Only fingers can you count on

Just a few minutes ago, I told Tina Anne, "I love the people I love... but I don't love people." This was in regards to trying to leave the customer service industry. Tina Anne is the merchant teller at the bank.  Statistically speaking, she ranks pretty high on my all time favorite people list. She is the highest ranking African and certainly the highest Bank of America employee. Tomorrow she's going back home to Kenya for two weeks. I want to go to Kenya for two weeks. I think everyone I know personally who has travelled to Kenya (aside from those I know from Kenya) has been there on a mission trip. That's great, but I don't want to go there on a mission trip. I want to go on a mission: to explore Kenya.

I definitely have a hard time conveying to people how much I do care for them. Occasionally though, I just tear open and it pours out. I doesn't feel good afterwards. Maybe it should, but it doesn't. It's not regret or embarrassment, it's exhaustion. "Time heals all wounds," but more specifically, morning does. Morning is God's best tool for healing... probably something to do with fresh mercies. Good Christian a cappella group name: The Fresh Mercies. You can have it for free.

"Get Low" with Georgia cinema

Although Get Low was released just this summer, I remember two years back, reading an announcement in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution calling for as many extras as possible to show up at Picket's Mill (a historic site near Acworth, Georgia) in their best Depression-era clothing. I thought about attending. I was even willing to skip my classes (not really a stretch for me anyway). Unfortunately, I had just taken most of my Depression-era clothes to the dry-cleaners and they weren't going to be ready for a few more days.

Whether I am privy to the filmmaking or not (usually not), I often like to support movies that are filmed locally. I saw Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd at the cinema (mistake) and I'll probably see the remake of Footloose (impending mistake), since I have already made a 'set visit.'

While it is always wonderful seeing familiar surroundings on the big screen, it is often not worth the price of the movie ticket. This time, my local pride didn't turn out to be a waste of money. Get Low was worth every penny, regardless of my geographic sentiments.

The film tells the tale of a crazy old man (Robert Duvall) living in seclusion outside a small town full of people who spread all sorts of rumors about him. Of course, there is one person in town (Lucas Black) who sees a heart of gold deep down inside the crazy old man. There is even a person in town (Sissy Spacek) who knew the old crazy before he was old and crazy. Then, you have the struggling business owner (Bill Murray) who, being a yankee outsider, has nothing to lose by cozying up to the town crazy. When the old crazy sees his days coming to an end, he decides to invite everyone to come tell stories about him at his funeral... while he is alive... at his funeral.

Of course, this story is pleasant enough by itself, but the movie really shines when we start to learn why he shut himself off from others for forty years and what emotional damage has resulted. A good cast was needed to bring all of this to life, and a good cast was delivered.

No one is going to ignore a group that includes Robert Duvall (six Oscar nominations, 1 win), Sissy Spacek (6 Oscar nominations, 1 win) and Bill Murray (one Oscar nomination). I suppose Bill Murray will appeal more to younger audiences than the other two, but Duvall and Spacek have both proved to still be worthy of the 'household name' moniker. These three are in top form here and while Oscar buzz exists for all three, Duvall stands the best chance of a nomination. Spacek could find herself in the Best Supporting Actress race if the usually crowded category doesn't see more worthy entrants soon (personally, Jacki Weaver is still the one to beat). Bill Murray will likely be forgotten as the studio will see more of a need to push for Duvall's nomination, but I don't feel that Murray is even the most deserving Supporting Actor nominee anyway. I would give that distinction to Bill Cobbs, who plays an old pastor friend who knows the answer to why Duvall isolated himself.

This is the first meaty role for Cobbs in quite a while. The actor is used to smaller character parts and television roles (and that Peter Cetera Heineken commercial). I think he delivers more depth to his performance than any other supporting player. Unfortunately, I must be alone in my opinion, as Cobbs has gone by relatively unnoticed so far.

Lucas Black puts up a good performance as well. With already a good set of films under his belt, he is on his way to a sturdy career. Besides, it is impossible for me not to be a fan of his, with that unwavering Southern accent (we need more of these in Hollywood) and the fact that he looks a bit like the missing link between me and my brother.

Oscar winning composer Jan A.P. Kaczmarek put together a nice score, with the help of Jerry Douglas and The Steeldrivers. Alison Krauss also offers up a song over the credits. I would easily recommend this soundtrack.

The cinematography isn't the best I've seen this year, but you can tell there was an artful eye behind the lens. The beautiful Georgia scenery doesn't hurt either, and it serves as an extremely appropriate substitute for Tennessee (where the film takes place). The costumes are good enough to be in contention for the Oscar, which only makes me regret not showing up in my Great Depression suit.

Aaron Schneider has made an impressive directorial debut with Get Low, seeing as his film finds a nice balance between aesthetics and performances. I'm happy the film has found the audience it deserves.

Aspen to Atlanta Photolog, pt. 6: Indiana

While we didn't spend as much time in Indiana as we did Illinois, and I took a lot less pictures in Indianapolis than I did Chicago... I am posting more Indiana pictures on my blog than I did of Illinois. We hit up Indiana's capital city at the golden hour (dusk) and it made for some magical lighting.

