Tough day

Today has unexpectedly turned out to be a much tougher day than Friday usually is. I don't know whether it was a bad sign when `Bad Day' was the first song randomly played by my computer this morning.
Hopefully things pick up, and seeing Superman Returns tonight will be a nice reward I guess. I hope it's as good as it looks but the 154 minute running time makes me think it might lag in parts. Full review to come.

OK, OK so I like Britney...

Last night I was somewhat laughed at because I admitted that I like some Britney Spears songs. So most people know I have a wide-ranging music taste and it does extend to Britney. I have her first three CDs but there are only about four tracks per CD that I like.
One such song is `Sometimes', her second single, and it comes with a video clip that shows a wholesome Britney - clean cut, innocent and entirely likeable.
I don't discuss my thoughts on women much, particularly when it comes to appearance, so as not to be seen as being superficial because looks really are secondary to me, but what really appeals to me is the girl next door look. I liked it in Mariah in the early years, Delta has the same appeal and Britney had it, at least for a little while and the `Sometimes' clip is the ultimate for me.
So there you go.

Song 14: Spending My Time

It's cheating a bit on the concept of 13 songs but this one, `Spending My Time' was left out at the last minute. It is the only song from my top 10 songs of all time that didn't get a run in the original 13 and it's remiss of me not to mention a band that has been significant over the last 15 years.

I have all of Roxette's CD's, from the rare debut Pearls Of Passion (before Look Sharp) to the latest best-ofs, The Ballad Hits and The Pop Hits. I've always liked Roxette's music, from the first time I heard `The Look' and I still think the recent stuff hasn't been too bad although not as consistently good as in the earlier days.

The song `Spending My Time' is a perfect pop ballad, something Roxette managed to achieve several times. I recall reading that Per Gessle was upset that the record company didn't release this one as the second single from Joyride as he believed it would be an enormous hit. He was right. It was the fourth single and did fairly (making the top 15 here) while the clearly inferior `Fading Like A Flower' was a top 10 hit.

``My friends keep telling me: hey, life will go on. Time will make sure I get over you. This silly game of love - you play, you win only to lose. I'm spending my time watching the days go by. Feeling so small, I stare at the wall. Hoping that you will think of me too.''

I could list all the great Roxette songs (mostly slow ones) but the best are: `Love Is All (Shine Your Light On Me)', `(Do You Get) Excited?', `Salvation' and `Listen To Your Heart'.

The complete list

Over the last few days I've been working through the 13 songs that changed my life, that are of great significance for me. If you want to know why, then read on.
(By the way, the CD cover in the top left is the original album the song came from).

The complete list is as follows:

I'll Be There For You-The Rembrandts
If You Could Only See-Tonic
I Want To Know What Love Is-Foreigner
Losing My Religion-R.E.M.
Hero-Mariah Carey
Crash And Burn-Savage Garden
Great Southern Land-Icehouse
Lift-Shannon Noll
What About Me? -Moving Pictures
The Other Side-1927
Everything-Lifehouse
Walk On-U2
Not Myself-John Mayer

13 Songs: I'll Be There For You

For 10 great years, at 7.30pm on Mondays, the world stopped for 30 minutes for (arguably) the best sitcom of them all.
I first became aware of Friends back in 1995 just prior to my highly anticipated trip to the USA. It was there, in fact in Ensenada, Mexico, that I saw my very first episode of the TV that would dominate my life for a decade. And it was all worth it.
(Incidentally, the first episode I saw was called `The One With Phoebe's Husband', episode 4 of season 2).
The theme song, `I'll Be There For You' performed by The Rembrandts, totally sums up the show. And in my view, friendship in general.

``No one could ever know me, no one could ever see me. Seems you're the only one who knows, what it's like to be me. Someone to face the day with, make it through all the rest with. Someone I'll always laugh with, even at my worst I'm best with you, yeah.''
You all know the chorus!

The great thing about DVD is that I'll always be able to watch my favourite episodes whenever I want. I'm glad the show has ended. I would have hated to see it go out on a low point but they avoided that even though at around season 7 I kind of wanted it to finish.
But, they way they finished the series leads you to believe they would always be friends. And that's the way it should be.

(To finish: tell me you're surprised this one has made it into my most significant songs!)

13 Songs: If You Could Only See

Some may be surprised that `If You Could Only See' would be a significant song but it represents a big period of change, some really good some bad.

I came across this song in 1997 when I had finished university and taken up my first job in the Narromine and Dubbo area. I instantly was caught up in the lyrics and the overall sound and I played it to close to death when I tracked down Tonic's Lemon Parade CD.

