Salty Catch

Top Movie of 2008
Slumdog Millionaire
This movie truly is a fairy tale. Most of the classic stories we grew up hearing actually had very tragic origins and didn't always end up as happy as you may think. Slumdog Millionaire is that in it's truest form. By one of my favorite directors, Danny Boyle, this move takes a love story and in my mind, makes it as classic as Romeo and Juliet, or Cinderella. Other than just being overwhelmingly cute, Slumdog was original. Convincing acting, a great soundtrack, and one of my favorite topics of discussion, destiny.





Top Album of 2008
Sigur Rós - Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust
Sigur Ros isn't for everyone. But i have realized that the people that love them are die hard fans. I can't really consider myself any different. This CD isn't a far departure from most of Sigur Ros' past, but with the addition of a big booming percussion section on some songs, guitars (especially acoustic) that stand out over the other instruments, and i swear i heard a song sung in English, you get the impression they are trying to keep it interesting. Sigur Ros is my most played artist on Last.fm solely because they make excellent background music.

We're All Waiting On You

Top Albums of 2008

There has been a lot of chill music introduced to me this year. However, the newest craze is dance-core. Every musician is doing the same sort of sound whether it be a rapper, or a rocker. Maybe the sound of the future? Some of those bands still stand out, but mostly it just leaves me craving something i haven't heard yet (or in a while).
This is what I thought of this years music (just like last year, i couldn't just do a top 5. too hard):



2. Frightened Rabbits - The Midnight Organ Fight
It was hard for me not to put this as Number One because I have been having so much fun listening to this album lately. It's the folk music the way i like to hear it. Most gets too mellow and boring in my opinion. It's the kind of music i like to hear when i am interested in a nap; like Fleet Foxes (who i really like now, but they are kinda snooze music).




3. Death Cab For Cutie - Narrow Stairs
Death Cab has been one of my favorite bands for a long time. I don't know if it was the the long wait that made me crave new music, or the fact that this CD is legitimately amazing. It was a small departure from their passed CDs were it sounded as if they incorporated a little 90s grunge into their typical melodic tones. It seemed to be a perfect fit and it made for one damn good cd. Now, lets see a new Postal Service album.


4. Coldplay - Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends
5. Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend
6. Does It Offend You, Yeah? - You Have No Idea What You're Getting Yourself Into
7. Murder By Death - Red of Tooth and Claw
8. Ra Ra Riot - The Rhumb Line
9. Kings of Leon - Only By The Night
10. The New Frontiers - Mending

Honorable Mentions
Less Than Jake - GNV FLA (An awesome comeback for LTJ. It was hard to cut them from the top 10)
Kanye West - 808s & Heartbreak (Fabulous, just too chill)
Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes (Dreamy hymn like music. It just wasn't doing it for me)

Other Mentionable Albums (in no particular order):
Norma Jean - Anti-Mother
Lil Wayne - III
Gym Class Heroes - The Quilt
The Academy Is... - Fast Times at Barrington High
Unearth - The March
The Cure - 4:13 Dream
Friendly Fires - Friendly Fires
Copeland - You Are My Sunshine
The Killers - Day & Age

Biggest Disappointment:
Fall Out Boy - Folie à Deux

Albums I Missed Out On In '07:
Loney, Dear - Loney, Noir
Zolof The Rock and Roll Destroyer - Schematics
Chromeo - Fancy Footwork

I Would Travel the World For You (But You Are Always Close)

Top Albums of 2008 (2nd – 5th)

I saw a lot of movies this year. From my initial standpoint i wasn't really sure if there was enough movies to make a list this year, but after looking it over it was hard to only do a top 5. I realize that i am missing out on seeing other critically acclaimed movies such as "Synecdoche, New York", "Rachel Getting Married", and "Milk" but out of the list of movies i HAVE seen, these are my picks:




Tie for 2nd
A Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Everything was phenomenal about this movie. With shades of Forest Gump, this movie was easily a modern day fairy-tale cutting it's way through decades of our history. Benjamin Button seriously put Edward Cullen to shame with his charm and chivalry in this movie. While this was an extremely well rounded movie... (see below)








Tie for 2nd
The Dark Knight
...this is just the most kick-ass movie i have ever seen probably. I saw it 4 times in the theaters after all. Look for it rereleased this January. In all seriousness though, it's always a surprise when an action movie is not only really entertaining but has a good story arch and realistic acting.