Indiana is a giant corn field. The only difference between it and Iowa is the presence of hills. However, once you get to Indianapolis, it gets very dense very quickly and you find yourself in the midst of a very compact urban core. I loved it. Very quaint without feeling small.

This first picture could sum up most of the state.























Sorry, but my home-state pride wouldn't let me resist posting this next one.



Casimir Pulaski!

This would add four more states to my repertoire

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An idea for a road trip crossed my mind earlier today. I've never been to Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma or Arkansas and I would love to see St. Louis, Kansas City and most definitely Memphis. I've wanted to go to Memphis for a long time.

We'll see.

Aspen to Atlanta Photolog, pt. 5: Illinois

Chicago, the New Age,
But what would Frank Lloyd Wright say?
Oh Columbia!
Amusement or treasure,
These optimistic pleasures,
Like the Ferris Wheel!


Did you think it possible for me to post about Chicago and not start it off with a Sufjan quote? I won't even say much about Chicago... because it probably would take to long. I loved it. I love it still. I can't wait to go back. There is so much more I want to see.





















This picture reminds me of Kelly Clarkson.

Aspen to Atlanta Photolog, pt. 4: Iowa

Iowa is a bit like Nebraska for me... no, I don't mean boring (although...). I've always liked it, even long before visiting. Des Moines has always struck me as a cool city, especially for not being huge... the contrast between it and it's surroundings makes it all the bigger. We sidestepped from the interstate to see Des Moines and I snapped a couple good pictures.







There wasn't much motivation behind this last one. Taking a picture of a cornfield in Iowa is like taking a picture of a freckle on a ginger's face. Anyway, it turned out blurry... so I made it blurrier around the edges and voilà, it looks... still blurry. Anyway, it (along with one of the Nebraska shots) reminds me a bit of The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford.

Aspen to Atlanta Photolog, pt. 3: Nebraska

I don't have many pictures of Nebraska. This is mostly due to it being a lot of the same thing. It is also partly due to it being boring.

I have always loved Nebraska. Yes, this was my first time visiting... but if you aren't a geography nerd, you probably won't understand loving a place and "knowing" a place before you've even been there. For some reason, Nebraska has always been dear to my heart. Omaha especially. Unfortunately, we didn't see much of Omaha and we only saw Lincoln from far away at dusk (pretty neat, though). We camped in a park in Omaha but didn't make our way downtown before moving on.

Another fun fact: The car thermometer measured 113 degrees Fahrenheit in Grand Island. That's hot.

Aspen to Atlanta Photolog, pt. 2: Wyoming

Going though Wyoming isn't actually part of any quick route from Aspen to Atlanta. Good thing we were taking our time. Seeing Cheyenne was really cool. It's empty but charming. I can only imagine how charming it would be if there were any people about. I would love to spend more time in Wyoming (more than just the extreme southeastern corner).

Aspen to Atlanta Photolog, pt. 1: Colorado

It was last August when these were taken, so it's been a while... but gimme a break! I've been busy! I'll post just a few of my pictures from each state. They may or may not be the best of the bunch, but I may choose some based on character, some on sentimentality, or some maybe just because they are pretty pictures.

Here goes... This is Colorado.



















And this last one pretty much sums up Denver for me.



(I wasn't exactly enchanted by Denver.)

Sufjan talking about Urbanity... Could it get any better?

Sorry for my lack of posting and lack of commenting lately. As soon as I settle into this semester's schedule (class starts Monday) and get deeper into my work groove, I'll post more. Plus, fall is coming up and I'm always more prolific in the fall (and I'll have seen more good movies to write about).

The Colorado, Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia trip was good. I'll post about it next.

Anyway... I just wanted to quickly share this video. It's an interview with Sufjan that is probably the best one I've seen yet (there aren't many video interviews out there). In it, he talks about Detroit and it's current state and basioally, it's urbanity. Being an "urban enthusiast" and a "Sufjan enthusiast," I think it's a pretty sweet combination. Check it out.

36 Hour Notice, Kentucky and Indiana

I put my notice in today. You might say it is a 'two week notice' but it's more like a '36 hour notice.' Lately, I've been working just 18 hours a week. My notice was that I would work this week's hours and next week's hours, in whatever form that may be in. He took it graciously and it was a nice moment. We were friends before I worked for him, during my time with him and we will still be friends now.

This week's work hours will be spent in a 'last hurrah' of sorts since I am taking my boss to Kentucky to speak at a Future Farmers of America camp. The first trip I took as a personal assistant was also to Kentucky for an engagement at Asbury Theological Seminary. It's interesting that both my first and last trips as an official employee are to Kentucky.

This trip, I will get to add a new state to my list. We will be staying only 10 or 15 minutes from the Indiana line. I've never been to Indiana before. I intend only to drive across the river and then turn back... but it counts.

I love this Starbucks coffee card they put in the newspaper on Sunday that gives you a free cup of brewed coffee, iced for me, every day until July 14th. It is great to get free coffee even before I start work next Tuesday.

Greenville è belle

Here are a few of my favorite shots from a recent trip to Greenville, South Carolina.