I don't know about you, but I like a little camp every now and again, and some of the campiest things I like are movies. I mean there's something funny about a movie or piece of art or whatever, that is just so over the top, artificial and tasteless that I find funny. Which was the case of a movie we saw on TV the day after Christmas, Santa Claus Conquers the Martians.
It's one of those movies that I am sure the actors in it probably don't list on the resumes, even though you'll see it listed on IMDB.
Although there was one actor I am sure most of you will recognize, Pia Zador, who had a small part as the girl Martian "Girmar", get it? Girl Martian? Other campy Martian names were, Bomar, a male Martian, Dropo, Kimar, Rigna and Hargo.
The costumes in it were hilarious too, I can only imagine that the budget it was was small to say the least. For example, the Martians had what looked like football helmets, from the 60's, on their heads, that didn't have the face guards. Coming out their head's was a piece of flexible copper tubing, that went from one side to the other. The Martians as you can imagine had green faces, which as the movie went on, would less and less green and would show more of the actor's normal flesh color. I am guessing that the movie was shot in one day becasue of this.
Other noteable campy items, includ the descriptive markings and sayings on the Martian space ship, one said "Radar Box" on the radar panel.
The opening song was also very campy, and I am talking 1964 camp for that matter, which was when the movie was released.
Even the plot is campy! The children of Mars are sad and want things like we do here on Earth, they are able to watch television from Earth, so the chief Martian, Kimar devises a plan to kidnap the Santa Claus.
HERE is a listng of what appears to be the entire movie chapter by chapter, all 21 of them.
At the very least check out the link below, it's the opening..
S-A-N-T-Y C-L-A-U-S!
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Commencement
Tonight we graduated from the foster care classes and now have only “Packet B” before we can have our home study and be licensed to adopt.
What a rollercoaster this class has been as it prepares us for the real ride we are about to begin. My thoughts and feeling have completely changed over the 32 hours. If I can sum it up in one sentence, there are a lot of kids out there that need to be loved back to happily ever after.
I am no longer resentful of the piles of paperwork, the hours of classes, and the personal examination. If the hoops we have to jump through prevent one kid from being taken from a bad situation to another bad situation it is worth it.
I also feel that if the first child that comes to our home, does not end up being our daughter that I will just be honored for the opportunity to love her and help bring about what is best for her.
I went into this wanting. Wanting to do whatever ridiculous dance I had to do to get my daughter. I just wanted my kid. I was hungry to be a parent.
Now I just feel so full of love and hope for not only the children that need foster and adoptive parents, but for their parents.
Before I felt nothing but negativity, contempt and hatred, for anyone who would dare harm a child, but especially someone who could hurt, or allow to be hurt, their own flesh. Now I have a greater sympathy for those that have their child removed from them. Before the classes I felt nothing but heroism for the opportunity to save a child. Now I feel so sad for the loss the child will suffer at being torn from the only parent they know, no matter what a monster that parent may be.
I am sure this peace will not last. I know I will be annoyed as I learn to live with locks on cupboards and doors. I know I will be impatient as the process continues. I know I will be angry as I learn what someone has done to a child I love. But I am so grateful for this deep, emotional, understanding. I am grateful for this education.
What a rollercoaster this class has been as it prepares us for the real ride we are about to begin. My thoughts and feeling have completely changed over the 32 hours. If I can sum it up in one sentence, there are a lot of kids out there that need to be loved back to happily ever after.
I am no longer resentful of the piles of paperwork, the hours of classes, and the personal examination. If the hoops we have to jump through prevent one kid from being taken from a bad situation to another bad situation it is worth it.
I also feel that if the first child that comes to our home, does not end up being our daughter that I will just be honored for the opportunity to love her and help bring about what is best for her.
I went into this wanting. Wanting to do whatever ridiculous dance I had to do to get my daughter. I just wanted my kid. I was hungry to be a parent.
Now I just feel so full of love and hope for not only the children that need foster and adoptive parents, but for their parents.
Before I felt nothing but negativity, contempt and hatred, for anyone who would dare harm a child, but especially someone who could hurt, or allow to be hurt, their own flesh. Now I have a greater sympathy for those that have their child removed from them. Before the classes I felt nothing but heroism for the opportunity to save a child. Now I feel so sad for the loss the child will suffer at being torn from the only parent they know, no matter what a monster that parent may be.
