Monday, May 31, 2004
Dear god, there are so many good movies. Does anybody else see how AMAZING movies are?! It is the greatest artform of our lives. It is a shared experience contacting people all over the global village of electronic media. It is simulated relatity taken to the grandest possible conclusion.
Recently, we've been blessed with great films.
For instance, this movie looks incredible--
Garden State (new trailer)
Recently, we've been blessed with great films.
For instance, this movie looks incredible--
Garden State (new trailer)
Sunday, May 30, 2004
Saturday, May 29, 2004
"We annihilated the world before your very ears, and utterly destroyed the CBS. You will be relieved, I hope, to learn that we didn't mean it, and that both institutions are still open for business."
- Orson Welles, closing statement from The War of the Worlds radio broadcast, 1938
- Orson Welles, closing statement from The War of the Worlds radio broadcast, 1938
Thursday, May 27, 2004
Wednesday, May 26, 2004
CBR's Steven Grant reviews "Some Other Day
(from his Permanent Damage column) "Brian Kelly's art also shows up in SOME OTHER DAY (Antihero Comics; $2), nicely illustrating a short David Hopkins story about a disintegrating space station raining down on a small Texas town. We never see the space station; the story focuses on human reaction to the event. It creeps up on you, but it's quite good. This is the level of quality all mini-comics should aspire to."
In other antihero news, I'm working on a re-design of the website. It's times like these when I wish I knew more about web design. For instance, frames. I need to get a frame set up for news which updates automatically on the front page. I don't know how to do it. I'll learn, I guess. In smaller markets (such as with comics), the internet takes on a disportionate degree of importance. Yes, we will judge you by your website.
(from his Permanent Damage column) "Brian Kelly's art also shows up in SOME OTHER DAY (Antihero Comics; $2), nicely illustrating a short David Hopkins story about a disintegrating space station raining down on a small Texas town. We never see the space station; the story focuses on human reaction to the event. It creeps up on you, but it's quite good. This is the level of quality all mini-comics should aspire to."
In other antihero news, I'm working on a re-design of the website. It's times like these when I wish I knew more about web design. For instance, frames. I need to get a frame set up for news which updates automatically on the front page. I don't know how to do it. I'll learn, I guess. In smaller markets (such as with comics), the internet takes on a disportionate degree of importance. Yes, we will judge you by your website.
Tuesday, May 25, 2004
One of my students, a member of chess club, died last night. He committed suicide. My prayers to the family-- I'm so sorry. Don't feel like saying anything else.
Monday, May 24, 2004
Democracy at Gun Point
* Forced citizens to denounce their faith
* Citizens abused/raped in prison
* Shot down a family, including children, at a wedding festival
* Changed their national flag without a vote
* So far? 5,500 people dead
George Bush, voting for you four years ago is quite literally the worst thing I've ever done. I won't make the same mistake twice. If you can actually justify the war in Iraq, then I'm even more ashamed of the misguided leadership found in my country.
* Forced citizens to denounce their faith
* Citizens abused/raped in prison
* Shot down a family, including children, at a wedding festival
* Changed their national flag without a vote
* So far? 5,500 people dead
George Bush, voting for you four years ago is quite literally the worst thing I've ever done. I won't make the same mistake twice. If you can actually justify the war in Iraq, then I'm even more ashamed of the misguided leadership found in my country.
Melissa, I love you. Thank you.
Kennedy is home, and she's absolutely beautiful.
Don't worry, Melissa... I completely understand the "different love" thing. It's supposed to be that way. My love for Kennedy is not on the same emotional level as Melissa's. Of course, Melissa is functioning on zero sleep and her hormones are all out of wack. But still, I feel like I should be more different than I am. I feel like I should be completely transformed. Yes, there's an added love in my life. I've never been happier. However, post-birth, I had to return to my job, return to my deadlines and goals, and routine. I don't know if the birth has completely changed my worldview. Should it?
I've slept better than Melissa. All the same, I wouldn't say that I'm "sleeping peacefully". Usually, I'm just pretending to be asleep, and hoping I can fool myself.
