tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24497350514065649912024-02-07T00:36:36.501-08:00life and the restChris Spicerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16612959912927529096noreply@blogger.comBlogger54125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2449735051406564991.post-50596007562137956852009-04-01T23:17:00.000-07:002009-04-01T23:20:20.357-07:00What I Want You To Understand<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Georgia"></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px Georgia"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Children born in love. Parents caring for their children. Men hold doors for their wives. People offer spots in line. Teachers reach out to students. Parents discipline in love. Brothers stand up for brothers. Sisters share with sisters. Groceries are bagged carefully. The dishes are done. A debt is forgotten. A mother makes lunch the night before. A father picks the kids up. The kids don't keep score. Music is made and played. Grace is given. The truth is told. Forgiveness is given. A fallen snocone is replaced. A kid's shoe is tied again. The blanket is shared. The heat is turned on in the winter. Windows are rolled down in the summer. A friend is asleep on your couch. The coffee is already made. A shift is picked up. A round is bought. A smile is given. Fear is replaced with warmth. Welcome mats in front of doors. Handwritten letters. A heartfelt apology is made. The wisdom of a grandfather. A living future. A surprise party is thrown. Sentimental gifts are given. Spring rains fall. A boy on his bike. A ride home. A teacher is lenient. Delivered meals in a time of need. The comfort of trust. A close hug. The passage of time. The bills are paid. The lawn is mowed. A note on the fridge. The grasp of two hands. Laughing together. Gathering at holidays. Plane tickets are bought. Questions are asked. Ears are open. Staying up late. Waiting for a call. Grabbing two straws. A ticket is paid for. Grievances are forgotten. Simple words are spoken. A clean house. A drive through the country. The softness of skin. Perfume is worn. Staying past visiting hours. Walking in the dark. Offering a seat. Returning what's been lost. Beautiful pictures. Finding the dance floor. Emotional release. Knowing glances. Favors are returned. The right words are said. Intentions are pure. Reaching out. Purses are held. A reservation is made. Shame is erased. A phone call to Mother. Answers are found together. Counting the stars. Making grass whistles. Get well soon. Thinking of you. You're in my heart. I hope this letter finds you well. Sincerely yours. Best wishes. With love from me to you.</span></span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 10px;"><br /></span></div><p></p><p></p>Chris Spicerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16612959912927529096noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2449735051406564991.post-38880436700345437542009-03-15T11:41:00.000-07:002009-03-15T11:48:40.183-07:00How I Feel Right Now<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">When I don't feel like opening the floodgates of my own heart and mind, it's nice that there are other people who can do the explaining for me.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">This is how I feel right now. Like, literally.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">"Yesterday" - Ace Troubleshooter</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 16px; white-space: pre; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family:georgia;"></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 16px; white-space: pre; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 16px; white-space: pre; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I remember a different time</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 16px; white-space: pre; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I remember a different me</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 16px; white-space: pre; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">When there was springtime in my heart</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 16px; white-space: pre; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">But it's winter</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 16px; white-space: pre; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">And I'm shivering with cynicism now</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 16px; white-space: pre; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">And I long for yesterday</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 16px; white-space: pre; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 16px; white-space: pre; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Yesterday, a day of joy</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 16px; white-space: pre; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">A day of limitless possibilities</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 16px; white-space: pre; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I remember a different boy</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 16px; white-space: pre; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">With love surrounding, joy abounding</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 16px; white-space: pre; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Peace resounding</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 16px; white-space: pre; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Where, oh where did that boy go?</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 16px; white-space: pre; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 16px; white-space: pre; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">What's wrong with me now, God?</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 16px; white-space: pre; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">My world is gray</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 16px; white-space: pre; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">So please help me out, I pray</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 16px; white-space: pre; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Because I want to live in yesterday</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 16px; white-space: pre; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 16px; white-space: pre; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Take me back to a time of naivete</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 16px; white-space: pre; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Never-ending days</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 16px; white-space: pre; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">And no need to question things</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 16px; white-space: pre; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Because I'm tired of staring out my window</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 16px; white-space: pre; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Wishing I was someone I should be</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 16px; white-space: pre; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I guess I remember a different me</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 16px; white-space: pre; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 16px; white-space: pre; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">What's wrong with me now, God?</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 16px; white-space: pre; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">My world is gray</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 16px; white-space: pre; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">So please help me out, I pray</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 16px; white-space: pre; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Because I want to live in yesterday</span></span></div>Chris Spicerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16612959912927529096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2449735051406564991.post-87855350977274312452009-03-01T16:34:00.000-08:002009-03-01T17:16:32.036-08:00It Takes A Little Shake Up From The RiftAt the beginning of each blog, I assume that there is someone out there reading this. And not only that, but I take it to the next step and I believe that there is someone out there who understands and agrees with me as well. Maybe I'm wrong, but it helps get ideas out of my head, knowing that they may be appreciated. So thanks, I guess. <div><br /></div><div>I don't know what my issue is, but I just realized yesterday that I haven't been fair to my coworkers. Instead of thinking the best of these people to start off with, I wrote them all off to drama, kids, ex-husbands, smoking, jail, and stupidity. Sure, many of my coworker's lives have been affected by these and other life events. But just because my life has taken a different path, that doesn't necessarily make me any better than them. We've both ended up at the same place. This reminds me of a scene in "Revolutionary Road" where Kate is telling Leo that their life together in Suburbia has turned into every other life that they have so long despised and felt superior to. They were no better than these people. I've done the same thing.</div><div><br /></div><div>Anyways, all of that was to say that I should give people a little more credit. One of my fellow servers told me yesterday that I don't talk about myself. She said, "I know where you went to college, and what you studied, and that's it." And I said that I didn't want to bore people with my drama, since there was already so much filling the restaurant. She told me that it's not drama, it's OK if people want to talk more than I do, which is hardly at all at work. To which I said, "I still haven't been able to bridge the gap between coworker and friend."</div><div><br /></div><div>The second I said it, I wished I hadn't. The girl that I was talking to is actually one of my favorite people to work with, and I think I hurt her feelings. I don't know. If I was telling the truth, I should have said, "I still haven't found out how to treat my coworkers with the same respect that I treat my friends." That's my problem, or one of them at least, and I'm gonna work on it.</div>Chris Spicerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16612959912927529096noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2449735051406564991.post-15510608473467973652009-02-23T18:48:00.000-08:002009-02-24T00:16:42.468-08:00A Play In Five Acts<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Thought #1 "The Introduction":</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">What do I truly hope for in life? For what reason do I do the things I do? For the future, or the present? I'm acting like I have a projected outcome, like I have goals, but I don't.</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Thought #2 "The Explanation":</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Last summer, I was living in my parents house. I worked at my dad's produce store, I was a part of an amazing church community, and I spent most of my time with some really great friends. For some reason, I wanted to move back to Nampa. Actually, four reasons.