Blog Archives - The Land of the Weird

The Land of the Weird

Short-run Series

7/31/2018

I still think that Firefly is my favorite TV series ever. However, I am also in many ways glad that it didn't even run for an entire season. As is, the 14 episode (plus a movie) run can be watched in a single day--a feat I have accomplished several times now. The characters didn't have a chance to grow stale or overly stereotyped as many characters in longer running shows tend to do.

I have the same sort of feeling for other shows that have had either short runs or short seasons. Downton Abbey, despite running for six seasons, only has 52 episodes (and an upcoming movie) which is about the same as most American shows that run for two seasons. Yet each episode has much more impact for that very reason.

Game of Thrones will have a run of probably 73 episodes by the time that it is through with its eight seasons, thus giving it fewer episodes than many three season shows. Yet that very brevity gives each episode greater heft. There are no filler shows or reflective montages that we have to suffer through.

This formula has also worked well with the Marvel series on Netflix. Honestly, a few of them could have benefitted from having cut a few episodes from their 13 episode seasons. Still, the shorter seasons make it easier to justify watching a season in a week or less (which is usually how we roll).

I still like some of the more traditional length series. Currently, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. has demonstrated that it is up the challenge of providing quality episodes despite having to come up with 22 of them each season. It is truly impressive that the creative team behind it has been able to come up with such consistently well-executed shows that drive us to watch the next one (well, it took a season or so to get going, but then ...).

We are in amazing era of entertainment. As much as I love many shows and movies from the past, I feel blessed to be in a time when such amazing content comes from so many different places. Inevitably, that means that there will be some gems that I miss as well. Hopefully, they have shorter runs so I can catch up on them quickly.

The Oasis Rule [mild spoiler]

7/30/2018

According to the movie Ready Player One (the ending of which I preferred to the book), the most controversial rule in the redesigned Oasis is that the Oasis will not be available on Tuesdays and Thursdays each week. The idea being that this would force people to spend time in the real world at least twice a week. There are certain problems that I have with that sort of command from on high (for example, people with service jobs will have a rough time those days), but the principle is interesting.

My sons and I have certainly been spending a lot of time on electronics this summer. While some of it, like my online classes, is required, a great deal of the time has just been spent in the realms of entertainment (video games, YouTube, etc.). Now, this has certainly led to fewer arguments. It has also been a great motivator to get them to do chores. Also, I do not buy into the antiquated myth that electronics are bad for people.

However, it's also good to spend some time in reality. When I suggested the idea of instituting our own Oasis rule, the reception was not that great. Trevor and Connor are dead-set against it (for that matter, I kind of am too) while Rowen is not sure. My one change is that they can play video games with one another unless tempers start to flare.

We will see how it works these next couple of weeks.

The Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

7/29/2018

Aside from the Resurrection itself, today's Gospel reading contains the only miracle performed by Jesus that is mentioned in all four Gospels: The miracle of the loaves and fishes. There is much to be said on this, and I had a plan for what I was going to write today even before I went to church. Then I heard today's homily, which spoke about the story that comes after, how Jesus starts to lose the crowd because He tells them about the Bread of Life, the cornerstone of our faith.

The priest today spoke about how the Eucharist is like a hug--it is Jesus touching us directly and comforting us. We were asked, what do we often do if we are feeling down and alone? He then pretended to crunch on Doritos. We so often turn to food for comfort. Any comfort we receive is temporary, and often followed by guilt. Meanwhile, Jesus provides us with the Bread of Life. It washes away our sins, brings comfort to us, and sustains us in ways that no Earthly food can.

I also thought that Jesus uses the Eucharist to become one with us. In this sense, we become the arms of Jesus which we can then use to give others hugs who need it. We are the instruments that can bring peace and salvation to the world as long as we open ourselves to Jesus's teachings of openness, fairness, and love.

A Mystery

7/28/2018

We have a missing pillowcase. Its absence was noticed yesterday and subsequent searching has not yielded anything other than negative results. This particular mystery is really straining my grasp on reality.