The happy family:
The reason why I haven't been blogging is because I really don't know what to say. How do I story the experience? Do I share my fears, my paranoia, my insecurities, my hopes, my confidences? What?
Kennedy is home. That statement is beautiful, good, and true. It's really good to have a family. I'm curious to see how her life will transform our own.
One of my students asked me, "How's Kennedy?" Good. "How your wife?" Also good. "How are you?" I paused. It reminded me a little of the last conversation between Lester and Angela in American Beauty, although that's probably a bit presumptious. Good. I'm doing really good.
Don't worry, Melissa... I completely understand the "different love" thing. It's supposed to be that way. My love for Kennedy is not on the same emotional level as Melissa's. Of course, Melissa is functioning on zero sleep and her hormones are all out of wack. But still, I feel like I should be more different than I am. I feel like I should be completely transformed. Yes, there's an added love in my life. I've never been happier. However, post-birth, I had to return to my job, return to my deadlines and goals, and routine. I don't know if the birth has completely changed my worldview. Should it?
I've slept better than Melissa. All the same, I wouldn't say that I'm "sleeping peacefully". Usually, I'm just pretending to be asleep, and hoping I can fool myself.
The happy family:
The reason why I haven't been blogging is because I really don't know what to say. How do I story the experience? Do I share my fears, my paranoia, my insecurities, my hopes, my confidences? What?
Kennedy is home. That statement is beautiful, good, and true. It's really good to have a family. I'm curious to see how her life will transform our own.
One of my students asked me, "How's Kennedy?" Good. "How your wife?" Also good. "How are you?" I paused. It reminded me a little of the last conversation between Lester and Angela in American Beauty, although that's probably a bit presumptious. Good. I'm doing really good.
Wednesday, May 12, 2004
Kennedy Elizabeth Hopkins
Born: Tuesday, 5/11/04, 2:50pm (CST)
6 lbs, 3 oz., 19"
We're still at the hospital. Mom and Kennedy are doing fine. The dad (me) is doing fine too! I came home for a second to feed the cat and pick up a few things. We'll be at the hospital all day today... and some of tomorrow. Thank you everyone for your love and support.
Much, much more information to follow...
Born: Tuesday, 5/11/04, 2:50pm (CST)
6 lbs, 3 oz., 19"
We're still at the hospital. Mom and Kennedy are doing fine. The dad (me) is doing fine too! I came home for a second to feed the cat and pick up a few things. We'll be at the hospital all day today... and some of tomorrow. Thank you everyone for your love and support.
Much, much more information to follow...
Monday, May 10, 2004
It's time.
The cat was meowing at Melissa all day long. (Must have known something we didn't.) We went to the paranatologist today, which has been a weekly routine of sonograms. The doctor noticed the fluid was low. He called our doctor. They've decided to induce labor tonight at 9 PM. And there you go, it's time.
I've been trying to get my substitute scheduled to fill in for me from 5/11 until 5/19. We've been calling everyone to tell them the news. It's 5:19 PM. The next four hours will last forever! We're at home getting everything ready. Felt like a good time to blog.
The cat was meowing at Melissa all day long. (Must have known something we didn't.) We went to the paranatologist today, which has been a weekly routine of sonograms. The doctor noticed the fluid was low. He called our doctor. They've decided to induce labor tonight at 9 PM. And there you go, it's time.
I've been trying to get my substitute scheduled to fill in for me from 5/11 until 5/19. We've been calling everyone to tell them the news. It's 5:19 PM. The next four hours will last forever! We're at home getting everything ready. Felt like a good time to blog.
Sunday, May 09, 2004
Friday, May 07, 2004
Thursday, May 06, 2004
From reading Melissa's blog, you can tell that she's ready to have the baby. We're getting closer, that's for sure. I'm anxious too, but I can wait. Of course, that's easy for me to say, I haven't been living with months of constant back pain, hormonal imbalance, sleeplessness, a sugar-free diet, and daytime television. Truly, a lethal combination.
I'm anxious to see my daughter. I'm anxious to hold my daughter, to hear her cry, to watch her sleep. I'm anxious for what will easily be the most exciting and happy time of my life.