</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">1. I had a girlfriend at the time, and she lived in Idaho.</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">2. I was almost sure I would get a job I applied for in Idaho that would start at the end of summer.</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">3. I had lived in my parents house and worked for my dad before I went to college, and when I went back to the same house and job after four years, it almost negated my degree.</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">4. I had friends in Idaho that I wanted to spend another year with before they all went on with their lives.</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I've lived in Idaho since the middle of August, and in one way or another, each of my four reasons has either fallen short or failed to materialize.</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">1. Things didn't work out. Actually, they ended mutually two weeks before I moved.</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">2. I didn't get the job. I moved anyway. The same job opened again in December. I also didn't get that job, making it three times I'd been turned down for the same job.</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">3. I realized that my desire to move wasn't so much linked to working for my dad, but living with my parents. If I moved back to Portland, I could still work at Spicer Brothers just as long as I lived elsewhere.</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">4. I've been able to spend time with the friends I moved here for, but they are going their own way now. Even new friends I've made since August are moving on in a couple months.</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Thought #3 "The Empty Hopelessness":</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">(I wrote the first two thoughts an hour ago, and now I'm back to finish. I'm not in the same mood. I often write what's on mind, but the trouble with that is my mind is constantly wrong. I second-guess myself. Why would anyone want to hear me whine about why I don't like Idaho? Or, on that same note, why would anyone want to read my blog at all? Maybe people are searching for connection. Aren't we all? In an ideal world, I would love for you to find a connection with me, but any connection wouldn't reap many benefits. You won't be a better person by finding a connection with me; I'll bring you down. Not because I'm depressed, or I have low self-esteem. No, it's because I'm a dreamer, a hoper, a man of faith, a lover who is starting to realize that reality makes no room for people like me. That this world wants to accept the finer things of life, but doesn't give them any room to grow. Like a cup of tea steeped for two seconds, or a person wanting better education, not willing to pay taxes. I am stifled and misunderstood. As far as I'm concerned, this world has nothing for me, but that doesn't mean for me what I would like it to. At least not yet.)</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Thought #4 "The Brutal Honesty": </span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I want to write, but I can't find the motivation.</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I have thoughts in my mind that won't allow themselves to be formed to words.</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I have love to give.</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I know what it is to hurt and to have joy, but I haven't found the secret to staying away from one and keeping the other.</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I can be confident, but it's a front.</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I can be sensitive, but it's mostly fake.</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I love to ask questions, but only so you can ask me when you're finished answering.</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I get jealous.</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I get lonely.</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I love to laugh.</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I connect with decade-old books more than people my own age lately.</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I am so bored.</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Thought #5 "The Happy, Although Still Unsure Ending":</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I have hope for a better world, a fresh perspective, a fierce love. Is this too much to hope for?</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">People may tell me to hide these thoughts. That most things are better left unsaid. But if I have found something, should I keep it to myself?</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">If I have love, should I bury it deep inside?</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">If I know the truth, should I allow others to remain in darkness?</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">To quote Quiz Kind Donnie Smith from Magnolia:</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">"I don't know where to put things, you know? I really do have love to give! I just don't know where to put it!"</span></span></p>Chris Spicerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16612959912927529096noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2449735051406564991.post-59380956900099839162009-02-04T16:52:00.000-08:002009-02-04T22:59:19.614-08:00Two Year Old Thoughts<span style="font-family:georgia;">Not thoughts from a two year old, but a few selected thoughts and poems that I wrote in my Creative Writing journal two years ago.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-family:georgia;">Summer Pools</span><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><br />Life is balanced</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">when</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Chubby swim trunk</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">boys</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Polka dot bikini</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">girls</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Jump in summer</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">pools</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Poetry deals with precise objects, and concrete images, not abstract.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">And out of all the books in the library, I was content with the library girl.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">I don’t leave any room for truth to conform to music - to lose control of the pen and see where it takes me.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Do uncreative people dream about mediocre and boring things?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">The Ripeness of My Youth</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">In the ripeness of my youth</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">I discovered time travel</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">But there were kinks in the gears</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">The hourglass grew as time took its time</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">I began to taste the moon</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Then my travels grew tiresome</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">But now I am once again immersed</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">In the ripeness of my youth</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">When I write, do I write about important things? Do I write about things that are worthwhile, time-withstanding, ever-lasting, and overall good? If I was to write about the deep heaviness of life with every pen stroke, I would more than likely lose sight of the simple things. The unimportant and yet extremely vital aspects of human living.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Spring Break</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Hey! Let’s celebrate spring break</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">And BAKE in the sun</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">And run</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">You make me forget what I planned to do</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">You make me brand new</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">When you laugh and break the window framing us as a motionless scene, serene,</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">But no! we’re distinct, we’re unclean,</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">We don’t let them tell us what to be,</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Right?</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">And then at night</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">We sit by the fire bright</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">as if we couldn’t get enough of this thick heat,</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">I must repeat myself when I say I could let you make me happy forever</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">But spring break is now, and I shouldn’t bother with the future, but</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Whether weather permits</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">For that dress that fits you so well.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">I can tell that we won’t ever need to make plans to forget again.</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Why must everyone be put into a little box?</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">The way life should really be lived is to be the space that isn’t the box. To be everything but the box.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">I don’t want to order off the menu anymore. I don’t want to take their ingredients and make my own food. I want a new restaurant, a new menu. A city park, a zoo, something completely different. I can’t be spoon fed anymore. I don’t want to use their spoon to feed myself. Who says I have to use utensils, who is trying to fit me into their utensil mold?<br />I want a generation of people using new utensils, making utensils, using their hands, creating something better than utensils, introducing something so amazing to the world that no one will care about who said what about anything anymore, especially utensils.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Don’t just take what they have.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Don’t just take what they have and make it new.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Take what they don’t have and make it yours.</span>Chris Spicerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16612959912927529096noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2449735051406564991.post-26070502799449096142009-01-29T00:09:00.000-08:002009-01-29T00:17:04.024-08:00Twenty Seven Is A Good Number, Right?