. The lone foreigner is an insufferable reporter from BBC whose aimless monologues provide satirical counterpoint to the film's deadpan delivery.

Waitress

2009-05-31T22:30:00.001-05:00

We watched the DVD "Waitress."

Synopsis

Jenna (Keri Russell) is trapped in an unhappy marriage with a controlling, jealous husband and the last thing she wants is a baby, so when she discovers she has fallen pregnant, she’s terrified of what the future holds. In an effort to escape her husband, Jenna saves what money she can by working at Joe’s Diner where she creates amazing pies which she names after circumstances in her life like “I-Don’t-Want-Earl’s-Baby Pie”; “I-Hate-My-Husband Pie”; and “Falling-in-Love Pie”. Jenna finds support in her friends Becky (Cheryl Hines) and Dawn (Adrienne Shelly), working southern women trying to make the most out of the little they've been given in life and Old Joe (Andy Griffith), who owns the pie shop where Jenna works. Things seem hopeless for Jenna and dreams of a better life lost until she meets gynecologist Dr. Pomatter (Nathan Fillion), a good looking man who treats her with love, generosity and simple kindness. He’s handsome. He’s kind. He’s neurotic. He’s married.

House Bunny

2009-05-30T22:30:00.000-05:00

We watched the DVD "House Bunny."

Synopsis

Finding family. Shelley Darlingson was raised in an orphanage, finally happy when she blossoms into a fox and moves into the Playboy Mansion. Unfortunately, she's summarily expelled on her 27th birthday(she's now too old). In desperation she takes a job as house mother for a sorority of misfits losing their house for lack of members. They have but a few months to find 30 pledges, or a sorority of mean girls will take over their place. Shelley figures that girls will pledge a house that boys find interesting, so she sets out to make the Zetas alluring, not act too smart, and host great parties. Can she succeed, and what about her own makeover? Sabotage is everywhere, plus it's hard to be one's self.

Cross

2009-05-29T19:30:00.000-05:00

I finished reading "Cross" by Ken Bruen.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Cross (kros/ noun, verb, & adjective) means an ancient instrument of torture, or, in a very bad humour, or, a punch thrown across an opponent's punch. Jack Taylor brings death and pain to everyone he loves. His only hope of redemption - his surrogate son, Cody - is lying in hospital in a coma. At least he still has Ridge, his old friend from the Guards, though theirs is an unorthodox relationship. When she tells him that a boy has been crucified in Galway city, he agrees to help her search for the killer. Jack's investigations take him to many of his old haunts where he encounters ghosts, dead and living. Everyone wants something from him, but Jack is not sure he has anything left to give. Maybe he should sell up, pocket his Euros and get the hell out of Galway like everyone else seems to be doing. Then the sister of the murdered boy is burned to death, and Jack decides he must hunt down the killer, if only to administer his own brand of rough justice.

Lois Timmons Wake

2009-05-28T23:00:00.001-05:00

My brother drove my dad and me down to Flora so we could go to the wake of one of my dad's best friend's wife's wake. We really surprised everyone. She was like an aunt to my brother, sisters and I. They attended a lot of the family events until they moved down to Flora. It was a four hour road trip.

Tropic Thunder

2009-05-27T22:30:00.000-05:00

We watched the DVD "Tropic Thunder."

Synopsis

A film crew is in Southeast Asia filming a Vietnam-war memoir. It's early in the shooting, but they're already behind schedule and over budget. On the day an accident befalls the novice director, the cast and crew are attacked by a gang of poppy-growing local drug dealers, except the cast and crew don't realize these aren't actors who are stalking them. The thugs kidnap Tugg Speedman, an actor whose star seems on the decline, and it's up to the rest of the ragtag team to band together long enough to attempt his rescue. But will Tugg want to leave?

Chuck McGregor's Wake

2009-05-25T19:30:00.000-05:00

We went to Chuck McGregor's wake after the picnic. His son went to Our Lady of Peace with my oldest son. My son saw a lot of his old classmates.

Cantigny

2009-05-25T15:30:00.000-05:00

We had our annual Memorial Day picnic and of course it rained again.

St. A's Race

2009-05-25T09:30:00.002-05:00

My oldest son came in first in the St. Alexander's Memorial Day 5-K. It was the first time he came in first in a 5-K. Awesome. I worked as a volunteer taking tags as each racer finished. We saw a bunch of old St. Alexander friends and Grandma stopped by after mass to congratulate Bobby. Racetimes

Track Sectionals

2009-05-22T21:00:00.000-05:00

We went to the Track Sectionals. A lot of our guys will be going downstate.

Choir Concert

2009-05-21T21:30:00.001-05:00

We went to my oldest son's last choir concert.

The Priest

2009-05-20T19:30:00.002-05:00

I finished reading "The Priest" by Ken Bruen.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Ireland, awash with cash and greed, no longer turns to the Church for solace or comfort. But the decapitation of Father Joyce in a Galway confessional horrifies even the most jaded citizen. Jack Taylor, devastated by the recent trauma of personal loss, has always believed himself to be beyond salvation. But a new job offers a fresh start, and an unexpected partnership provides hope that his one desperate vision—of family—might yet be fulfilled. An eerie mix of exorcism, a predatory stalker, and unlikely attraction conspires to lure him into a murderous web of dark conspiracies. The specter of a child haunts every waking moment.

Former Guarda alcoholic Jack Taylor remembers why he ended up in a Galway mental institution. He was watching Serena May, the Downs Syndrome child of friends Jeff and Cathy when he opened up the second floor window to allow some air inside the sweltering apartment he lost focus and she fell out the open window to her death. He also knows he was cold sober though he blames himself for negligence. He feels powerful guilt though he is freed from the institution but continues to avoid alcohol. Father Malachy surprises Jack when he visits him in his new digs as the two loathe one another. Malachy asks Jack to investigate the murder of Father Joyce. Meanwhile Ni Iomaire better known as Ridge, who picked Jack up from the hospital, asks Jack to find out who is stalking her. Finally Cathy requests that he locate her husband, amidst the homeless with a guarantee that if he fails she will kill him. With a new partner Cody, Jack begins his inquiries to help him forget his causing a wrongful death by neglect. The three cases take a back seat to the dark somewhat depressing changing Ireland where the Church is losing its hold to the new affluence.

Hancock

2009-05-16T22:00:00.000-05:00

I watched the DVD "Hancock."

Synopsis

The powerful alcoholic and clumsy John Hancock (Will Smith) is the most hated person in Los Angeles, in spite of saving lives, he also destroys properties causing high cost to the city to fix his damages. When he saves the life of the Public Relations Ray Embrey (Jason Bateman) from an approaching train, the executive feels in debt with Hancock and decides to change his image. He brings the anti-hero to have dinner at his home, and introduces him to his son and fan Aaron and to his wife, Mary (Charlize Theron.) But Mary does not want Hancock in her life.

The New Paradigm For Financial Markets

2009-05-16T19:30:00.000-05:00

I finished reading "The New Paradigm For Financial Markets" by George Soros.

