Best...Day...Ever!

Work was work...it gets me completely stressed out while I'm at it, as I'm currently managing the stockrooms of three overlapping departments, all with very different needs and rightfully wanting those needs fulfilled right away, and I am but one man. But as soon as I leave work man, I don't give it another thought. Never once bothers me outside of those 8.5 hours five days a week. But at like 2:30 yesterday, a time I didn't think I'd be around for 'cause I thought I'd skip out a little early but got caught up in some stuff...anyway, at 2:30, the woman who manages the department I focus most of my time on because I like it the best, Brandi, tells me that starting in July, I'll be working solely in her department, and someone else will cover the others. It's the best possible news ever, because not only does that make my job...what's the word, POSSIBLE, but her department's the only one I wanted anyway...the others were a package deal

And then...Superman Returns...it's not perfect, but it's so close and there are so many moments that ARE perfect that I really did love it. I'm not sure where I'll come down on it in the end, because the first time I see a movie like this so much of it is disecting it and comparing it to what I expected and what I wanted to see and a thousand other things. I didn't really care a whole lot for Batman Begins the first time I saw it, but really figured it out the second time around. So I guess the fact that I already love Superman Returns is a pretty damn good sign. Brandon Routh as Superman IS perfect. Anyway, I'll get more into this in the review, which will be...sprawling. I'm gonna have to figure it out, and part of my full thoughts on it (which is a lot of how I think it's a real evolution of the superhero genre of film) will probably be posted here, just to spare people who only want to hear about the damn movie.

Oh, and talk-radio host Rick Emerson, host of the Rick Emerson Show that I've listened to for almost five years now, was sitting literally the seat right in front of me at the movie. Which was infinitely cool, introduced myself, geeked out a little, then ended up running into him in the bathroom, which is weird. But anyway...between nabbing that first in line spot (albeit way too early), seeing Superman, and meeting Rick...damn good day.

About the line...Cinetopia is the greatest theater ever. Not only do they feature digital projection, extra-wide leather seats, an extra foot of leg room, delicious pizza...et cetera. But their staff kicks ass. If you ever find yourself in line and a girl with short hair named Chelsea is staffing it, you will be cared for and made to feel welcome. For instance, they gave us pillows from one of their Living Room Theaters (that I'm dying to get into, but can't until I'm 21) to sit on, as well as free sodas when we first showed up. How cool? What other theater appreciates you as you do them? It's a long(ish) drive (if there's no traffic, you really can make it in 20-30 minutes), but I URGE you to get out there someday, especially for Superman, which was shot on digital and thus can only really be seen in all its glory in digital projection.

Oh, and I gotta say this...the Spider-Man 3 trailer is fucking amazing. Really. It is. I was horrified that it would end up too crowded (three villains appear in the trailer...Venom, Sandman, and a new Green Goblin, as well as the addition of Gwen Stacy and a rumored fourth villain), but I really, strongly feel they're going the right direction with this. Like this is THE way to go with the series and...it's a YEAR away! Damn! I love the first two flicks, especially the second one (which is battling in my head with Superman Returns for best superhero flick ever), and...a year away! DAMN!

T'will be a miracle should I sleep

Superman Returns is a touch over 24 hours away for me, and I'm giddy with excitement. As tough as it'll be to calm down and sleep tonight, work tomorrow will account for one of the longest days of my life. Then there's the wait in line, which I love completely, but builds anticipation quickly.

The beach trip yesterday was a blast, though the biggest thrills came at the end (read The Gravy for more on that). But in spite of its rather fantastical finish, the rest of the day really was a hoot and I'm infinitely glad we made it, despite sacrficing my skin for it (I am sunburnt on all of my body, except for the backs on my legs, under my arm, and my swimsuit area...it hurts to wear pants).

Some highlights, the rest of which can be found on my Yahoo! Photos account (which will be updated even less for the time being as my camera broke as soon as I came home).

CRABS!




Your guess is as good as mine...



Sepia is sweet...


And of course...Sausagefest.

Two Things

First, a heat advisory is in effect according to weather.com, saying the following:

A HEAT ADVISORY MEANS THAT A PERIOD OF HOT WEATHER IS EXPECTED. TEMPERATURES IN THIS RANGE WILL CREATE A SITUATION IN WHICH HEAT RELATED ILLNESSES ARE POSSIBLE. DRINK PLENTY OF FLUIDS... STAY IN AN AIR-CONDITIONED AREA...STAY OUT OF THE SUN...AND CHECK UP ON RELATIVES AND NEIGHBORS.

So yeah...right now your aunt can't handle the heat. And you know what I'm talking about.

Granted, it is hot outside (I'm sitting comfortably in only my boxers...come and get it ladies), but it's not THAT hot. I'm gonna make myself some food and get right back outside and enjoy it. Even if you're not a heat person, unless you're running while someone drips candle wax on you, I think you'll be fine.

