A-musing into Prose!

Inspired by my recent rant "Based on a true story."

I heard that....(loosely based on actual facts)

insomniacs can cross time zones unaffected.
a tomato is akin to an apple yet the carrot is a better match.
if the sky falls here Australia needn't worry.
"seeing red" directly related to "feeling blue."
names inscribed on sticks and stones are causing hurt while breaking bones.
chocolate mice tend to run under a hot sun.
I can play piano perfectly in my head.

Based on a true story?

Max Baer
I've never really given thought to Hollywood's use of "Based on a true story" until I saw Cinderella Man for the first time the other day. Cinderella Man was the retelling of a story from the Great Depression era, inspired by the life of light-heavyweight boxer James J. Braddock and his amazing comeback from a floundering career. The depiction of his character, though quite accurate with the historical Braddock, is not the reason for this rant. Instead it is the way in which the character of Max Baer, who was the current heavyweight champ and Braddock's biggest challenge in the movie, was portrayed by hollywood writers and film maker Ron Howard. Max Baer, as depicted in the movie was a heavy hitter which was accurate, but was villified in the portrayal of the outcome of a fight that saw him kill fellow boxer Frankie Campbell in the ring in San Francisco, 1930. Campbell was knocked out and never regained consciousness, later dying at hospital from brain hemorrages from the devastating blows he's received from Baer. The movie depicts Baer as someone who was 'cold blooded' and proud that he had taken the life of another man in the ring, with the character often boasting about what he had done and using it to stir fear in his opponents. This is were the depiction in the film and the historical go in two seperate directions. The movie created a monster. The historical Max Baer was very different. In reality, this event would profoundly affect and haunt Baer for the rest of his life. He was charged with man slaughter but was eventually aquitted of all charges. He gave purses from succeeding bouts to Campbell's family and went on to put Campbell's children through college. Something the character portrayed in the movie wouldn't be capable of. I will most definately be sitting up and taking notice of Hollywood's next installment of their "true stories." Their version of the truth is very interesting. Picture this:

Star Wars

Episode IV: A New Hope

Once upon a time in a galaxy far, far away

(loosely based on real events....)

blah blah blah

blah blah blah

Forward thinking...

I'm an observer. I like to watch life, but I don't like to watch life go by. I'm someone who enjoys living in the moment, thriving on the spontaneous and trying to figure out the sublteties and mysteries of life from one minute/hour/day to the next. When I think of the future I think mostly about the potential held in the next 7 days. Anything beyond the next week loses stature and importance in my minds eye. Don't get me wrong! I have my hopes and dreams, my plans and goals, and there are many things that i'd like to acheive that could potentially take years to realise or see come into fruition. BUT. ...and that's a big 'but' people! I don't like to waste time worrying about it. Do I worry? Of course I do. I find though that, in my own experience, worry always takes and it never gives back. I see a lot of people who invest so much of themselves in 'tomorrow' that they can't find time for today and what it holds.

Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Matt 6:26
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of it's own. Matt 6:34

So, what, you ask is a good alternative to worrying? I'd say the best alternative and probable cure to the 'worries' is prayer. I defiantely am someone who needs to practice what I preach, yet everytime I take a care or concern to prayer (which I don't do often enough) rather than fret about it, any challenge or obstacle in life doesn't seem so daunting or overwhelming.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Phil 4:6,7

I think if 'worry' could be packaged and sold you would probably find a warning regarding the potential side affects. It might look something like this:

Warning: Any use of this product may result in you feeling one or all of the following symptoms: Shortness of breath, heart palpitations, cold sweats, headaches, nausea, insomnia, tics, and possibly diarrhoea.

Don't worry, be happy!

A Thought Provoking Quote...

"Everybody is doing the best they can with the knowledge they have and there is always room for change when something new is added in."

Canada Rocks!

Congrats to the canadian Olympic team on another big day in Torino, which included Gold and Silver medals in the Skeleton!

Oh Canada!

