One of the best and most challenging years of my life, was when I was on internship for my seminary education. I was assigned to a small church near Lodi, Wisconsin. Karen and I lived in Lodi in a townhouse. We had the upstairs, and the Peters family had the down. They were/are members of the church I interned at, and we quickly became good friends simply because they are wonderful, generous people, and they lived downstairs. So, we would grill out alot, have a few drinks now and then, and simply hang out with them. Jim and Sally would keep me sane and basically be good listening ears when Karen was in Platteville teaching. Along the way, Jim and I realized that we have a passion for fishing, so we tried to go fishing when we had some time off, and well, we didn't do so well, but we went and had a good time. I even tried to go catfishing with him one blistering hot July night. God, that stink bait was bad! Anyway, over the years, we have all kept in touch somewhat, always amazed at how much all of our lives change and evolve every time we all talk. So, last week I got a phone call from Jim, asking me if I wanted to go Coho Salmon fishing near Sheboygan on Sunday. Well, being one who loves to fish and also being the type of person who will always be up to trying something for the very first time even though I don't know how to do it, I agreed to go. With some extra additional items of purchase I thought I was going to be alright.

Well, the thing is, when one goes trout/salmon fishing in any sort of shallow brook or stream, one needs to have the clothing or footwear that would allow him to fish and not get wet. Well, I didn't quite think about that, but Jim did. He told me I could borrow a pair of his waders, but the clincher is, that these are "booty" waders in which the booties are made of neoprene (the material that keeps one dry in the water), and they fit into any assorted boots one would want to wear in the water. So, with my trusty pair of rubber boots, I try to slip in the booties, but alas they do not fit. Well, I am forced to wear my rubber boots, with jeans tucked into them and my assorted layers so as to not freeze.

We left Lodi, drove about 125 miles east, until we got to the little village of Kohler (yes, they make my favorite type of urinals and other toilets there as well), and we go to a secluded stream by a golf course. It is exactly what pictures look like when you think of trout streams. Very clear water, very cold water, and fast moving too. We get there, and I wrestle with the aforementioned boot thing, Jim suits up, I grab my box, and off we go into the water. We walk until we get to a place where we could actually see King Salmon resting as they are making their way up stream. It was awesome to be a few feet away from a 20 pound fish who is all muscle. The deal is that last weekend was the end run of the salmon as they have spawned out. So, that means that once they make little fish, they eventually lose energy and die. It was a bit strange walking along the stream and seeing rotting salmon carcasses strewn about.

I begin to throw my spinner bait and wasn't getting a damn thing. Jim actually snagged a dying fish, and then walked downstream and did the same thing again. So, we spent a good four hours there, and decided to leave. My right boot just so happened to get soaked as we made our way back to my truck, and I was pissed. When we got to the next spot, I took the boot off, changed socks, and put the damp boot back on. I tried my luck again, but nothing. Jim once again, had to show me how it's done. He actually snagged a salmon while it was running, in its dorsal fin. That is a bad spot to hook a salmon. You will fight that fish forever, and it took Jim a long time to actually land it. Beautiful fish though.

We then left, drove into Sheboygan, and went to the best Chinese buffet I have ever eaten at! They even had hot and spicy octopus...I quickly passed on it. We ate, and ate, and ate...it was worth it, and if you were there, you would have done the same thing. We then found our way back to Lodi, where I dropped the big guy off, and I went home to Janesville. All in all, it was a great fishing trip with a great friend. I got to try something I had never done before albeit without the right type of rod and clothing, but I tried. I saw some very beautiful country, hanging out in nature, and listened to a stream rush its water for hours...excellent! I know the Cohos are running in two weeks. I might have to give it another go....we'll see. I might get a craving for hot and spicy octopus between now and then...yummy! More later...

Here is what annoys me lately:
1. Friends who do not update their blogs, nor do they call, nor do they email (I won't mention any names, but his name rhymes with "scram.")
2. Wiping more snot from my two year old than I want to remember.
3. Feeling like I am stuck in this weird holding pattern waiting for another call into a church.
4. Being asked to lead worship at a very cool church, but then told that I have to follow their way of planning and leading...what is that about?
5. Too many socks with holes in them.
6. Not being able to find Live Phish 19 in the vinyl slipcase....UGH!
7. Slow mail.
8. Feeling lonely.
9. Fall has arrived.
10. My wife making a thousand brownies for her students, but leaves me none!
11. Lack of sleep.
12. Regret.
13. Knowing that in a few short weeks, I am going to be freezing my ass off, raking the enormous piles of leaves that accumulate every year, and trucking it out to the front of our house, only to have it all sit there for a few more weeks, until the street sweeper guys come and collect it all. I hate leaves!
14. Friends who are far away...some who are too far away!
15. Waiting for Dream Theater, Threshold, Rush, and Kansas to put out new music.
16. Blankets in the bed, that bunch up, move to the middle of the bed, and leave their only job...to cover me and keep me warm.

