Merrick Christmas

Went to dinner last night with our parish priest, Father Jim, and the pastoral council and finance council at Merrick inn. It was nice to be able to go on a "date" with Kathy and even nicer that Father Jim was picking up the tab. We were seated upstairs in two separate rooms. Naturally the PC ate together and the FC ate in the other room, but as people came in, they really had to find seats where they could, so some PC members were in the other room.

I ordered the Blackened Angus Sirlois and Kathy had the Pork Medallions. The only downfall was that we ate at 8:00 and didn't get back to get the kids from the in-laws until 11:30. ade it pretty rough this morning wen we all had to get up for school/work. A good evening. Thanks Father Jim.

Catholic Guide to Disney's Narnia Film Now Available

I'd like to have this kind of guide for every movie.

Herald Sun: Catholic Limbo ruling in limbo [30nov05]

Herald Sun: Catholic Limbo ruling in limbo [30nov05]: "Catholic Limbo ruling in limbo"

Crowds Flock to "Crying" Virgin Mary

One nun characterized it best: "It's a call for us to change ourselves, to love one another."

Read about it.

Most Quotable Comedy of 1989

Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure

As the last entry in this decade's Most Quotable Comedies, BTEA was a hard choice. By this time, I wasn't quoting many movies, nor did I have much time to watch them.

If I had to pick one from 1989, this is as good as any. Here are some great lines from this picture:

"Everything is different, but the same... things are more moderner than before... bigger, and yet smaller... it's computers... San Dimas High School football rules."

"It seems to me the only thing you've learned is that Caesar is a 'salad dressing dude.'"

"Excellent."

I hope this was an excellent adventure for all of you. It was fun for me to do.

If you have any ideas, suggestions or comments, please feel free.

Most Quotable Comedy of 1988

Beetlejuice

This is one my wife's and my favorite movies. It's not just the quotes that make it great; the music is very god as well.

This is Michael Keaton's second appearance in my Most Quotable Comedies of the 80s list. I think he is a very underrated actor, both serious and comic.

Some of the great lines:

"Barb, honey... we're dead. I don't think we have very much to worry about anymore."

"Ah. Well... I attended Juilliard... I'm a graduate of the Harvard business school. I travel quite extensively. I lived through the Black Plague and had a pretty good time during that. I've seen the EXORCIST ABOUT A HUNDRED AND SIXTY-SEVEN TIMES, AND IT KEEPS GETTING FUNNIER EVERY SINGLE TIME I SEE IT... NOT TO MENTION THE FACT THAT YOU'RE TALKING TO A DEAD GUY... NOW WHAT DO YOU THINK? You think I'm qualified?"

"I'm the ghost with the most, babe."

"You can't scare her, she's sleeping with Prince Valium tonight."

Last movie - tomorrow!

Most Quotable Comedy of 1987

Spaceballs

A spoof of Star Wars made by Mel Brooks was destined to be quotable. A hilarius parody that I often feel odd explaining to my 9 year old son. Nevertheless, some great one-liners:

"I'm a mog: half man, half dog. I'm my own best friend!"

"So, Lone Starr, at last we meet again for the first time for the last time."

"And may the schwartz be with you!"

"Prepare ship for ludicrous speed! Fasten all seatbelts, seal all entrances and exits, close all shops in the mall, cancel the three ring circus, secure all animals in the zoo!"

Happy Thanksgiving!

Most Quotable Comedy of 1986

Ferris Bueller's Day Off

Didn't we all wish we could skip a a day of school like Ferris? Matthew Broderick makes it look so easy - being so cool.

"Hey, Cameron. You realize if we played by the rules right now we'd be in gym?"

"Pardon my French, but Cameron is so tight that if you stuck a lump of coal up his ice, in two weeks you'd have a diamond."

"Life moves pretty fast. You don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it."

Gotta go - short on time...

Most Quotable Comedy of 1985

Better Off Dead

I use lines from this movie every week. Pretty pathetic, eh? John Cusack is a high school student with more problems than he can deal with. He's been dumped by a girl he's obsessed with, has been challended to ski the K-12 ("You ski the K-12 dude, and girls will go sterile just looking at you!") and is being stalked by the paperboy ("I want my two dollars!"). Great movie!

Most Quotable Comedy of 1984

Johnny Dangerously

There aren't many people I know who realy liked this movie. I caught it on cable a few years after it came out in the theaters and thought it was the funniest thing I ever saw. Its slapstick of language. Full of one-liners. Satire and parody at its best.

This Michael Keaton's first mention in this list, but it won't be his last (forshadowing yet again). Joe Piscapo is great as the psychopath Danny Vermin. Some quotes of mention (they don't even need to be set up - they are funny on their own):

Danny Vermin: You shouldn't grab me, Johnny. My mother grabbed me once... ONCE!

Danny Vermin: Dames are put on this earth to weaken us, drain our energy, laugh at us when they see us naked.

Danny Vermin: I've been fulfilling a lot of people's prophecies about me; I've become a real scumbag.

Johnny Dangerously: You got those. I like those on a woman.