3rd
Forgetting Sarah Marshall
Side spitting funny, with a good story about getting over lost loves. Some stories hit closer to home than others ;) I wasn't so sure how it was going to turn out, by i knew that no matter what Kristen Bell and Mila Kunis would be gorgeous.










4th
Iron Man
How do you take the super hero formula and make it awesome? I still don't know. But, somehow, Iron Man was REALLY, REALLY good. Jon Favreau makes great movies, and this is no exception. He just has the comedic timing a comic book movie needs. It has to be able to make fun of itself.








5th
Wall-E
Today, animated features tend to rely to heavily on their voice talent, and not enough on a good story. But this story was great, modern and original. AND it didn't need the voice talent to make a lovable character. I don't typically like movies that are preachy and spend their whole time on the soap box, however, Wall-E was subtle in trying to get it's point across.






Honorable Mentions
Burn After Reading (the Coens never disappoint, but it couldn't compare to "No Country")
Pineapple Express (hard to cut)
Be Kind Rewind (it was missing a little something, but otherwise right up there)
Sex Drive (funny, it was probably best suited for a younger audience)
Quantum of Solace (not as good as Casino Royal)
Zack and Miri Make a Porno (hard to cut)
Choke (i think i needed to see this a second time)
Role Models (hilarious talent, but too formulaic)
Step Brothers (seriously awesome, but not quite top 5)

Biggest Surprise:
Twilight

Biggest Disappointment:
X-Files: I Want to Believe

Stay tuned for my top movie of '08, my list of music, and games.

list master, Josh

Ebb and Flow

Ah. So, i'm back after a week away from the computer, and all i did today was veg out. All day I fought a nasty case of jetlag from our red-eye out of Seattle, but the trip was amazing. It was exactly what i needed. After cramming my days full of Illustrator, Photoshop and World of Warcraft for the past few weeks, it was nice to have the closest thing to a computer be my cellphone. Each day was full of genuine exercise, and none of that canned 1 hour at the gym crap. We went hiking, kayaking, on long walks, etc... Of course my body rejected my return to nature and my allergies were trying to kill me, but it was still worth it. Words can't describe the many sites i saw over the past few days, so there are plenty of pictures (of course none of them are from my camera because i forgot it. but trust me, there are plenty). I'll do my best to post them soon. In the mean time, those are a couple i took from my cellphone (i am shocked at the quality)

-Joshy

PS. There is something about Mad Men that is intoxicating.

Puget Sounds

I'm off to Puget Sound, Wa. for a week. I have been working like a mad man lately. I don't think i have worked anything less than 9 hours in the last few weeks of work (10 a day in the last week). But that's over. It looks like i am all packed and ready to go, but i guess it always looks that way until you are at your destination with only the underwear you have on. Either way, i am leaving in only moments. We have a rental convertible waiting for us, and plenty of plans.

Be jealous of the weather.
I just figured i would give an update to anyone who is still reading this. I am going to make a solid effort to blog more after i get back. Both here, and on my other blog.

love, Josh

Alpha Male Vs The Push-Over

About a week ago my the license on my domain name and hosting expired. After a short debate, i decided to renew them both. This is why my blog and website were down for a couple days, and now, about $150 later, are back up and running. Now that i have spend the money, i am going to make damn certain that i update my website, and blog more often... at least when things cool down.

I have been up to my neck almost all aspects of life since i had last blogged. I went home to see my Dad get remarried, i saw Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of Crystal Skull twice, I saw the Strangers tonight, kickball, a vacation to the Ozarks, keeping busy at work, cycling, and when I can, Worlds of Warcraft. Really, I am having an unbelievable time with life right now. I am finding out things about myself, gaining some self confidence (for now), and have so many things to do it makes my head spin.

and i leave you with this...

Weezer - Pork and Beans
This video is amazing.


The loving Push-Over,
Josh-wa

Away From the Things of Man

There is plenty to blog about (and pictures) when it comes to my long weekend. but because of the late hour, i will update this post tomorrow. stay tuned.


Every so often, i feel we as people have to get away from our lives. At least i know i have to. So, taking a Monday off of work, for a long weekend away getting in touch with nature and ourselves, sounded like the perfect idea. A week in advance I reserved a site at Onodaga Caves Park. Unfortunately, due to the rain, the camp ground closed down a day before we were supposed to go. But Aaron found us The Fingerlicks the Finger Lakes, another campground closer by, in Columbia, Mo.