We have two sets of bedding for the cabin. On quick turnaround days, we switch one set for the other while washing and wash the set that had just been used. However, I screwed up and forgot to finish washing the last set. As the group we had the previous night had left the cabin pretty clean and I did not see any problems with the comforters, I decided to just wash the sheets and blankets and then bring that set back in since everything is sort of coordinated.

I stripped the beds (checking the comforters), put the used towels, sheets, and blankets into the laundry tub that I use take the wash from the cabin to the house, and brought it to the house. I put the sheets in the wash. Once they were done, I put them in the dryer and the blankets in the wash. Once done, I took the sheets from the dryer and put them back into the laundry tub. Once the blankets dried (which often takes a cycle and a half), I put them in the tub and carried them back to the cabin.

As I often do, I called my parents and spoke with them while making the beds. When making the beds, the pillowcases are the last items readied; thus, I had both beds made when I noticed that I was missing one of the pillowcases for the full bed on the bottom bunk. I asked Trevor to check the house. He couldn't find the right one; although, he did bring one from the other set. My suspicion was that it had been trapped in one of the fitted sheets, and I did not notice as I made the beds, so I unmade the beds.

Just as I was searching, the guests for the coming night arrived half an hour before check-in. I greeted them and let them know that we were still in the process of getting the cabin ready. They apologized for being early and said that they would be back, so I went back and remade the beds.

I searched the house in any of the places that I had been since stripping the cabin to making the beds, but found nothing. I then assumed that I missed something on my search of the beds because the guests distracted me, but the next day I found that was not true. Somehow, one of our pillowcases has simply vanished.

At this point, I believe the options are: 1) The previous guests took the pillowcase and I didn't notice while stripping the bedding. 2) The washer or dryer managed to eat the pillowcase somehow. 3) The pillowcase somehow jumped into another reality. 4) There is a glitch in the Matrix. 5) Some area of my house is a gateway to Narnia. 6) A house elf needed something new to wear. 7) The pillowcase was made of golden thread. 8) There never was a pillowcase. 9) I don't truly exist. 10) 42.

Touch Screen

7/27/2018

My phone's touch screen is starting to go a little crazy on me. It selects items on the screen that I haven't selected, it will fail to register my touch, it will zoom in and out, and it will scroll erratically. My standard fix is to sleep it and then start again. This usually works, but causes other sorts of problems. In one case, I needed to type on the number pad while in a phone call. It simply wouldn't register, so I automatically went to the sleep button fix ... which hung up the call.

My phone has now accidentally called several people while I was looking at contacts. It even dialed my parents and my wife once while the phone was sitting comfortably in one of my cargo shorts' pockets. It also has the irritating habit of clicking on stories or adds that I am not interested in while on social media.

When I looked up the problem, I discovered that the iPhone 6 plus (which is what I have) has a faulty hardware component that frequently causes "touch screen disease." Apple claims that it comes from the phone being dropped too often, but I am really careful with my phone and have a nice case on it. It seems more likely that it was shoddy work that should have had a recall and a fix.

I plan on just living with the issue for the time being. Most of the time everything works fine, and on the few times that it doesn't, I can usually do the quick fix. It's just another one of those first world problems ...

Enclosure

7/26/2018

In order to give our dogs an area where they can run around and play together outside without tangling (and breaking) dog chains, we hired Four Seasons Fence to put up a chain link fence in the area between the house and the garage. The process took a while, but the end result looks quite nice. Most importantly, the dogs seem to love the area. They can run together run at full speed without dragging around chains from their collars.

Hopefully, we will also be able to play outside with them in there (after picking up after them). I'm also hoping that the area will give me a better chance to teach them to come and to heel. They've been getting better when on the leash, but still seem to need practice when released from any sort of tether.

I was a little concerned about it looking like an eyesore, but it actually works well in the spot. I'm quite glad that we did not try to do it ourselves as I don't think it would have turned out half as well. Now the question will be if the dogs will try to dig out an escape or not.

Luke Cage - Season Two

7/25/2018

In general, I have really enjoyed the Marvel Cinematic Universe series on Netflix. Although I sometimes feel that they pursued a mature rating simply to have a mature rating, some of the themes and ideas brought through Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Punisher, Luke Cage, and even Iron Fist are complex and well done. Despite the violence and sex that seem to be the norm with modern television, the writing generally holds me to the edge of my seat and makes me want to watch the next episode.

