Two Interesting Days, Movie Reviews

Yesterday(Saturday) was a very successful day for our Buffalo Battle mud obstacle race and our coverage on the TV news was excellent.  These type of races amaze me since people actually enjoy paying money to run, crawl, walk, etc., in the mud.  People say that as kids we like to play in the mud but I don’t remember that and I am sure I didn’t, since I don’t like to get mud under my finger nails.  I competed in one of these things and I really know for sure I do not like playing in the mud.  But, our goal is to offer what the public wants and have them have a little fun.

Today(Sunday) was another completely different day in that I road my bicycle for five hours amounting to 75 miles of riding.  This was not a joy ride but a preparation ride for the Ironman Texas event May 18 at the Woodlands.  The first two hours was spent with my riding partner, John Harris, and then I completed the other three hours solo.  It was an interesting day with some good wind, and a high temperature of 86 and I was chased by 7 dogs but not bitten.  At the end of the day I wondered silently, “what the hell was I thinking??” My legs were so toasted I had to cancel a Hog ride since it is imperative that the legs are able to hold up 800 lbs. of iron when you stop and corner, otherwise you do the infamous lay down thing!!  Not fun!!!   A nice 20 mile ride is enjoyable and not painful , then with anything over 50 is starts to hurt about everywhere.  But, the story is no pain no gain, and no long rides will make for an even longer day during the Ironman.  So, get ‘em up ole Greer and put the peddle to the mettle, not much time left.

Movies:

“42”(How simple is that for a name of a movie) *****.  This is without a doubt a five star movie about the powerful story of Jackie Robinson, the legendary baseball player who risked his life and broke Major League Baseball’s “color barrier” when he was hired to play for the Brooklyn Dodgers.  Chadwick Boseman as Robinson, and Harrison Ford as the innovative Dodgers general manager Branch Rickey, the MLB executive who first signed Robinson to the minors and helped bring him to the big show.  Rated PG-13 for thematic elements including language. 

“Oblivion”, ****, A very good sci-fi about future earth(2154) and what the problems exist at that time.  Tom Cruise plays a repairman of sorts stationed on post -nuclear Earth.  His job is both dangerous, but interesting, plus he always gets the good looking babes.  This movie is no different, plus he has to be extremely physical and as always he takes his shirt off a lot!!  Rated PG-13 for sci-fi action violence, brief strong language and some sensuality/nudity.  

EA, SH..........:)!

greerman

Busy Bee, Movie Reviews, Book Review

While it seems like months since I have written it really hasn’t been that long, and besides I am very busy and life is like a juggling act.  But, poor me, I take on way too much stuff then wonder why there is no time.  Now I have taken on the Chairman job of the local Score National Office.  It is a volunteer job and fell into my lap very heavily in that the office assistant quit at the same time the previous Chair person left the city.  The purpose of this organization is to offer consulting to aspiring new business owners and is within the confines of the Small Business Administration.  So, it is an awesome opportunity to offer business expertise to the population.  There is much to do and very little time in the day left to do it.  As one of the SBA people said to me, “I really don’t see how you have the time to do this job!”  Well long story short neither do I, unless I get other volunteers to help me and then we can get it done.  Wish me luck on this one!

Some times I make decisions that I wish I could go back and change, for sure.  Last week I had the opportunity to go and listen to folk singer Judy Collins perform and did not do it.  After talking to people who went I am convinced I made a dumb choice of going to the Texas Tech football scrimmage, that was going on at the same time.  Then former Texas Tech running back Baron Batch, now professional football player for Pittsburgh, turned artist, was featured at the Arts Festival and I did not go by his booth to see his works.  So, the last morning of his appearance I spent volunteering for the West Texas Running Club at the Arts Festival 15 K run.  While I could have possibly fit it all in some way I just did not put out the effort to do so.  So, I will give this some thought in my future decision making.

Many calls have come to me concerning the Boston Marathon tragedy.  Since I had friends there and one of the race directors is a friend of mine, I really felt for this event.  What kind of sick person would do this type of thing we ask?  Well, I don’t know that I have the answers but I do know it was a cruel as mankind can get towards society.  It would only be fitting that when he/she is found they will attach at least five sticks of dynamite, laced with nails and steel pellets to their private parts and blow the hell out of them.  Now I realize that is not very Christian or forgiving; however, I am very mad as I write this and will be forgiven for wanting revenge.

Movies:

“The Call”, ***, A drama about the many challenges of a 911 emergency operator.   Halle Berry hides her body and beauty long enough the play the part of a tender, loving, caring 911 operator.  She does a great job of acting and saves the day for a desperate caller.  The fact she saves the day outside the office is a little far fetched, but hey this is fiction so anything goes for a good story.  Rated R for violence, disturbing content and some language.  

“Olympus Has Fallen”, ****, This is a very good movie about terrorists from North Korea taking over the White House.  Very timely with the actual stuff now happening in N. Korea.  The story is excellent, and the acting is very good.  Lots of action and at times it even seems very real.  Gerald Butler does a great job playing a White House Secret Service agent who basically saves the day.  Rated R for strong violence and language.  

New Book:  “The Power of Negative Thinking”, an unconventional approach to achieving positive results.  Author Bobby Knight.   This is a great approach to achieving all your goals with negative thinking.  As Coach Knight points out Norman Vincent Peale is about 5 million books ahead of him with his infamous, “The Power of Positive Thinking.”  But, I promise this new book and bold approach to goal achievement is very good and make lots of good ole common sense.  

EA, SH........:)!

greerman