Eternally grateful for "Eternal Sunshine"

Watching a movie without seeing any previews or reading any reviews is a scary and dangerous situation. Going into a movie blind is scary because it could be something that changes your life and dangerous because you might end up wasting two hours of your precious time. I guess you can call me a daredevil because I did just that when I popped “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” into my laptop.

The movie was lent to me from a movie connoisseur, who has been known to lend me movies that show more blood and guts than rush hour in an emergency room. He told me this movie was different and he thought I would enjoy it, so I took the risk.

The movie ended up being spectacular and it made me think about my life and the people that I love. I have to admit that I did not think these thoughts throughout the entire movie and I also doubted the capabilities of some of the actors.

The beginning of the movie gave away part of the ending, which in my book is a very risky thing to do. You cannot toy around with flashback scenes when you are trying to tell a story. Flashbacks have to be precise and timely. They must allow deeper insight without disturbing the flow of the plot. There were times in the movie I found myself lost, but I felt that the movie wanted me to be lost so it could come find me again and point me in the right direction. The entire movie is in essence one big flashback, and I felt it was a very creative and complicated story that expressed the need for love and pain in our lives.

Jim Carrey, who plays the lead character Joel, takes on a role that I have never seen him play before. When I think of Jim Carrey, I think of movie titles such as “Dumb and Dumber” and “Ace Ventura: Pet Detective.” It was a bit of a shock to see him in a love story opposite Kate Winslet. Carrey had an outstanding performance. There is something about his eyes and the way you can almost read the thoughts that are going through his character’s head. He really showed his versatility as an actor in this film, and he still manages to fit in his humorous antics.

Winslet, is an actress that makes me think of movie titles such as, well, “Titanic.” Which by the way I am not a big fan, but that is another review that I will probably never write. Her performance in this film is completely different from her “Titanic” days. She plays a fun free spirited girl that is spontaneous to the core. I really enjoyed her character and found myself laughing at her almost as much as Carrey’s character.

Now, I know I didn’t reveal what the movie is really about, but I have come up with two reasons why I am not revealing the plot of this film. First, it is a complicated story that is difficult to write about without ruining the movie for all of you. All you need to know is that Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet are a part of a very creative love story that might make you appreciate your past and look forward to your future. Second, I am offering you the chance to be somewhat of a daredevil like me. After reading this review you will have some clue of what to expect. Whether you will enjoy it or not? That is just one risk you will have to take.

Five years of change, one thing remains the same

Five years ago my high school crush and I had our first date and saw one of the worst movies ever. Today that same high school crush is my fiance and we are still renting horrible movies. We don't rent horrible movies on purpose, but we tend to pick movies that lack plot or purpose. Anyway, April 2 was our 5 year anniversary and it made me think of all the things that have changed in my life, but our love for each other has remained the same. I am not attempting to write a romantic rendition of our relationship, just a summary of the things that I had planned in my life that changed. So here is a list of ten things that have I planned for my life that haven't seem to work out.

1. To play college ball for the UNK Lopers. After I went to the try out I nearly puked and realized that was not going to happen.

2. Become a high school teacher and coach basketball. I helped coach freshmen basketball at Kearney High, but went on a class visit and found out that some teachers have to be baby sitters.

3. Major in multimedia. Just so you know if you stink at programming this major won't work for you.

4. Become a youth pastor or leader. I still haven't ruled this one out, but haven't had time to really pursue this passion.

5. Learn how to play the guitar, so I can sing to my woman. I got a guitar for my birthday 3 years ago, but have only taken two lessons. I still play a mean air guitar.

6. Create a series of funny videos or even a short film. I did make some short two minute videos, but again haven't had time to pursue that passion.

7. Graduate college in four years. This plan is not too far off. I am planning on graduate in 4 and a half years.

8. Get a salesman internship so I can work when I want, wherever I want. I found out that I am not very good at being my own boss, and I wasn't motivated to sell insurance to people.

9. Work at a sports camp in Miami every summer in college. This one was semi-sucess. Last summer was the first summer that I was unable to go down to work. Someday I want to take my fiance down there to meet I the wonderful people I know.

10. Live and work in Nebraska or Colorado. The current plan is to move to Iowa, because my fiance is finishing school there, but hey, maybe that plan will change.

I know this is a pretty boring list, and I am sure many of you have made plans that have not worked out the way you wanted them to. My plans don't always work out, but I am happy with what I am doing now and I have loved every day of being with my fiance.