Roman Moroni: You fargin sneaky bastage. I'm gonna take your dwork. I'm gonna nail it to the wall. I'm gonna crush your boils in a meat grinder. I'm gonna cut off your arms. I'm gonna shove 'em up your icehole. Dirty son-a-ma-batches. My own club! (This is not edited. It's how he really pronounces them)

Most Quotable Comedy of 1983

Vacation

This is a classic. I think my brother likes it much more than I do, but I still think it is very funny. Though there are many quotes from this movie worthy of being listed, I'm only going to share one (edited at that since this is a family-friendly blog). This quote sums up the entire movie and illustrates the tension which is typical of any long family outing:

Clark (Chevy Chase) to his family:
"I think you're all farged in the head. We're ten hours from the farging fun park and you want to bail out. Well I'll tell you something. This is no longer a vacation. It's a quest. It's a quest for fun. I'm gonna have fun and you're gonna have fun. We're all gonna have so much farging fun we'll need plastic surgeory to remove our goshdarn smiles. You'll be whistling 'Zip-A-Dee Doo-Dah' out of you're iceholes! I gotta be crazy! I'm on a pilgrimage to see a moose. Praise Marty Moose! Holy Ship!"

The editing is forshadowing..........

Most Quotable Comedy of 1982

Fast Times at Ridgemont High

Fast Times came out my sophmore year in high school, and was, by far, the MOST quoted movie for those last three years. With one-liners like the following, FT was fodder for our limited time in the hallway between classes.

From Sean Penn's character, Jeff Spicoli -

"All I need are some tasty waves, a cool buzz, and I'm fine."

"Relax, alright? My old man is a television repairman, he's got this ultimate set of tools. I can fix it."

"So what Jefferson was saying was "Hey! You know, we left this England place because it was bogus. So if we don't get some cool rules ourselves, pronto, we'll just be bogus too." Yeah?"

And Mike Damone's fifth point of his "Five Point Plan":

"And five, now this is the most important, Rat. When it comes down to making out, whenever possible, put on side one of Led Zeppelin IV."

Except, here was the problem with the movie at this point. I was a huge Led Zep fan and was was excited to hear the reference to this awesome album. Unfortunately, the scene immediately cut to a car scene with Zeppelin playing "Kashmir" which was off their 1975 album, Physical Graffiti.

Tomorrow we'll reveal 1983's MQC!

Most Quotable Comedy of 1981

Stripes

Stripes is by far one of the best movies I have ever seen. This is Bill Murray's second movie in my Most Quotable Comedies of the 1980s series. He's 2 for 2 for a very good reason. With lines like:

"Lee Harvey, you are a madman. When you stole that cow, and your friend tried to make it with the cow. I want to party with you, cowboy."

Let us not forget the comic genius of the straight man, Harold Ramis when asked if he or Bill Murray are homosexuals by the recuiter:

"No, we're not homosexual, but we are willing to learn."

I cannot remember the fist time I saw this movie. I do not think it was in the theater, but it very well could have been. One of the finest comedies of all time.

And that's a fact, Jack.

Any ideas for tomorrow's movie?

Most Quotable Comedy of 1980

Caddyshack

This was the firstR-rated movie I ever saw at the theater. Granted, I'd had been sneaking late at night to watch Rs on the TV on Showtime in the family room. In 7th grade I was allowed to go see this film with an older kid up the street.

Quotes for everyday use abound in this movie. Quips like:

"That's the worst looking hat I ever saw. What, when you buy a hat like this I bet you get a free bowl of soup, huh? O, it looks good on you though." (then Dangerfield does his famous eyeroll)

Or who could forget Bill Murry's character Carl Spackler the groundskeeper's misunderstanding when he was told to rid the course of gophers:

"Correct me if I'm wrong Sandy, but if I kill all the golfers they'll lockme up and throw away the key."

This movie is full of quotes that still make me laugh even when I'm not watching the movie.

It's interesting that my taste for comedies began here, and continues throughout the 80s with some of the same actors. Stay tuned for tomorrow's installment. Can anyone guess?

What's Next?

I am finding it hard to make my blog meaningful. Not just to me, but to others who may be reading it. I don't want to put up just anything, but I do want something substantial that someone may want to use or read.

In the many blogs I have been reading, I have found ones which are very informative, very entertaining, and very stupid. I'd like this to be a little of all of those. So, beginning today, I am going to reveal "The Quotable Comedy of 1980." Tomorrow I'll reveal 1981. Saturday, 1982; all the way through 1989.

I'd be interested to hear what you think - if you agree and why. Please comment. I'd like to know if anyone out there is really reading these things.

So, without further ado, I present the first in a series of "My Favorites".....

Fall Haul/Mercury Cleanup

Helped Bob with the Fall Haul this past weekend. Actually, Kathy help out on Friday with feeding the crew helping out and the kids played at Safety City behind the firehouse.

Saturday I watched the kids on the playground most of the time while Kathy helped with the food again. It was a beautiful day and was nice to spend some time outdoors with the kids.