The nights were pretty cold, but toughing it out, like men, we managed to sleep in a tent for two nights (i, on the ground), wearing only hoodies, t-shirts, and jeans, and warming ourselves by fire. I don't want to say we were the only idiots out in this weather, but it was close at one point. Also, like the burly masculine spectacles we were, we also put off showering until we returned home on Monday. Needless to say our hair was greasy, our clothes were a mess, and our nethers were ripe. (sorry about that) Now i know what it must have been like to be in "Into the Wild". *cough* Doesn't seem too hard. I would like to say we completely roughed it, but being that there was a Bass Pro Shop 5 miles from the site, and a Cracker Barrel only 10 miles away, there wasn't much need...

Leo, Aaron, and I did our best to enjoy everything central Missouri had to offer. The Devil's Icebox, part of Rock Bridge State Park, was by far the coolest part. We spent our nights doing stuff you would only find three "artsy" kids, do while camping, singing around the fire (aka, a personal Aaron Hale concert each night), taking pictures of lights in the dark, and drawing with burnt wood. Dorks.







Over all, the weekend did what i wanted it to accomplish... and i had a great time.

-Josh

Shades of Gold and Gray

In the past 72 hours i have been on the road at least 24 hours.
The Hale wedding is complete... It was probably one of the most fun wedding to be in, as well as to witness. From the Gospel Choir singing in the bride, to the cake catching at the reception. Or us weirdo Kansas City kids trying to get people on the dance floor by embarrassing ourselves to the iTunes playlist Aaron constructed. Nachos, Wheat, Beautiful Texans, lots of trucks, and sparklers...
Aaron's family was amazing, and their house was a taxidermy wonderland. I forgot my aliments for the weekend and bonded with a ton of nice people... i don't regret the drive at all.
Even love is better in Texas... Congratulations Heather and Aaron Hale. (Insert generic statement about how wonderful you are and how happy i am for you, because i have run out of words to describe.) Hurry back from that honeymoon.

Under the Honeymoon,
Josh

PS. Yes, i wore my dunks to the reception... they were a hit.

Making Scars

My trip is over. I am "home" safe and sound, well over 2000 miles later. I definitely learned some things while gone. I learned just how far away i am from my hometown, i know that people actually wanted to see me while i was home, and I learned some things about myself.

After the long drive friday, i just went to bed when i got home. Saturday I went on a quick run, talked to my mom about fiances, tried to fix their computer, and made a blog post. It felt like i was al grown up. At 5 I went over to the Walberts, then i picked up where i left off. It was like high school/college. We watched TV, played video games, and ate. It was a good time.

Next day:
Live Free, Die Hard - I saw it. If you didn't at least give it a try, you are a communist. Yeah, i said it. John McClain is the most American man out there. Not seeing this film is just plain unpatriotic. With that said, the movie was just was good as i hoped. The action scenes were a little over the top, but no more so than the previous movies of the trilogy. The story is basically this: A cop stuck in the past, is confronted by a new-aged problem over his head, and the only common language between them is ass-kicking. When an elite group of hackers, led by an ex-government employee, tries to run the world into the ground with computer viruses, John McClain, a rundown NYPD detective has to stop them. He gets wrapped up in this by accident (a little cliche), but it becomes personal. Action-packed from beginning until end, like every movie should be.

Then dinner with my Mom, Stan, my sister Kayla, her boyfriend Justin, Stan's daughter Jill, and her boyfriend Rich. It ended with Stan drunk, me feeling weird about everyone being racist and talking about murders.

Monday, was Pizza Hut Buffet, a little picking up chics*, and bowling. Tuesday, a bike ride, lots of sitting around, blogging, Kyle and I picked up Nick, then Wii with Mark and Erin. Nick stayed at my house the rest of the week. Wednesday, the 4th:

Transformers - Saw this too. Not as good as Die Hard, but this was also amazing. When you bring a childhood classic to life in a way that looks as good as this movie, you have awesomeness. It was a little cheesy at parts, but not enough to ruin the film for me. Really if you don't know what the Transformers are... you must have missed the 80's. But... Sam Witwiki (Shia), a kid who gets his first car ends up to be Bumblebee (my favorite Transformer), a classic Camaro. Sam has the key to the Autobots stopping Megatron and the evil Decepticons from getting "the cube," which is the means to Earths destruction. Megan Fox, who plays Sam's love interest, Mikaela also makes the movie even more entertaining. She is gorgeous! The battles are awesome, the cars are cool, and the girls are hot. A summer must see. I can't even think of anything to complain about at the moment.