<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap; font-family:'lucida grande';font-size:11px;"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:13px;"><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><ol style="list-style-type: decimal"> <li style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;">I love Japanese cinema. I haven't seen nearly as much as I would like, but Akira Kurosawa is one of my top five all time favorite directors.</span></li> <li style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;">When I go on long drives, I listen to podcasts. Usually Garrison Keilor giving the news from Lake Wobegone, or more recently, You Look Nice Today.</span></li> <li style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;">The main reason I like Huey Lewis and the News, John Cougar Mellencamp, Chicago, and The Doobie Brothers today is because that's what my dad always had playing in the car when I was younger.</span></li> <li style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;">People talk to me about my height at least once a day.</span></li> <li style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;">I was suspended twice. Once in third grade for lighting fireworks on the playground with my friend Billy. I told the truth and didn't get in trouble. The second time was Sophomore year of high school. I threw a drumstick at another student during percussion ensemble class. My teacher called it hazing. The same day, I was elected Student Body Secretary/Treasurer. I was also supposed to play the drums in the dress rehearsal for the school musical "Blood Brothers" that night, but wasn't allowed. I wasn't the first person to miss a performance though. The lead actress in the same musical was suspended the day before when she was caught "with" a boy in the choir room loft. An alumni drama student learned the lines in one day and took her part.</span></li> <li style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;">The only bone I've broken in my body is my left ring finger, which I broke playing basketball. I have dislocated my right shoulder three times though. The first time cliff jumping in Estacada, the second snowboarding on Mt. Hood, and the third throwing a dodgeball while at a summer camp in Montana.</span></li> <li style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;">I've only attended 4 schools my entire life. King elementary school, Gardiner Middle School, and Oregon City High School, all in Oregon City, and NNU.</span></li> <li style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;">The first movie I saw in the theater was The Passion of the Christ. I was 18.</span></li> <li style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;">The earliest memory I can recall took place when I was 2 years and 3 months old. I was sitting in the parking lot of Spicer Brothers Produce right before it opened on April 20, 1988, watching my aunt cindy paint the side of the building.</span></li> <li style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;">When I was young, my favorite song was Waterfalls by TLC. When I was even younger, I loved Walking In Memphis by Bruce Springsteen. When it came on the radio in the house, I would run over and sit on the floor 2 feet away, listening to the whole song. Once I hadn’t finished changing my pants when my brother yelled across the house to tell me that the song was on the radio again. With my pants half on, I ran, tripped over my pants and fell down on the ground in front of the radio, where I stayed until the song had finished.</span></li> <li style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;">I flew to Oakland by myself when people were still allowed to greet you at the gate. My grandparents were waiting there. My grandpa took me to a Golden State Warriors game, just like I asked him to in a letter I wrote him a week earlier. My grandma took me to her sisters house, and I held my breath through a tunnel that was a mile long. Later, we saw the sea lions at Pier 39. It's one of my favorite memories of my grandfather, who died 6 and a half years ago.</span></li> <li style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;">My grandma helped my hunger for books. She's to blame for getting me started on Harry Potter.</span></li> <li style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;">Once, my dad took me to breakfast at a local diner at 6 in the morning before elementary school. That was the first time I had a pancake that was the size of a plate.</span></li> <li style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;">The first true guilt I felt was when I lied to my mom when I was in the third grade. I had rode my bike to the large forested ditch that was behind my neighbor’s house. They were making flamethrowers with aerosol cans and lighters. They wanted me to come down to the bottom, but I knew what they were doing was dangerous, and the hill was steep. I went part of the way and I decided to leave, but I fell in the mud climbing back up the steep hill. I got on my back and rode home as fast as I could. When I got home, my mom came to the door and saw me covered in dirt. I started to cry and told her that I had fallen off of my bike. I have never told her the truth.</span></li> <li style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;">Many people may not like to be called while they are sleeping. I actually have my phone just a foot from my head at night in hopes that someone might call to see what I'm doing. This has nothing to do with desperation to hang out with people, I just know that if I get a phone call at three in the morning, it's not going to be boring. And I will gladly get up and go to Sharis for a cup of coffee.</span></li> <li style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;">Some of my life goals are: To play a concert at Madison Square Garden, to kiss a girl on the eiffel tower, to see an NHL game in every home arena, to have coffee with a famous author, to be in a band/go into business with my brother, to create a masterpiece, to visit my second cousin in New Zealand, to go on a backpacking trip with my brother, dad, and grandpa, to take my grandson on a backpacking trip when I'm a grandfather, to buy a nice suit, like a </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;">nice </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;">suit, and to own an NBA team, or at least be a season ticket holder to the Blazers.</span></li> <li style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;">My favorite writing utensil is the Uni Ball Jetstream.</span></li> <li style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;">I think the worst food I have ever eaten was when I had duck pate in Montpellier, France.</span></li> <li style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;">It blows my mind that other people have rational thought. Since I only know my own thoughts, it's entirely too difficult for me to grasp the idea that everyone else is confusing themselves just as much as I am.</span></li> <li style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;">I laugh out loud and sometimes cry when I'm reading. I cried in Sometimes a Great Notion, because that book is abso-infix-lutely brilliant.</span></li> <li style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;">I went to Sundance twice with other film students when I was in college, and I could have cared less about the movies. I just wanted to see celebrities.</span></li> <li style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;">My dad used to give my brother and I haircuts until I cried when I looked in the mirror. He never did it again after that.</span></li> <li style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;">I like coffee. Starbucks is my favorite. My drink of choice in the summer is a tall espresso frappucino with a shot poured on top and extra caramel sauce. My drink in the winter is a Double tall 1/2 flavor cinnamon white mocha. I think this makes me a snob.</span></li> <li style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;">My parents always had date night on Fridays. And every Friday, my brother and I would watch a rented movie and eat either boboli pizza or macaroni and cheese. The movie I remember the most was Carpool with Tom Arnold.</span></li> <li style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;">I often misrepresent myself, and I'm sure other people do as well. That's why I try to approach new relationships expecting the best instead of the worst.</span></li> <li style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;">I am addicted to online shopping. At any given time, I am more than likely wearing something I purchased online.</span></li> <li style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;">I listened to Christian music solely until I went to a Christian college. Now I hardly listen to Christian music.</span></li> </ol><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: webdings;"> </span></span></div></div></span></div></span>Chris Spicerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16612959912927529096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2449735051406564991.post-26431480599543221492009-01-20T16:52:00.000-08:002009-01-20T19:46:27.261-08:00100 Favorite Movies<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Georgia"></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; "><ol><li>The Lives of Others (2007)<br /></li><li>The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)<br /></li><li>No Country for Old Men (2007)<br /></li><li>Almost Famous (2000)<br /></li><li>Annie Hall (1977)<br /></li><li>Once (2006)<br /></li><li>On the Waterfront (1954)<br /></li><li>Magnolia (1999)<br /></li><li>The Godfather (1972)<br /></li><li>WALL-E (2008)<br /></li><li>Goodfellas (1990)<br /></li><li>The Departed (2006)<br /></li><li>Chinatown (1974)<br /></li><li>Seven Samurai (1954)<br /></li><li>Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)<br /></li><li>Milk (2008)<br /></li><li>Ordinary People (1980)<br /></li><li>There Will Be Blood (2007)<br /></li><li>When Harry Met Sally (1989)<br /></li><li>Good Will Hunting (1997)<br /></li><li>Stranger than Fiction (2006)<br /></li><li>Network (1976)<br /></li><li>Big Fish (2003)<br /></li><li>Ran (1985)<br /></li><li>Unbreakable (2000)<br /></li><li>Big (1988)<br /></li><li>Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)<br /></li><li>Do the Right Thing (1989)<br /></li><li>Adaptation (2002)<br /></li><li>Forrest Gump (1994)<br /></li><li>Chariots of Fire (1981)<br /></li><li>The Darjeeling Limited (2007)<br /></li><li>The Godfather: Part II (1974)<br /></li><li>The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004)<br /></li><li>Be Kind Rewind (2008)<br /></li><li>Frost/Nixon (2008)<br /></li><li>The Pianist (2002)<br /></li><li>Synecdoche, New York (2008)<br /></li><li>The Wrestler (2008)<br /></li><li>Star Wars: A New Hope (1977)<br /></li><li>Michael Clayton (2007)<br /></li><li>O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000)<br /></li><li>Being John Malkovich (1999)<br /></li><li>Man on Wire (2008)<br /></li><li>The Shawshank Redemption(1994)<br /></li><li>The Village (2004)<br /></li><li>When We Were Kings (1996)<br /></li><li>The Fountain (2006)<br /></li><li>2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)<br /></li><li>Rushmore (1998)<br /></li><li>Toy Story (1995)<br /></li><li>Road to Perdition (2002)<br /></li><li>The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)<br /></li><li>Back to the Future (1985)<br /></li><li>Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)<br /></li><li>American History X (1998)<br /></li><li>The Truman Show (1998)<br /></li><li>Signs (2002)<br /></li><li>The Assassination of Jesse James (2007)<br /></li><li>The Dark Knight (2008)<br /></li><li>The Sandlot (1993)<br /></li><li>Fargo (1996)<br /></li><li>Jerry Maguire (1996)<br /></li><li>The Sixth Sense (1999)<br /></li><li>Oceans Eleven (2001)<br /></li><li>The Matrix (1999)<br /></li><li>The Deer Hunter (1978)<br /></li><li>One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975)<br /></li><li>Edward Scissorhands (1990)<br /></li><li>Murderball (2005)<br /></li><li>The Blues Brothers (1980)<br /></li><li>Ratatouille (2007)<br /></li><li>The Princess Bride (1987)<br /></li><li>Pan’s Labyrinth (2006)<br /></li><li>Bottle Rocket (1996)<br /></li><li>Dances With Wolves (1990)<br /></li><li>Rashomon (1950)<br /></li><li>Field of Dreams (1989)<br /></li><li>Star Wars: Return of the Jedi (1983)<br /></li><li>Jurassic Park (1993)<br /></li><li>Chop Shop (2007)<br /></li><li>Fight Club (1999)<br /></li><li>Vicky Christina Barcelona (2008)<br /></li><li>Slumdog Millionaire (2008)<br /></li><li>Shaun of the Dead (2004)<br /></li><li>Manhattan (1979)<br /></li><li>Seven (1995)<br /></li><li>Donnie Darko (2001)<br /></li><li>Election (1999)<br /></li><li>Black Narcissus (1947)<br /></li><li>The Professional (1994)<br /></li><li>The Prestige (2006)<br /></li><li>Clear and Present Danger (1994)<br /></li><li>Cool Hand Luke (1967)<br /></li><li>The Shining (1980)<br /></li><li>Saving Private Ryan (1998)<br /></li><li>Minority Report (2002)<br /></li><li>Memento (2000)<br /></li><li>Lost in Translation (2003)<br /></li><li>The Usual Suspects (1995)<br /></li></ol></span><p></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Georgia; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Georgia"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Oldest Movie</span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Georgia"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Black Narcissus (1947)</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Georgia"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Georgia"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Avg. Release Year</span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Georgia"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">1994</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Georgia"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Georgia"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Movies by Decade</span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Georgia"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">2000s</span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">44</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Georgia"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">1990s</span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">27</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Georgia"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">1980s</span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">14</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Georgia"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">1970s</span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">9</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Georgia"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">1960s</span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">2</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Georgia"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">1950s</span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">3</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Georgia"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">1940s</span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">1</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Georgia"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Georgia"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Most Releases by Year</span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Georgia"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> 11</span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">2008</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Georgia"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">8</span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">2007</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Georgia"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">6</span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">2006, 1999</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Georgia"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">5</span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">2002</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Georgia"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">4</span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">2004, 2000, 1998, 1996, 1994, 1989, 1980</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Georgia"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Georgia"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Releases by Director</span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Georgia"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">5</span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Wes Anderson</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Georgia"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">4</span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">M. Night Shyamalan, Steven Spielberg</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Georgia"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">3</span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Woody Allen, Joel Coen, David Fincher,</span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Georgia"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Akira Kurosawa, George Lucas,</span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Georgia"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Christopher Nolan</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Georgia"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">2</span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">P.T. Anderson, Darren Aronofsky, Tim</span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Georgia"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Burton, Francis Ford Coppola, Cameron</span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Georgia"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Crowe, Michel Gondry, Spike Jonze,</span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Georgia"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Stanley Kubrick, Roman Polanski, Martin</span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Georgia"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Scorsese, Gus Van Sant, Robert Zemeckis</span></span></p>Chris Spicerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16612959912927529096noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2449735051406564991.post-27778576563610184882009-01-14T20:28:00.000-08:002009-01-14T20:43:21.861-08:00Doing What Comes Naturally<span style="font-size:85%;"></span><blockquote><span style="font-size:100%;">"Relating to people more honestly is certainly possible. Find someone you have withheld something from and tell it to him. See what happens. Next time you feel like touching someone, do it. Next time you are hurt or frightened, express it. When you catch yourself trying to protect an image, stop, and see if you can be real instead. If you're embarrassed to pay someone a compliment, do it anyway. If you want to know how people respond to you, ask them." - William Schutz</span></blockquote>This quote has been in my favorite quotes section on my face book page for a while now. I first discovered it a year ago when I was taking Small Group Communication. I was in the Flying M reading for class one day when I came across the quote in my textbook. I thought it was great! How often to people hold back because they’re afraid of the consequences? In theory, this is a great quote. If a person were to heed Schutz’s advice, they could come out of a fear of social interaction and be able to better connect with people. Since I wrote this on my face book page though, I’ve had to think about whether or not I really want to keep it on there. I think this quote could cause someone to take an extreme approach to interaction, and seriously trespass on someone’s personal space.<br /><br />I get caught up in thinking about this too much. But in all actuality, I tend to read this quote as a guide for overcoming my fear of that particular girl I may have a crush on. Why is it that when I start to like someone, I automatically question everything I do? The relationship may be fine for a while, but there'ss a moment in my mind when the “crush” switch gets flipped, and it’s always downhill from there. I proofread every text I send to her 5 times before sending it. I lay in bed thinking about what I could have said differently to her earlier that day, and what I can say to her the next time I see her. I lose sleep. I can’t read books as easily, because my mind is too occupied with thoughts about her. I get jealous of anyone else she may talk to, or spend time with. I get jealous of her family! The more examples I write, the more I realize that this is a serious problem.<br /><br />Here’s my best diagnosis: I crave time with a girl that I like, because I feel that every moment spent together is another chance I have to convince her that I’m the kind of guy she could date. It’s pretty selfish. If I ever want to lead a normal life, with normal relationships, I need to chill out. The reason these relationships eventually die is because I focus so much on my own agenda, and completely ignore the other persons needs. I can’t imagine how unfulfilling it would actually be if I was ever in a relationship like that. Not only would the chase be over, but my agenda would be accomplished. I would have convinced the girl that I’m datable material, and then what? That relationship couldn’t survive.<br /><br />I’ve been asking God to help increase three things in my life. Patience, respect, and selflessness. Otherwise, every relationship I pursue will never amount to anything important, and I will be lonely for a long time. I’m tired of thinking about whether or not I should speak or stay silent, reach out and touch or hold back. I’m tired of second-guessing every action. I’m sure I’m not the only person that’s tired of it either.Chris Spicerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16612959912927529096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2449735051406564991.post-5052339501056714822009-01-13T00:47:00.000-08:002009-01-13T02:01:11.379-08:00Brad Pitt Is a Celebrity Among CelebritiesAnd this is a blog completely unrelated to Brad Pitt.<div><br /></div><div>A friend and I were having a conversation recently. I mentioned the fact that she has a tendency to hold on to relationships longer than most people, or possibly just myself. In fact, she has already written a post about this same conversation. You could call this a call-and-response blog, similar to "Hallelu, Hallelu, Hallelu, Hallelujah, Praise ye the Lord".