ABOUT THE BOOK

In the midst of the most serious financial upheaval since the Great Depression, legendary financier George Soros explores the origins of the crisis and its implications for the future. Soros, whose breadth of experience in financial markets is unrivaled, places the current crisis in the context of decades of study of how individuals and institutions handle the boom and bust cycles that now dominate global economic activity. “This is the worst financial crisis since the 1930s,” writes Soros in characterizing the scale of financial distress spreading across Wall Street and other financial centers around the world. In a concise essay that combines practical insight with philosophical depth, Soros makes an invaluable contribution to our understanding of the great credit crisis and its implications for our nation and the world.

The Visitor

2009-05-15T22:30:00.001-05:00

We watched the DVD "The Visitor."

Synopsis

A deeply moving drama. The Visitor is a simmering drama about a college professor and recent widower, Walter Vale (Richard Jenkins), who discovers a pair of illegal aliens who were the victims of a real-estate scam living in his New York apartment. After the mix-up is resolved, Vale invites the couple - a young, Syrian musician named Tarek (Haaz Sleiman) and his Senegalese girlfriend (Danai Gurira)to stay with him. An unlikely friendship develops between the retiring, quiet Vale and the vibrant Tarek, and the former begins to loosen up and respond to Tarek's drumming lessons as if something in him waiting to be liberated has finally been unleashed. All goes well until Tarek is hauled in by immigration authorities and threatened with deportation. His mother, Mouna (Hiam Abbass), turns up and stays with Vale, sparking a renewed if subdued interest in courtship. However, the wheels of injustice in immigration crush all manner of hopes in post-9/11 America. Vale soon realizes that he has unexpected anger over Tarek's plight, and the positive changes to his personal life that emerged from a deep involvement with his friend and Mouna might be the only legacy he takes from this experience.

Sanctuary

2009-05-14T19:30:00.000-05:00

I finished reading "Sanctuary" by Ken Bruen.

ABOUT THE BOOK

When a letter containing a list of victims arrives in the post, P.I. Jack Taylor tells himself that it’s got nothing to do with him. He has enough to do just staying sane. His close friend Ridge is recovering from surgery, and alcohol’s siren song is calling to him ever more insistently. A guard and then a judge die in mysterious circumstances. But it is not until a child is added to the list that Taylor determines to find the identity of the killer, and stop them at any cost. What he doesn’t know is that his relationship with the killer is far closer than he thinks. And it’s about to become deeply personal. Spiked with dark humor, and fueled with rage at man’s inhumanity to man, this is crime writing at its darkest and most original.

Coffee & Cigarettes

2009-05-13T22:30:00.001-05:00

We watched the DVD "Coffee & Cigarettes."

Synopsis

A comic series of short vignettes built on one another to create a cumulative effect, as the characters discuss things as diverse as caffeine popsicles, Paris in the '20s, and the use of nicotine as an insecticide all the while sitting around sipping coffee and smoking cigarettes. Delves into the normal pace of our world from an extraordinary angle, shows just how absorbing the obsessions, joys and addictions of life can be, if truly observed.

Dark Knight

2009-05-11T22:30:00.001-05:00

We watched the DVD "Dark Knight." There's some distrurning scenes.

Synopsis

With just one year having passed after taking out Ra's Al Ghul's plan to have Gotham eliminated and the mysterious disappearance of Dr. Jonathan Crane AKA the Scarecrow, and after the city was nearly plundered with his toxins, Bruce Wayne and his vigilante alter-ego the Batman, continue the seemingly endless effort to bring order to Gotham, with the help of Lt. James Gordon and newly appointed District Attorney Harvey Dent. But a new threat has now emerged into the streets. The Dark Knight faces a rising psychopathic criminal called The Joker, whose eerie grin, laughter, and inhuman morality makes him as dangerous than what he has yet to unleash. It becomes an agenda to Batman to stop the mysterious Joker at all costs, knowing that both of them are in an opposite line. One has no method at all and seeks to see the world plunge into the fire he has yet to light. One represents the symbol of hope and uses his own shadow to bring the peace and order he has yet to accomplish doing.

Get Smart

2009-05-10T22:15:00.000-05:00

I watched the DVD "Get Smart."

Synopsis

American Maxwell Smart (Steve Carrell) works for a Government spy agency in an administrative capacity. When the agency's head office is attacked, the Chief decides to assign Maxwell as a spy and partners him with sexy Agent 99 (Anne Hathaway) much to her chagrin. The duo nevertheless set off to combat their attackers by first parachuting off an airplane and landing in Russian territory - followed closely by a over seven foot tall, 400 pound goon, known simply as Dalip. The duo, handicapped by Maxwell's antics, will eventually have their identities compromised, and may be chalked up as casualties while back in America their attackers have already planted a bomb that is set-up to explode in a concert.

Catwoman

2009-05-09T22:20:00.001-05:00

I watched the DVD "Catwoman" with Halle Berry.

Synopsis

Catwoman (Halle Berry) is a shy, sensitive artist Patience Philips, a woman who can't seem to stop apologizing for her own existence. She works as a graphic designer for Hedare Beauty, a mammoth cosmetics company on the verge of releasing a revolutionary anti-aging product. When Patience inadvertently happens upon a dark secret her employer is hiding, she finds herself in the middle of a corporate conspiracy. What happens next changes Patience forever. In a mystical twist of fate, she is transformed into a woman with the strength, speed, agility and ultra-keen senses of a cat. With her newfound prowess and feline intuition, Patience becomes Catwoman, a sleek and stealthy creature balancing on the thin line between good and bad. Like any wildcat, she's dangerous, elusive and untamed. Her adventures are complicated by a burgeoning relationship with Tom Lone (Benjamin Bratt), a cop who has fallen for Patience but cannot shake his fascination with the mysterious Catwoman, who appears to be responsible for a string of crime sprees plaguing the city.

Intermission

2009-05-06T22:30:00.001-05:00

We watched the DVD "Intermission."

Synopsis

Intermission is an urban love story about people adrift and their convoluted journeys in the search for some kind of love. When the desperately insecure and emotionally inarticulate John (Cillian Murphy) breaks up with Deirdre (Kelly MacDonald) to 'give her a little test' his plan backfires leaving her broken-hearted and him alone and miserable. Through chance and coincidence, their break-up triggers a roller coaster ride of interweaving escapades in the lives of everyone around them. Intermission presents a slice of life, the passage between breaking up and making up, exploring how our lives intersect, and the power we all possess to affect the lives of those around us.

Muriel's Wedding

2009-05-05T22:30:00.002-05:00

We wayched the DVD "Muriel's Wedding."

Synopsis

Muriel Heslop, a young girl in her 20's, lives in Porpoise Spit, Australia. She is surrounded by an uncaring family and people she thinks are her friends — the popular girls who think that Muriel is not “on their level”. To escape her depressing life, Muriel listens to the music of ABBA and dreams of getting married. To her, getting married signifies she has become a success — and that is something she needs in her life. When her parents give her a check (which she tells her mom to make out to “cash”) to buy supplies for a new job, Muriel steals their savings and goes on a holiday to Hibiscus Island. There she meets Rhonda, a lively, vivacious person who helps her come out of her shell. Muriel decides to move to Sydney to be roommates with Rhonda and start her own life, which includes a name change, a wedding, and a few twists and turns. Along the way, she learns about life, love and friendship. Muriel's Wedding is a humorous and touching story of one girl's journey as she realizes that she can be who she is and succeed for herself, without having to prove so to anyone else.