We then played horse shoes, drank beer, and played the Transformers video game (lots of that on this trip obviously). Dinner on the Grill, fireworks in the front lawn, and watched Shooter is how the day ended. It was a success i felt. Thursday, I got my oil changed, then we picked up chics* in King of Prussia. My dad and I then went for Chinese and had a good talk. He and I are a lot alike in some ways. I hope i can grow up to be like him, but be able to fix the mistakes he made in his life. Friday, we watched Man vs Wild (Bear Grills is more man than anyone), I wooped up at mini-golf, and watched Smoking Aces. I went to bed at 2 in the morning, only to get up at 7:30 to drive 1080 miles home the next morning.

I brought back a 24 case of Yuengling Light, 4 half gallons of Turkey Hill iced tea, a crock-pot, a bed-frame, an acoustic guitar, the Die Hard Collection (for $9.99!), pictures, and a sunburn on my left arm only.

I feel as if now i am going to live life as if every decision was already made for me. Good or bad. Every event shapes me. I hope this will give me a little more confidence to talk to girls. I'm sure i will elaborate on this later.

out.

*picking up chics is pretty much just going to the mall while nick and kyle poke fun at me for being a wimp.

Disassembled

i made it home, and in under 16 hours. I may have been going a little faster than the speed limit. I'll talk more about it later, right now i just want to relax.

I want to apologize to everyone who i didn't get to hang out with while i was home. i actually spent a great deal more time with family than i expected. Unfortunately, there was a long list of people to see, and i only touched the edge of that list. So, i'm really sorry. =(

Relax is a very general term. No sooner do i move everything into my apartment from my car, does something go down right outside. i still don't know what happened but the cops were outside after what sounded like arguing, squealing tires and possibly gunshots.

One thing i will post is i am trying to change my outlook on life which will hopefully give me more confidence among other things.

love, Josh

Free to Fire

There is a lot I missed out on here in Pennsylvania, but the short 8 days i was able to spend here is gone... and i return home (wow, home?) tomorrow.

Hello Stars, It's Been Too Long. (Bonus Post)

Kwik-E-Mart + 7 11= Genius Marketing Tactic. If you didn't catch that. 7-11 has transformed some of their stores into Kwik-E-Mart's from the Simpsons to promote the movie coming out July 27th. Let the movie be as good as this idea.

Tonight, the moon and the stars are just gorgeous. You just can't get the same view of the sky in Kansas City as you can in rural Pennsylvania. I have constructed an acoustic play list on my iTunes (which is surprisingly small to me), in which i feel suits the mood of the night. At 59 degrees, it's really the kind of night you should wrap yourself and another in a warm blanket and behold the glory of the sky. But, because i don't really have anyone to enjoy it with, my night will be spent inside at the computer. Somehow, i am starting to feel content with this. Hardening? Maybe. The fact is, that being home just feels so... normal. It's like when I'm home, Kansas City never happened, and i am right back to where i was last summer before i knew i had the job at Hallmark.

I can't believe Monday is already over.

When i get back to Missouri... i think things are going to be different.

I have just run out of gusto to finish this post, so enjoy the below; the first part of my story. I will post on what i did these last couple days later. i hope everything is great in the KC,Mo especially, but also in the other assorted states of my viewers.

Oh. Thank you for more calls to see if i was alive.

This Ruined Puzzle.

The Adventure Without You.

5:30, I awoke up to darkness, put on the clothes i set out the night before, and threw the remaining luggage in my car. I filled up my tank for the first time, about $25? (the bank doesn't have record of it yet), and headed to McDonald's for some delicious fast-food breakfast. I drove out toward St Louis through hellish rain that lasted until the point where i reached the city. I stopped just before i got to the city to stretch, get some gas (another $20-25). I saw the Arch... misted by clouds, from a large distance. But I saw it. I sped through Illinois and on to Indiana. Both of which looked just like Missouri; flat, boring, and long. I drove through Indianapolis, where there was some construction going on and i feared for the simplicity of my route. It turned out that i was able to pass right through the problems and head to Ohio with little more then some crowded traffic. I did learn that people in Indianapolis drive like they are all on the speedway. I filled up right before i hit the city, so through Ohio i was hoping to be on the same tank. 25 or so more bucks, but at the cheapest price of $2.74/gallon. In Ohio i hit a snag. There was an accident where I-76 became two lines each direction. That took about 30 minutes to a half hour to clear up. It was long enough for everyone to shut off their engines and step out of their cars to stretch a bit. So, i did the same. I was able to get to West Virginia before i had to fill the tank again. Unfortunately, the gas there was almost $3, and i was getting nervous, so i wasted $10 to make it across the PA border and hope for cheaper gas. Crap. So i got stuck on the road that Cabelas must have been started on because the street and bridge there were named after it. And i thought the mid-west was bad. After in Pa, it started feeling more like home. Other then the hills that continued over from Ohio, Pa also had lots of rocks and farms close the the highway. I was pretty much home. As i got deeper into the state, i made a stop at a Sheetz. MMm... the taste of Pa. 25 more bones in gas, a turkey sub, and some Vault, and i was on the turn pike home. This was hell. Really long, dark, boring, tiring, nerve-racking. Just bad adjectives. But, there were tunnels. I love tunnels. The turn-pike broke 219 miles and $11.75 later. After that, i was only narrow Pa roads, full of tons of bugs, deer and other hazards. But i made it. 10:30 on my watch, 11:30 on the east.