Swingset

Went to Lexington last night and ate at TGIFridays. Went to Toys R Us afterwards and got the swingset. Started putting it together today and realized we didn't have the "ivory molded seat". Had to go back to TRU and pick up the seat from another box (26.3 miles one way = 52.6 miles round trip x 2.89 gal. @ 14 miles to the gallon = $10.89 to go back and get a seat we should have already had).

Mowing and Chilling

I mowed. And chilled.

Labor Day

What I'm doing on Labor Day: Mowing and cleaning this morning. Looking for (buying?) a swing set this afternoon. Grillin and chillin this evening.

Books I'm reading: Jesus Freaks and Jesus Freaks II
What I'm listening to: Adoration II and Wings Greatest
What's on the TV right now: Jimmy Neutron - Boy Genius

I know, I know. TMI. Procrastinating. I better mow. More later.

The BBC: Hillsborough

An interesting blog by a guy in NC. Similar interests and views as mine. Worth Checking out.

Divine Intervention

There was a reason I was not asked to be St. Mark's Principal. The Lord has other plans for me, and He unveiled those at the end of June.

I got word from Madison County's Day Treatment Director, Larry Curry that he was retiring and he asked me if I was interested in applying. I, of course said I was - so I did.

I kept this under raps, so to speak, this time. Not letting anyone in Clark County know until I knew. I had the interview on Friday, July 8th. I was offered the position later that day. I went n vacation the following week and let everyone know via the telephone.

I gave a two weeks notice and started on July 25. Everything happened so quickly that my head is still spinning.

It is more money per year (significantly!), shorter commute (about two minutes away by car!) and all that I had planned for Clark County is being initiated in Madison.

"Those who honor your name trust in you; you never forsake those who seek you, LORD." Psalms 9:11

Cable

We got cable a couple of weeks ago. We haven't had it since Nicholas was born nine years ago and haven't really missed it. But they (kids and cable company) finally got to me.

But we had a reason to get it. And it was not for the 100 channels. Really. We got rid of our telephone and that plus what we normally paid in Internet access was about as much as cable was going to cost.

We analyzed the whole "what's the use of a land line since we have cell phones" argument and decided to go with high speed cable internet access as well. It was a pretty god package you know. At least for this year. And let me tell you, it had really improved the quality of life! Really. I'm serious.

Now I'm much more impatient. Since my internet works so quickly, even on my little crappy computer, I refuse to wait for any page to load in less than five seconds. Everything else in my life needs to happen faster too! Now people drive too slow. Conversations seem to bore me. Too slow.

I know my kids love me much more since we got cable! They must because the sound of my voice is all they hear. I repeat things more often to them when cable is on. Louder and louder and louder.

I'm eating better now since I have been watching the Food Network with my wife. Or at least I want to eat better. At least I feel more quilty getting fast food.

Most of all we are spending more quality time together as a family in front of the TV! But you know what? We are still watching what's on the main networks. We're still in a rut. It doesn't matter, though. I still fall asleep at 10:30, no matter what's on the tube.

Japan Today - News - Lucas jabs at 'Bush's empire' - Japanese Leading International News Network

I need to start off by saying that I'm both a fan of Star Wars and President Bush. Naturally, when Lucas made some of the vague comments in the above article indirectly comparing President Bush to Darth Vader I was ticked.

I support what I believe to be Bush's honorable intentions in going to war in Iraq to bring a better quality of life and to go on the offensive on the war on terror. I'm not a stupid redneck blindly following a cause. I am educated, conservative, and for the first time in the last 20 voting years of my life, actually becoming involved and informed.

I have defined my political ideals, and while they do not always correspond to the Republican "right", they are more aligned with that party than any other.

As Hamlet would say, "There's the rub." I didn't buy Heinz ketchup during the election. I put bumper stickers on my car. I felt like I made a stand and drew a line in the sand. But now what am I going to do about the latest Star Wars movie?

I should have expected such comments coming out of the Cannes Festival, but not from Lucas himself. Do I boycott the movie? Stop buying cereal with light saber spoons? Take Yoda off my desktop?

No. Not today. Lucas isn't even close to that Fahrenheit 911 guy from last year.

What's Better - Not Being Picked, Or Being Picked Last?

I recently applied to my former elementary school for a principal position opening next year. It is a catholic school, tied to the parish where my family goes to church.

I thought I had an "in" for the position, but as it turns out the Search Committe didn't even want to interview me. Confusing to say the least. As I mulled it over, though, I asked myself what would be worse; not being picked at all or being picked last?

If you remember back to the playground days when we lined up to be picked for kickball teams, the feeling of being picked last was devastating. There was no option of not being picked at all, unless teams were uneven, you really sucked, or the other kids were just mean. Here, though in this situation the latter option is there - and I think I like it better.

Not being picked at all validates to me that it must not be personal. It has to do with my minimal professional expereince, my lack of an elementary environment, or some other non-personal reason. However, if I was interviewed and not picked, then I think I would feel it was personal because I know the members of the Search Committee.

Actually, I think it is for the best. As I tried to justify in my mind that a move to St. Mark was a calling, a ministry for me. I think, though, that the Lord has reminded me of my ministry at Day Treatment.