</div><div><br /></div><div>In my experience, relationships (at least 95% of them) don't last very long. Soon enough, you graduate from school, you change jobs, you move out of town, or you make a some other change in your life that causes you to leave one group of people and join another. I'm a huge proponent for change. I don't stand on streetcorners protesting stagnancy, but I know that it's safer to drink out of a river than it is to drink out of a pond. When we allow movement to take us, we find the opportunity to look outside of ourselves, to realize that there is more than just "us". Staying put causes people to decrease the size of their world, until it fits inside a small town, or a house, or cramped inside one person's mind.</div><div><br /></div><div>I don't consider myself a pessimist. In fact, I'm usually optimistic in most situations. But this may be one of the areas where I appear to be drinking out of a glass that's half empty. Why would I give up on the relationships of my past, the very people that have shaped me directly or indirectly, to be who I am today?<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I haven't given up. I've acknowledged and appreciated their impact, applied it to my life as best as I could, and moved on to acknowledge and appreciate other people. Just like they have moved on as well. If I were to spend all of my time with my high school friends, wouldn't I be cheating both parties out of other more significant relationships? Relationships that could help challenge and enrich our lives as they are now, in the present, as opposed to how they were when we were sixteen?</div><div><br /></div><div>Anyways, I've had really mixed emotions while writing all of this, and I'm still trying to decide what to make of it all. These are the list of possible reasons why I could have come to this stance on relationships:</div><div><ul><li>I am bitter that I don't have a lifelong best friend.<br /></li><li>I've been rejected so many times I've been forced to learn how to move on in order to survive emotionally.<br /></li><li>I don't have enough energy or space in my life to have more than a few close friends.<br /></li><li>I'm a parasite that moves from person to person, sucking them dry to serve myself.<br /></li><li>I won't get close because I know that change is inevitable, and I don't want to go through the pain of losing someone.<br /></li><li>People haven't initiated contact with me, and I'm too proud to contact them first.<br /></li><li>Who I am now is not a significant improvement on who I was then.<br /></li><li>Once people get to know me, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; ">really</span> get to know me, they will discover that I'm not at all interesting enough to have around, and I move on before they get a chance to dig that deep.<br /></li><li>I just get tired of people once I get to know them.<br /></li></ul></div><div><br /></div><div>Life is ridiculous. I don't know whether to thank God or be angry with him for giving me emotions. Because of who I am - a selfish, confused, small, completely unimportant person - I have to go to a perfect God for guidance. That's either love, or false advertising. Did God make me imperfect knowing that my only choice would be to go back to my manufacturer and pay for repairs? Is this free will?</div><div><br /></div><div>I've got questions! Am I supposed to go to God for the answers?</div>Chris Spicerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16612959912927529096noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2449735051406564991.post-62016226702221351862009-01-02T00:04:00.000-08:002009-01-02T00:34:53.256-08:00Distracting MyselfThere's something very relaxing about making my bed. When I wash my sheets, like I did today, I am given the opportunity to be distracted from everything else that is happening in my life and focus on the art of bed-making. Many other activities can put me in this state of focus and self-distraction. These include but are not limited to:<div><br /></div><div>Doing laundry</div><div>Cleaning my room</div><div>Washing dishes</div><div>Cleaning the kitchen</div><div>Organizing my bookshelf</div><div>Cleaning my bathroom</div><div>Folding laundry</div><div>Cleaning my desk</div><div><br /></div><div>It's clear that I mainly clean when I'm stressed, worried, or confused. For some reason, the act of putting everything in it's right place can help control my heartbeat. Could it be that I'm cleaning my surroundings as a sub-conscious attempt at getting my own life in order? Am I like PSH in Synecdoche, scrubbing at everything to avoid being covered in the grime and grit of growing old?</div><div><br /></div><div>When I'm lying in bed, and my thoughts race out of control, I have a particular method to help calm me down so I can sleep. Some people count sheep. I imagine an empty bookshelf. The books that were once on it's shelves are now littering the floor. One by one, I place the books back on the shelf. I restore order to the disordered. And soon, my breathing slows down, and I fall asleep.</div><div><br /></div><div>Soon enough, however, I realize that the cleaning must either stop (leaving me with only truth) or never end (completely ignoring truth). Why do I replace all of the books at night if I'm only going to pull them off the shelf again in the morning? Is this a process that must be repeated in order to stay sane? Must everything always be a process?</div><div><br /></div><div>One more question: Can a life find order?</div>Chris Spicerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16612959912927529096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2449735051406564991.post-84580304003735503782008-11-14T09:13:00.001-08:002009-01-23T13:09:28.184-08:00Art & Worship Before WorkI had the privilege of playing worship music with a couple other guys at college church this morning. It was only for an hour because I have to go to work soon, but I'm glad I got to be there.<div><br /></div><div>We played background music while students at a ministry conference took part in a group creative project. Three paintings depicting different moments in Christ's life (the crucifixion, burial and resurrection) were at the front of the room, unpainted. It was the student's job to each paint different parts of the canvases until all three were complete.</div><div><br /></div><div>While watching the students and their youth pastors paint, I couldn't get the thought of someone making a mistake out of my head. What if one person took liberties with a gross color all over the sky, or painted someone with purple skin? I thought it would ruin the painting, or at least ruin the creative direction that someone may have had for the painting.</div><div><br /></div><div>And then I realized that these "mistakes", or differences in direction, are what will make the painting beautiful when it is finished. Each person played a different role in the process, and even though some people may disagree with others, it still works together for good. How many times have I wanted to make things out of my control work out to meet my desired end result, and at the end, something far greater that I could have never imagined is accomplished?</div><div><br /></div><div>I didn't actually get to see the finished product, but I am sure it will be beautiful, and completely different than I first pictured.</div>Chris Spicerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16612959912927529096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2449735051406564991.post-46475896205460709832008-11-06T16:06:00.000-08:002008-11-06T16:35:20.948-08:00Critic CritiqueI decided yesterday that if I were given the choice, I would much rather be a film critic than a book critic. Even though I like reading books more than watching movies, I wouldn't want to ruin my love for books by making them my career. If I were to read books all day long, I would have to do that alone. Whereas I could watch movies with friends or my wife someday and be working at the same time. And I've never been able to read a book in two hours, except for If You Give a Mouse a Cookie.<div><br /></div><div>Also, I think book critics are uber-scholars with a thick repertoire of literary references used only in an attempt to impress their colleagues. So there.</div><div><br /></div><div>Even so, I would like to make an attempt at impressing anyone who reads this dilapidated blog by talking about several books I've been reading lately.</div><div><br /></div><div>I finished The Red Pony. A short and simple book by John Steinbeck. I won't say much about this book except that I believe it might have changed my life. Why say something in 400 pages that you can say in 90? Never before has a book made me feel the way this book did. Have you ever wanted to cry for all that has been lost and all that is yet to be found?</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm currently reading A Confederacy of Dunces. And I need to do my laundry, so I'll talk more about this book when I finish reading it.</div>Chris Spicerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16612959912927529096noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2449735051406564991.post-59899497446396386792008-09-24T00:46:00.000-07:002008-09-24T01:13:38.285-07:00Signing Up For EternityI just added 59 movies to my netflix queue. Every academy awards best picture winner. I've only seen 19 so far.<div><br /></div><div>When I was looking for a bookmark to use for a book I was starting today, I came across one that I had picked up at powell's this summer. It's a list of all the pulitzer prize winners in the fiction category since the award was first given in 1918. I decided that I'm going to read all of them. I've only read 4 so far.</div><div><br /></div><div>Of course, after I finish these two lengthy lists, there are many other lists. There are the golden globe winners, the sundance winners, AFI's 100 best movies, the Criterion collection, etc. There are the National Book Award winners, the New York Times bestsellers, Oprah's book club selections, and on and on. And apart from these notable lists, there are personal goals I would like to accomplish in the form of lists, such as reading every Steinbeck, or Vonnegut, or Hemingway, or watching every Hitchcock, or Allen, or Altman.</div><div><br /></div><div>And right now, even though I am excited to get started, it worries me that I might not ever finish. That I don't have enough time! Even deeper than that, I'm getting worried that I won't enjoy the lists eventually, that my strict adherence to the lists will decrease the amount of spontaneity and increase the predictability in my life. Whether or not these concerns are superficial, they are closely related to the amount of uncertainty in my life (if I have enough time to accomplish lists that really matter, i.e., things I need to do to start a career, places I would like to visit and/or live, or in other words contained in this one list; what to do before I die).</div><div><br /></div><div>I would much rather worry about movies and books.</div><div><br /></div><div>Either way though, it reminds me of a line from a Five Iron Frenzy song:</div><div><br /></div><div>"It's a little disconcerting, signing up for eternity."