T.G.I. Friday's

2009-05-05T20:00:00.001-05:00

The family went to dinner at T.G.I. Fridays in Darien for our anniversary. There was also a special surprise on the table. We had a wonderful dinner.

Oh Johnny

2009-05-05T17:30:00.001-05:00

I finished reading "Oh Johnny" by Jim Lehrer.

ABOUT THE BOOK

"Call me Johnny. Oh Johnny Oh. That’s what my mom calls me. You can call me anything. But mainly call me a ballplayer. A center fielder. I’m good, and I’m going to be even better.” A talented athlete, Johnny Wrigley firmly believes that someday he will play major league baseball. But on the way to his dreams, Johnny finds his life unexpectedly taking a detour. In April 1944, Johnny is a newly minted marine on a troop train heading west for California, where he will be shipped overseas to fight in the Pacific Theater. At a brief stop in Wichita, Johnny gets off the train and falls in love. She’s giving apples and cigarettes to the marines, and she is the most beautiful girl Johnny has ever seen. In a storeroom at the station, they share an intimacy that Johnny will treasure for the next two years at war—and beyond. As a flamethrower operator on the suicide squad in Peleliu, Johnny sees the worst of battle. Scores of his fellow soldiers are killed around him, but memories of Betsy Luck (the private name Johnny has given his Kansas love) keep him safe. Yet nothing prepares Johnny for the combat in Okinawa—and the terrible events that will haunt him forever. Two years later, Johnny is back in Wichita, searching for the girl he wants to marry. But fate has different plans for Johnny, his long-dreamed-of baseball career, and the girl whose memory helped him survive. Full of rich and vivid descriptions of Johnny’s experiences both as a marine and as a ballplayer.

The Snapper

2009-05-02T22:00:00.000-05:00

I watched the DVD "The Snapper."

Synopsis

Set in Ireland, Sharon Curley (Tine Kellegher) is a 20 year old living with her parents and many brothers and sisters. When she gets herself pregnant and refuses to name the father, she becomes the talk of the town. The Curley family is a poor but eccentric and loving Irish family. Oldest daughter Sharon announces she is pregnant, but refuses to reveal the identity of the father to anyone. Her father, Dessie (Colm Meaney), is supportive, but begins to chafe at the derisive gossip aimed at his family and his daughter. This leads to a confrontation between the two that is, like the rest of the movie, simultaneously funny and sad. The family waits in the hospital as Sharon gives birth to the snapper (Irish slang for an infant).

Cadillac Beach

2009-05-02T13:00:00.000-05:00

I finished reading "Cadillac Beach" by Tim Dorsey.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Certifiable nutcase Serge Storms and Lenny, his spacey marijuana-addicted sidekick, are back again in Dorsey's sixth screwball crime-spree novel, this time on the trail of a stash of missing gems. As the novel begins, Serge escapes from Chattahoochee, Florida's state psychiatric hospital, and heads for Miami, obsessed with the idea of clearing up the mystery surrounding his grandfather's alleged suicide, which is tied to the legendary dozen diamonds still missing after Murph the Surf's infamous 1964 jewel heist from the Museum of Natural History. Serge's ambitious crusade gets off to an ill-omened start when he awakens the interest of both the mob and the Feds after getting into a graveside altercation with Tony Marsicano, the mob boss who was alone at the deathbed of Rico Spagliosi, a deceased fence reputed to have a part in the jewel heist. In a typical display of off-the-wall buffoonery, Serge starts a specialty Miami tour service, and his first booking is a group of drunken salesmen who, out to play a practical joke on a colleague, mistakenly kidnap Tony, with dire results. Sporadically moving back and forth between time present and nostalgic flashbacks to Miami Beach in the 1960s, the novel chronicles the methodical murders of Serge's grandfather's old cronies as Serge tracks his grandfather's movements at the time of the infamous gem heist and the return of the most famous of the stolen stones. Studded with psychosocial observations and dopey gags, this latest episode of Florida's hottest helter-skelter, hallucinogenic freak show will delight legions of Dorsey fans. - Publishers Weekly

Track Meet

2009-05-01T21:30:00.002-05:00

My oldest son ran his fastest 3200 yet - 10:01 against some good competition. He came in fourth and got another medal. He also ran the 1600 later in the meet and had a good time of 4:52. His team came in third against some good competition. We had Al's Pizza after the meet.

Cut Grass

2009-04-29T18:30:00.004-05:00

I cut the grass for the first time this year. The lawn was still pretty damp from all the rain we've been getting. It's suppose to rain later tonight and tomorrow. I wanted to get it down before it rains and gets too long.

Tripwire

2009-04-27T16:00:00.000-05:00

I finished reading Tripwire

ABOUT THE BOOK

Jack Reacher washes up in the Florida Keys with his savings running out; he spends his days digging pools and his nights as the bouncer in the local strip club. But a private investigator intrudes upon his tropical refuge, seeking Reacher out. When he discovers the PI's lifeless beaten body lying in the street, Reacher heads north to determine who is trying to find him and why. Tracing the dead man's trail to New York, Reacher discovers the PI was working for Reacher's former commanding officer, mentor and close friend Leon Garber. Reacher teams up with Garber's daughter Jodie, a sharp Wall Street lawyer, to find out why Leon needed Reacher's help and they find themselves embroiled in a life-threatening search for the truth—and the deeper they dig, the more dangerous and twisted their path becomes.

She's The One

2009-04-26T22:15:00.003-05:00

I watched the DVD "She's The One.

Synopsis

Mickey (Ed Norton) drives a New York taxicab since the breakup with his promiscuous ex-fiancée Heather (Cameron Diaz) two years ago. His younger brother, Francis, cannot let Mickey forget the tragedy of the "hairy ass": (Mickey's image of his apartment floor after walking in on Heather). Finding relief in driving his cab, Mickey finds an art student named Hope whom he marries after knowing her for only 24 hours. Mickey also meets his old lover Heather, and learns more about life itself as taxi fares in the course of a summer. Francis, a young Wall Street corporate raider, unhappy in his marriage to Renee (Jennifer Aniston) and led by his infidelity, continues his shots at Mickey throughout the film, only to find himself a plot device that lends humor and lessons about marriage and brotherhood when he meets and starts an dangerous affair with Heather, despite Mickey's warnings. Given Mickey's frame of reference on the past and his bride of 24 hours, it is no wonder that the two brothers, along with their father, a bigot and a chauvinist who does not allow women aboard his fishing boat, learn about the strength of women, and their own lives.

Soul Men

2009-04-26T22:00:00.001-05:00

I watched the DVD "Soul Men." Bernie Mac's last movie.

Synopsis

Two former backup soul singers, Louis Hinds (Samuel L. Jackson) and Floyd Henderson (Bernie Mac) who have not spoken to each other in 20 years reluctantly agree to travel across the country together to a reunion concert at Apollo Theatre to honor their recently deceased lead singer (John Legend). Cleo (Sharon Leal), a beautiful young woman who is believed to be Floyd's daughter, accompanies them as a new singer.

Baby Mama

2009-04-25T22:00:00.003-05:00

I watched the DVD "Baby Mama."

