Rocky II

Saw it last night. I liked it more than Rocky, but I think I still like Rocky III the best. But maybe that's just because of the nostalgia of RIII. I was a young man, just making my way in the world, the next featherweight perhaps? I must've weighed about 75 lbs., 2.7% body fat, a human wrecking ball I'm sure.

But seriously, who can deny the Hulk Hogan's part of this cinematic masterpiece? Thunderlips was what all little boys should aspire to become. Remember when Rock got pissed and picked up Thunderlips and tossed him out of the ring? That was rad.

I think if I actually watched Rocky III again I'd probably change my mind, so I'm just going to leave it alone - ignorance can be blissful. Rocky II on the other hand was a pretty good movie, despite the toned down Paulie. I love hating Paulie and his role in RII was almost non-existent if you omit the part where he offers to knock her teeth out for The Italian Stallion. I need to have more Paulie; I need more self-destructive, alcoholic idiot. When he's at his best, and you're really hating him even though you're just watching a movie, you're suddenly struck with the reality that he's a friggin' moron. It's not done out of malice, it's just Paulie.

Slacker

Yes, it's true. I've been slacking off again. And I've never felt better. Not really sure how to get back into the groove here, so I'm just going to be reckless.

• $400 Billion so far for the war in Iraq. Wow, that's a lot of gin and tonics.
• Can't seem to quite (but will) finish off "Lies, and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them." I like Franken, he makes me laugh, I think he's smart. But the book seems to be 80% partisan complaint that the Republicans are too partisan. Any way you slice it, the read makes me chuckle from time to time, and if I'm having a party and can invite anyone I want, Al is on the list....right behind that other lopsided liberal non-Gore Al.
• Watched "Rocky" for the first time last night. Still think Rocky III was better. Those scenes with 'T' in the ring, still the contender, pushing the sluggish champ around, taunting him, chiding him with "you ain't so bad." Now that was a good f'in moooovie.
• Finished "Dry," by Augusten Burroughs. A-
• Couldn't escape the Deathstarish tractor beam stare of this local Greenpeace worker outside REI, donated $10/month.
• The tooth that I had capped for who-knows-how-much-was-billed-to-insurance-but-I-paid $600 is now more sensitive to heat, cold, and any kind of pressure. And only because I swore I would blog about it, and then didn't, I'll let you know that I've had lots of dental experiences, and the 3 trips necessary to stick a piece of industrial plastic on my cracked tooth were the worst 3 I can recollect. Getting my root canal felt more pleasant and relaxing. Anyhow, lucky for my dentist she's this hot, Asian mother of 3, so you see why I have to keep going back? You do, right?
• Belated b-day blast to JV......nice shot, JV!!
• Currently reading "Magical Thinking," by Augusten Burroughs and will be watching "Rocky II" tomorrow night.
  

What's on your agenda?

Books and Movies

So I finished reading The Kite Runner. If I were some slacker/movie-reviewer, or writing a snippet for a book jacket, I might call it "gripping and compelling." But I'm not, so let me just tell you it's a great, great story. And I loved it.

Now I'm reading Homicide Special, and while it's interesting while being gripping but maybe not compelling, I'm ready to be done with it and move on to something better. I really want to read Dry and Running With Scissors, both by Augusten Burroughs. Saw the movie RWS, and while most people seem to have been annoyed by it, I liked it. Of course, any movie with a decent soundtrack will always garner at least a B from this guy. Like in High School, I received many a "B" when I probably deserved less. Scratch that last statement, the acting was good, the characters were whacked, and I had a great time watching it.

Last weekend we saw Flags of our Fathers, and that was pretty good too. I read Flyboys recently, and that book was an eye-opener. I'm going to leave it at that.

quick food update: The night I wrote this, we had turkey tacos, and they were the chingon, pelon!! And now I'm working on finishing up the homemade enchiladas. Que bueno.

Gotta Get the Info

I didn't know Bob Hoskins was in Pink Floyd's The Wall. Why doesn't anyone tell me these things!?