``Seems the road less travelled shows happiness unravelled. And you got to take a little dirt to keep what you love. That's what you gotta do, yeah. Sayin' you love but you don't, you give your love but you won't. You're stretchin' out your arms to something that's just not there. Sayin' you love where you stand give your heart when you can. If you could only see the way she loves me, then maybe you would understand, why I feel this way about our love and what I must do....''

Aside from being a really great song every time I hear it (and I still listen to it quite a bit) it reminds me of my time in Narromine and Dubbo. I enjoyed living out there but a lot of things happened during that time. I met a lot of great people, I guess you'd say people I didn't think I'd be friends with, and through the independence of having a job was exposed to many things I hadn't come across before. Other songs that remind me of that time are Five's `When The Lights Go Out', Jennifer Paige's `Crush' and Ace Of Base's `Cruel Summer'.

13 Songs: I Want To Know What Love Is

There are some who regard `I Want To Know What Love Is' as a really bad song. In fact, on VH1 it made the top 10 awesomely bad number ones list.
For me though it's a classic and a compulsory choice for this collection of songs that have affected me.
I remember on a trip to Sydney from university I went to Intencity, when they had those booths that you could record a song in and get a copy on tape. Well, I chose ` I Want To Know What Love Is' and duly butchered it. Fortunately the tape has since gone missing.

``In my life, there's been heartache and pain. I don't know if I can face it again
``Can't stop now, I travelled so far to change this lonely life.
``I want to know what love is, I want you to show me.
``I want to feel what love is, I know you can show me.''

Yeah, yeah, it's soppy, I know. But that doesn't make it any less meaningful from my perspective. If you need to know anything about me it's that I'm a sucker for soppy-ness. And I really want to know what love is. Foreigner produced several other great songs including `I Don't Want To Live Without You' and Lou Gramm's solo song `Just Between You And Me'.

I close my eyes....

Just sitting at the computer, it's close to 11pm on a Saturday night....

I'm listening to some music, Close My Eyes by Mariah Carey. It doesn't make my list, although I did mention it as one of the songs I love.

`As I close my eyes, steady my feet on the ground, raise my head to the sky
and as time goes by, still I feel like a child as I look at the moon
maybe I grew up a little too soon....'

Maybe I did grow up a little too soon....

13 Songs: Losing My Religion

I don't know if I exactly understand `Losing My Religion' or at least I didn't when it was released in 1992 (wow was it that long ago?).
What I can say for certain is that it hit me then and it still does. Whenever I listen to it I feel nostalgic, as though it reminds me of a past hurt.

``Life is bigger it's bigger than you and you are not me.
``The lengths that I will go to the distance in your eyes
``Oh no I've said too much I set it up. That's me in the corner that's me in the spotlight
``Losing my religion trying to keep up with you and I don't know if I can do it
``Oh no I've said too much I haven't said enough. I thought that I heard you laughing
``I thought that I heard you sing. I think I thought I saw you try.''

R.E.M. are an interesting band and will never be accused of bowing to popular culture. I also love their song `Everybody Hurts' and for some reason I really like `Orange Crush'. `Shiny Happy People' is fun and quite a departure for the band.

While I have said above that it reminds me of past regrets I'm not immune from playing it now when I feel like things are getting on top of me. That isn't a good thing. If there's one thing you need to know....if you hear this song playing from my room there's usually a good reason and that isn't usually a good thing.

13 Songs: Hero

`Hero' got me through a very tough year 12 at high school, when a lot of things changed as far as relationships and outlook on life was concerned. It's also around then when I started to notice Mariah Carey's music and, as many would know, began what I see as a healthy obsession.

Hero is her signature song, an uplifting ode to self-belief and finding inner strength.

``There's a hero if you look inside your heart. You don't have to be afraid of what you are. There's an answer if you reach into your soul, and the sorrow that you know will melt away. And then a hero comes along with the strength to carry on, and you cast your fears aside and you know you can survive. So when you feel like hope is gone, look inside you and be strong and you'll finally see the truth that a hero lies in you.''

The entire Music Box album is flawless (I know plenty who would disagree but this is my blog) particularly the title track. Other Carey songs of note to me include `Close My Eyes', `Through The Rain', `Make It Happen', `My Saving Grace' and the recent #1 `We Belong Together'.

I saw Mariah in concert in 1998 on her Butterfly tour and she ended the concert, third song of the encore, with Hero and it brought the house down. I recall standing, with my hand on my heart, and singing as loud as possible. It brought a tear to the eye and I'm sure I wasn't the only one.

