Thursday, March 10, 2011

RT5

Libya is falling, Libya is falling!  Actually, just bring down Gadafi/Khadafi/Gawdawful and the world will be happy.  I know I will.

There's something about the early part of every year that's recurrently painful to me.  Whether it's a stomach virus (got it), teeth problems (broke a molar, subsequently got it pulled, dry socket ensues), or a sinus infection (not yet... but I'm sure it's coming, happens every year), or all the above, I've learned to brace myself when January comes around.

So, now they've found something else in pop that causes cancer.  Carmel coloring (although real doctors say you have to consume 10,000 cans of pop a day to get the toxic effects... good thing I only drink 9,999).  I don't know about you folks, but I'm getting tired of the flippant finger pointing by health 'officials' being killjoys about just about everything food related.  Remember peanut butter and cancer?  Poison apples causing it?  Red dye in candies?  Sucralose?  Hey, if you're not scared enough, just watch Dr. Oz.  I'm sure having a shit will cause cancer soon enough too.  As will breathing and blinking.

Is anyone out there at all watching American Idol anymore?  Naw, me neither.

I hear some jobs opened up with Canada Post recently.  I couldn't be less interested.  Love the job I have and the people I work with.

Is a guy wearing pink STILL a crime for Pete's sake?

It's a little tough getting some regularity going with gym attendance, but I'm getting there.  Long work hours are beginning to shorten, now I just have to stay healthy.  I sure love a good workout.

My original outlook on Michael Ignatieff being the ideal leader for the Liberal Party here in Canada seems to be cloudy.  He supports too many far-right ideals for my liking, and not the ones I like.  I actually like the Conservatives, just not Stephen Harper and most of his cronies.  Neither do I like David Alward.  I do think Prime Minister Danny Williams or Prime Minister Bernard Lord both have nice rings to them though.  Notice both are Conservatives.

U2 is coming!  I didn't think it would happen because of the stage logistics, but apparently Moncton's willing to accomodate.  We have seats 'behind' the 360 (or 'round') stage.  Even if the view is limited, we're still close and we're still SITTING.  In reserved seats.  And they were less than $40 each!  To any U2 doubters... do not underestimate the power of a U2 show.  This isn't the Rolling Stones, Bon Jovi, The Eagles, etc.  This is an emotionally involving, spiritual, up-with-people event with four of the most top notch and influential musicians in rock and roll today, with an endless list of hits everyone knows.

Anxiously awaiting a few movies, namely "Battle:  LA", "Apollo 18" and "Super 8", and further down the road my staples "Batman:  The Dark Knight Rises" and "The Amazing Spiderman"; further still, the new "Superman".  These are all films I want to see on the big screen.  The dramas and romcoms or what have you are all small screen stuff for me.

Is it just me, or is our city council really dragging its heels on a lot of things, like a new civic center, the police force, Power Center development, the Killam Drive/Collishaw rotary and God knows what else?  I've never seen the Moncton City Hall act so slowly on so many issues.  And talk about fumbling the ball on the concert site last year.  Not one show, yet so many millions keep getting pumped into the place.  The U2 event will be the first one in two years.  Unacceptable.  There are plenty of touring bands, both last summer and this one, or any summer really.

Speaking of which, there's plenty more acts to chase.  People will come out in droves to see Bruce Springsteen, Bob Seger, Tom Petty, Coldplay, the Billy Joel/Elton John double bill, Dave Matthews, Metallica, Van Halen, etc.

The Cars are back together.  Probably my favorite pop band of all time.  They're just a foursome now I think, with Ben Orr having passed away several years ago, God rest his soul, but I'm just happy to know a new album is coming out in May and maybe, just maybe, they'll come around these parts on a tour.  Although they're not known for their touring much.

Kicking myself in the ass for not bringing home more of Bush's Beans from our Bangor trip, especially the Bourbon and Brown Sugar one.  Don't worry if you hear trumpets in the air, it's not the end of the world, just the by-product of my eating this newly discovered treat of mine.  Wait... Bangor's Bush's Bourbon Brown Sugar Beans.  5 times fast... say it.

"On the next Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew... Lindsay Lohan and Charlie Sheen."  Make it happen, powers-that-be!  They already announced the new cast, so it'll have to be next time.  If those two are still alive.  On second thought... I think I'm suffering an OD of my own, on Charlie Sheen news.  And I wasn't even seeking it out.  Cancel that order.

Lent has started, and we're giving up red meat again.  It's a lot tougher than it sounds for us meat lovers.  We celebrate every Easter Sunday with nicely barbecued prime rib steaks.

Ever get that feeling, "I should've kept my big mouth shut"?  I usually keep mine firmly closed, but my fingers on the qwerty need shutting up too sometimes.  Especially when it comes to giving unsolicited advice.  To any I've done this to, I'll try harder to be less nimble on the MacBook keyboard.

I think what I'll do here on Ragnar is post links to things that I really like, rather than stick them on facebook and clutter everyone's updates.  I find something everyday that I like, but lately refrain from posting them on fb and it's driving me nuts!  I need an outlet.

The new Spidey movie is filming right now, for release next summer.  Can't wait to see the trailers... but there's no J Jonah Jameson in the movie???  MAJOR WTF.  And the costume looks awfully emo to me. I'm concerned... but we'll see.  On the other hand... The Dark Knight Rises is looking really interesting, and they haven't even started filming yet.  It's going to tie in to Batman Begins and the League of Shadows angle, along with Bane and Talia al Ghul, Ra's daughter (Ra's was killed in Begins).  Gary Oldman's read much of the script, and thinks this will even outdo The Dark Knight.  Excited!

In the meantime, I WAS excited about seeing Battle:  Los Angeles until the reviews came out, calling it a mindless video game movie.  Rotten Tomatoes gave it a very low rating.  I'll save my cash.  I am looking forward to Apollo 18 though, and Super 8.  Not terribly optimistic about Thor or The Avengers.

One of my favorite prayers at church, with the congregation, with anecdotes:   I confess to Almighty God, and you, my brothers and sisters, that I have sinned through my own fault.  In my thoughts and in my words (applies very much lately...but 'in my thoughts'?  That covers a LOT), in what I have done, and in what I have failed to do.  (Trying to cut down on the 'what I have done' part, especially now that Lent is here, and the 'what I have failed to do' part is pretty haunting)  And I ask the Blessed Mary, every virgin (non Catholics, RELAX... we're not praying to Mary, but appealing to her to help us through her Son), all the angels and saints, and you, my brothers and sisters, to pray for me to the Lord our God.

When I say that prayer I say it with a whole lot of thought and meaning, and wonder how many actually do, rather than just recite it blankly.  I really like my parish, St. Bernard's, because there is no condescension whatsoever.  It's very welcoming and it's quite full every mass I go to, bucking the trend of people leaving the church.

That's all I can think of talking about right now.  Thanks for coming by.  I really, really do appreciate it.