Because We Like Them So Much

It's been two weeks (well, just about) since a blog and SO MUCH has happened since I posted on Sunday May 6th. I'm gonna do a GRAB-BAG-esque post but it is not a GRAB-BAG. Just so you know :) Enjoy:

- Probably the biggest change that has happened in these two weeks is my age. I am now 20 (about time! . . I had already started telling people I was 20 around town). Is that an accomplishment? No, not really. But I am halfway to 40, so that counts for something I guess. . . It's very hard to believe how fast the time has gone. I was having a late-night dinner thing with Cy last night and I mentioned that we had been friends since 7th grade, which would have made us 13. And honestly, it seems like yesterday that we just met and were making jokes in Mr. Arnett's 1st period English class. But anyway. . . I'm 20 :) Yay for me! One more year til the big 2-1 baby!

- Another thing that's changed is that I will no longer be watching the NBA playoffs. The saddest moment of my year occurred last night when my Suns watched the goddamn Spurs build a 20 point lead in the fourth quarter, only to fight back and lose by 8 points. It was awful. I cried. I really did. I can't explain it, well, not very good at least. The sport of basketball is important to me. It is always there for me. It never lets me down. When I need to think about things, I grab a ball and head out to a court. My dream growing up was always to be a member of the Phoenix Suns and lead them to a championship. It's what I saw in my head when I closed my eyes to sleep. I want only a few things more than for my team to be victorious. I don't believe that there is no bigger fan of the Suns than me. And when they enter the playoffs, that is the time that I hang on their performance even more. And they have never pulled through for me. Ever. We are now at the point of the year where I have to wait until November to even watch them play again. That is a little upsetting. . . Caleb was also crying last night after the buzzer sounded. He was just hoping that "Steve (Nash) was ok" . . . As I hugged Caleb and my eyes were welling up, I asked him why we cared so much. I knew he didn't have the all-encompassing answer, but his response did make sense: "Because we like them so much." It was the sweetest answer he could have conjured up, and after he said it, I hugged him, told him I loved him and he went off to bed. . . I have never felt closer to him. My brother might only be 6 (he will be that old in July) but he already has the heart of a fan. And for that, I am thankful.

- I did officially quit BJ's on Wednesday the 9th. It went well actually. The General Manager Mike actually asked me to stay (not surprising - I assume he wants to keep as many people working there as possible) in some capacity. He offered me an Expo job (they are the guys who talk to the cooks and tell them what food to make, when to put it out, etc.) but I declined. I won't go into the grave details again, but I just didn't want to work that job anymore. My hands are now washed and I am free from that job. Done and done.

- This past Tuesday night I had the greatest non-Heather-involved time in recent memory. After work (I had to work an 1800-close shift at the FL) a guy from work and I went over to BJ's to eat. My buddy Chris (bowling buddy) met us there and then another guy I know from both JC and BJ's joined us once he got off work. We talked about basketball (all-things NBA related) from around 2200 to a little after 0100. It was fantastic. I would discuss it in greater detail but the brilliance of the night was in its all-over-the-place nature. We had a blast (at least I did) and I hope to do it again soon.

- I would post more, but I'm gonna finish with my recent addition to the AVC Examiner. I had to come up with a small article about SPIDER-MAN 3 (don't let my article dissuade you, I actually enjoyed the movie. . .) and I went with something new and fun. It's a loose prose (not poetry, per say) but I really like it. Anyway, here it is (in the article, it is not numbered, but I'm gonna leave them in place - o, and the greatest part of all was the title of the article. . . you'll see!)

A RAMBLER'S RAMBLING: THE SPIDER-MAN 3 VERSION
BY JUSTIN GOTT - SENIOR WRITER

1. Spider-Man 3
2. The web-slinger’s third adventure
3. But is it worth your $10
4. And why are movie tickets so expensive?
5. But I digress
6. So our friendly neighborhood Spider-Man. . .
7. The trailers say he is turning evil
8. Fighting himself
9. Don’t we all
10. Peter Parker is a nerd of nerds
11. His girlfriend is a failed actress
12. His best friend wants to kill him
13. Sound familiar?
14. Now black space goo is chasing him
15. I hate when that happens
16. Now a convict has morphed into a giant Sandman (who does look cool)
17. But I have already seen The Mummy
18. $150 million in its first weekend, huh?
19. What’s the national deficit again?
20. I guess Americans like their heroes
21. “I understand him” we think
22. I have two personalities
23. I wear a mask
24. I have powerful enemies (Uncle Sam anyone?)
25. But I don’t have super powers
26. Wish I did
27. But then I would have to fight crime
28. Or commit crimes
29. The film runs 2 ½ hours
30. Why do I have questions?
31. A $250 million budget, huh?
32. A plethora of computer graphics
33. But who got paid to write the script?
34. And who voted for Kirsten Dunst to sing?
35. Or act?
36. Topher Grace is cocky
37. But he is certainly competent
38. Thomas Haden Church broods
39. And avoids being worthless
40. So how can it fail!?!?
41. It has so much going for it
42. Maybe too much
43. Too much hype
44. Too many characters
45. Not enough development
46. Spider-Man 3
47. The famous arachnid man returns
48. Not a complete disappointment
49. Not a total failure
50. But on a Friday night?
51. Keep your money in your wallet
52. Or go rent Spider-Man 2
53. Will there be a fourth film?
54. I would bet $150 million
55. Spider-Man 3
56. Stan Lee’s crime-fighting super hero
57. He is just a man
58. And a spider
59. And wealthy. . . now
60. Crowds love Spider-Man
61. How can Mary Jane hate on that?
62. All he does is good
63. Right?
64. So why is his suit black?
65. Why is black considered evil again?
66. Tough times for Spidey
67. Police radio echoing in his apartment
68. Spider suit under his street clothes
69. Bathroom breaks must be a bitch
70. American flag
71. Random, I know
72. Seen the first two films?
73. You understand then
74. “Go get ‘em tiger”
75. $150 million, huh?
76. He got ‘em
77. “Catches thieves just like flies”
78. And dollars, too
79. “Here comes the Spider-Man”
80. Spider-Man 3
81. A joke?
82. Sometimes
83. A serious drama?
84. Not really.
85. A high-budget soap opera on steroids?
86. Absolutely
87. Around-the-clock screenings
88. Nonstop action
89. Mind-numbing absurdity
90. Spider-Man 3
91. Just another sequel
92. Thanks Hollywood

Anywho, have a good Saturday, and I will try to post tomorrow night (I'm trying to arrange a poker game at my house at the moment, so we'll see).

Goodnight for now. . .