13 Songs: Crash And Burn

A word like anthem springs to mind when I think about and listen to `Crash And Burn'. This is one song I will never get sick of. (Just to digress slightly, it's a very big shame Savage Garden split after two albums. However, Darren Hayes picked up where they left off with his solo CDs, particularly The Tension And The Spark which, had it been a Savage Garden album would have been enormous.

I recall hearing Darren talk about this song and what it means. Basically he said it's a song about communication, about being open and letting other people in. He's also said it had been regarded in the USA as something of an anti-suicide song, saying pick up a phone and call someone, that whatever the problem is it won't seem as bad in the morning.

``When you feel all alone and a loyal friend is hard to find. You're caught in a one way street with the monsters in your head. When hopes and dreams are far away andyou feel like you can't face the day. Let me be the one you call, if you jump I'll break your fall. Lift you up and fly away with you into the night. If you need to fall apart I can mend a broken heart. If you need to crash then crash and burn you're not alone.''

Another thing Darren Hayes has said about this song is that he counts his friends by those he can call at 3am when his life is falling apart. What a great thing that is. I hope the people I care about know they can call me any time when life is tough, and even though I may not be able to offer tangible help I'll always listen. Sometimes that's enough.

Other Savage Garden songs of significance are `Affirmation', `To The Moon And Back', `I Don't Know You Any More' and Hayes' solo efforts `Darkness', `Light', `Unlovable' (but for different reasons) and `So Beautiful'.

13 Songs: Great Southern Land

Doesn't this absolute classic just give you chills? Songs like `Great Southern Land' don't come along often but somehow you just feel Australia in the sound and the words.

``Standing at the limit of an endless ocean, stranded like a runaway, lost at sea. City on a rainy day down in the harbour watching as the grey clouds shadow the bay. Looking everywhere 'cause I had to find you, this is not the way that i remember it here. Anyone will tell you its a prisoner island, hidden in the summer for a million years. Great Southern Land.''

Icehouse have always been great and I believe may be about to reform for a series of concerts. This song would be compulsory. My other favourite is `Crazy' from the Man Of Colours CD, come to think of it most of that CD was awesome.

Back at New Year's Eve 1999/2000 I was fortunate enough to score tickets to the Opera House party and Iva Davies performed a 20 minute orchestral version of Great Southern Land that just had to be heard to be fully captured. It kept true to the song but lifted it to another level.

Also, yesterday this song was voted the best rock song of the 1980's on radio Triple M. Good choice.

13 Songs: Lift

Man did `Lift' come a long at a time when I really needed one.
Released late last year, the title track to Shannon Noll's second CD really struck a chord with me with its uplifting message of perseverence and of moving on.

``You've got to lift yourself up above all the hurt don't give in
``Wipe your eyes and remember you're better than this
``Let them know that they took their best shot and they missed, come on and lift
``Cos I know how hard it can get but you've gotta lift, you've gotta lift.
``And sometimes that's how it is but I know you're stronger
``Stronger than this. You've gotta lift.''

This isn't the greatest song of all time or anything like that but it really does give me a lift. When I was listening to it in the car on the way to work today it gave me a boost when I needed one.
The Lift CD is really a big improvement on his rushed debut which still contained the wonderful `What About Me', `Learn To Fly' and `Wise'.
I only ever voted once in Australian Idol and it was for Shannon Noll in the final. He didn't win but history has proven that the winner doesn't always do the best.

Stomp

I can't let the opportunity go by to say what a great night it was at Star City last night watching `Stomp'. It's just amazing that the team managed to create rhythm using all manner of inanimate objects like plastic bags, garbage bins, chairs, and a host of other things.
I have found myself tapping along against walls and my chair, or just tapping my feet, at various times today. Thanks to News for providing the tickets!

13 Songs: What About Me

I was eight years old when `What About Me' came out in 1983 - I loved it then and I still love it now. I guess I always felt like the `little boy standing at the counter of the corner shop'.
Of course this classic has recently been covered by Shannon Noll and while it's not a patch on the original it's still a great song.

``And now I'm standing on the corner, all the world's gone home. Nobody's changed, nobody's been saved. And I'm feeling cold and alone. I guess I'm lucky, I smile a lot. But sometimes I wish for more than I've got...''