Synopsis

Successful and single businesswoman Kate Holbrook (Tina Fey) has long put her career ahead of a personal life. Now 37, she's finally determined to have a kid on her own. But her plan is thrown a curve ball after she discovers she has only a million-to-one chance of getting pregnant. Undaunted, the driven Kate allows South Philly working girl Angie Ostrowiski (Amy Poehler)to become her unlikely surrogate. Simple enough. After learning from the steely head of their surrogacy center (Sigourney Weaver) that Angie is pregnant, Kate goes into precision nesting mode: reading childcare books, baby-proofing the apartment and researching top pre-schools. But the executive's well-organized strategy is turned upside down when her Baby Mama shows up at her doorstep with no place to live. An unstoppable force meets an immovable object as structured Kate tries to turn vibrant Angie into the perfect expectant mom. In a battle of wills, they will struggle their way through preparation for the baby's arrival. And in the middle of this tug-of-war, they'll discover two kinds of family: the one you're born to and the one you make.

Bob Cohoon Invitational

2009-04-24T22:30:00.006-05:00

We went to the 18th Annual Bob Cohoon Invitational Track Meet. My oldest son ran his best 1600 ever - 4:38. He was first in his heat. It ended up being a nice night after some rain right at the beginning. We saw some great races. His varisty team came in third. I worked as a timer for the whole meet.

Bob Cohoon Invitational Stats

Earth

2009-04-21T21:30:00.000-05:00

We all went to the advanced screening of "Earth" at Hollywood Boulevard Theatre.

Synopsis

The story of three animal families and their amazing journeys across the planet we all call home. The film combines rare action, unimaginable scale and impossible locations by capturing the most intimate moments of our planet's wildest and most elusive creatures.

Trapped In Paradise

2009-04-19T22:00:00.002-05:00

I watched the DVD "Trapped In Paradise."

Synopsis

Bill Firpo (Nicolas Cage) has managed to stay honest, but can't help but be dragged into things by his larcenous brothers, the clever Dave (Jon Lovitz) and the kleptomaniac Alvin (Dana Carvey) When the three find a bank in Paradise, Pennsylvania so easy to rob that they can't resist, the only question is whether or not they can get out of town before the big snowstorm hits. While the three brothers run around town with their stolen loot, they are beseiged with the kindness of the townfolk that might just set them on the right path.

In Memory Of My Father

2009-04-18T22:15:00.001-05:00

I watched the DVD "In Memory of My Father."

Synopsis

A self-proclaimed (somewhat justifiably) film legend bribes his son to document his death under the unquestioning assumption that it will be historically important. The Result - In Memory of My Father, a twisted celebration of a Hollywood family narcissistically dealing with an eventfully frustrating day, regardless of the subtly distracting centerpiece which they're forced to endure; Dad's corpse. With the tinted tonality of Six Feet Under, and the inappropriate wit of Curb Your Enthusiasm. The movie steers us through Dad's wake, alongside his two brothers (Jeremy Sisto & Matt Keeslar) and Dad's fickle twenty-something girlfriend (Judy Greer).

Home Meet

2009-04-18T15:00:00.000-05:00

We went to my oldest son's home track meet. He had his best time ever - 10:18 in the 3200. He ran against the second best runner in the state. I worked as timer. It turned out to be a good day for running, overcast with a slight breeze and mild temperatures.

The Girl Next Door

2009-04-17T22:30:00.000-05:00

We watched the DVD "The Girl Next Door."

Synopsis

High school senior president Matthew Kidman (Emile Hirsch) is about to graduate and enter Georgetown University, when a beautiful girl moves next door. Danielle (Elisha Cuthbert) is housesitting her aunt's house for the next two weeks. Matthew has been an over-achiever his whole life who has never experienced any type of personal exciting or thrilling event. Danielle, on the other hand, is a porn star. The movie is about opposite worlds colliding. Matthew wants to go into politics and must maintain a proper and spotless life. Danielle is a free spirited girl who tries to break Matthew out of his shell. Matthew discovers that in life you may have to risk everything for the girl you love. Douglas Young (the-movie-guy)

Anything Goes

2009-04-16T22:30:00.000-05:00

We went to the Downers Grove South High School production of "Anything Goes." We knew a lot of the cast members and had excellent seats. They did a great job.

Stingray Shuffle

2009-04-16T22:00:00.000-05:00

I finished reading "Stingray Shuffle" by Tim Dorsey.

ABOUT THE BOOK

When serial-killing local Florida historian Serge A. Storms is off his meds, no one is safe - not Russian hoods, Jamaican mobsters, spoiled frat boys, women's book clubs, drug dealers, bad Vegas-rejected local lounge acts - especially when $5 million in cash in a bugged suitcase is still racing up and down the Eastern Seaboard. But in the oddball circus known as the Sunshine State, little things like astronomical body counts tend to get lost in the shuffle.

Outsourced

2009-04-15T16:00:00.000-05:00

I watched the DVD "Outsourced."

Synopsis

Outsourced is a modern day comedy of cross-cultural conflict and romance. Todd Anderson (Josh Hamilton) spends his days managing a customer call center in Seattle until his job, along with those of the entire office, are outsourced to India. Adding insult to injury, Todd must travel to India to train his new replacement. As he navigates through the chaos of Bombay and an office paralyzed by constant cultural misunderstandings, Todd yearns to return to the comforts of home. But it is through his team of quirky yet likable Indian call center workers, including his friendly and motivated replacement, Puro (Asif Basra), and the charming, opinionated Asha (Ayesha Dharker), that Todd realizes that he too has a lot to learn - not only about India and America, but about himself. He soon discovers that being outsourced may be the best thing that ever happened to him.

Flu

2009-04-14T20:30:00.000-05:00

I called in sick today. I think I had the flu and stayed in bed all day waking up every two hours. I tried taking medicine for an upset stomach but nothing seemed to help. It was pretty miserable. I had absolutely no desire to eat anything. I feel like I lost a whole day.

Heartbreak Hotel

2009-04-12T22:15:00.000-05:00

I watched the DVD "Heartbreak Hotel."

Synopsis

Johnny (Charlie Schlatter), a 17 year old boy, succeeds in kidnapping Elvis Presley (David Keith) and thus convinces him to meet her mother (Tuesday Weld) who is a fan of his and has to stand difficult times at that moment.

What Happens In Vegas

2009-04-11T22:15:00.000-05:00

I watched the DVD "What Happens In Vegas."

Synopsis

Joy McNally (Cameron Diaz) is driven career woman who is engaged but when her fiancé grows tired of her uptight attitude; he breaks up with her. Jack Fuller (Ashton Kutcher) is a guy who likes to goof off, which makes his boss who also happens to be his father, fire him. Feeling down they both go to Las Vegas to forget about what happened to them. When they get there, a computer error puts them in the same room. And after getting drunk, they wake up to discover they got married, which they both want to get out of. But when they win 3 million dollars, the ownership of which comes into question. When they decide to take it to court, the judge decides that they should remain married for 6 months and attend counseling sessions. So Joy moves in with Jack. And they both learn that if one of them asks to get out of the marriage, the other will get the money. So they each try to drive the other to want to get out of the marriage.