Fireproof Review

I came across this review via rottentomatoes.com, which I have found to be a very interesting sight. I wrote a review a long time ago in my news writing class about the movie Fireproof. Now, I have to admit I was a little biased, not because I used to watch Kirk Cameron on "Growing Pains," but I am a Christ follower and believe in the sanctity of marriage. So when I wrote my review I never attempted to view the movie from another angle. After reading this review from the Boston Globe I can see some of the points that Michael Hardy makes. He refers to a song that is played in the movie that says to lock the door and throw away the key. People might see this as couples must live miserable lives because they are married and cannot get divorced. When I hear that line I think not every day is going to be magical, but we are not going to quit on each other. For the most part I like the review, not because I agreed with it whole heartedly, but because I appreciate it's view point on the movie. The movie is done very well considering that the filmmakers don't have the Hollywood budget that most movies have. That was one point that I felt was unfair in Hardy's review.

Feeling the Pinch

Money issues have been bombarding me lately and it is really stressing me out. I usually don't type personal little thoughts on my blog, but I feel I need to get some stuff off my chest. Money is important to me, that is to the extent that I have a roof over my head and the essentials to provide. As some of you might know I am getting married in August and I could not be more excited, but I am already dealing with things that only married couples should deal with. My fiance lives in Iowa and needs to find an apartment in May. This new apartment will be our home next year and it is stressing us both out. The reason I am stressed is due to the fact that I have no stinking clue what my job will be in Iowa, so it is hard to determine how much we should spend on rent if we don't even know our income. This weekend I am making a quick trip (no such thing) down to Iowa to look at apartments. I don't know what this will accomplish, but it seems that it must be done. I'm in desperate need of a vacation from all this stress. If you read this, sorry for the amount of complaining, but I might feel better. If this trip does not go well you will hear about it.

Watch the cranes, but don’t be a pain

The Sandhill Cranes flock to central Nebraska every spring but the cranes are not the only living beings that flock to this area every year. These other living beings come with big suburbans, giant binoculars, and thick dark sunglasses. They come from all over to view the graceful cranes that eat and nest near the Platte River. I think it is fascinating that so many people are interested in watching these birds for long periods of time, but it is more amazing that these watchers are more preoccupied with the birds than driving or pulling off to the side of the road.

I have lived out near Ft. Kearny for most of my life and every spring I deal with the song of the cranes at early hours in the morning, but their wake up calls are not the most annoying thing that I have to deal with every spring. The most annoying thing is dodging the crane watchers wondering on the country roads and their parked suburbans taking up most of the street. I have nothing against cranes and I understand that it is necessary for them to come to this area to nest and do what they do, but is it necessary to make such a big deal about these birds? I have encountered few people from Kearney that go out and watch the cranes. This might be due to the crowd that I am around, but most people I have observed watching cranes are from other states or from other parts of Nebraska.

Over the break I happened to talk with a crane watcher from Ann Arbor, Mich. I was reporting for the Kearney Hub by getting video footage of the wild grass fire that occurred on Monday, March 23. Her name was Julie and I was talking to her because she was walking on the hike and bike trail at the Ft. Kearny Park, which was near the scene of the fire. I asked her what her thoughts were about the blazing fire?

“Well, it is really unfortunate,” she said. “I just hope these firemen can get it under control so I can come back later and view the cranes nesting in there habitat.”

My initial reaction was shock. Instead of worrying about human life and the habitat of the other animals that live in the area year round, she wants to worry about her chance of viewing the cranes nest on the Platte River. This has brought me to put together a little poem that summarizes my feelings toward the crane watchers and their actions.


Watch out crane watchers

Every year they come in groups
From all over the nation they travel in troops
I am not talking about the beautiful cranes
I am talking about the people who drive me insane

The people that park on the side of the road
And stare out into cornfields like a bunch of toads
It is fine with me if they want to sit and watch
But it seems to me that these people don't drive much

While they drive they stare out at the birds
And don't pay attention to the road and its curves
They take up the entire road when they drive and park
Luckily most of them go home after dark

The birds probably feel like big deals
I am surprised these people don't serve them meals
The crane watchers seem to think the birds are so precious
But others say when you cook them they are delicious

If you’re going to watch birds make sure you are out of the way
If you do that the locals can deal with you until the beginning of May
Like the courtesy you show cranes, show courtesy to humans
Cause if you don't my head will be fumin'