A Few Thoughts on...Several Things...

Well, friends, I've been watching a lot more movies, reading some non-fiction (Because I feel like I don't know much), and watching lots of baseball. When I'm not doing that, I'm hanging out at the library or down by Boulder Creek, walking the trail. It's a simple life. I've been running across a lot of great reviews for Twisted Tails III, which is encouraging. Here's a few to share with you, if you're so inclined to check them out. When someone takes the time to read your stories and says the kinds of things they do, it is music, to say the least. Here's a couple I've run across in my "surfing" expeditions:

Bitten By Books

Sable Lit Review


It was fun to share with several really great authors and friends as well.

On the movie front, here's another list of recommendations: The Hunger, which I know you've seen. I couldn't believe I hadn't seen this movie yet, but I thought it was impeccably stylish and the dialogue was well written. The Red Shoes is a Korean horror definitely worth the watch. Teeth is a great date movie. Watch it with your sweetheart (hee-hee), you won't regret it. Or will you? Can you hear my sadistic laughter? Good, it's meant to be sadistic. Also, I really enjoyed Pulse, another Asian horror. This is a great example of the kind of horror I really love: thought-provoking, darkly atmospheric, and very satisfying.

On the other hand, I also just watched the remake of Friday the 13th. Here's my review I posted on Netflix. I know, I'm rather opinionated when it comes to the genre and art in general, but I love this stuff and take it very seriously.

Two stars. The first twenty minutes was impressive. After that, it was one predictable bunch of downhill disappointments after another. The horror genre deserves better. I had high hopes because Rob Zombie's remake of Halloween kept the tradition alive, while adding some dimension to the original story. Why is getting laid and getting high the only thing characters care about in horror movies? It's an insult. Is it too much to ask to have characters who have a little depth and emotion to their personalities? Apparently so. This was just sadness with plenty of potential like the original. The only difference: this one should've never been made. I was cheering for Jason the whole time. The whining, namby-pamby characters were more than I could stomach without actually throwing up. Shallow, soulless, one dimensional cut-outs who deserve to die anyway for being so insipidly shallow. Why do I care? I don't. In this version, I couldn't wait for the characters to die, just so I wouldn't have to listen to them anymore. Did I mention the insanely predictable ending? But you probably guessed that already. I'll stick with the atmospheric, thought-provoking, stylish horror. I actually like to be mentally stimulated.

Why mix words? I'm just warning those of you who are looking for something besides the same, rehash of tired cliches and the same old horror story. And yes, I'm a little tired of the typical college co-ed horror of "lets get high and laid," syndrome. Could I please just have a horror story with characters who have some layer and depth to their personalities? That would be great.

As far as writing goes, I've been sending a lot of stories out again, which feels really good. I've gotten some encouraging replies already, not acceptances, per se, but not rejections, either. I do a lot of journal writing these days, and vignettes. The notebook pages are filling up. Sometime, I look back on all the "closeted" material I have, and I stare, bug-eyed. "Jesus," I think, "I have a lot of time on my hands." Or maybe I just love to write no matter what the material is.

My beliefs, these days, turn to simplicity. Anyone who knows me, understands I'm quite the philosopher. I'm always looking for a better way to learn, live, and grow. I go to therapy, see a psychiatrist, because I have a tarnished and reckless past. But I guess everybody does. I spend a lot of time by myself, thinking I'm the only one going through it, so I just need to connect to realize I'm not alone. Talking always helps. For my closest friends, it must get slightly obnoxious. I see myself a lot like a problem child. What about this? And what about that? This is what I'm going through now...Sometimes the questions only create confusion. I try to be good to myself and realize the moment is now, and that as long as you have a healthy, positive outlook, chances are, you'll be just fine.

Summer's here, and the sky is bright. It's working miracles on my psyche.

And here's to the Pittsburgh Penguins! Congratulations on winning the Stanley Cup! Being from Colorado, I am, of course, an Avalanche fan. Anyone who beats Detroit in game 7 at Joe Louis Arena is aces in my book.