Congrats to the canadians over in Torino who doubled Canada's medal count today. 2 silver in long track speedskating with both the men's and women's teams finishing on the podium in the pursuit event. 2 bronze medals were also captured. One in the woman's skeleton and the other in men's figure skating. Alberta is being well represented amoung the medal winners! The highlight of the day for me was, of course, watching some olympic hockey as the men's team secured their second victory of the games with a 5-1 win over Germany. To be fair to team Germany, Olie Kolzig wasn't in net and the team was missing the services of two of their better forwards in Jochen Hecht and Marco Sturm due to injury. It's going to be a tough test for Canada facing the Finns and Czechs in their next games.

In the mix...

I realise that a lot of you must be losing sleep wondering what tunes have been keeping my i-pod warm recently. So, here's my top 25 'most played' - get some sleep, will ya!

Fix you - Coldplay - X & Y (maybe their last album, rumors of a split)

The Travel Song - Pilate - Caught by the Window

The Grace - Neverending White Lights - Act 1: goodbye friends of the heavenly bodies

The Storm - Doves - Some Cities

Strength of My Life - P.O.D. - Testify

Man Of The Hour - Pearl Jam - Rearview Mirror (Best of)

Low C - Supergrass - Road to Rouen

In A Little While - U2 - All That You Can't Leave Behind

Harvest Moon - Neil Young - Greatest Hits

Save Your Scissors - City and Colour - Sometimes

Who Did You Think I Was - John Mayer Trio - Try!(live)

Wake Up - Arcade Fire - Funeral

Good Friday - The Black Crowes - Greatest Hits(90-99)

The Last Song - Foo Fighters - In Your Honor

Dalit Hymn - Caedmon's Call - Share The Well

Walnut Tree - Keane

Apocolypse Please - Muse - Absolution

NYC Weather Report - Five For Fighting - The Battle For Everything

Free Me - Foo Fighters - In Your Honor

The Song Goes On - Ocean Colour Scene - North Atlantic Drift

Question! - System of a Down - Mezmerize

Talk To Me - Reef - The Best Of

Hurt - Johnny Cash - American IV: The Man Comes Around

Soul Meets Body - Death Cab For Cutie - Plans

Blue Paper - Moby - Hotel(disc 2)

Baby vs. Birthday Cake! (A pictorial)

.....no contest!

Happy 1st Birthday Jayden!

This is my nephew Jayden, also known as Jay-D-Kong or Jay-D-Pottomus. He's turning 1 today. His hockey skills have already surpassed my own and he is currently working hard on besting me at my own game of soccer! If this should happen i'll be forced to take up, and dominate the sport of field hockey. He couldn't possibly be interested in that? But, then again, Jayden has a little sister on the way that will probably rob me of field hockey glory as well. Woe is me! Happy birthday Jay-D.

Bad news sports fans!

Apparently the latest "Hells Most Wanted" list now includes sports fans? Oh oh! Time to renounce those favorite teams people. C'mon now, burn that merchandise and memorabilia, discard those season tickets, and don't even think about fantasy leagues again!! This must be pretty serious in light that 'murderers' didn't make the short list, but maybe i'm just being old fashioned.

Do you think it's ok to watch the Olympics? Cheer on your country? Canada is known to wear red jerseys. Does that make them the devil's team? and.....who's bringing the s'mores?

A poem perhaps?

The Red Braye

Pedals pushing
Wheels spinning,
Sun shining warmly
glimmering like a medal in the sky
Breeze lightly blowing
Ruslting, the leaves in the trees whisper,
Spurring us on
Up one gentle rolling hill and down another
Surrounded by green pastures
more dazzling than gold,
Anticipation rises
the heart quickens,
the rider’s pace hastened as
the pinnacle of the Red Braye
enters the iris of our eyes,
and awakens the imagination,
Take-off,
We spread arms wide and soar,
Weightless
The lines on the road
Blur into one
Time is different here
In this moment of pure exhilaration
And freedom
Soon, we’re back
Where the journey began.