Let's all go to the movies!!!

Let's talk about MOVIES!!!

For some reason - our culture seems to be obsessed with the idea that Cinema is the BEST format for all entertainment.  And while I disagree with that statement wholeheartedly - I do find that there are some really great films out there across a wide range of genres that are just awesome. And let's face it - there are few things more awesome than loading up on popcorn and soda to go sit in the dark with a screen bigger than most houses to watch stories unfold before your eyes...

I've seen thousands of movies in my life. It's the one thing I love as much as reading. In seeing so many films I have LOADS of "favorites" I have my favorite comedy, my favorite drama, my favorite guilty pleasure movie... I have favorite and sub-category favorites for just about every genre. But above all that, I have a small core of movies that I hold near and dear. Movies I can quote without thinking. I don't have to say "uh... what was that one line?" - I just know them. If I were James Halliday - they'd be canon. I do not mean that these are the best movies ever made. I am simply saying that, in my opinion, I can watch any of these movies at almost any time.. They are my personal favorites that do not seem to get old for me... this list is in alphabetical order to avoid the headache caused by trying actually rank them from 1-10.

So, without further adieu, here is my list of:

"TOP TEN BEN MOVIES!"

Book Recommendation: The Extinction Cycle (Boxed Set)

I have stated before that I LOVE post-apocalyptic literature. As such - I have just finished the first three books in Nicholas Sansbury Smith's "The Extinction Cycle".

The box set includes the books Extinction Horizon, Extinction Edge, and Extinction Age and they are one roller coaster ride of action and the apocalypse! 

The audible version is read by Bronson Pinchot - and he does a fantastic job. I've loved hearing the books he has read - my personal favorite being Ray Bradbury's "The Halloween Tree"

I have not finished the entire series yet - I have 4 more to go still. But it has been an enjoyable series so far with all of the despair and daunting helplessness you'd expect in an end-of-the-world experience. 

So - what's it all about?

“Scotch on the rocks - they can’t f*** that up" - Anthony Bourdain

"I should’ve died in my 20s. I became successful in my 40s. I became a dad in my 50s.I feel like I’ve stolen a car –a really nice car– and I keep looking in the rearview mirror for flashing lights. But there’s been nothing yet." - Anthony Bourdain

This morning I woke to the news that Anthony Bourdain died at the age of 61... from suicide. 

I've never met the man. But I've read his books, watched "No Reservations" on a daily basis and tried to watch all of the other shows he did.

My wife and I always joked that Anthony Bourdain was my spirit animal with his smoking, drinking, and "no fucks to give" attitude... some things I do in my own life.

His persona is what I imagined my Patronus Charm would look like if I had to fight of Dementors... he would appear as a ghostly, white apparition with a scotch in one hand, cigarette in the other - and just stare down or berate the dementors until they left in shame...

And while I'll never be a chef of his caliber - I do give him a lot of credit for me trying new things and loving my time spent in my own kitchen.

Then, to wake up and find out he committed suicide - Well, I am at a loss.

40 years of respect and admiration...

I woke up this morning feeling remarkably refreshed - especially given the amount of... shall we say "birthday indulgence(?)" I had this weekend

I know what some of you are thinking - especially those of you older than I am - "You're only 40. Get over it. It's not that big of a deal." And you're right.  But - and here's the kicker - I honestly didn't think I'd ever see 40.

Yep. True story. 

I spent a good chunk of the last 2 decades thinking that 37 was probably going to be my limit. Get me drunk enough and I might even talk to you about it...

I know a lot of people have spent a large chuck of their lives doing things far worse than I have. Far scarier, far more exciting... etc and so on. But I've put my body and myself through some pretty hard times. And, in doing so, I felt that I'd missed death one too many times to get this far in life... I'm very happy to see this point in my life and see that I was wrong.

Memorial Day... A small rant.

Memorial Day is a great day, right?! It's often heralded as the "unofficial start of summer." And I can go to any department store, clothing store, furniture, electronic, etc.... And get 50% off of damn near anything! 

Wow! Who knew that a good sale only required the deaths of so many US men and women?

Today, while driving, a sign caught my eye. Large, blue and red letters proclaimed "HONOR OUR VETERANS" ... the next line was "SALE LASTS UNTIL TUESDAY!"
-- I mean, really?

Fuck you.  

Not only is it NOT Veteran's Day and you're pandering to people - but you're also being a complete dickhole by cashing in on the deaths of so many good men and women. I will not shop at your store.

Today or ever.

PTSD. It's what's for dinner...

I'm going to venture into the land of 'WAY too much personal information" segment of our blog...

I suffer from PTSD due to some of the times and adventures I had back in my younger, Army days... and I, more or less, live with it these days and things are "okay" - but there are certain, special times of the year that it comes in swinging... like a wrecking ball to quote a shitty, shitty song.

The problems associated with PTSD are many... but, to me at least, the big ones are the lack of sleep, lack of motivation, and withdrawing from other people and social settings. Because, let's face it - if you add those things up - the last place you want to go is... anywhere.

On top of that - there is the occasional misuse of certain substances... namely alcohol. It is used as a method to combat some of the effects brought about by PTSD - mainly anxiety and, in some cases, the lack of sleep. Or, you know... so I've heard.

So - not sleeping, being all pissy, and not wanting to interact with people can do a number on you. I've put on 4 lbs in the last week because I've been stress-eating, drinking too much alcohol, not sleeping, and skipping the gym. It's not cool.

Apocalypse WOW!!! A Post-Apocalyptic Literature Post.

I am a sucker for post-apocalyptic stories. I have read dozens of books with the same premise - The world has ended, people are trying to still be people.

And I love them. All Most of them.

I don't mean Dystopian novels like The Hunger Games or The Handmaid's Tale - Which I also love - I mean straight-up world-ending, 50% or more of the people in the world are gone and we're watching the last of humanity try to survive just ONE. MORE. DAY...  And it's fucking glorious. I don't often feel the same about PA movies. They're usually good, but trying to depict truly Post-Apocalyptic life on screen is a far more challenging task than in print. There are a few exceptions though.

I just finished HELL DIVERS by Nicholas Sansbury Smith from Audible (Read by the AMAZING R.C. Bray). It's about a group of WWIII survivors living aboard an airship 250 years following the near-complete destruction of the human race. The 2 ships - Aries and The Hive - float above radioactive superstorms trying to stay alive. When they need supplies or parts to fix the ship they send their Hell Divers to the ground to find what they need. It's a very bleak and depressing world... and I picked up Hell Divers II as SOON as I finished the first one. Pick it up - you'll like it. Hell Divers III is available for pre-order too now!!  I think this book could make a fantastic TV series or Movie... I don't like saying "I'd love to see this as a movie" because I feel books are 99% of the time WAY better as a book. But this one has a lot of cinematic themes that could be done well on the screen...

Reading this book has me thinking about some of my favorite reads in the Post Apocalypse genre... there are a TON of them. But I thought I'd share my thoughts on a few of them...