What makes the original the better version (and, really which cover version of any song betters the original? There may be the odd exception but there always is) is that it comes across as more genuinely emotive than the remake. As much as I liked hearing Shannon Noll's version the last couple of years it does sound a bit karaoke when you compare to Moving Pictures.
Another point of interest, Moving Pictures was a precursor to the band 1927 which I have mentioned previously.

13 Songs: The Other Side

Aussie band 1927 are best known for their ...ish album of the late 80s but it was their second CD that contained their most significant song, for me anyway.

`The Other Side' is a heartfelt song of love lost and realising that you're looking at that person from a different perspective and that relationship is gone.

``You were the girl, the girl that no-one ever really knew. I was the one. The one I thought you cared about. I thought it was the only love that ever existed. Maybe I'm only dreaming about tyou. You never ever really cared....Now I'm standing on the other side, the other side from you. Why'd you ever go and leave me all alone feeling blue.''

This song is significant because when I was in high school I had a friend (I guess we're still friends now but haven't seen each other for about four years) who told me about a relationship he had and that this song reminded him of it. I always remembered that and he is in part responsible for me making big changes throughout my mid-teens.

1927 only released three CDs and had two line-up changes in that time. I saw them a couple of times live in Sydney around 2001 and were still great. The third CD was probably the weaker of their three but still contained a couple of great tracks like `It Ain't Love' and `Scars'. Aside from this song my other favourite 1927 tracks are `A Day Like Today', `That's When I Think Of You' and `Compulsory Hero'.

13 Songs: Everything

If this song, `Everything', isn't powerful praise to God then I haven't heard it. This song moves me everytime I hear it and I can't hear it enough. Jason Wade, take a bow this is six minutes you'll never regret spending with a CD player.
Lifehouse are of course best known for their hit `Hanging By A Moment' of about six years ago but that song, as good as it is, is nowhere near their best song.
That title goes to `Everything' and by a country mile. I remember the first time I heard it after buying the CD and initially I thought it was a nice song until at around 3 minutes 40 seconds the song exploded. Then you look deeper.
Here's some lyrics, I'd love to put the whole song here but it would be too long.
``Find me here, speak to me. I want to feel you, I need to hear you
``You are the light, that's leading me. To the place, where I find peace again
``You are the strength, that keeps me walking. You are the hope, that keeps me trusting
``You are the life, into my soul. You are my purpose, you are everything
``And how can I stand here with you and not be moved by you.
``Would you tell me how could it be any better than this...''
I've been fortunate enough to see Lifehouse once in concert in 2001 but they only had a seven song set and played five from their second CD and only Hanging and `Sick Cycle Carousel' from their first. The third CD, which has been largely ignored here, contains the awesome `Come Back Down', my second favourite Lifehouse track and the single `You And Me'.

Theology by Homer Jay

Caught this the other day...classic Simpsons.
Lisa: Dad, remember how you said going to Itchy and Scratchy Land would be too damned expensive?
Homer: Oh everything's too damned expensive these days. Look at this bible I just got - 15 bucks! And talk about a preachy book, everyone's a sinner. Except for this guy.''
(From Itchy and Scratchy Land episode)

13 Songs: Walk On

It was always going to be a matter of which U2 song do I love the most. In the end it has to be `Walk On', particularly when you consider Bono chose to end the Elevation tour with this song and, to my mind, with good reason.

The first time I heard Walk On, with its emotive lyric and the message of perseverence, I thought it was an instant classic. `And if the darkness is to keep us apart, and if the daylight feels like it's a long way off, and if your glass heart should crack and for a second you turn back. Oh no, be strong.''

The All That You Can't Leave Behind CD was a return to best form for U2, proving that even though they're more than 20 years old as a band, and even though they experimented, they knew returning to their roots would bring about renewed success. Not that they needed to but we're all glad, I'm sure, that they did.

As with most U2 songs there's a religious aspect to consider and Walk On is no different. Close runners-up in consideration for this list include `With Or Without You' and `I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For'.

Cars

OK, it's official. Pixar can do no wrong.
They've done it with toys, bugs, monsters, fish, superheros and now cars. The latest Pixar film is a worthy follow up to the brilliant Finding Nemo and the excellent The Incredibles. The way they gave personality and character to cars was just exceptional and I can't believe the reviews have been lukewarm.
The movie focuses on the rookie race car on the block, Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson) who gets displaced on the way to the championship race in LA in a small town on Route 66 called Radiator Springs. He's a selfish `one car show' and he learns something about humility and caring for others while he is forced to repair a road he damaged on arrival.
It's very funny and for the close observer there's a lot of fun things to be seen in the background. If there's anything wrong it's that it was a shade long at two hours. You must sit through the credits - there's a hilarious segment sending up the previous Pixar movies midway through.
Also a taste of things to come with a preview of the next film, Ratatouille.
Well, Margaret, I'm giving this 8.5 out of 10.....