Unfortunately, the second season of Luke Cage did not have that same pull. It's the norm in our family to find Janelle sleeping when we sit to watch a movie or show, especially late at night (which is when we have to watch these shows since we wait until the little boys are asleep). However, this time I was having trouble staying awake. The twists were unnecessary and often ended up making me feel like the resolutions brought about in the previous episodes were worthless. I know that many different writers contributed to the story, but this really felt like each one had a different view of who Luke Cage was and where the story was going.

I did like the development of Bushmaster's character. I feel that they again created a credible villain with believable motivations. Unfortunately Mariah's development made significantly less sense and relied too heavily on Alfre Woodard's amazing acting ability.

One issue in the show got under my skin. Each writer went out of the way to use the word "nigger" in one form or another. I think almost every character used the word at least once. While they tried to play it off as normal, each use felt like a hammer had to be used to force it in. Similarly, using coffee as a metaphor for sex, which was a cute reference in the first season, reminded me of the guy who has just told the same bad joke for the twelfth time and then keeps asking if I got it.

Again, my primary barometer for television and movie experiences is whether I would want to see it again. Honestly, I'd be more interested in another viewing of Iron Fist before seeing this season a second time.

Ready Player One (the movie)

7/24/2018

I really liked this movie. Having read the book, I was really curious as to how well it could be transformed to the big screen. The short answer is: it really wasn't. Don't get me wrong; it's a great movie and has all of the characters and main plot of the book. However, that is where the similarity ends. Those who have read the book can see this movie without having any real spoilers about what is going to happen.

The movie itself is immense. It makes me regret not seeing it in the theater. To get every reference or Easter egg, one would almost have to go through the movie shot by shot with a magnifying lens. It plays fan service to an amazing number of different realms of geekhood.

It's so bizarre that the book and the movie can have so many similarities, yet be so different at the same time. This is one case where I really couldn't say which I preferred more because they felt different enough to me, yet in the same spirit, that I believe both are worth watching in their own right. In the end, the truest measure for me as to how much I like a movie is whether I want to see it again, and I could watch it right now.

Hiking Boots

7/23/2018

I need to get a nice pair of hiking boots. Sure, we don't actually go hiking all that often due to Janelle's summer work schedule as well as the cabin changeovers. However, when we do go, I often discover difficulty with the shoes or boots that I am wearing about halfway into the trip.

My last great set of hiking boots was the pair that I wore on the '91 Jacktown Packers trip. I had those boots through most of college as well. They were extremely comfortable, to the point that I think that they ruined all other hiking boots for me.

I certainly need something better than the boots I wore on Sunday. I have a blister covering most of the big toe on my right foot. I'll refrain from posting pictures of it considering the response to the last time I did something similar (even though it had a cute face). This blister came about despite a rather easy trail--a fact which feels particularly unfair.

Hopefully, I can pick up a good pair on our next trip up to Anchorage. Perhaps with better footwear, I'll be more determined to go on hikes.

The Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

7/22/2018

Jesus is the compassionate shepherd. In today's Gospel He tries to leave with His Apostles to find some seclusion from the crowds that have been following Him. They figure out where He was going and arrived there ahead of Him. Our visiting priest said that Jesus then changes His plans out of compassion for these desperate people. Rather than isolate Himself so He could focus His teaching on a few, He realizes that the multitudes need Him and He puts aside His desires for the betterment of those that gathered.

Jesus did not turn away people who were seeking help. He sacrificed private time because others were in need. He still does this for us today. Anytime that we ask for Him, He is there for us. His is a deeper commitment than any human commitment, but He asks us to try our best anyway. Often, it is through us that He works His will.

A Nice Saturday

7/21/2018

Rather than do our exercise routine this morning, Janelle and I spent a good portion of time today working outside. Most of her time was spent in our central garden, while I spent a while finishing the rest of the mowing that I started yesterday.