Above my computer in my office here at home, I have this homage to the two greatest horror movies of all time (well, OK, at least two of the greatest!) in movie poster form. I love the movie Halloween. Great stuff. The music stills creeps me out. SO, on one side, I have the reprint of the actual movie poster for that movie...the pumpkin looking like something from a lame Scooby Doo cartoon with this detached hand holding a very sharp knife. A somewhat scary poster. Next to it, I have a poster that I had been scouring the earth for since high school. I found it in '03 at this poster shop on State Street in Madison. It is the reprint of the movie poster promoting one of the best movies to ever star a garden tool - The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

Now, this is not some ordinary poster mind you. In October of '03, I was looking around the internet, and noticed that the guy who played the original Leatherface in the 1974 movie, was going to be on tour, signing autographs, and one of the places he was coming to was Rockford, IL. I took my movie poster, and my DVD thinking he would sign both. I got there early, and it was this really huge party store...they sell all things party---cups, ribbon, paper, candles, etc. For Halloween though, they convert half the store into this massive horror shop...masks, costumes, and props...it's great. There was me and some other guy waiting, and when Gunnar Hansen showed up, I was like "that's the Face." I had him sign the poster, and I bought one of his movie 8X10's and had him sign that too. It was very cool to meet him, and tell him that this is my favorite horror movie ever.

OK, fast forward to yesterday. Yesterday was the opening day of "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning." This movie really sets up the whole story for the other movie that came out two years ago. See, they made a remake of the 1974 classic in 2004. It was sort of like the original, but different...they gave more backstory, and sort of twisted the story line adding more characters. It was a really well done remake. So, yesterday, this movie opened, and of course I went. I went to the first showing here in Janesville...the matinee at the Rock. It was me and like three other people. I love a near empty theater like that. Sat near the front...no one ahead of me. Watched the previews...they are coming out with a "Saw 3." Loved the first two. And then the movie started.

This is by far one of the best horror movies I have seen in a long time. This movie will scare the pants of you if you are a casual horror movie watcher. I loved it!!! Andrew Bryniarski, who plays "Leatherface/Thomas Hewitt" is incredibly intimidating. This guy in real life, is built. I mean his arms are huge. It's obvious he takes good care of his body, and lifts immense amounts of weights. R. Lee Ermey who was in the first movie, and now is the second, playing the role of Sheriff Hoyt, continues to be creepy. He is a great actor. But, in these TCM movies, he is really creepy. You see how "the family" with him being the head of it, is pulled into his way of understanding the world and how it needs to be punished. That punishment comes out brutally. There is another bunch of young actors playing the consistent roles of "a group of teenagers crossing Texas to go somewhere" who fall victim to the Hewitt home. Each actor was really good. Definitely more action and dialogue with this movie than in '04 for this group. The most creepy thing with this movie is the house. The family house is this dark monolith of unspeakable fear and death. The filmmakers take the house, and really make it the star in this version...you see more of it, and more action revolves around who's going where and why are they going there. Leatherface's basement is not seen so much in detail as it was with the last movie, but it is still there and quickly becomes this place of hell. I found funny though, that the basement is actually livable...it's somewhat clean. But, once the bodies are chopped, it becomes what we see in the '04 movie; fingers in jars, assorted noses, the lone eyeball sitting on the workbench...you get the idea.

I will not spoil this movie for you though, if you decide to see it. I dare not tell you the ending. I loved the ending. Definitely a classic way to end a great movie. This movie totally lived up to my expectations, and it was well worth my $5.50! I am already looking forward to the DVD release of this. Once again, it shows that Tobe Hooper continues to evolve with this story in conceiving it, and even directing it. He is definitely a great visionary with this story. So, go out and see this movie. Take your friends, sit back and relax. I guarantee that you will not be able to hear another chainsaw again and NOT think of this movie. GO NOW, or you'll be next! (Cheesy I know, but it was what Gunnar Hansen said to me on his pic to me, and now I pass on his advice to you for free). More later...

I am sickened and offended by the arrogant and the stupid who overcrowd the corners of the world. I have found myself lately, feeling hostile against the arrogant; those who take themselves too seriously, and expect everyone else to respond to them that way. We have all talked to people like this, and suffered by their words, actions, and convictions. It amazes me that even God would construct stupid people who believe their place in this world is one they make to be isolated, powerful, deceitful, and hurtful to those who believe they can do no wrong. I guess in this poem, I was thinking about all this, and I had two particular people in mind. One of whom is very high in official governmental ranking. The other is more contextual to my surroundings. I will let you figure out who they are. May you be as sick as I am about the arrogant and the stupid violating our intelligence and slicing it up to confuse us and believe them even more. Gutless men who want attention suck! More later...


at the angle of being seen into
10.03.06

the unbreakable bond between what is right and wrong
violates the opportunities to be vengeful against arrogance.
for arrogance is a vain way to live by words and actions.
it could speak of one’s desires or need to control content
and frustrate the unwilling, while maintaining a guard up.
the deceitful ways of this ironic disposition,
causes hurt and harm to be empowered from its ugliness.
it all reaps the innocence of so many spirits
while backing its fix of needing to be right in this war of life.
accepting it all without shame or remorse,
speaks to how evil can disguise itself in living day to day.
this waste of time is uncountable for the masses
who stretch out their fears and impending deaths,
waiting for the compassionate to take notice of them.
arrogance is boring in its appearance and worldly stamina,
even as it drives the socio-economic guzzlers another day.
the decayed and ignored are victims by this boorish agenda.
the fury of the arrogant threatens the futile peace
that could be…not in some dream or nightmare.
but for the here and now context of our futures.
we pay the inflated price of receiving the shallow pride,
indifferent to the problems the world bleeds out from.
the arrogant lack the shreds of empathy that build trust…
to find love, commit to passion, vision better lives for others.
wasted days of procrastinating the humanity needed feeds again.
lies of frail, mindless men stack the deck against their hunger.
such roles rank the vile outcomes of relief upon bare asses lifted high.
it is from that vantage point, that the arrogant are to be kissed
and left for dead in their most rotten of flesh suits they proudly wear.