13 Songs: Not Myself

John Mayer would have to be the finest musician/songwriter of his generation. With both his commercial solo albums he has crafted perfect pop tinged with the bittersweet. `Not Myself' is a simple track, just over three minutes, from the Room For Squares CD with words used sparingly but emotively.

`Suppose I said I am on my best behaviour, but there are times I lose my worried mind. Would you want me when I'm not myself, wait it out while I am someone else.''

I loved this song instantly and it remains my favourite John Mayer song. I only wish he had played it at the concert I went to at the Hordern a couple of years ago.

Mayer's second CD, Heavier Things, contained only 10 songs but nine of them were crackers including the similarly bittersweet `Wheel'. His first release, an EP called Inside Wants Out contained probably his next best song `Comfortable' which hasn't really been commercially seen except on a live CD.

My 13 songs

Having finished reading Nick Hornby's wonderful 31 Songs, I now begin posting the music that has affected me, changed me, moved me or that I like for inexplicable reasons. I have chosen 13 songs as opposed to Hornby's 31 for two reasons: if I did 31 that would just be copying and 31 is far too many anyway.
The following songs will not make the countdown:
The Ketchup Song (although I like it for inexplicable reasons)
Any song by Milli Vanilli
5,6,7,8 (if you were at our church trivia night in '03 you'll know I know the dance steps)

The big C

Ok, so last week I eluded to this week (19th-24th June) being an important week. Well, not that you'd know it but it's awareness week for the Crohn's and Colitis association of Australia.
When I was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease about 14 months ago I really didn't know what it was. I'd heard the name once or twice but paid little attention. I find that to be most people's experience.
Now, I'm intimately aware of what it is and how it can affect you. As it is awareness week I'd really like to do my bit to raise awareness about these conditions and I'm trying to work something out with the paper (Telegraph) to run some kind of story. I don't really want to be a spokesman or poster boy but I guess if I have to do it myself I will.
I'm not going to go into the details about the condition here, if you want to know more check out http://www.acca.net.au or do a web search.
About this time last year I was convinced I had no future. I was struggling health-wise and my spiritual life took a battering. I've just been reading back through my sporadically updated diary and I realise that I've come a long way. Even though people would say I'd get through it, including my doctor, it was difficult to see. It was a very alienating experience and all I could see was what I had lost.
Obviously I'm still here and I have got through the difficult period and while I'm still in some ways counting the cost of what has happened my outlook has improved. I have to say that God did give me strength when I didn't think I possessed it.
I don't know when, if at all, it will recur (such is the nature of chronic conditions) and I'm not sure if I'll be prepared. I don't know if you can be prepared - it's like waiting for rain when the forecase is chance of a shower.
One thing has has struck me in the last week, though, was an interview on the Biography Channel with Olympic diver Greg Louganis. As you may know, he was diagnosed with HIV some 20 years ago. Anyway, one thing he said struck a chord with me.
He said some people make HIV their career, whereas he's worked hard to incorporate what has happened into his lifestyle. I guess that's what I'm aiming for, I don't want to make the condition the defining part of me, I just want to learn to live with it since I know that is possible.
I'm not there yet. But I think I'm somewhere on that road.

Woo-Hoo!!!

With season 18 getting underway soon in the USA, I discovered that the teaser trailer for The Simpsons movie (out July 2007) is available for those interested at http://www.nohomers.net (you need quicktime to see it and I don't have quicktime - D'Oh). Season 8 is also due for release soon (will they ever catch up).

Of course, if you ask some people, The Simpsons jumped the shark long ago (see pic, and if you don't know what that means it all started in Happy Days when Fonzie jumped a shark, many people said from that point the show had passed it's best). But it's still better than most things on the box, even if it's not as consistently funny as it used to be.

Homer: `Aah beer. My one weakness. My achillies heel if you will.''