</div>Chris Spicerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16612959912927529096noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2449735051406564991.post-11496548327555168462008-08-07T22:22:00.001-07:002008-08-07T23:05:58.021-07:00Saying Goodbye To FriendsNo, I'm not leaving Oregon yet. Not until next week. But I did have to say goodbye to some very dear friends tonight.<div><br /><div><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfuiBU7AeRBfavsdG53g00hB5EsBXvIx-r3wFRzB1uNH9hv5ysXxJw-21o9DzK2zLIbReA8n74ZJjdjEPwYXNeYHA5CtpKTerxu0ltCQsb3e0ZNONatvqC0VsIiiGI0f_GX-7x9unauJj8/s320/FinalFour.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232023982741154818" /><br /></div><div>Twitch, Katee, Courtney and Joshua, you will be missed.</div><div><br /></div><div>In case you don't already know, these were the final four dancers for the show So You Think You Can Dance. The finale was earlier tonight and Joshua took home the title, which was well deserved.</div><div><br /></div><div>The first episode of this show came on around the time I came home to Oregon City from Idaho. I knew that this was my last summer at home, even though I didn't know what I would be doing when it ended. I had no idea what to expect from the few months after college. I thought I would hate these last three months. I didn't want to be living in the same house and working at the same job I was before I ever went to college. There were many times when I felt like I hadn't accomplished anything. But this summer was different, better than that.</div><div><br /></div><div>So the summer started off with this show, So You Think You Can Dance. I wasn't sold on it from the beginning. No matter what though, I would sit down with my mom every Wednesday night for another episode. And eventually I was hooked. Some of the dancing was amazing, but I loved the show for the personalities of the dancers. One of the dancers, Twitch, was fun to watch perform, but off the stage he was always smiling and encouraging people. He was the first person to support someone who moved on to the next level or got eliminated. Everytime. He was there with a hug and a smile.</div><div><br /></div><div>And in a way, like I so often do, I connected with the people on the show. They became my friends. I do this with books all the time. For the last month of school this year I was slowly making my way through Sometimes A Great Notion, a novel by Ken Kesey. I finally finished it almost two months after I started. Now, when I think back to graduation, the moments leading up to it and the weeks after, I think of Hank, Leland, and Joe Ben cutting logs on a hill near the Oregon Coast. I feel like I was there! When I had read the last sentence of the book, it took me nearly ten minutes to close the book and put it down. I didn't want to leave behind the friends that had carried me through Graduation.</div><div><br /></div><div>And here I find myself, saying goodbye to another group of friends. I meet them, I grow close to them, and we leave each other. The friendships I make in books, on TV, in movies, they hardly mean anything to me. It's when I have to say goodbye to the real friends that I struggle. And the worst part is, I'm used to it. Summer after summer, I left Nampa. I said goodbye and went home. Never before has it been difficult leaving Oregon to go back to Idaho though.</div><div><br /></div><div>This summer was better than I could have ever expected it to be. This was the beginning of life after college! And I'm leaving it for another beginning. You don't have to tell me, I already understand that every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end. I just hate all of this goodbye stuff.</div><div><br /></div><div>And so, in the spirit of life, friendship, and beginnings</div><div>I will never read the last sentence,</div><div>I will never watch a finale,</div><div>I will fall asleep in the last ten minutes,</div><div>I will do what I can to make sure that you and I don't have to begin again</div><div>Because I <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">never</span> want these friendships to end.</div></div>Chris Spicerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16612959912927529096noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2449735051406564991.post-3167788276760309242008-08-05T22:43:00.000-07:002008-08-05T23:33:18.094-07:00Viewing Points<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAiKaivl_seWlzA_HJRE_Ag7bVqw9cKoysILcK2dMLaqRVIPQlb7wKFj6FTxH4y4S5tEuj_pXUw460rCkjVg7EpcVoXAesLf5XYEDlT98lV8kesqBsXEMA-NAOuSJl8SwRE8gKAOqC6m06/s1600-h/Viewpoint.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAiKaivl_seWlzA_HJRE_Ag7bVqw9cKoysILcK2dMLaqRVIPQlb7wKFj6FTxH4y4S5tEuj_pXUw460rCkjVg7EpcVoXAesLf5XYEDlT98lV8kesqBsXEMA-NAOuSJl8SwRE8gKAOqC6m06/s200/Viewpoint.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231287982771961698" /></a><br /><br /><br />Facebook Status for current blog: Chris Spicer thinks that there are viewpoints along the highway of life; opportune roadside pull-offs that allow us to see the whole picture once again before heading off down the road.<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>One of my favorite viewpoints is at the edge of the Blue Mountains in eastern Oregon. Before you descend the mountains to Pendleton, you have one last chance to pull off and appreciate the majestic landscape. When I'm up there I feel like I'm bigger than the Blue Mountains and all of Oregon, even the Northwest and the entire Pacific Ocean.</div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglG9NLEHN0Ac75X1fD_m2fJbwwk7kj3rxiiNhmFRYHwUUYIN0Nt30TapJ5X37fzfM9uTGLdUaV88Rylehtojotm-e5gCLCAyle2UAHdOBQ5WvmntN8lst8BChQbwy1QEhW7qUJsLZ5f9AU/s320/1444617813_208de4c9d1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231287243137891282" /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div>In two weeks, I'll give all of that back. Is it sad? Or is it symbolic, to drive the other direction, not knowing when I'll see this view again?</div><div><br /></div><div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTC3Mw9gK6M8CfXYoUfvv0WcxlolKKHXWXA2CziyTHCnPddXNJSmdBe7Ia-sxWR0xKmP33e0VxA5O4gllB3mHKKtZROPpzGBhCTiJ45thHT44BB4G4IM7wfqgumczfLT3At28zsuzRJXAK/s320/29.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231287527451812802" /></div><div><br /></div><div>I am sure that where one viewpoint ends, another begins. I won't stop here on my drive to Idaho. Right now, I don't think I need to see where I've been. I'll keep the car and drive, searching for viewpoints that reveal where I'm going.</div>Chris Spicerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16612959912927529096noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2449735051406564991.post-48006555610640941862008-07-31T22:21:00.000-07:002008-07-31T22:51:07.288-07:00This Is Why I'm HotI saw this question posed on the internet recently.<div><br /></div><div>You have a child that is born deaf. When your child turns 16, they receive implants that allow them to hear. What is the first song that you play for your child?</div><div><br /></div><div>I have spent a lot of time thinking about this question, and I still don't know if I have a clear answer. Several of my favorite songs immediately came into my head, but I just don't think they would be appropriate for the first song ever heard by my child. One song I considered was Straralfur by Sigur Ros. It is a beautiful song, and it gives me the shivers every time I listen to it. And yet, I believe my child would be confused by the language of the lead singer. I also thought about some important classical music, but I wouldn't want this to be a history lesson. I don't want to sit down with my child right away and say, "alright son/daughter, this is everything you missed out on while you were deaf." It has to be more than that.</div><div><br /></div><div>And so I searched for passion. A song that makes you connect with the musicians and singer and understand their love/struggle/pain/growth. Something that makes you hear the music, and realize it's completeness, and yet desire more when it's over. And something that is just plain aesthetically pleasing to the ears.</div><div><br /></div><div>Therefore, I've narrowed it down to four songs. Don't make me choose between these four, please.</div><div>The Whaler by Thrice.</div><div>Falling Slowly by Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova.</div><div>Blackbird by The Beatles.</div><div>And Amazing Grace sung by Aretha Franklin.</div><div>Hate me all you want, but I really feel like these songs would be amazing to hear before any others.</div><div><br /></div><div>I also can just imagine sitting with my child listening to these songs together. It would be like the scene from Once when father and son are listening to one of the son's songs for the first time. When it's over, there's a moment of silence, and finally the father says, "It's brilliant. Now play it again."</div><div><br /></div><div>This is why I love music.</div><div>This is why I want to learn how to play guitar.</div><div>This is why I want to be a father.</div><div>This is why I et cetera, et cetera.</div>Chris Spicerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16612959912927529096noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2449735051406564991.post-21785853002787532512008-07-14T16:04:00.000-07:002008-07-14T16:15:42.933-07:00Bustomer Case<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Top 10 Questions Asked By Spicer Bros. Customers:</span><div><br /></div><div>10. What time do you close?</div><div>9. Where are the bags?</div><div>8. Will you donate produce to my charity/event?</div><div>7. What do you do with the bad produce?</div><div>6. How much does this watermelon weigh?</div><div>5. Could you pick me out a good watermelon?</div><div>4. When will you have local corn?</div><div>3. Do you have local strawberries?<br /></div><div>2. Where Are these tomatoes from?</div><div>1. Are these tomatoes safe?</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Answers:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 10px;">10. Seven.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 10px;">9. In the basket right over there.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">8. No, we already donate to the food bank at the local Nazarene church.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 10px;">7. We give it to the pigs.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 10px;">6. About 20 lbs.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 10px;">5. Yes.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 10px;">4. It could be tomorrow, or two weeks from now. No one knows for sure.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 10px;">3. You just missed them. We had them during June.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 10px;">2. Mexico, California, and Canada.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 10px;">1. We wouldn't sell you bad tomatoes.</span></div>Chris Spicerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16612959912927529096noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2449735051406564991.post-90683766413507573132008-07-08T22:24:00.000-07:002008-07-08T23:04:15.463-07:00I Trained a Bull in Puerto Rico to Kill a ManI'm restless.