I am sure this peace will not last. I know I will be annoyed as I learn to live with locks on cupboards and doors. I know I will be impatient as the process continues. I know I will be angry as I learn what someone has done to a child I love. But I am so grateful for this deep, emotional, understanding. I am grateful for this education.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
It really is coming to an end...
I was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, just as I thought I would be the other day, how it happened caught me off guard a little bit though. As you may know I am on my final leave from my mobilization, which means I don't have to wear the uniform or shave for that matter. I needed to see the doctor at work, because I needed a form signed by a doctor for the foster care licensing packet so I went in to work. I hadn't shaved and if you have seen me lately you'll know that I am growing a goatee for a bit, and the shirt I was wearing wasn't the cleanest shirt in the world. When I got there it about for the weekly staff brief, which I knew about obviously, but wasn't expecting to stay for, until the first sergeant saw me. He asked me if I could stay for the briefing, because he had an award for me, I kind of had an idea what it was when he pulled out all of the boxes and envelopes from his desk. I was more expecting to receive the Meritorious Service Medal, from what will be my Guard unit and not from this unit, but I think that getting it from this unit makes it more special. Even though I have a short commitment remaining to the Guard, getting this medal really leads to me to believe that my commitment to the military will be coming to an end after all, which is what I want.
The citation reads:
For exceptional meritorious service to the Utah National Guard. You have served faithfully in many positions of great responsibility ad have earned the trust and respect of those whom you served. Your tenure as a mentor, leader and friend of the Guard is seen in the many Soldiers who emulate your leadership qualities. You are a professional who continually sets and enforces high standards. Your actions and professionalism are in keeping with the finest traditions of the military service.
WOW huh!?
If you look at the site for the Meritorious Service Medal, you'll see a small list of some well known recipiants, I know there are many, many more fine men and women who have also been awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, it's really a honor to been awarded it and have served our great contry for all these years.
In addition the Meritorious Service Medal, there were a few other documents and what not, but there was one that was equally as important and that was the certificate of appreciation for Mirinda. It's often been said that the second hardest job in the military is that of the spouse, which very true and Mirinda and I have been very fortunate since we've been together that I have been able to come home most every night.
Thanks for being the best wife any service member could ever ask for Mirinda!
Since I am talking about military awards, I want to let you know about 10 soldiers who were awarded the Silver Star recently. These 10 soldiers are the epitomy of what it means to be a Soldier.
Silver Star record for unit in Afghan cliff clash
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Painting or Fishing????
I was originally going to make an entry about how the painting of the living is going, which is going OK. But I am sure you'd find that boring as, well drying paint.
So then I thought I'd post a little story about something I know everyone would enjoy reading about, I am talking about fly fishing.
As most of our fair readers know I only began fly fishing a little more than a year ago and caught my first fish ever, shortly after I began. If you look hard enough, you'll see that first fish in my hands, it's quite a monster fish I know, but you have to start somewhere. Right?!
There's a lot to learn about fly fishing, and I have learned a lot in the past year but not enough or the right things to catch any fish at all. I must emphasize that the primary objective of fishing is catching fish, as well as enjoying time outdoors, and I must say that there are many great places to do both here in Utah. My fishing adventures this past year have taken me to some places in the great state of Utah that I hadn't seen before, Diamond Fork Canyon, where I caught that first monster brown trout, to UM Creek and the Freemont River in Sevier county to a few places that I had known otherwise but had never thought of as a place to fish like the Weber and Provo rivers. But then there's the Green river, which can be compared to Moab from my former outdoors activity. The first thing you'll notice when you are at the Green river, is that the water is very clear, I have often heard the term "gin clear" used many times when describing the water of the Green river, which I think is a great comparison. I am only really talking about the part of the Green river that comes out of the dam at Flaming Gorge at the tiny town of Dutch John, I know there's a lot more to the Green river, because it starts somewhere in Wyoming and ends when it joins the Colorado river somewhere in between Flaming Gorge and Moab to the south. One of the other amazing things about this part of the Green is that there are so many fish, I have often heard it put in terms like "20,000, 10,000 or so fish per square mile, I don't to what extent that figure is accurate, but there are a lot of fish and because the water is as clear as it is, you can see them very well as you float over head. When I was the there yesterday, I caught 10 of those thousands of fish, which I might add, increased my overall caught fish total 1000%. You do the math on that.. ;-)
So if you are looking to do some epic fishing, head to the Green river. If you want to do some painting, come on over, we've got plenty of rollers and brushes to go around.