The Fast and the Furious

For a bit of light, brainless entertainment I saw The Fast And The Furious: Tokyo Drift last night - and it wasn't bad at all. OK, so I'm the last person anyone would accuse of being a rev-head but the first two movies were awesome. Sadly, Tokyo Drift doesn't fall in that category but it was nonetheless a bit of fun.
For an extra 70 cents we were upgraded to Silverscreen, which I had never been to before, and if you get the chance I'd say go for it. Only, don't get a seat too far up the back because it feels like you're miles from the screen. But the reclining chairs and more exotic food and drink available made it a great experience.
As for the movie, it lacked the charisma of its predeccesors but the race scenes were pretty out there, such is the craze of drifting so I'm told.
The lead character Sean (played by Lucas Black) had a very thick southern accent and it took a while to get used to. The original characters Brian (Paul Walker) and Dom (Vin Diesel) were so much more interesting and that was what I missed. (Although Vin Diesel does make a great cameo in Tokyo Drift, illustrating just what was missing).
Having said all that I had a great time. And that's what going to the movies is all about.

What women want

I was very disappointed when I saw this article the Oz today. Check it out for yourself at http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,19473589-28737,00.html

I realise this is a secular publication and therefore has that world view but do women really look at what a man does and how much he earns above what kind of person he is? I reckon it's hard enough starting relationships without this kind of world view getting in the way.

Collector's edition

I'm gonna have to do some saving in the coming month or two. That's the downside of being both a collector and a film and TV nerd. The explosion of TV series being released on DVD continues with some of my favourite shows from the 90s getting a release in the next three months. Also going to have to create some more space among the collection.
The must haves: Party Of Five, Beverly Hills 90210 and season 5 of Ally McBeal.
Temptations: Lois & Clark, Melrose Place.
Then there's One Tree season 3 and movies such as Capote, Brokeback Mountain, a special edition of Crash (which I haven't bought yet), and I'm sure there are more.

New bible study

The first meeting of the News Limited bible study happened today and although I wasn't able to attend for the entire hour the time I spent there was valuable. It's great to know there are other Christians around the building, in fact I've spoken to one of the guys on a regular basis and didn't know he was a Christian. So it's great that it's finally happened here and I'm looking forward to seeing how it progresses.

Three months is a long time...

Good news and bad news.
Season 3 of One Tree Hill is down for a September 26 release in the USA and that seems like such a long way off. From the two episodes I've seen it's going to be a crackerjack season but as I have stated elsewhere we're not even half-way through season 1 on TV here.
If you were ever addicted to shows like Beverly Hills 90210 or Dawson's Creek (go on, admit it)do yourself a favour and check out One Tree Hill.

Next week...

You know how they have Red Nose Day, Daffodil Day, Bike Safety Week etc? Well, next week is a pretty important week for me.....

31 Songs

I've just started reading the book 31 Songs by Nick Hornby and it has started well. (Thanks to Nathan Scoular for lending me the book as I didn't know it existed - what kind of Hornby fan am I - and it's great to have another Hornby enthusiast around). It will no doubt inspire me to collate a list of the songs I love and that have changed me in some way, either good or bad, but I think I will keep it to around 10 otherwise no-one will read it and I don't think I'll actually write it.

The Break-Up

After reading a positive review I took myself off yesterday to see the film `The Break-Up', starring Vince Vaughan and Jennifer Aniston.
I'm not really sure what I expected. I knew it wasn't going to be a romantic comedy but some kind of comedy at least. It almost bordered on a tragedy. Watching the couple, Gary and Brooke, disintegrate on screen is a shade un-unerving. I certainly wouldn't recommend this as a date movie or as a movie to see if your relationship is on shaky ground.
They both refuse to move out of their condo with Gary claiming the living room as his own, even going as far as buying the pool table Brooke didn't let him buy when they moved in because the place was too small. She then goes on dates with other guys hoping that Gary will be jealous and realise what he was losing. One of the dates turns out to like Gary's computer games more than Brooke, it seems.
Without giving too much away I was a little perplexed by the ending. On one hand it wasn't your typical Hollywood ending but on the other I'm not sure I have closure. Giving this a 7/10, it was good, very funny in parts particularly early, but just not outstanding.

Random Simpsons quote #1 and 2

Homer: ``OK, let's make a pact. This is gonna be the best vacation ever or we all agree to disband and join other families''. (From Itchy and Scratchy Land episode).

Homer: ``It's times like this I wish I was a religious man''.
Reverend Lovejoy: ``It's all over people, we don't have a prayer''.
(From Bart's Comet episode)

Goodbye Alice In Wonderland

``Truth is stranger than fiction, this is my chance to get it right
Life is much better, without all of those pretty lies
So goodbye Alice in Wonderland, goobye Yellow Brick Road
There is a difference between dreaming and pretending
These are not tears in my eyes, they are only a reflection
Of my lonely mind finding what's been missing in my life''. (from Jewel's Goodbye Alice In Wonderland)

...I'm not sure I have found what's been missing.
I was listening to this CD on the way home from work tonight and these words struck me. I wonder if I'm a pretender, I know I'm a dreamer, but I don't know what I'm looking for....