Track Meet

2009-04-11T12:30:00.002-05:00

My oldest son ran his best mile ever 4:43 at the Hinsdale Central Varsity Outdoor Track Meet.

Family Room

2009-04-10T15:00:00.000-05:00

I spent the morning of my day off cleaning and re-arranging the family room and blasting music on the surround sound which I finally got hooked up.

Bulls Game

2009-04-09T23:00:00.000-05:00

We went to the Bulls game at the United Center. They played the 76ers. I won the tickets in an anniversary drawing at work. They were great seats by one of the baskets - Section 114, Row 7, Seats 1 & 2. The press was right in front of us and Jesse Jackson Sr. was in the audience. The Bulls won with over 100 points so we won Big Macs and they gave out lightbulbs at the end of the game. It only took us 35 minutes to get home. The Bulls wore green uniforms.

Famous Daves

2009-04-07T13:30:00.005-05:00

Our whole department at work went to lunch at Famous Daves in Bolingbrook. I had the Texas Manhandler Sandwich to the left and the Hot Fudge Kahlua Brownie below for dessert. I ended up sharing the brownie with two co-workers because I was so stuffed.

My Little Brother's 50th

2009-04-04T23:59:00.000-05:00

We went to my little brother's 50th Birthday Party. We ended up staying until midnight. We saw a lot of his old friends. His wife put together some old photo albums which brought back some great memories. My whole immediate family was there and there was plenty of food.

Something

2009-04-03T17:00:00.000-05:00

"We cannot do everything at once, but we can do something at once."- Calvin Coolidge, 30th U.S. President

Watching Detectives

2009-04-02T23:00:00.001-05:00

We watched the DVD "Watching Detectives."

Synopsis

Neil, (Cillian Murphy) a self proclaimed film geek and owner of Gumshoe video, has always been content to live vicariously through his favorite films noir. But when he meets Violet, (Lucy Liu) a real-life femme fatale, his mundane world gets turned upside down and the line between reality and the movies quickly begins to blur. Will Neil step up and embrace a life full of adventure or retreat back to his comfortable couch?

Life

2009-04-02T17:00:00.000-05:00

"Life can only be understood backwards, but it has to be lived forwards." — Søren Kierkegaard

She's So Lovely

2009-04-01T23:00:00.000-05:00

We watched the DVD "She's So Lovely."

Synopsis

A romantic fable about Eddie 9sean Penn) and Maureen (Robin Wright Penn) young, married and passionately crazy about each other. Drunk, unstable and about to have a baby, they live in a world of funky barflys and colorful low-lifes, living it up on no money and their manic, co-dependent need for each other. When a neighbor attacks Maureen, Eddie snaps and it costs him ten years of his life in a mental institution. Upon Eddie's returns, he discovers that his wife has re-married (John Travlota) and she is caught in the middle between the past and the present.

Give Thanks

2009-04-01T17:00:00.000-05:00

"Give thanks for a little and you will find a lot." - The Hausa Of Nigeria

A Happier You

2009-04-01T16:00:00.002-05:00

The greatest goal you can set this year is to make peace with your life, no matter your circumstances. These 10 powerful insights from Eckhart Tolle will get you started.

1. Don't seek happiness If you seek it, you won't find it, because seeking is the antithesis of happiness. Happiness is ever elusive, but freedom from unhappiness is attainable now, by facing what is rather than making up stories about it.

2. The primary cause of unhappiness is never the situation but your thoughts about it. Be aware of the thoughts you are thinking. Separate them from the situation, which is always neutral, which always is as it is. There is the situation or the fact, and here are my thoughts about it. Instead of making up stories, stay with the facts. For example, "I am ruined" is a story. It limits you and prevents you from taking effective action. "I have 50 cents left in my bank account" is a fact. Facing facts is always empowering.

3. See if you can catch the voice in your head, perhaps in the very moment it complains about something, and recognize it for what it is: the voice of the ego, no more than a thought. Whenever you notice that voice, you will also realize that you are not the voice, but the one who is aware of it. In fact, you are the awareness that is aware of the voice. In the background, there is the awareness. In the foreground, there is the voice, the thinker. In this way you are becoming free of the ego, free of the unobserved mind.

4. Wherever you look, there is plenty of circumstantial evidence for the reality of time - a rotting apple, your face in the bathroom mirror compared with your face in a photo taken 30 years ago—yet you never find any direct evidence, you never experience time itself. You only ever experience the present moment.

5. Why do anxiety, stress, or negativity arise? Because you turned away from the present moment. And why did you do that? You thought something else was more important. One small error, one misperception, creates a world of suffering.

6. People believe themselves to be dependent on what happens for their happiness. They don't realize that what happens is the most unstable thing in the universe. It changes constantly. They look upon the present moment as either marred by something that has happened and shouldn't have or as deficient because of something that has not happened but should have. And so they miss the deeper perfection that is inherent in life itself, a perfection that lies beyond what is happening or not happening. Accept the present moment and find the perfection that is untouched by time.

7. The more shared past there is in a relationship, the more present you need to be; otherwise, you will be forced to relive the past again and again.

8. Equating the physical body with "I," the body that is destined to grow old, wither, and die, always leads to suffering. To refrain from identifying with the body doesn't mean that you no longer care for it. If it is strong, beautiful, or vigorous, you can appreciate those attributes—while they last. You can also improve the body's condition through nutrition and exercise. If you don't equate the body with who you are, when beauty fades, vigor diminishes, or the body becomes incapacitated, this will not affect your sense of worth or identity in any way. In fact, as the body begins to weaken, the light of consciousness can shine more easily.

9. You do not become good by trying to be good, but by finding the goodness that is already within you and allowing that goodness to emerge.

10. If peace is really what you want, then you will choose peace.

Exerpted from Oneness with All Life by Eckhart Tolle. Published by arrangement with Dutton, a member of Penguin Group (USA), Inc. Copywright © 2008 by Eckhart Tolle

Mr. Woodcock

2009-03-31T22:15:00.001-05:00

We watched the DVD "Mr. Woodcock."

