The Dead Give Thanks

Wow! What a great Thanksgiving break I enjoyed. First allow me to break from the horror blog theme for a tic and share what I am thankful for. I am happy to be a husband (married now for 7 years), and a father of one 5 year old (and one of the way). Recently I was out of a job and was understandably worried about providing for my family. I spent two months looking for something that not only would suffice, but also feel right. I started my new job on November 1, 2005. So I know that we are truly blessed! I am thankful for my new job, for the new baby on the way (due in April) and for the continued blessings that God has delivered unto my household.

On Wednesday night we went to a little carnival by our home and my son enjoyed riding a couple of the kiddie rides and we all enjoyed funnel cake. My son had some cotton candy and I always love the sour pickles. For the first time ever, I won a bean bag toss game. You know the one where you have to knock down 6 tin cans from the pedestal? Well I have never been able to get them all off before, but that night I did a great job and took home a big stuffed bear.

Thursday, we got up early and make it downtown for the Annual Washington Mutual Thanksgiving Day Parade. I would like to mention the highlights; most importantly my son truly enjoyed the low-rider cars. He loved watching them use their hydraulics to bounce around and roll by at those weird angles. Now often parades have hang ups, and this one was no different. There were terrible lags in spacing. After the very first group (Texas Horse-back riders I believe) passed by, there was nothing for about 4 minutes. It was kind of like "Wow, one group passed by, is that it?"

Eventually they got it rolling at a pretty steady pace. My favorites were the bands (as usual) I love the sound of the drumline! My highest regard goes to: Ridgecrest Elementary School. That's right, elementary! I have never seen such tenacity in such youth. These kids were marching to the beat in perfect time, as a matter of fact, the drum major (who had to be all of 9 years old) was marching hard as if he were leading a national championship band! But it was the sound of the band that got my attention. Here are these grade school children banging and marching at a mastery level that seemed beyond their years, they did excellent!

The second band that gets honorable mention were the Austin High School Mustangs Marching Band. Here were only a couple of handfuls of students, not all that great sounding, but out there in force of spirit. With more girls on a drumline than I have ever seen, they passed by keeping the beat and representing their school with their few numbers with all the pride of truly inspired musicians. The last band I will mention is purely comical, the Best Buy Geek sqaud with their "We don't need a marching band" Marching Band. It was too funny to see these guys dressed in classic geek shirts and ties pulling along a Geek Squad balloon float and touting their computer services.

All in all, a great morning outing! The evening found us at home with a Turkey dinner, including stuffing & gravy, a tossed salad, green beans, macaroni & cheese, hot buttered rolls and cranberry-nut salad. Pumpkin pie for dessert, what a feast!

But wait, there's more, we went to see "Chicken Little" on Friday (which includes the voice talents of great stars like Joan Cusack & Patrick Stewart). It was an entertaining movie worthy of the ticket price. I love to hear my son laugh and it is such a treat to enjoy that in a big theatre with a funny movie on the big screen. Saturday found us shopping and bringing home a 6' FiberOptic christmas tree. I know, I know, it is not traditional, but after years of sap-stained carpets or plastic tree wrestling, I am looking forward to something different.

Then Sunday, we went back to the carnival (Come on we had to use up the last of those 'Ride' coupons now didn't we?) more ride fun for my son and this time I went on the Tilt-A-Whirl and had a blast!! It has been a long time since I have been on a carnival ride and I must say it doesn't lose it's charm.

So, like I said it was great!!

In honor of the holiday season, today's song is something a little strange.

• Christmas at Ground Zero from the Dr. Demento Presents: Greatest Christmas Novelty CD

"It’s christmas at ground zero
There’s panic in the crowd
We can dodge debris while we trim the tree
Underneath the mushroom cloud"

CJ

Saw 2

"Oh Yes, There Will Be Blood"

Now this is a great sequel! First of all, I loved the original Saw and I think this was very well done.

Jigsaw is back! Tobin Bell reprises his role as (John) the psychotic "Jigsaw" killer. This time pitting his wits against detective Eric Matthews (Donnie Wahlberg).
This time Jigsaw's victims are locked in a booby trapped house and they must find a way out before they inhale too much of a lethal nerve gas and die. They must watch out, for the traps Jigsaw has set in the house can also lead to death, and that is where the horror begins.

One of the things I have noted was how this tale is carried by the action, whereas the original was carried but the story. Before the killer set up individual scenarios for each of his victims, and we are shown clips in flaskback. This time the unfortunate captives must actively work as a group to survive. Now some people would be disappointed by the reliance on action, gore, and special effects (offended even) but I like the finished result.

New traps of horrific terror, plenty of bloodshed and a pretty good plot-line were enough to have me leaving the theatre in high spirits. Director Darren Lynn Bousman is brought on board by executive film producer Leigh Whannell (Adam from the first film, and co-writer )to do a spectacular job. Especially bringing back Shawnee Smith as Amanda (the only one to survive Jigsaw's first onslaught).

I love a good movie that can keep me interested and give me some good shocks as I go along for the ride. Of course, for me it is often all about the ending, and this movie does not disappoint!

• Today's Cure song is "Fire In Cairo" from the Boys Don't Cry CD -(1979) There is nothing quite like Robert's voice, even when he is spelling out words! According to Robert; an eastern fantasy.

"Shifting crimson veil, silken hips
Slide under my hand, swollen lips
Whisper my name and I yearn
You take me in your arms and start to burn"

CJ