<div><br /></div><div>I don't know why. But if I had to attribute it to something, here is a list.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>I don't do much when I'm stuck at home in this basement.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>There really are too many books and too little time.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>All this looking at apartments makes me want to move NOW.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Norway is a long distance from here.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>My dad and I are on different wave-lengths.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>I can't talk to my dad about anything that isn't superficial.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>I can't talk to my dad without feeling either a.) guilty b.)irresponsible c.) immature d.)misunderstood.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>I can't measure up to my dad's expectations of me.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>I am living in the same house and working at the same job I was before ever going to college.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Temptation has been really bringing me down lately.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>I work all the time.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>I drive everywhere.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>I have too many friends here to move to Idaho.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>I have too many friends there to not move to Idaho.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>I feel tied down by the responsibility that comes with every paycheck.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>I am going nowhere.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>I am going everywhere.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>I don't know where I'm going.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>And yet, in the midst of this burden, I feel the presence of an almighty God working in my life. This restlessness is most likely attributed to a battle between control and surrender, guilt and redemption, lust and love, and justice and grace. </div><div><br /></div><div>My prayer: Oh dear God, help me, I'm crying out to You. I can't do this on my own, and yet I keep trying. Release me of self and fill me with Truth. Trade this restlessness for peace. Peace in a broken heart and soul, I beg of you. Give me joy that cannot be contained. Let me spill over into the lives of those around. Let them see that my life is for a higher calling, to be a servant of the Most High. Erase my thoughts contrary to Your spirit, do away with my selfish actions. Let everything I do shine a light on You. Please, Lord, let everything I bring to You be an offering of my soul, my love and thankfulness for the work You've done in my life. See that what I bring to You is not worthy to be considered, but it is my hardest work, the best I can do, everything I have laid out before You unconditionally. I want nothing more than to praise Your Majesty and dwell within the depths of Your love forever. This is my prayer. This is all of me.</div>Chris Spicerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16612959912927529096noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2449735051406564991.post-23249246134668180332008-06-22T15:08:00.000-07:002008-06-22T15:22:59.323-07:00Being Open-MindedPeople drive by Spicer Brother's Produce with their music blaring, and we dance. If it's hip-hop, we groove and throw out "uhs" and "yeahs". If it's techno, we roxbury that ish. If it's metal, we throw up our rock fists. And mostly, we laugh.<div><br /></div><div>However, I am sure that the drivers of said cars would be offended to know we poke fun at their loud music. And thinking this, I turn to a co-worker and say, "People take their music too seriously."</div><div><br /></div><div>But who am I?</div><div><br /></div><div>The next day, same co-worker claims that Matchbox 20 might be the best example of a rock and roll band in the industry today. Same co-worker claims that Jack Johnson might be the best musician overall in the industry today. And I scoff.</div><div><br /></div><div>I claim that I don't want to talk about music and movies with friends because we always boil blood. We can't keep calm and we can't appreciate any opinions except our own. But I always get caught up in it.</div><div><br /></div><div>I sit on my high throne, king of all music. I only listen to good music. I don't listen to jack johnson anymore because he's cliche. I won't argue with you. Not because I respect your opinion, but because you're inferior opinion isn't worth my time.</div><div><br /></div><div>How could I hate a person, a good friend, who listens to bad (opinion) music? Would I really let music get in the way of a relationship? I can't believe I ever let myself become this person. I apologize.</div><div><br /></div><div>From now on, you can listen to what you like, and I'm gonna love you for it. If it makes you happy, then listen, listen! And I will join you.</div>Chris Spicerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16612959912927529096noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2449735051406564991.post-12667632894067750132008-06-15T17:07:00.000-07:002008-06-15T17:08:47.336-07:00Some Movie Information<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Georgia"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Kylee made me do it.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Georgia; color: #333333; min-height: 16.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Georgia; color: #333333"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">1. One movie that made you laugh</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Georgia; color: #333333"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">O Brother Where Art Thou</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Georgia; color: #333333; min-height: 16.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Georgia; color: #333333"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">2. One movie that made you cry</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Georgia; color: #333333"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The Pianist</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Georgia; color: #333333; min-height: 16.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Georgia; color: #333333"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">3. One movie you loved when you were a child</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Georgia; color: #333333"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Star Wars</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Georgia; color: #333333; min-height: 16.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Georgia; color: #333333"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">4. One movie you’ve seen more than once</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Georgia; color: #333333"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The Wedding Singer</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Georgia; color: #333333; min-height: 16.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Georgia; color: #333333"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">5. One movie you loved, but were embarrassed to admit it</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Georgia; color: #333333"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">My Best Friend's Wedding</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Georgia; color: #333333; min-height: 16.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Georgia; color: #333333"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">6. One movie you hated</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Georgia; color: #333333"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Crash</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Georgia; color: #333333; min-height: 16.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Georgia; color: #333333"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">7. One movie that scared you</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Georgia; color: #333333"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Donnie Darko</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Georgia; color: #333333; min-height: 16.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Georgia; color: #333333"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">8. One movie that bored you</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Georgia; color: #333333"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Marie Antoinette</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Georgia; color: #333333; min-height: 16.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Georgia; color: #333333"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">9. One movie that made you happy</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Georgia; color: #333333"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Stranger Than Fiction</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Georgia; color: #333333; min-height: 16.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Georgia; color: #333333"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">10. One movie that made you miserable</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Georgia; color: #333333"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Requiem For A Dream</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Georgia; color: #333333; min-height: 16.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Georgia; color: #333333"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">11. One movie you weren’t brave enough to see</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Georgia; color: #333333"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Saw 4</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Georgia; color: #333333; min-height: 16.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Georgia; color: #333333"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">12. One movie character you’ve fallen in love with</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Georgia; color: #333333"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Minnie Driver in Goodwill Hunting</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Georgia; color: #333333; min-height: 16.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Georgia; color: #333333"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">13. The last movie you saw</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Georgia; color: #333333"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The Happening</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Georgia; color: #333333; min-height: 16.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Georgia; color: #333333"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">14. The next movie you hope to see</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Georgia; color: #333333"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Wall*E</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Georgia; color: #333333; min-height: 16.