Synopsis

During their childhood, John Farley (Seann William Scott) and many of his classmates were tormented by their sadistic gym teacher, Mr. Jasper Woodcock (Billy Bob Thornton). Since then, things have turned out quite well for John, who has gone on to become a successful self-help author and motivational speaker about "letting go", inspired by his own experiences. But when John's hometown offers him an award, he decides to return home and face his unpleasant memories. His manager initially rejects it as too trivial without consulting Farley, but Farley is pleased by the award and returns to Nebraska to receive it. When John returns home he is horrified to find that Woodcock is now dating his widowed mother Beverly (Susan Sarandon), and the two become engaged shortly after. To make matters worse, Mr. Woodcock is being awarded for his years of educating children. Mr. Woodcock's behavior toward Farley is still unpleasant. John tries to break up the engagement to save both himself and his mother. To that end, he decides to beat Mr. Woodcock at his own game. He spends the whole day with him, going everywhere with him. First, they visit a gym, where, after a rather long speech, Mr. Woodcock berates him for constantly talking. The two then go on treadmills, where John attempts to run faster than Mr. Woodcock, and is launched into a set of weights behind him. They then go into a retirement home where John meets Mr. Woodcock's father, a rude wheelchair-bound man. Mr. Woodcock makes the elderly people in the pool run in place, and take laps. He then spots Pulumbo, a wheelchair-bound man sitting in the corner of the room, not swimming in the pool, and decides to push him in. John, thinking he is unable to swim, tries to dive in and save him, but is knocked out by the man (who apparently can swim), and has to be given mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. When he gets home, his old classmate and that man's younger brother are there (with the boy having a black eye), with fake evidence of Mr. Woodcock's abuse, consisting of the boy begging an off-camera man he claims to be Mr. Woodcock not to do something, and is immediately hit in the head with a folded up chair. When Mr. Woodcock and Beverly come home, the fake evidence immediately cuts to a scene of the man driving in his truck, ranting about how hot Farley's mom is, wishing he could motorboat her breasts. He tries to rewind the tape, but only ends up repeating parts of his rant, for which he's ejected from the house by Mr. Woodcock. At the carnival, Woodcock is better at various games, though John wins in an eating contest, but not before embarrassing himself in front of the crowd. Irritated, he meets up with his old classmate, who says that he has found Mr. Woodcock's ex-wife, whom Mr. Woodcock's father had mentioned earlier. She tells John that they divorced because of infidelity; the reason she had not done that earlier was the great sex with Mr. Woodcock, once he made her black out from pleasure, and made her speak Portuguese, despite having no knowledge of the language. John, thinking Mr. Woodcock is cheating on his mother, decides to expose it to his mom, and he and his classmate go to Mr. Woodcock's house. As they are trying to find evidence, Mr. Woodcock comes up the stairs, forcing them to hide. As soon as Mr. Woodcock comes in, John's mom comes in as well, and they have sex on the bed (making her speak a phrase in Portuguese in the proccess) as John suffers underneath them. With excitement, his friend opens the shutters and records the whole scene. Next they are at the award ceremony for Woodcock. One by one people come up to the stage and praise him for the good that he has done in their life. Then John is awarded the "Corn Cob Key" and during his acceptance speech, he sums up the misery Woodcock has supposedly caused, but he makes a fool of himself. Much of his evidence is busted, as his classmate did not die as he thought and his ex-wife cheated on him, instead of visa-versa. After Woodcock threatens to beat up John, Beverly becomes so mad that she breaks up with Woodcock. The next day, John has to do a live video interview with Tyra Banks. His mother tells John that he never thought of what made her happy and always thought about himself. John runs out of his interview in the middle of it and apologizes to Woodcock. They then get into a fight that turns into them, in full costumes, wrestling. It ends with Jasper getting rushed to the hospital by John. John rushes Jasper on his gurney to his mom who is sitting atop a float on a parade. After his gurney flips over on the "one pothole in the town" his mother takes him to the hospital where John gives his blessings to his mother and tells his mother that Jasper is a very good person and molded him into what he is today. The film ends at christmas time with Jasper telling John that he read his book. Says one good thing about it, then burns it. After his next book is released, Jasper tells John that his mom is pregnant and the film closes with him saying "Just joking".

Kindness

2009-03-31T17:00:00.000-05:00

"Kindness is a language we all understand. Even the blind can see it and the deaf can hear it." - Mother Teresa

Taken

2009-03-30T21:15:00.000-05:00

I took my youngest son and 10 of his friends to see "Taken" at Hollywood Boulevard Theater in Woodridge. We have passes for 16 free tickets and used 12. It was an intense fast paced movie that really makes you think about sending your daughter over to Europe,

Synopsis

The seventeen year-old Kim (Maggie Grace) is the pride and joy of her father, the retired agent Bryan Mills (Liam Neeson) who left the secret service to stay near Kim in California. Kim lives with her mother Lenore (Famke Janssen) and her wealthy stepfather Stuart (Xander Berkeley) she convinces the reluctant Bryan to sign an authorization for her to travel to Paris with her friend Amanda Katie Cassidy) When they arrive, they share a cab with the stranger Peter (Nicolas Giraud) and Amanda tells him that they are alone in Paris. When Bryan succeeds in contacting his daughter, she tells that criminals have just broke in and they are kidnapped by an Albanese gang of human trafficking. Bryan promises in the phone to kill the kidnapper of his daughter and immediately travels to Paris to find Kim and chase the criminals.

The Long Fall

2009-03-30T19:30:00.001-05:00

I finished reading "The Long Fall" by Walter Mosley.

ABOUT THE BOOK

His name is etched on the door of his Manhattan office: Leonid McGill, Private Investigator. It's a name that takes a little explaining, but he's used to it. His Dad was a communist and great-great-granddaddy was a slave master from Scotland. You know, the black man's family tree is mostly root. Whatever you see above ground is only a hint at the real story. An ex-boxer, hard drinker, in a business that trades mostly in cash and favors: McGill is an old-school P.I. working a city that's gotten fancy all around him. Fancy or not, he has always managed to get by, keep a roof over the head of his wife and kids, and still manage a little fun on the side, mostly because he's never been above taking a shady job for a quick buck. But like the city itself, McGill is turning over a new leaf and decided to go from crooked to slightly bent. New York City in the twenty-first century is a city full of secrets and still a place that reacts when you know where to poke and which string to pull. That's exactly the kind of thing Leonid McGill knows how to do. As soon as The Long Fall begins, with McGill calling in old markers and greasing NYPD palms to unearth some seemingly harmless information for a high-paying client, he learns that even in this cleaned-up city, his commitment to the straight and narrow is going to be constantly tested.

Forgetting Sarah Marshall

2009-03-29T22:15:00.000-05:00

I watched the DVD "Forgetting Sarah Marshall."

Synopsis

Peter (Jason Segel) is a composer and a likable sad guy who's devastated when his girlfriend of five years, Sarah Marshall, (Kristen Bell) the star of a cheesy CSI-style crime show, dumps him. He weeps, he rails, he mopes. Finally, his step-brother Brian (Bill Hader) suggests Hawaii, so Peter heads for a resort on Oahu where, as he's checking in, he sees Sarah and her new beau, Aldous, (Russell Brand) a polymorphously perverse English rocker. The weeping and moping starts again, until Peter is rescued by Rachel, (Mila Kunis) a thoughtful hotel clerk who invites him to a luau and to hang out. Although he constantly runs into Sarah and Aldous, Peter starts to come alive again. Will Sarah realize what she's lost, and what about Rachel?

Delirious

2009-03-28T22:15:00.001-05:00

I watched the DVD "Delirious."

Synopsis

The film begins with a homeless young man Toby Grace (Michael Pitt) wandering through New York City bumming for change and essentially seeking a way to survive. He accidentally bumps into celebrity-wannabe-photographer Les Galantine (Steve Buscemi) waiting outside a building for recording star K'Harma Leeds.(Alison Lohman) Toby follows Les home and asks for a warm place to sleep for the night Les agrees partly because Toby proves himself to be an honest type and also because he suggests he can work as an unpaid assistant for the photographer. Les takes Toby to a club to get pictures of K'Harma and Toby is smitten with the young female singer. Les learns that actor Chuck Sirloin (Jack Gwaltney) is getting surgery on his penis and manages to scoop the photos for a local tabloid magazine. Les takes Toby to an STD Daytime Drama Benefit and influential casting director Dana (Gina Gershon) is immediately attracted to the purity of the young man and offers to boost his career. Because of his ability to get the shots of Chuck Sirloin Les is invited to the next K'Harma concert and Toby gets pulled into K'Harma's party and ends up spending the night talking with her. K'Harma invites Toby to a party with Elvis Costello and Toby brings Les along but when Les takes photos at the party K'Harma is upset and security ejects the two men. When Les sells the photos of K'Harma to an online news site Toby goes to live with Dana who casts the homeless young man in a reality show as a homeless man and his fame is immediate causing Les to plot a revenge against the man he believes he has helped.