Janelle also convinced me to help her dig out some of the wild roses bushes that have been trying to dominate her garden. I also worked longer than I could really stand trying to remove the mesh of roots that has control of the first couple inches of soil. I only managed to clear about two square feet. There are a lot more square feet in that garden.

Today's dinner was personal pizzas using amazing crust that Janelle made from her sourdough starter. Dessert were homemade ice cream cakes (although they didn't really have time to fully harden). I think my blood sugar might be a bit high when I check it.

I was supposed to get my homework done for tomorrow as we are going on a hike. While I did make some forward progress, I will certainly need to spend more time on it tomorrow anyway. It didn't help that I spent a little while playing video games and that we watched two movies (Mission Impossible II with everyone and Hit & Run with just Janelle and a very embarrassed Trevor - both movies are guilty pleasures of mine).

All-in-all, it's been a great day!

Brush Work

7/20/2018

The poles are in for the side yard fence. Looking at their placement, I noticed that I would have some difficulties mowing the lawn around the outside of the fence considering the encroaching branches from the surrounding trees and bushes. I got out the clippers and went to work.

As I was making my way along the back fence line, I decided to keep my work momentum going and take care of the bushes and trees that have been creeping closer to the back of the house. Last winter really bent some of them more towards the house to the point that a few of them were touching in spots. Some of this work required a hatchet and a saw, as well as a good deal of lifting.

As I already had Trevor working on the changeover for the cabin, I enlisted the aid of the two younger boys to help move away the little stuff. I also handed both of them smaller clippers with the admonishment to be careful lest they lose a finger. My warning must have sounded particularly dire as Rowen initially refused to even touch his clippers. However, it wasn't long until his boyish need for destruction kicked in and he started pruning all over the place (usually on branches that I had already cut).

By the end, we had cleared a respectable distance from the house while still leaving an appropriate line of wilderness. There is one birch which is leaning towards the house with branches touching the roof that needs better tools than I have to deal with. Meanwhile, I built a substantial brush pile, and the boys fashioned themselves a variety of "tools" from the castaways that they liked.

Sore

7/19/2018

We've not been the best about staying in the exercise habit since we left for Michigan. This week, we have made a concerted effort to exercise every weekday. To say it has been difficult is certainly an understatement. It's so tempting to put it off until later, to claim that we are too busy, to say we are too tired, ... or to plead that we are too sore.

I'm certainly feeling the latter. Yesterday, we ran the deck of death for the first time in over a month. According to my Fitbit, my pulse hit 180 (probably when doing toes to bar on the rings). By my final round of running, I felt like my ankles had weights attached to them; I had to force myself to pick up my feet and stretch out my stride rather than barely shuffle forward.

Thus, this morning I was quite tempted to not exercise due to the "too sore" complaint. This is despite knowing that the soreness often gets worse when I spend a day inactive. I'll probably be less sore tomorrow than I would have been if I hadn't exercised today.

Now, I need learn how to shore up my willpower and keep myself from eating away any of the extra calories that I burn from my exercise.

Learning from Lines

7/18/2018

In preparation for putting in a fence for our dogs in the side yard, we had the utilities come out to put in locates. We soon realized that the biggest conflicts were going to be personal lines, especially from the electric meter (which is on a post) to the house and from the gas meter (which is on the house) to the garage. We asked the electrician who replaced our electrical boxes to find the lines for us.

The results were a bit surprising, and they seemed to reveal some of the history of the house itself. We already knew that the gas line was put at some point after the house was originally built, but it seems that it didn't come in until after the garage was built as well. In fact, based on the long route that the electrical wire took, it looks like they originally planned to attach the garage to the side of the house, but then later built the larger garage at its current location. Once they built that garage and decided to heat it with a gas furnace, they no longer needed to keep that side of the house free of underground cables, so they made a beeline (and a shallow one) from the back of the house to the garage wall with the heater.

Our electrician also pointed out that our current master bedroom was probably the original garage to the house. I had not considered the idea before, but it certainly makes sense when looking at a number of quirks in the house design. I'd really be interested to see the house and property at its various stages of development.

At least we now know where the lines head should we have any digging projects in the future.