Things that are important to me...

1. Being right with God
2. Finding contentment, happiness, love or whatever makes you sleep soundly at night.
3. Living a life that is worthwhile to God and to others.
4. Staying healthy.
5. Spending time with friends and getting to know them better.
6. My nephew Joshua's future.
7. Not letting work rule my life (Scott Powell said to me once that we work to live not live to work - hi nixter)

Random Futurama quote #1

Fry: "That's not why people watch TV. Clever things make people feel stupid and unexpected things make them feel scared."

A day's work

For those of you who don't know what I do (I know not many frequently read the racing pages)there's a sample of my work from Friday, published in the Daily Telegraph on Saturday and on Fox Sports at http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,19422010-32343,00.html

The 2005 Raymo awards

For those movie fans out there here's my reviews of the year that was 2005. I'm up to 17 films in 2006 with some promise ahead for good viewing.

1. Wallace & Gromit: The Curse Of The Were-Rabbit
You’ve just got to love Gromit. Despite never saying a word you know exactly what he’s thinking – this is the mark of a true genius storyteller. Added to that the movie is really funny, but it is my experience that you either love the English style of humour or you don’t. Fantastic, inventive, hilarious, a winner!
2. Mysterious Skin
"The summer I was eight years old, five hours disappeared from my life. Five hours, lost, gone without a trace..." 18-year-old Brian Lackey (Brady Corbet), growing up in Kansas, is plagued by nightmares. Brian believes that he may have been the victim of an alien abduction. Local Neil McCormick (Joseph Gordon Levitt) holds the key to the lost time.’’
Easily the most moving film of the year but also the most disturbing. It definitely isn’t everyone’s cup of tea and I wouldn’t say rush out and see it. Some scenes are hard to watch but it was a small price to pay. If it wasn’t so disturbing it’d be number one (also got 9/10 from me like W&G)
3. Closer
Another awesomely made movie with a great cast but none better than Clive Owen as Larry. Also features Jude Law (Dan), Natalie Portman (Alice) and Julia Roberts (Anna). Best described as a love triangle between four people whose lives intersect over a period of years. You have to watch closely but the performances are fantastic and it just draws you in and doesn’t let go until the end. A close third.
4. Kinsey
Many will have heard of Kinsey’s studies into human sexuality and this is a sort of biographical account of his life’s work. Liam Neeson and Laura Linney are fantastic and the support cast includes Chris O’Donnell, John Lithgow and the always great Peter Sarsgaard. A little slow to begin but it’s another quality movie, well acted and thoroughly enjoyable.
5. The Machinist
Anyone who saw Batman Begins would be surprised to see Christian Bale in this masterpiece. He lost 30kg to play the role of Trevor Reznik, a machinist who hasn’t slept in a year (you find out why in the movie) and is beginning to freak out as he doubts his own sanity when he starts seeing people who turn out to not be there. Bale is just brilliant, he’s creepy and difficult to look at but you have to like him. The shots of him before he lost all the weight really make the effort even more astounding.

Honourable mentions: The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe (loved it thoroughly), Sideways, Batman Begins, The Dukes Of Hazzard (gave it 8/10 because it was just so entertaining), Broken Flowers and Wedding Crashers.
Oh, and how could I forget Star Wars: Revenge Of The Sith – it wasn’t the best of the six but it was pretty entertaining despite the poor script and acting.
Flop of the year: The Brothers Grimm. Don’t you just hate it when someone takes a great idea and completely stuffs it up. On the plus side Heath Ledger was very good, a sign of things to come in 2006.

Outrageous

I heard on the radio this morning that Hillsong will be charging $5 for ticketed entry into the Hillsong Nights at their conference next month. I couldn't believe it. I know it always used to be touch and go whether you got in before on the first come first served basis but the best thing about it was it was free. I know five bucks isn't a big deal but it could be seen as just another money making exercise.
Disappointing and it may make me think twice about going this year. It's always an awesome atmosphere and if you have to pay it might discourage someone who is questioning Christianity from going. Since when did you have to pay to get into church?