27 Dresses

2009-03-27T23:30:00.002-05:00

We watched the DVD "27 Dresses."

Synopsis

Two things about Jane (Katherine Heigl) she never says no to her friends- she's been a bridesmaid 27 times and selflessly plans friends' weddings, and she's in love with her boss, George (Edward Burns) nurturing dreams of a lovely, romantic wedding of her own. She meets Kevin (James Marsden) a cynical writer who finds her attractive, and that same week her flirtatious younger sister Tess (Malin Akerman) comes to town. Jane silently watches George fall for Tess, a manipulative pretender. Worse, Jane may be called upon to plan their wedding. Meanwhile, Kevin tries to get Jane's attention and has an idea that may advance his career.

Small Time Crooks

2009-03-26T23:00:00.001-05:00

We watched the DVD "Small Time Crooks."

Synopsis

Dishwasher and small-time criminal Ray (Woody Allen) hits on a plan with his partners in crime to re-open a local pizza place and dig a tunnel to the safe for the bank down the street. His wife, Frenchy (Tracey Ullman) can't cook pizza but does make great cookies so that's what they sell. While the tunnellers get lost underground, the cookie operation really takes off and the team find themselves rich business people. The other local money isn't quite ready to accept them.

The Promotion

2009-03-25T23:00:00.001-05:00

I watched the DVD "The Promotion." Filmed in Chicago.

Synopsis
At 33, Doug Stauber (Seann William Scott) is ready for a promotion. He's married to Jen (Jenna Fischer), wants to buy a house, and is assistant manager at a Chicago supermarket that's building a new store in his neighborhood. His boss, Scott (Fred Armisen) tells him he's a shoe-in to manage the new store and then a rival appears - Richard Wehlner (John C. Reilly) transferred from Canada. Richard has a deeper resume than Doug and is really nice. He has a wife and daughter and wants the promotion to manager also. Doug doesn't know how to behave toward Richard - as a friend, a colleague, a competitor, or an enemy? Richard, it seems, has demons and a past, but with the help of motivational tapes, he's determined to succeed.

Hurricane Punch

2009-03-25T19:30:00.001-05:00

I finished reading "Hurricane Punch" by Tim Dorsey.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Welcome to another typical summer in Florida, the Season of the Storms. Serge Storms. That loveable, under-under-medicated dispenser of truth, justice and trivia is back with a vengeance. And not a weirdness-laced moment too soon. His cherished home state is about to take a beating, and from far more than the way-too-routine conga line of hurricanes bearing down on the peninsula. Bodies have begun turning up at a disturbing rate, even for Florida, and it looks like a brutal serial killer is on the loose, which highly offends Serge’s moral sensibilities and he vows nothing will stop him in his juggernaut to make All Things Right ... except if he gets bored or distracted by a cool souvenir or ... where were we? But his path won’t be obstacle free. Agent Mahoney has picked up the scent. The obsessive criminal profiler -- just released from a mental hospital for getting too deep inside Serge’s head – is convinced there is no second killer. Serge’s personality is simply splitting from decades of burning with incandescent zest for everything under the sun. Then there’s Coleman, whose triathelete approach to the sport of poly-abuse binging just might derail the mission more than the entire police community put together. The pace picks up. Wind howls, TV reporters fly around the beach, the Party Parrot parties, questions mount: Who’s stalking Tampa Bay’s most sensitive journalist? Did Tom Cruise go too easy on Matt Lauer? Do multiple orgasms improve storm tracking? Why is the feeding-tube guy so quiet? Will Molly ruin our anti-hero’s dreams of playing the electric guitar better than Clapton? ... All of which ultimately leads to the most pressing question of the new millennium on everyone’s lips: What would Serge do?

Ironman

2009-03-22T22:15:00.002-05:00

I watched the DVD "Ironman"

Synopsis

Playboy and genius Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) is the successful CIO of the Stark Industries, a weapon company founded by his father. His second in command is Obadiah Stane (Jeff Bridges) who worked with his father, and his loyal and professional secretary is Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow) who has a crush on Tony. While in Afghanistan to demonstrate the ultimate Jericho missile developed by his company, his military convoy is attacked and Tony is seriously wounded on his chest and kidnapped by a group of rebels that wants him to assemble a missile for their use. Tony stays with his abductors for three months and develops a powerful metallic armor to escape from the cave where he is arrested. He decides to stop manufacturing weapons in his company under the protest of Obadiah, and dedicates his time to improve the armor, manufacturing it with gold and titanium and installing a propulsion system to fly. Pepper discovers that Tony was betrayed by Obadiah, who is using Tony's data to build prototype armor for him, transforming it in the ultimate weapon.

Into The Woods

2009-03-21T21:45:00.002-05:00

We went to the the Hinsdale South High School Production of "Into The Woods." It was based on a book by James Lapine and the music and lyrics were by Stephen Sondheim. The kids did a great job. Three of the cast members were friends of our boys - Little Red Riding Hood - Bianca Minniti, Rapunzel's Prince - Terry Bell and one of the townfolk - Ryan Kent. We had dinner at T.G.I. Friday's before going to the play.

Giordano's Pizza

2009-03-20T20:30:00.001-05:00

We went to Giordano's Pizza in downtown Downer's Grove to celebrate our birthdays. We had our usual a large stuffed mushroom and cheese pizza. Yum.

Rough Weather

2009-03-15T11:30:00.001-05:00

I finished reading "Rough Weather" by Robert B. Parker.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Heidi Bradshaw is wealthy, beautiful, and well connected and she needs Spenser’s help. In a most unlikely request, Heidi, a notorious gold digger recently separated from her latest husband, recruits the Boston P.I. to accompany her to her private island, Tashtego, for her daughter’s wedding. Spenser is unsure of what his role as personal bodyguard will entail, but he consents when it’s decided that he can bring his beloved Susan Silverman along. It should be a straightforward job for Spenser: show up for appearances, have some drinks, and spend some quality time with Susan. Yet when his old nemesis Rugar, the Gray Man arrives on Tashtego, Spenser realizes that something is amiss. With a hurricane-level storm brewing outside, the Gray Man jumps into action, firing fatal shots into the crowd of wedding guests and kidnapping the bride–but Spenser knows that the sloppy guns-for-hire abduction is not Rugar’s style. Unable to prevent the attack, Spenser will stop at nothing to recover the kidnapped bride and figure out how the Gray Man is connected. It’s up to Spenser to decide who the real enemy is . . . before more people end up dead.

Made Of Honor

2009-03-13T23:30:00.003-05:00

We watched the DVD "Made Of Honor."