All together, we'll say a little over $100 spent on gas. Much cheaper then a plane. Finishing with 358 songs listened to. i know there was stuff i wanted to say before but i have forgotten by now.

Tall Can Vacation.

As I promised (maybe i didn't "promise"), just as if i was sitting at work, not doing "work", I am going to post.

The trip was long, obviously, but many good things came from it. I zoned in and out of random thoughts. So much so that i feel like i didn't really accomplish anything on the drive. Well, expect of course, the blatant "getting to Pennsylvania" objective.

Design stuff: i picked up this gem on the trip.
Ace Energy DrinkThe link is a MySpace. They don't have a real web page yet, I just links you there. HAha. Wow. I picked it up for it's design. I bet someone had a fun time with this one. Sexy 50's style pin-up girls, a classic logo, and obviously WWII air fighter graphics. As for the product... it tastes like an energy drink; the robust flavor of cough medicine, toilet water, and sour (thats the juice flavoring! YEH!) AKA, very bad. Pumped full of sugar, vitamins and... energy? I really should have got a picture of the nutritional facts for you as well. It's $1.69 and 16 oz. is more than enough.

Today, while enjoying vacation i saw a Cold Stone commercial. Classic, and beautiful. It makes me want to enjoy their delicious ice cream all the more. I suggest watching the other 2 that link after the video is finished. The little kid one might be the best, but this is the one i saw on TV.

I will more formally summarize the trip when i am able to post pictures... but right now i am having a memory problem on my computer. Stupid songs.

Also, on the PC, my blog is showing up as "centered". Is that what everyone else sees or is it just that shitty PC my parents have.

Running From the Sun

I made it. And in 18 hours no less. The directions were Josh proof (a straight line), so other than the 4 hours of rain in the morning, the trip went pretty smooth. Thank you to everyone who wished me luck, who was curious to how my trip was going, and especially to all the people who called (or texted) me while I was on the road. It was great distraction from an already long trip and my ever playing iPod on shuffle.

I will post more on this later, either when i have time on this vacation, or afterward when i wrap it all up. i also have plenty of pictures to share. but, i still haven't seen what any of them look like, so there is a possibility nothing came out.

My body is drained but i can't get myself to sleep. It's 10 minutes til 1 here on Eastern time, but my body is still set an hour behind.

g'night world.

Thursday is the New Friday

So, tomorrow the trip begins. I am psyched and scared at the same time. The weather looks like it's going to be OK.

I'm adding Sheetz to the list of things to do in Pennsylvania.

So i missed links this. So enjoy this for today and tomorrow.

Character Avatars!:
Simpsons
M&M's

That should keep you busy until i get to post again.

5am tomorrow... the adventure begins.

The Journey-man, The Chariot, and The Supplies

My route. 17 hours, 5 minutes. I am going to do my best to make a a couple pit stop as i go through the major cities such as Indianapolis, and Columbus.

Gas Buddy. This little piece of technology is how i am going to keep track of my gas.

about 30 miles to the gallon, and a 12 gallon tank, that means i will make it 360 miles before i have to fill up again after Kansas City. Which means i should get to stop in St Louis quick too.

Things i need to bring with: camera, iPod, Wii and games, clothes, laptop, food for the trip (beef jerky), cash for tolls, nalgene.
Things to bring back: crock-pot, case of yuengling, turkey hill iced tea, transformers toys, ladies numbers.
Things to do in Pa: Watch the Transformers Movie, Watch Die Hard, play lots of video games, eat Dominos, Mini Golf, pick up chics, Shady Maple, run.

The lists will grow. please comment me on any suggestions. other then "you're crazy for driving" because i have heard that one already.