Brian
PS, My photography group has a new book out, SL7: Time Machine, check it out now!
You may remember our last book and exhibit, where there were six of us, well now there are eight of us!
So then I thought I'd post a little story about something I know everyone would enjoy reading about, I am talking about fly fishing.
As most of our fair readers know I only began fly fishing a little more than a year ago and caught my first fish ever, shortly after I began. If you look hard enough, you'll see that first fish in my hands, it's quite a monster fish I know, but you have to start somewhere. Right?!
There's a lot to learn about fly fishing, and I have learned a lot in the past year but not enough or the right things to catch any fish at all. I must emphasize that the primary objective of fishing is catching fish, as well as enjoying time outdoors, and I must say that there are many great places to do both here in Utah. My fishing adventures this past year have taken me to some places in the great state of Utah that I hadn't seen before, Diamond Fork Canyon, where I caught that first monster brown trout, to UM Creek and the Freemont River in Sevier county to a few places that I had known otherwise but had never thought of as a place to fish like the Weber and Provo rivers. But then there's the Green river, which can be compared to Moab from my former outdoors activity. The first thing you'll notice when you are at the Green river, is that the water is very clear, I have often heard the term "gin clear" used many times when describing the water of the Green river, which I think is a great comparison. I am only really talking about the part of the Green river that comes out of the dam at Flaming Gorge at the tiny town of Dutch John, I know there's a lot more to the Green river, because it starts somewhere in Wyoming and ends when it joins the Colorado river somewhere in between Flaming Gorge and Moab to the south. One of the other amazing things about this part of the Green is that there are so many fish, I have often heard it put in terms like "20,000, 10,000 or so fish per square mile, I don't to what extent that figure is accurate, but there are a lot of fish and because the water is as clear as it is, you can see them very well as you float over head. When I was the there yesterday, I caught 10 of those thousands of fish, which I might add, increased my overall caught fish total 1000%. You do the math on that.. ;-)
So if you are looking to do some epic fishing, head to the Green river. If you want to do some painting, come on over, we've got plenty of rollers and brushes to go around.
Brian
PS, My photography group has a new book out, SL7: Time Machine, check it out now!
You may remember our last book and exhibit, where there were six of us, well now there are eight of us!
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
The road to heartache
So this is how it works.
You take a bunch of classes, do more paperwork then you can imagine, get examined from every angle, and then they give you some kid that is hurt, neglected, or abused. This is not your child this is the state’s child. Your goal is to love the child, take care of the child, parent the child, and work towards reuniting the child with the ones who hurt, neglected or abused her. If that doesn’t work out, then you get to adopt the child. Then the child becomes your own.
We talked to a guy this evening that has had 5 placements in the last year. That is 5 times he has had his heart broken in just under 12 months. And every time they told him that this one would probably be adoptable.
We just finished class 2 and are about a third of the way through the paperwork. The more we learn and do the more I want this and the less Brian does. For today we are taking it one step at a time. I have told Brian that at any time there is not a child in our home, he gets to change his mind. I will let you know if we make it past class 3.
You take a bunch of classes, do more paperwork then you can imagine, get examined from every angle, and then they give you some kid that is hurt, neglected, or abused. This is not your child this is the state’s child. Your goal is to love the child, take care of the child, parent the child, and work towards reuniting the child with the ones who hurt, neglected or abused her. If that doesn’t work out, then you get to adopt the child. Then the child becomes your own.
We talked to a guy this evening that has had 5 placements in the last year. That is 5 times he has had his heart broken in just under 12 months. And every time they told him that this one would probably be adoptable.
We just finished class 2 and are about a third of the way through the paperwork. The more we learn and do the more I want this and the less Brian does. For today we are taking it one step at a time. I have told Brian that at any time there is not a child in our home, he gets to change his mind. I will let you know if we make it past class 3.
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