Second, a man was washing his feet in the public bathroom sink at Nordstrom today. I wish with everything in me I had my camera, because I would have wasted no time in taking a picture of a perfect stranger. And he didn't seem terribly ashamed anyway.

It's Official

The deal is signed, the ink has dried...I'll be helping out with the summer show. Year 6 on that baby, I'm not even kidding. This year, "helping" also includes designing the set, which is a horrible idea for two reasons. Reason 1 - I have no design skills at all. Reason 2 - The other main designer guy is Ryan McCardle, a good man, but does not seem to be firing on all cylinders, not unlike so many of us. 'Cause see, Ryan Hendricks got a job in Seattle after the 10th, which puts him out of town for those crucial weeks between the show and the show itself. The good news? It appears there is no Rob to be found, though he was with Ryan at his job when I went to talk to him. An unnerving confrontation followed. So if ya'll have free time, I would highly encourage your presence because it will make me happy and there will be power tools. Hurray!

Ever listen to a car commercial that promises they can put or get you into a car? Ever find that a little strange phrasing, as though to suggest you could otherwise not do it yourself. I'm just picturing a system like on the Japanese subways where they jam you in with sticks (it's true...they do it), but just for you. But I have a strange imagination (unaided by any substance beyond caffeine, I might add), such as when Doug said when he tried listening to Counting Crows and bad things happened, the only thing that ran through my mind was him joyfully putting the CD in and it firing back into his eye. It's just how I operate.

I bought three pairs of socks today, bringing my inventory of working socks to five. That's right...I was working off two for awhile there. That's also right...I wear socks everyday because closed-toes shoes are a must at work. Just think about that one for a second. Then squirm. Yes...

Well, that was a good idea...

I'm slowly turning into a grown-up, and this bothers me. The most recent symptom is that I can't sleep past 11 AM or so on my days off, which doesn't bother me terribly except when I don't sleep 'til 1 or 2. Sure, that's still a cool 8 to 10 hours of sleep depending on when I awaken, but the way the work nights go, a cool 12 hours is more what I'd be up for.

For instance, I saw the Counting Crows last night, a fantastic show reviewed over at the Gravy that of course ended at 11. Drive back from Clark County, looking at around midnight arrival. Not that I'm complaining, it was totally worth it, but...now I can't go out tonight for fear of passing out on the road, and this is with a good 40 fluid ounces of caffeine. Argh.

And then I had the bright idea of telling Ryan (tech dude from high school...well, we didn't go to high school together per se, but he worked there while I attended, and runs the tech side of the summer production) that I am totally available to help out on the summer show. D'oh! Oh well, it'll keep the next few weeks moving along nicely. And I do miss the work.

Life can be strange sometimes. Most of the time really. At any rate.

Counting Crows concert tonight! Whoo! Catching some free food at some sorta goodbye BBQ for Mr. Carver beforehand. Yeah, I don't really understand it either. Life can be strange. But the Crows concert should kick ass, even though there are two opening acts. One is the Goo Goo Dolls, who are okay...I'm not a big fan, but whatever, could be a good show. Before them though is some band...I think my brother (who is going to the show with me) said it's a band called Augustana. Hell if I know. Apparently they're pretty good. We shall see. I hadn't really heard anything by the Crows until I saw their show...man, 3 years ago? Four? No, definitely three, we figured this out. They were with John Mayer. Who sucked, and I have condemned ever since.

Picked up some of the animated Superman episodes on DVD, mostly because it comes with a free ticket to Superman Returns, which I'm going to be seeing countless times anyway, so I figure it's like getting $6 or $8 off the DVD, which put it in the $12-$14 range, which not too bad for 18 eps.

And that's what I got. I know, it's compelling reading. Oh, and Nacho Libre is funny. Screw you, it is.

P.S. Disney has once again raped our collective childhood by casting Britanny Murphy as Tinker Bell in some sort of CGI-animated flick about fairies. Damn them all.

Aaaaannnnnnnddd

I just stepped right on a rock while walking barefoot into the house. Almost completely avoided any sort of accident all day, though with a pool to shortly be thrown into said day, I suppose anything could happen.

Went to dinner with Beth last night, which was on the edge of turning from adventure to fiasco when, after being kicked out of the Blue Moon Tavern because the 21+ rule sets in at 8 PM, we thought we were being kicked out of the Ram's Head, another McMenamin's brach, when in fact they just closed off a certain section for 21+. Thank God for that.

Been eating a lot of the McMenamin's lately. Not that I'm complaining. It's really quite good.

On the Rick Emerson Show tomorrow, around 2:15, Brian O'Halloran and Jeff Anderson, better known as Dante and Randall from Clerks and Clerks II (which received an 8-minute standing O at Cannes), will be in the studio. I realize none of you will tune in, but just in case I'm not the only one who now feels it necessary to leave work a smidge early to hear it, I felt I should mention it. Never say I don't keep you informed.