Synopsis

Made of Honor revolves around Tom (Patrick Dempsey) and Hannah (Michelle Monaghan), who have been platonic friends for 10 years. He's a serial dater, while she wants marriage but hasn't found Mr. Right. Just as Tom is starting to think that he is relationship material after all, Hannah gets engaged. When she asks Tom to be her "maid" of honor, he reluctantly agrees just so he can attempt to stop the wedding and woo her.

The 2009 Masque & Gavel Talent Show

2009-03-13T21:45:00.003-05:00

We went to the "2009 Masque & Gavel Talent Show" at our son's high school after my oldest son's track meet. His band - Neon 10 was the closing act. We sat in the second row and he played his bass right in front of us.

The program:

White Rice played "That's What You Get" by Paramore
Colleen DeRosa sang "What The World Needs Now" by Burt Bacharach
DGS Carribbean Soul Dance Troupe did a dance mix
Duo - Jordyn Stapleton & Jen Boylen sang "Put Your Records On" by Corinne Bailey Rae
Amish Dudeja did a drum solo accompanied by Michael Holloway on guitar
Keotta House sang "Tears Drops On My Guitar" by Taylor Swift
Heavy Water played "Fortunate Son" by Creedance Clearwater Revival
Cailee Madden sang "Bring Me Down" by Miranda Lambert
Crystal Terry did slam poetry "Prisoner Of Words" by Alicia Keys
Minh Tran did an original composition guitar solo "Chocolate & Tea"
Deadline did a dance mix
Michael Holloway did an original composition "Resolve"
Jenni McCarthy sang and did a piano solo by Sarah McLachan
Merril Idiyalil did a traditional dance to "Aja Nachle"

Neon 10 played an original composition "Polar Bears"

Josh Durham & Mike Allison sang "1985" by Bowling For Soup
Mike Holloway & Kevin Worazek sang "DGS I Love You"

The show lasted about 1 1/2 hours. They did a great job. There's a lot of talent at the high school. I expect to see some of these names become famous in the future.

Definitely Maybe

2009-03-11T22:30:00.002-05:00

We watched the DVD "Definitely Maybe."

Synopsis

Romantic comedy: Will Hayes (Ryan Reynolds), a 30-something Manhattan dad is in the midst of a divorce when his 10 year old daughter, Maya (Abigail Breslin), starts to question him about his life before marriage. Maya wants to know absolutely everything about how her parents met and fell in love. Will's story begins in 1992, as a young, starry-eyed aspiring politician who moves to New York from Wisconsin in order to work on the Clinton campaign. For Maya, Will relives his past as a idealistic young man learning the ins and outs of big city politics, and recounts the history of his romantic relationships with three very different women. On the campaign, Will's best buddy is Russell McCormack. They not only have similar political aspirations, they share the same type of girl problems, too. Will hopelessly attempts a "PG" version of his story for his daughter ad changes the names so Maya has to guess who he finally married. Is her mother Will's college sweetheart, the dependable girl next-door Emily (Elizabeth Banks)? Is she his longtime best friend and confidante, apolitical April (Isla Fisher)? Or is she the free-spirited but ambitious journalist (Rachel Weisz)? As Maya puts together the pieces of her dad's romantic puzzle, she begins to understand that love is not so simple or easy. And as Will tells her his tale, Maya helps him to understand that it's definitely never too late to go back and maybe even possible to find a happy ending.

Picture Perfect

2009-03-09T22:30:00.001-05:00

We watched the DVD "Picture Perfect."

Synopsis

Kate (Jennifer Aniston) is working on a career at Mercer Advertising, but she is passed up for promotion because she is 'not stable enough', still being single and having no ties to the company. She makes up a story about being engaged to Nick (Jay Mohr), a guy whom she just met at a friend's wedding. All seems to work out well for Kate. She even gets the attention of a colleague (Kevin Bacon) she had always wanted, but then events take a dramatic turn forcing her to introduce her alleged fiancee to her boss.

Plum Spooky

2009-03-09T19:30:00.002-05:00

I finished reading "Plum Spooky" by Janet Evanovich.

ABOUT THE BOOK

According to legend, the Jersey Devil prowls the Pine Barrens and soars above the treetops in the dark of night. As eerie as this might seem, there are things in the Barrens that are even more frightening and dangerous. And there are monkeys. Lots of monkeys. Wulf Grimoire is a world wanderer and an opportunist who can kill without remorse and disappear like smoke. He's chosen Martin Munch, boy genius, as his new business partner, and he's chosen the Barrens as his new playground. Munch received his doctorate degree in quantum physics when he was twenty-two. He's now twenty-four, and while his brain is large, his body hasn't made it out of the boys' department at Macy's. Anyone who says good things come in small packages hasn't met Munch. Wulf Grimoire is looking for world domination. Martin Munch would be happy if he could just get a woman naked and tied to a tree. Bounty hunter Stephanie Plum has Munch on her most-wanted list for failure to appear in court. Plum is the all-American girl stuck in an uncomfortable job, succeeding on luck and tenacity. Usually she gets her man. This time she gets a monkey. She also gets a big guy named Diesel. Diesel pops in and out of Plum's life like birthday cake - delicious to look at and taste, not especially healthy as a steady diet, gone by the end of the week if not sooner. He's an uber bounty hunter with special skills when it comes to tracking men and pleasing women. He's after Grimoire, and now he's also after Munch. And if truth were told, he wouldn't mind setting Stephanie Plum in his crosshairs. Diesel and Plum hunt down Munch and Grimoire, following them into the Barrens, surviving cranberry bogs, the Jersey Devil, a hair-raising experience, sand in their underwear, and, of course . . . monkeys.

You Don't Mess With Zohan

2009-03-07T22:15:00.001-06:00

I watched the DVD "You Don't Mess With Zohan."

Synopsis

Zohan (Adam Sandler), a top Israeli commando, fakes his own death in order to pursue his dream: becoming a hairstylist in New York. Though he wants to put his life of counter-terrorism behind him, he quickly finds that it is not so easy to escape one's roots. As enemies old and new try to take him out, they will all come to learn the same thing: you don't mess with the Zohan.

Sex In The City

2009-03-06T22:30:00.001-06:00

We watched the DVD "Sex In The City."

Synopsis

After moving in together in an impossibly beautiful New York apartment, Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker) and Mr. Big (Chris Noth) make a rather arbitrary decision to get married. The wedding itself proves to be anything but a hasty affair. The guest list quickly blooms from 75 to 200 guests, and Carrie's simple, label-less wedding gown gives way to an enormous creation that makes her look like a gigantic cream puff. An upcoming photo spread in Vogue puts the event which will take place at the New York Public Library squarely in the public eye. Meanwhile, Carrie's girlfriends - Samantha the sexpot (Kim Cattrall); Charlotte the sweet naïf (Kristin Davis); and Miranda the rigid perfectionist (Cynthia Nixon) could not be happier. At least, they couldn't be happier for Carrie. Charlotte still has the unrealized hope of getting pregnant. Samantha is finding a loving, committed relationship more grueling than she could have imagined. Miranda unwittingly lets her own unhappiness created when Steve (David Eigenberg) admits to cheating on her just once spoil Carrie's. After a heated encounter with Steve, she happens to spot Mr. Big and tells him he's crazy to get married. She's really only thinking of her own marriage. But her angry remark gets Mr. Big to thinking.