A New Fiddlestick

I’ve been wanting to get a new guitar for some time. Even more since I’ve been playing along every other Thursday with a gang of guitar players at work. It’s been paying off since I’ve learned more songs than Puff the Magic Dragon and the incorrect way to play All I Want is You by U2. I even know a Green Day song now!

All of my guitars have been used or hand-me-downs. I don’t have much room to complain as many have been great guitars. Most notably my Martin Shenandoah. I think it was a D-2832. Modeled after the Martin D-28. I foolishly sold it for a song in High School and have regretted it ever since. Today, the guitar goes for around $1800 in good “used condition”.
Continue reading A New Fiddlestick

Sometimes Things Converge Unevenly

Sometimes things converge unevenly and create something new and beautiful.

A couple of Christmases ago my mom gave me some pencils in the hope I’d begin drawing again. Within weeks I had produced a picture of our cat. It’s hard to draw moving targets though and so the perspective was a bit off. My skills were still there, un-honed and a bit rusty. I’d always received As in art. Artistic talent in my family is not uncommon. Whether it be writing, drawing, photography or simply restoration of fine pieces of history–art runs strong on all sides of my family. From time to time I miss drawing. My aunt and uncle, Jan and George, both artists themselves, gifted me another set of Pencils, Paper along with a nice drawing bag last Christmas.

A couple of years ago I’d purchased a frame with the intent I would use the gift pencils I received from my mom to draw her a picture from a photo of my dad. Although I didn’t end up using her pencils I did sit down last Sunday for a couple of hours to draw. I used the pencils I received from my aunt and uncle and a photograph from a few Christmases ago and produced this:

Dad Drawing (small)

Click to enlarge.

My mom stopped at my workplace mid week and I gave her the framed piece. It brought her to tears momentarily and then she stated, “You got his eyes just right.” There is a great satisfaction in giving my mom a drawing of my father. It’s the kind of gift that mom’s really appreciate. And though it probably won’t end up on her fridge, I’m proud to have given her something that reminds her of dad when he was happy. Then later this week I rediscovered this note Evan passed us shortly after my dad’s passing:

Evan’s Note

It was good to have all of these reminders this week.

Movie Mania

2008 is going to be a huge year for movies. Amongst the new releases planned this year are the new Bond film, The Sequel to Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe: Prince Caspian, some movie with an archaeologist in a hat and Star Trek the redux.

Some Highlights:
For me, prominently near the top of the list is Star Trek. (Star Trek XI as numbered by fans of the franchise) I have voiced elsewhere how excited I’ve become about the new Trek movie. Trek had soured for me over the last few years with the Rick Berman era. This new film promises to be excellent (we hope) and even if you’re not a Star Trek nerd [or if you know nothing about this movie] at least visit the imdb page to see the cast, director and crew.

Incredible Hulk is also getting a makeover which I’m also oddly excited about. They’ve decided to ignore the crappy Ang Lee version and instead are going with a reinvented Hulk with a script by Edward Norton. He also stars. The movie will more closely follow the events and feel of the 70s TV show. They’ve even procured the rights to “The Lonely Man” theme heard in the end of every episode from back then. William Hurt and Liv Tyler are in the supporting cast. Expand your knowledge with the Wikipedia link.

Jumper also looks to be a good movie. Although after seeing the Star Wars movies one would swear Hayden Christensen couldn’t act his way out of a paper bag, this movie looks like it may have potential.

Cloverfield is out today. I know virtually nothing about this movie except that it’s a big thriller that you never see the monster in. Supposed to be very scary and I’m very interested in seeing it.

Speed Racer is being done by the Wachowski bros.–You know, those crazies that brought you “The Matrix”? See the trailer–decide for yourself. It promises to be an entirely new way of filming as well as include classic elements from it’s anime legacy. I must see this! (P.S. If you can, try and find an HD copy of the trailer. Wow!)

Batman and Bond! What more can one ask for in the same year?

Oh yeah, you can ask for the friggin’ RETURN OF INDIANA JONES, that’s what!!!

One more honorable mention: Iron Man. I’ve been watching the trailers so long now you’d think it was out already. Robert Downy Jr. is always fun to watch and this looks like another solid entry for Marvel from the comic book world.

Here is my (mostly) must-see list for 2008:

JANUARY 2008

January 18
-Cloverfield
-U2 3D (Imax Apple Valley)

January 25
-Rambo

FEBRUARY 2008

February 14 (Valentine’s Day)
-Jumper (Definitely not seeing this one on V-day but I do want to see it)

February 22
-The Signal (eh.. possibly)

MARCH 2008

March 7
-10,000 B.C. (Actually this looks only visually good to me–I’ll have to wait and see a review)

MAY 2008
May 2
-Iron Man

May 9

-Speed Racer

May 16
-The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian

May 22 (Thursday)
-Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

May 30
-Sex and the City: The Movie
-Starship Dave

JUNE 2008
June 6
-Kung Fu Panda (Dreamworks, Jack Black)

June 13
-The Incredible Hulk

June 20
-Get Smart
-Wall-E (DEFINITELY seeing this one)

JULY 2008

July 11
-Hellboy II: The Golden Army
-Journey to the Center of the Earth 3D

July 18
-The Dark Knight (Awww YEEEEAH)

July 25
-The X-Files 2 (Awww YeeAH)

AUGUST 2008

August 1
-The Mummy 3 (no way)

SEPTEMBER 2008

September 26
-Death Race 3000 (If this lasts more than a week in the theater I’ll go)

NOVEMBER 2008

November 7
-James Bond 22

DECEMBER 2008

December 12
-The Day the Earth Stood Still

December 25 (Thursday)
-Star Trek

We’ll see how many I actually make it to or if I end up seeing ’em on video.