I saw Cars, and while there's nothing really wrong with it, there's nothing that really makes it a standout in the Pixar library, which is a damn shame. I'll write a review later, when I care. If I care.

Some days, I'm hardly affected by the three-hour sleep I got the night before. This is not one of those days. If any of the above sentences, or this very sentence itself, were at all incoherrent or entirely unreadable, you have my sincere apology.

You Will Believe a Man Can Fly

Well, the day has finally come...the day I bought tickets for Superman Returns, the big-screen revival of a franchise character absent from it for almost twenty years. And not just any character. The first, and in my opinion greatest, superhero of all time, and the one who showed, years before Spider-Man or X-Men or even Batman that you can successfully do a superhero film that takes its subject seriously. I've been waiting for this movie about as long as I've been reading comics and knew they made movies out of them (places it in the ten-year range). And it really looks fantastic. It really does.

June 27th cannot come soon enough. The only question left is how early to arrive.

Getting the tickets was a small adventure, as I realized the only real way to make it to the Couve with any level of speed was in the carpool lane, only I had no one to carpool with. Luckily, I roped Michelle into it, and as trips to the Couve often go, it was a fun ride. Can't believe we never used to hang out outside of Playfest.

This week is jam-packed, I can't believe it. First time all summer I've planned anything that far ahead.

Whew

Despite working Friday, Saturday, AND Sunday, this turned into a fantastic weekend. Movies all Friday afternoon/evening, Chris' rockin' grad party last night SLASH late-night fire pit, and one of the most unexpected evenings of my life tonight. Love summer.

Hope this weather holds too. I hung out at the playground in NW (the one a block from 21st) at midnight tonight and it was still over 70 degrees. That's summer right there.

See An Inconvenient Truth (The Al Gore Flick) and/or The Proposition really soon. Both are fantastic, and the Gore movie may be the most important movie you'll see this year. Or in your life.

Entourage started off its third season fantastically, and if anyone wants to watch it, it's resting peacefully on my DVR.

That's pretty much all I got...workin' and sociallin' has been the name of the game, as has it always, but with all the JHS folk now released from the confines it's kicked into high gear and I couldn't be happier.

P.S. Yeah, in case you missed the fifth comment there, that is Emerson Ben, and yes, it does have just as many syllables as "Benjamin," but "Benjamin" doesn't flow as well to me as "Emerson Ben." So it goes.

When The Rail has fallen to the bottom of my list of the recently-updated blogs (including The Seinfeld Chronicles, which gets no action anymore), it's time for an update.

So the bad news is I'm working overtime tomorrow. The good news is "overtime" for me really only puts me at around 5 PM. The bad news is that I'm looking to go out tonight, which usually equals not a lotta sleep. Oh so little sleep. The good news is no work on Thursday. The better news is I definitely have June 28th off, the day Superman opens, which means hells yeah for the midnight showing and as many as I can hit that day.

Snatched what I suspect to the be last copy of the Criterion Dazed and Confused DVD from the Best Buy at Cedar Hills. It was literally sitting by that computer they use to check their stock and stuff. It was probably on hold for somebody, but I wasn't about to let that stop me. Swear it was the only copy in the damn store, and it's a damn good thing I grabbed it 'cause it kicks ass. 72-page booklet, movie poster, ton of special features. And the movie kicks ass.

Also kicking ass...Entourage on HBO. Those of you with ON Demand (and HBO, naturally), catch up on Season 2 before Season 3 starts Sunday, and don't say I never pointed you to good TV. I just discovered it myself, and watched four and a half hours yesterday. Yeah. What now.

Seriously, who wants to see The Break-Up with me?

Blogger's going wacky on me, time to jet (and eat).

Being sick is a big pile of ass

Wednesday night, around the 6th inning of the Beavers game (which was sweet...definitely gotta hit that up again), started feeling a little queezy (however that's spelled), left the game figuring I gotta get somewhat healthy for work. That didn't work out so well, as about an hour into the daily grind I only felt even more violently ill. So I went home, and I think in total I was awake for about 8 or 9 hours out of the day. Still feel like crap, and my throat's soar, and hey look, I have work tomorrow. And Chris graduates on Sunday, which means Scott won't sleep in until...Thursday! Yay.

So the bad news is that I see no way of squeezing in a Roxy trip this week, which severely impacts the original goal of at least one trip a week all summer. We'll make up for it though. One way or another.

I did figure out a way to get music into the office though, by throwing the headphones around the neck and picking up the iPod tunes tangently. This has been a major boon to the workday, though I accidentally drained nearly all of the battery early on in the day by forgetting to lock it. D'oh!

Who wants to see The Break-Up (the new flick with Aniston and Vaughn) with me? I'm man enough to admit it looks funny.