Six on Screen

I've come across this twice so far today, so I figured I ought to hop on the bandwagon. Feel free to follow suit.

1. Earliest Film Related Memory
Going to see Candleshoe in the theater, which left little impression on me as I can't recall a thing about the film beyond the title and Joy Foster's presence. On the other hand, for some reason I have a vivid memory of the preview of Gray Lady Down that showed that day.

2. A Favorite Line from a Movie
Just one? That makes this a little difficult, but for old time's sake I'll go with I have a bad feeling about this. From Star Wars. Of course.

3. Jobs You Would Do If You Could Work in the Biz
I don't know if this job exists, but I'd like to the 'sound track guy' i.e. the guy in charge of deciding which songs will be used in a movie.

Also, I have no idea what the 'best boy' or the 'gaffer' does, but I kinda like the titles. Who wouldn't want a business wth gaffer emeritus emblazoned on it?

4. Three Directors I Like
That's easy: Sam Peckinpah, John Woo, and Ridley Scott.

5. Screenwriter I Love
For lack of a better answer I'll say Tarantino, but on the whole I don't pay much attention to screenwriters. Sorry, screenwriters.

6. A Movie I'd like to Re-Make or a Property I would Like to Adapt for Film
Let's see, for a re-make I'll go with Zulu. Yes, it'd be a touch sell in these PC times, but it's a great (and true) story. And the battle scenes could be greatly improved with today's technology.

Bring the Noise

I have been tagged. I am the proverbial it.

Very well then. Though it may prove difficult to limit myself to come up with the full five this game requires, here are my weird habits.

1. I like to dip my potato chips.

Now , you're probably thinking, what's so weird about that? Lots of people dip their potato chips.

True, but they dip their chips in, well, dip. Me, I prefer soup. Minestrone or tomato soup to be exact. The potato chips are always Cape Cod potato chips. Of course.

So yes. Instead of soup and bread, I have soup and chips.

2. I store my t-shirts in specific categories.

There are three piles in my t-shirt draw. First, there is the 'A-list' pile. These are my favorite t-shirts, the first to be worn (if they're not reserved for certain occasions, like my Red Sox t-shirts.) Next we have the 'mid-list' pile. There's nothing wrong with these t-shirts - some of them are pretty cool - they just don't quite make the cut for the A-list. Still they get quite a bit of wear. Finally, we have the 'C-list' pile. These are the old and worn t-shirts, the bland and boring t-shirts. These are the ones worn for any kind of dirty task, such as painting, or resorted to when I'm low on clean clothes to wear due to cutting it close with laundry day.

I can't recall exactly how long I've been storing my t-shirts in these fashion. I know it's been at least since college, as I can recall my then girlfriend laughing hysterically when I explained I was folding and putting away my t-shirts so deliberately.

3. I keep lists concerning books.

I'm sure I've blogged of this before, but what the hell. I keep lists concerning books. Actually I keep three lists concerning books. I am the Rainman of books and lists.

I have a notebook - an old composition book - wherein I list the books that I have read each year. The current notebook goes back to 1998; other, older notebooks go back to '91 or '92.

I also carry about one of those ever-so-handy Moleskin notebooks. In addition to random scribblings, favorite quotes and disjointed reminders, this notebook contains two ongoing lists: one of the books I'd like to find (for reference when I'm digging through a stack at the used book store) and one of the (many many) books I own that I haven't read yet.

There you have it: I am insane. Anyone want to hang out? Bwa-ha-ha-ha.

4. I always read two books at once.

Here we are with the book thing again. As an aside, please take note that I find great comfort in the description of bibliophilia as 'the gentle madness.' Really, I'm not in the least bit dangerous.

Anyways... I always have two books going at any time, one each of fiction and non-fiction. So I can, you know, switch back and forth, depending on my mood.

5. I cannot remain still and/or quiet while watching the Red Sox play.

During the course of nine innings I am compelled to jump, dance, pace, yell, hide my face and otherwise make a spectacle of myself. Even when on my best behavior I'm prone to sudden outbursts of profanity.

Bonus Fun Fact:

I loathe the band Green Day. Loathe them. I hate the fact that their extraordinarily derivative music is considered significant in any way. I hate the fact that the ignorant mistake them and their shite for punk. I abhor their moronic political posturing.

Thanks, I feel better now.

Oops, almost forget - I'm supposed to tag five others to do their own lists. I tag Heather, la whisky, Chris, and my cousin.

Running To Stand Still

An account of this past weekend in New York (and the attendant pictures) will be up later. Until then, here's a meme (man, I'm really starting to hate on that word) I stole from over here.

1. My uncle once: flew F-14 Tomcats.
2. Never in my life: have I been to Canada.
3. When I was five: my favorite shows were Rin Tin Tin and World At War. I've always been weird.
4. High School is: rapidly fading in the rearview mirror.
5. My parents are: recently divorced.
6. I once met: a girl I thought I was going to marry.
7. There's this girl I know who: never fails to cheer me up.
8. Once, at a bar: I fell through the wall of a stall in the men's room. Caused quite a ruckus.
9. Last night: went to class, followed by dinner at the local. Bushmills for dessert. Mmmm... whiskey.
10. Next time I go to church: my mother will be very surprised.
11. When I turn my head left, I see: cube wall.
12. When I turn my head right, I see: cube wall.
13. How many days until my birthday?: about seven or so months.
14. If I was a character written by Shakespeare I'd be: oh please. Ok, I'd be Yorick. Happy?
15. By this time next year: I'd like to be in a better place.
16. A better name for me would be: Monsieur Squiggly? The-Ghost-Who-Walks? Randandom? You all decide.
17. I have a hard time understanding: most of what goes on in my life.
18. If I ever go back to school I: will accrue lots and lots of debt. Yay.
19. You know I like you if: I let you borrow a book.
20. If I won an award, the first person I'd thank would be: my sister.
21. Take my advice: do as I say, not as I do.
22. My ideal breakfast is: coffee first and foremost. Plus eggs, overeasy, with bacon and hash browns.
23. If you visit my hometown: you'll be as bored as I was growing up there.
24. Why won't someone: make me rich dammit!
25. If you spend the night at my house: you get coffee first thing in the morning.
26. I'd stop my wedding: if my wife-to-be tried to kill me at the rehearsal dinner. That would be a red flag right there.
27. The world could do without: the vast majority of rap music. And the Eagles.
28. I'd rather lick the belly of a cockroach than: wear any sort of Yankees gear.
29. Paper clips are more useful than: a hole in the head. Honestly, I don't devote much thought to paper clips.
30. If I do anything well, it is: write - not that you'd notice by most of what I put up here.
31. And by the way: don't look back. Something might be gaining.