Coping with anxiety

Anxiety is something that isn't often discussed in mainstream media so it was great to read about it in Southern Cross's June edition. To check it out go to http://www.sydneyanglicans.net
Personally, I have battled with anxiety a bit in the last year or so. It's a strange thing because often you don't believe you actually are anxious about anything but are feeling the symptoms. I may well be wrong but I relate anxiety a bit to phobias in that it is an irrational fear. That at least is what my experience is. I know in my mind that there is nothing to worry about or that nothing is wrong with me but I get scared that because I feel something strange it means bad things. Maybe this means going to the doctor to ensure the thing you feel in your chest isn't a heart attack coming. Maybe it's just being overly cautious and preventing yourself from enjoying an event.
Anxiety is often misunderstood as well, and supporting someone who is suffering an attack or an episode of anxiety is really important. The last thing I want is to be told to just get over it.

Obscure quote of the day

From season 3 episode 2 of Friends - The One Where No-One's Ready.

Chandler: `You know what's weird. Donald Duck never wore pants. But whenever he gets out of the shower he puts a towel around his waist. I mean, what's that about?'

Couldn't help myself...

You Are Cookie Monster

Misunderstood as a primal monster, you're a true hedonist with a huge sweet tooth. You are usually feeling: Hungry. Cookies are preferred, but you'll eat anything if cookies aren't around. You are famous for: Your slightly crazy eyes and usual way of speaking How you life your life: In the moment. "Me want COOKIE!"

The Sesame Street Personality Quiz

I thought I might as well go for Sesame Street as well, and I'm pretty happy. Cookie Monster is so cool!

Wocka Wocka

You Are Fozzie Bear

"Wocka! Wocka!"You're the life of the party, and you love making people crack up.If only your routine didn't always bomb!You may find more groans than laughs, but always keep the jokes coming.

The Muppet Personality Test

I must say I'm a little surprised. But it could be worse, I could be Miss Piggy.

PS. I don't know why the link doesn't work to the test but it's http://www.blogthings.com/themuppetpersonalitytest/

Go One Tree!

A racehorse named One Tree Hill won the first race at Coffs Harbour today! I actually tipped it to win in the paper this morning and it paid $5.20 for the in so I'm pretty happy about it! Could have been the omen tip of the day as I watched episodes 1 and 2 of season 3 of One Tree Hill on Thursday night.

Breakfast At Tiffany's

It may come as a surprise to some but until this week I had never seen the 1961 classic `Breakfast At Tiffany's', starring Audrey Hepburn of course. Man how romantic comedies have changed. I didn't really know what to expect and was happy to discover it was in colour. Overall I enjoyed it, although I found Holly Golightly to be a very shallow character. If you haven't seen it, it's worth a look and does give most of today's rom-com's a run for their money.

CD's revisited: Michael Jackson's History

I decided to pull out an old CD from the collection for my trip to work this morning and elected to play Michael Jackson's best-of collection HIStory. You may recall it consists of a greatest hits disc and 13 new songs. Someone should sit down with Michael, if that's what you do, and make him listen to some of his greatest hits and some of those new songs. I say that because they are classic Michael Jackson and he should revisit them if he is to resurrect his career. Take a leaf out of Bono's book. U2 went back to their classic sound on All That You Can't Leave Behind and it was one of their best ever.
The classic Jackson speaks for itself. Of the new tracks, when that CD was released, I particularly love `You Are Not Alone', `Stranger In Moscow' and his thumping cover of the Beatles classic `Come Together'. Come on Michael, if you're gonna be serious about music, have a look at why they called you the King Of Pop!

My thoughts on gambling

I've been asked my position on gambling a few times and I don't have an issue with it to a point. As I work in that industry, technically, and am a Christian it would be easy to make a case for conflict there.
Bascially, it's all about how you spend your money.
I have an amount I spend each week on gambling, only on horse racing not poker machines, and fortunately I win more often than not. (Some of you may not be surprised by that statement, but I think I'm good at my job). However, I'm certainly not in a position to retire.
For me the interest is horse racing and having a few dollars on the horses I like doesn't pose any issue for me. I still give to my church, to missionaries and am involved in Christian life etc. The gambling is a hobby, horse racing is a passion. Some of you may know that every year I have a month where I don't bet at all.
There were no more exciting days for me than last year's Melbourne Cup. Even though I don't think it is the greatest race we have in Australia it was special in 2005 because we saw something that no horse will ever do again, and that's win 3 Cups.
That's an aside. If gambling reaches a point where it's more than a hobby, more than you can afford, that's where it is wrong. Some people spend their leisure money going on hikes, bike riding, movies (that I'm also guilty of), alcohol and clubbing, you get my point.
It would be wrong to assume on face value that if someone does gamble that they are a horrible sinner.
That's judging and is not for us to do.