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Georgia; color: #333333"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">15. Your favorite movie</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Georgia; color: #333333"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Almost Famous</span></p>Chris Spicerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16612959912927529096noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2449735051406564991.post-60969485851893485632008-06-06T22:43:00.000-07:002008-06-06T22:57:15.692-07:00One More Top Ten<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Top 10 Favorite Film Directors</span><div>10.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Steven Spielberg</div><div>9.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Spike Jonze</div><div>8.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Michel Gondry</div><div>7.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Akira Kurosawa</div><div>6.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Martin Scorsese</div><div>5.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Darren Aronofsky</div><div>4.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Ethan and Joel Coen</div><div>3.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Paul Thomas Anderson</div><div>2.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Wes Anderson</div><div>1.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>M. Night Shyamalan</div>Chris Spicerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16612959912927529096noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2449735051406564991.post-76486396388185222702008-06-05T23:42:00.000-07:002008-06-05T23:56:00.796-07:00Following My DreamsIt should be no secret that I really like hockey. Many of my friends know this due to the time I spend watching and talking about hockey. Over the past year, hockey has become a passion for me. I love the whole idea of the sport; the skill, the honor, the teamwork, the dedication, and the prestige of it all. I have dreams about playing on the ice with my favorite players. And I have never played a game in my life.<div><br /></div><div>It may sound weird to many people that one of my passions is hockey when I have never played. Well, I want to change that. At the end of this year of school, we were asked to write a short paragraph describing what we would do after college. I wrote that I would either become a writer or a professional hockey player. Most people laughed. I'm serious.</div><div><br /></div><div>Today at work, I couldn't stop thinking about hockey, and how badly I want to play. I know that I did not grow up with a hockey stick always in my hand like many professional players. I didn't play in school. I didn't play in college. I don't have the experience. But I believe there are three things required before a person can become a professional hockey player. Skill, knowledge of the game, and passion. I have two out of the three, and I am determined to reach the third.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm not exactly sure what this means. At work, thoughts of moving to Canada crossed my mind. Thoughts of finding a job at a small ice rink and skating every day went through my head. I've thought about this a lot. I don't have any times or dates set. The only thing I know for certain right now is if I never follow this dream, if I never at least try, I will be a disappointment to myself. I don't like to have regrets, and I am sure this will become one if I ignore it.</div><div><br /></div><div>I can see myself playing hockey for the rest of my life and being happy. But when, and where do I start? How far should I follow this dream?</div>Chris Spicerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16612959912927529096noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2449735051406564991.post-65765040831775441372008-06-05T19:12:00.000-07:002008-06-05T19:17:03.632-07:00Three Top Tens<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Top 10 Christian Recording Artist Rock Albums</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">10.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Blindside - Silence</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">9.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>MxPx - Slowly Going the Way of the Buffalo</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">8.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Further Seems Forever - The Moon Is Down</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">7.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Switchfoot - New Way To Be Human</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">6.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Audio Adrenaline - Some Kind of Zombie</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">5.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Plankeye - Commonwealth</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">4.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Mae - Destination: Beautiful</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">3.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The Juliana Theory - Emotion Is Dead</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">2.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Jars of Clay - Much Afraid</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">1.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>DC Talk - Jesus Freak</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Top 10 Local Portland Metropolitan Area Dining Spots</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">10.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Hong Kong 97 (Gladstone)</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">9.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>La Provence (Lake Oswego)</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">8.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>DaVinci's Ristorante Italiano (Milwaukie)</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">7.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Buster's BBQ (Gladstone)</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">6.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Lil' Cooperstown (West Linn)</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">5.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Hotcakes (Portland)</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">4.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Pizza Schmizza (Portland)</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">3.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Super Torta (Oregon City)</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">2.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Laurelwood (Portland)</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">1.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Montage (Portland)</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Top 10 Books I've Read In The Last Year</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">10.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - J.K. Rowling</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">9.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>High Fidelity - Nick Hornby</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">8.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>What Is The What - Dave Eggers</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">7.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Slaughterhouse 5 - Kurt Vonnegut</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">6.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>A Man Without A Country - Kurt Vonnegut</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">5.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Rant - Chuck Palahniuk</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">4.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>You Shall Know Our Velocity - Dave Eggers</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">3.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Sometimes A Great Notion - Ken Kesey</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">2.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Catch 22 - Joseph Heller</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">1.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The Road - Cormac McCarthy</p>Chris Spicerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16612959912927529096noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2449735051406564991.post-57427017772725330882008-06-04T09:54:00.000-07:002008-06-04T10:02:32.794-07:00In The MorningRight now I am sitting in my dad's chair using his laptop computer. My mom is making breakfast behind me in the kitchen. My shift at work starts at 10:30, which is the latest shift possible without being a closer. Shifts that go into the late afternoon are always slow and boring; everything usually gets done by about 4:00. I won't get off until 7:00, which means I will most likely be standing behind the cash register for hours, or walking back and forth around the store looking for something to do. I wouldn't necessarily mind having this later shift on any other day, but I would have really liked to watch the hockey game on at 5:00.<br /><br />I was looking out the living room windows at my backyard earlier this morning. It is nearly 90% green. the other 10% accounts for the back patio and the brown trucks of the green-leaved trees. I have said this to many people recently, but one of my favorite things about the Portland area is not only the green, but the different shades of green. Anywhere you look there are multiple types of trees and bushes and grass, all with their unique blend of blue and yellow. It has to rain a lot for this to happen, but I think it's worth it.<br /><br />My mom just put a plate of eggs and toast on the table, and it's starting to get cold.Chris Spicerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16612959912927529096noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2449735051406564991.post-36377886621319337422008-05-24T22:54:00.000-07:002008-05-24T23:21:21.116-07:00Strange People Listening to Strange MusicEvery time I see a person walking somewhere with headphones on, I go crazy with curiosity. I would love to know what everyone is listening to. Sometimes people will walk up to Spicer Brothers with headphones. They'll shop with their headphones in, and only take them out to talk to the person at the cash register. As soon as they pay for their produce, the headphones go back on the ears. It's amazing! Could their music be that good? I must know what they're listening to!<div><br /></div><div>I've been working up the courage to ask one customer that is always wearing headphones what she listens to, but it hasn't happened yet. For now, I just imagine that everyone is smiling and listening to this song.<div><br /><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://www.google.com/reader/ui/3247397568-audio-player.swf?audioUrl=http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/23971/06%20You%20Can%20Call%20Me%20Al.mp3" width="400" height="27" allowscriptaccess="never" quality="best" bgcolor="#ffffff" wmode="window" flashvars="playerMode=embedded"></embed></div></div>Chris Spicerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16612959912927529096noreply@blogger.com3