I want to have our family there in the waiting room. I want to see their face when they first see our daughter. I want a few of our friends to visit. I want the first days of her life to be a celebration. Her name and image proudly announced throughout the electronic streams of information, the global village of interconnections. A banner hanging from the side of our suburban home proclaiming the arrival. Tears, laughter, shouts of joy, and stories shared as a tribute to the start of a new life.
The school year is almost over. I'm wrapping up as many loose ends as I can. In my heart, I don't feel like this was my best year as a teacher. I would like to remove all the distractions of school, so I can enjoy my daughter's birth without the concern of any responsibilities to my career.
My family is flying down in anticipation of the birth. I'm also excited to see them. My sister has a lot of love in her. It's a gift with consequence. Particularly when the world around you doesn't make sense, when you don't even make sense to yourself, my sister is so excited to see her niece... maybe it will give her a rare sense of clarity in what has been a strange year.
I've heard a few people say... "You'll make a great father." Honestly? I don't know. What makes someone great at parenting? I would think it's a combination of factors within unique settings. Melissa and I work as a team. In order to be a good father, I need her to be a good mother. And in order for her to be a good mother, she needs me to be a good father. Our daughter doesn't live in isolation with either one of us. We're a package deal. But then, we depend on our parents and family. We trust in our friends. Those people closest to us make the role of "parent" either easier or more difficult (and sometimes both).
Greatness comes at a cost, a sacrifice of self. Do I have the strength to be a great husband, father, friend, teacher, and writer? Right now, "greatness" is overrated. I just want to see my daughter.
I'm anxious to see my daughter. I'm anxious to hold my daughter, to hear her cry, to watch her sleep. I'm anxious for what will easily be the most exciting and happy time of my life.
I want to have our family there in the waiting room. I want to see their face when they first see our daughter. I want a few of our friends to visit. I want the first days of her life to be a celebration. Her name and image proudly announced throughout the electronic streams of information, the global village of interconnections. A banner hanging from the side of our suburban home proclaiming the arrival. Tears, laughter, shouts of joy, and stories shared as a tribute to the start of a new life.
The school year is almost over. I'm wrapping up as many loose ends as I can. In my heart, I don't feel like this was my best year as a teacher. I would like to remove all the distractions of school, so I can enjoy my daughter's birth without the concern of any responsibilities to my career.
My family is flying down in anticipation of the birth. I'm also excited to see them. My sister has a lot of love in her. It's a gift with consequence. Particularly when the world around you doesn't make sense, when you don't even make sense to yourself, my sister is so excited to see her niece... maybe it will give her a rare sense of clarity in what has been a strange year.
I've heard a few people say... "You'll make a great father." Honestly? I don't know. What makes someone great at parenting? I would think it's a combination of factors within unique settings. Melissa and I work as a team. In order to be a good father, I need her to be a good mother. And in order for her to be a good mother, she needs me to be a good father. Our daughter doesn't live in isolation with either one of us. We're a package deal. But then, we depend on our parents and family. We trust in our friends. Those people closest to us make the role of "parent" either easier or more difficult (and sometimes both).
Greatness comes at a cost, a sacrifice of self. Do I have the strength to be a great husband, father, friend, teacher, and writer? Right now, "greatness" is overrated. I just want to see my daughter.
Interesting statement I found on a message board--
Organized religion:
The cars keep smashing into each other and I keep rubbernecking as I drive past. I pray I stay out of a wreck.
Organized religion:
The cars keep smashing into each other and I keep rubbernecking as I drive past. I pray I stay out of a wreck.
Wednesday, May 05, 2004
"Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired, signifies in the final sense a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed."
President Dwight D. Eisenhower. April 16, 1953
President Dwight D. Eisenhower. April 16, 1953
Melissa had a few small semi-regular contractions tonight. No labor, no baby. But still, for a good thirty minutes or so, I was positive it was time. The experience was nice mental/emotional preparation was the actual event. The excitement was a little addictive.
Monday, May 03, 2004
Melissa and I each got a new cell phone and a cheaper calling plan (same phone number). These new phones are awesome. I can take photos, listen to the radio, and when my phone rings it plays "Wave of Mutilation" by the Pixies.
Saturday, May 01, 2004
